Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-10-01

Rogers. I'm so glad she said.
"And now, Margaret-and the rest
of you too-Papa and Berta are ex-
pecting you all out to dinner tonight
at the rancho. Jimmy and Reed
are coming too, think. If they
get back from the mine in time"
At eight-thirty that night the huge
studded doors of the old ranch house
at the edge of town swung back to
let Huntoon Rogers and me inside.
The house was a relic of other more
spacious days before time and revo-
luton had reduced the acreage Of
the rancho. The others of the party
had preceded US, and we found them
all gathered in a huge room filled
with ancient black walnut furniture
marvelously carved. Sam Chatfield
and Berta, whom we had met that
February evening at the beach club,
greeted us with enthusiasm. That
night in California Berta had been
restrained, confined by strange con-
ventions, unresponsive; this evening
she was free of those, at home in her
native land, and in the house where
her family for several generations
before her had lived.
"Most welcome, senores," she
said with a marvellous smile and d
small soft hand extended inpulsive-
ly. II am happy to have you with
u.s."
Later that evening, Sam Chatfield
said: Hollywood? Yes, enjoyed 1t
tho Loot 4Iara br,f 1iln
this better. Berta is child in some
things, the same loves and hates of
child, the quick resentments of in
jury whether fancied or real" He
was speaking to Huntoon Rogers
and me in the seclusion of a small
book-lined study which opened of
the living room. Berta was enter
tanning the others in the huge high
ceilinged living room.
"You were in California at the
time your sister died, were you not?
At the funeral, mean?" asked Rog-
ers casually.
A remarkable change came over
Sam Chatfield's face, his whole man.
ner was transformed. From a Sc
rene, quiet-spoken man of middle
years, who talked calmly of the Mex
lean life that surrounded him, he
went to extremes of loquacity, lean
ing forward in his chair, points Of
light glowing in the depths of his
gray eyes-the same eyes that Elsa
had.
Eyes. Yes, we were there, Bertx
and I. We were there before the
funeral, before Kitty died, in fact.
We were at the house that night.
Slept there, and next morning-she
was found dead"
Rogers shook his head slowly. at
must have been a shock to you,
sir" he remarked.
"Shock? OF course. 1t was very
awkward, also. We were not sup
posed to be stopping with my Sis
ter; we were registered at a hotel.
In Pasadena"
"You say-awkward?"
eyes, Mr.. Rogers. My sistn1
would not recognize Berta, my wife.
Imagine that! My sister with ideas
like that And Berta-you see
around you, gentlemen, what Berta
is used to from childhood She was
educated in Paris. She is not an in
ferior, as my sister stubbornly chose
to believe. 1t was that fact which
made for the awkwardness. I kept
it from her as long as / could
kittys attitude toward her. On DIR
yearly trips to Los Angeles since
Berta and I we're first married, Kit
ty would send word that she was
away, or that she was i'll and could
not see anyone. Berta was puzzled;
she did not understand.
But this last time-I mean the
time Kitty died-I could no longer
pretend to Berta, and SO l teie-
phoned from the hotel after dinner.
said that we would be over to
see her, to make a call But after
hung up Berta said: No. We take
our luggage. We stay at least one
night with your sister, You see.
she realized the situation in spite OF
my effort to keep it from her. She
was determined to force the issue"
Sam Chatfield ceased talking anc
sat back in his chair. After more
than a year the subject still agi-
tated him; his face was flushed I'M
der its tan.
what happened?" Rogers prod
ded gently.
For a moment Sam Chatfield hello
his silence. ''You see, gentlemen.
Elsa has told me about you-your
interest in my sisters death. l am
being very frank with you; l hope l
am helpful"
I'm sure you would be-" sale
Rogers.
That's why I say it was very
awkward for me-and Berta. That's
why I hurried back to Mazatlan aft
er the funeral. That last night of
her life there was a very disgrace.
full scene. My sister insulted Der.
ia. And me-"
"You didn't go back to your no.
tel?"
mo. Berta-" He smiled now with,
amusement at the recollection
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