Arkansas State press., 1943-11-12

almost no signs Of wear: across the
front Of the crown was an orna.
mental pattern In hand-wrought ill.
yer.
George Rumble's sombrero. INIT
IT." asked Rogers over my shoul.
der.
He has one like this" I replied.
1T was on the rack near TIE front
door earlier this evening. How would
1t get In here. thought"
Perhaps George can tell u.s." He
took the sombrero from me and
dropped II on the foot Il the bed.
where Il remained Q dark and sin.
lister shadow. and turned to the bed.
side ~ X u check again some point
about the murder victim which had
occurred to him. A light tap came
At the door. and Rogers halted
abruptly.
Come" he called. The door was
pushed resolutely open.
Vague figures in the dim light
crowded the doorway. Sam Chat.
field entered. followed by Doctor
Cruz, and behind him two men in
uniform. They advanced into the
room and the door closed behind
them.
Doctor Cruz nodded to us, and
went at once to the figure on the
bed. Sam Chatield presented the
other two men, "Senor Otilio LON.
bardo. jefe del policia." he said,
"and Senior Alvarez Of the policia:
Senior Madison and Senior Rogers"
They bowed to US. but their In
terest was centered on the bed
where Doctor Cruz already was ex.
aiming the dead man. They
pushed on to join him and stood re.
specially back until at last the doc
tor looked up and gave in Spanish
his opinion that James Chesebro had
died Of a knife thrust not so long q
time before.
Lombardo and his satellite looked
intently for some moments at the
wound. then turned away without q
word and sat down.
4 am very sorry. Senior Chat.
held.' Lombardo said, looking up
at our host and speaking in Span
ish. that this has happened In your
house. / know that your hospitality
is above ~reproach. You cannot help
this sad thing. Of course; it is very
sad. Who is the gentleman"
"Senor James C%hesebro."
Lombardo's eyebrows shot up.
ward, He of the mine back in the
mountains" he inquired.
Yes"
That is bad. Can you tell me
who killed him?"
Il cannot. Senior Lombardo."
Senior Rogers here" said Sam
Chatheld, laying his hand upon Rog.
ers' arm. lis quite famous for solv-
ing the mystery of murder north Of
the border"
"Ah, sol" exclaimed Lombardo.
Welcome, my friend. Perhaps We
have q mystery here. II 20 I shall
lean upon you. But, l think II 10
easily explained. NOT"
Il hope 30, Senior Lombardo,"
Rogers replied In Spanish. 80 far
Senior Madison and l have found
nothing Of importance. II was not
suicide. because there is no weapon.
II was not murder for the purpose
Of robbery"
And the weapon, Senior Rogers;
you say you have not found III"
I've been unable to discover II
anywhere in the room; II IL. Of
course. . knife Of some sort"
1eA Ihank you, senior, you have
saved me much work"
did the gentleman have any ne.
mics. Senior Rogers. either here in
Mazatlan or at homer" inquired Al
varez, the gendarme. The man had
not spoken until now.
Rogers shook his head. II know
of none, senior" ....
Il think" Lombardo said, stir. /
ring to his feet. 1T is time we talk !
with someone about this crime. Who I
made the discovery, Senior Chat.
Sam Chatfeld got to his feet, TAX
ing a step toward the door, as If to
lead the way. Il think 1t was Ma
ria. 1t was she who came to tell
Of it,"
I'VE shall talk to Maria, then"
said Lombardo.
The kitchen was large; gloomy
shadows filled all the vast region
above two unfrosted electric light
bulbs which hung down from the
high rafters on long cords.
Our sudden approach in force, the
belted. uniformed police with their
heavy sidearms caused 4 panic In
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