Arkansas State press., 1943-12-31
CHAPTER XVI


was leaning far out over the side,
peering at the water. Hold i'll"
The engine stopped and we floated
quietly. Rogers continued to peer
into the murky water, Something
was there. My throat was dry; |
felt an uncomfortable sensation at
the pit Of my stomach. Negerthe-
less l managed to say. matter-of-
factly, I thought. what Is it, Hunt
"a log?"
NO." he said. II seemed hours
before he spoke again and then he
said what l was expecting. yet
dreaded to hear him say. cts
Rumble"
wake'ed with a start the next
morning W fnd that Rogers was
gone. Dawn was breaking over the
mountains. I dressed and went out
on deck to discover that Rogers
had gone ashore.
Rogers was on the wharf when I
was landed there. He appeared
fresh and vigorous as II he had had
. long. unbroken nights sleep. To
my inquiry he remarked. Theirs
were several things I thought Of.
Barry, and 1t was best 70 get an
early start"
Down below US in the water. .
dark head burst upward to the sur-
face and brown arms threshed
about. Rogers. leaning over the
wharrs edge. shouted In Spanish,
"Anything?"
mo. sir. dive In 4 moment"
A few seconds later the head dis.
appeared, a pair OF feet kicked Wig.
orously and the surface smoothed
out.
What's 1t all about!" I demand
ed. Whats he diving for!"
1--WE hired him to do the Job.
Barry. Rumble. I imagine, either
fell or was thrown of tho wharf.
He had checked out Of the hotel.
Where is his luggage7 Why wasn't
his bag found on the wharf? And
what does 1t mean If we should
ind 1t In the water?"
The diver burst to the surface
below. this time farther along the
wharf. gasping for breath.
"Anything?" shouted Rogers.
mo. sir. But think see some
thing. I should take the end Of the
rope this time"
Rogers picked up Z coil Of rope
lying at his side. carried 1t to point
directly above the man, and dropped
IN end over. The diver seized Il
and disappeared. while we waited
with heightened interest. Finally the
rope was tugged vigorously from I'M
der the water, and Rogers began to
pull up. The diver came threshing
to the surface.
TT Is what you are seeking, sir,
I think" he called up. Pull"
Rogers drew up the weighted line
rapidly. and a moment later there
came to the surface a soaked, bat
tered travelling bag, from which
gushed tiny streams. He lifted il
onto the wharf where 1t rested drab-
ly oozing salt water.
"And now, SIR" shouted the diver,
Il 60 down again for the other
thing"
What other thing?" I asked.
This probably was all the luggage
Rumble had"
There was just this bag, accord
ing to the hotel porter"
Then what are you looking for
now"
1.-THE weapon--if Rumble was
murdered. Just to be forehanded.
Barry. I don't know what the in
vestigation will reveal. but II 1t
Is murder. why not look for the
weapon hereabouts? Rumble went
of the wharf probably at this point
The bag was tossed overheard here.
Why not the weapon. then! A gun.
or knife, or bludgeon Of some
sort. It's reasonable"
Eyes. Of course"
Dwight came ashore while we still
sat above the diver. We had moved
from time to time along the wharf
to follow the divers progress under
water. The man was beginning to
tire, the interest In further search
to lag. when Of sudden, bursting
up below. his brown arm swept In
a wide arc and an object was hurled
toward us.
There 1t Is, SIR" shouted the div
er. "The only thing find"
The object fell at our feet,
blackened. stained knife with a
heavy blade, such a knife as a fish
erman would use for cutting bait.
Rogers picked il up, turning 1t about
in the sunlight, handling 1t gingerly.
There would, Of course, be no
blood on IT, Seawater and sand and
the divers hands upon II would pre-
clude flngerprints. Its proximity to
the spot where Rumble died Is
its only apparent connection with
the crime-if crime has been com.
mitted. Let's 60 find Lombardo,
and see what's in store for u.s."
Rogers paid off the diver, and
picked UP the still dripping bag and
we set off for police headquarters.
Inr,,hnrdn urnn La hia nnln. .,.La.,