Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-01-07
CHAPTER XVI

easy! Steady! Steady!" Rogers
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. Neverthe-
less I managed to say, matter-of-
factly, I thought, what is it, Hunt
"a log?"
NO." he said. 1t seemed hours
before he spoke again and then he
said what I was expecting, yet
dreaded to hear him say. cts
Rumble
Weakened with a start the next
morning to find that Rogers was
gone. Dawn was breaking over the
mountains. 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 if he had had
a long, unbroken nights sleep. To
my inquiry he remarked, There
were several things l thought of,
Barry, and it was best to get an
early start"
Down below us in the water, a
dark head burst upward to the sur
face and brown arms threshed
about. Rogers, leaning over the
wharf's edge, shouted in Spanish,
"Anything?"
mo, sir. I dive in moment"
A few seconds later the head dis
appeared, pair of feet kicked Wig
orously and the surface smoothed
out.
whats it all about?" I demand
ed. whats he diving for?"
1--WE hired him to do the job,
Barry. Rumble, imagine, either
fell or was thrown off the wharf.
He had checked out of the hotel.
Where is his luggage? Why wasn't
his bag found on the WHARF And
what does it mean if we should
find it 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 I think l see some
thing. I should take the end of the
rope this time"
Rogers picked up a coil of rope
lying at his side, carried it to point
directly above the man, and dropped
an end over. The diver seized it
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.
ut is what you are seeking, sir,
think" he called up. pull"
Rogers drew up the weighted line
rapidly, and moment later there
came to the surface soaked, bat
tered travelling bag, from which
gushed tiny streams. He lifted it
onto the wharf where it rested drab.
ly oozing salt water.
And now, SIR shouted the diver,
II go down again for the other
thing"
what other thing?" 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
Iy,r 10 l.
Barry. l don't know what the in
vestigation will reveal, but if it
is murder, why not look for the
weapon hereabouts? Rumble went
off the wharf probably at this point.
There it is, Sir" shouted the div
er. 1.-THE only thing l find"
The object fell at our feet. a
blackened, stained knife with a
heavy blade, such a knife as fish
erman would use for cutting bait.
Rogers picked it up, turning it about
in the sunlight, handling it gingerly.
Rogers paid off the diver, and 1
picked up the still dripping bag and
we set off for police headquarters.
Lombardo was in his office when
we arrived. He greeted us with an
engaging smile, his eyes sparkling,
his stiff, black little mustache like
something carved of ebony.
1T is very sad, senores, the death
of your friend, Senior Rumble" he
said, inviting US to sit.
Rogers began to detail what We
knew of the separation at the bar, of
Rumble's failure to join the fishing
party and our subsequent fruitless
search, while the chief sat listening.
with now and then a question which
betrayed not too great an interest.
We had about talked the matter out
when Doctor Cruz appeared in the
doorway.
Doctor Cruz carried a package
wrapped in newspaper. He put it
down on the desk, and drew up a
chair.