Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-01-14
CHAPTER XVII

Fractlcally all, ne SAID. II think
If we were to sort them out properly
we could go long way toward a
solution. Perhaps not all the way.
We can settle upon several peril
nent facts-clues that point toward
the solution"
what are they?"
Rogers was silent for some mo-
ments, turning over in his mind
the answer to my question. "Fn
name one thing" he began. ut is
more important than any other
the picture of Elsa and the baby in
the Los Angeles paper" He did not
60 on for some moments, then he
said: "What Chesebro did or said
to Elsa that so enraged her inter-
ests me very much too. The knife
that killed Chesebro is clue I'd
like to discover"
"Are those all?" I asked when he
ceased speaking.
He did not reply at once. I felt
that something had come over him,
some new thought had struck him.
In the darkness that shrouded us
could sense that he was vitality
alive to something, some new phase
of our problem which had electrified
him. I waited with growing inn
patience, afraid to startle him with
any word of mine.
"Barry-the black sombrero!" he
said suddenly. He didn't speak again
for several moments, then he said:
There's an amazing story here! In
credible! I see it only dimly yet"
Inside Berta, Margaret and
Dwight were attempting a three
handed game of bridge-killing slow
time, as it were, in the hope that
tomorrow would be a brighter day.
Rogers, now that 1 could observe
him in the light of the living room
lamps, betrayed none of that impul-
sive energy which in the darkness I
fancied he possessed. He was as
casual as if he had tired of being
out of doors and had come inside
for company. He walked about the
table, examining the cards each of
the players held. Margaret was
playing the hand. She finessed
through Dwight.
"Senora," began Rogers address,
ing Berta abruptly, Ibid you not
come ashore from the Orizaba that
evening prior to our fishing trip"
Eyes, senor," she replied after a
moments hesitation. But only to
the-the muelle-the wharf, with Ar
turo."
"Yes?"
ut is because I have forgotten a
promise, senior, to my husband. l
should bring his fishing things, his
harness, and his belt and knife. And
I forgot. When 1 remember it l 60
ashore to find somebody to send
with a note to the rancho for Them"
Ibid you find someone?"
"Oh, yes. Two boys. send them
in a taxi"
did you wait for their RETURN"
mo, senior. l 60 back to the boat
and Arturo brings the things to me
later"
"Did you see Senior Rumble on
the wharf, senora?"
mo, senior. l see no one"
"What time was it?"
''That l do not know, senior. l do
not think it is very late"
The cards by now were aban-
doned and the players moved to
more comfortable chairs. Doctor
Cruz appeared in the doorway and
behind him Lombardo. They came
in and we greeted them. I Won
dered what their mission was. Rog-
ers continued to stand. His gaze
was restless; he seemed to fix upon
Elsa's small black hat, which still
lay on the table against the wall,
with a sort of satisfaction, although
I couldn't understand why.
ELSA has retired?" he inquired.
"Oh, no; she and Reed are around
somewhere, Margaret answered.
At that moment Elsa, followed by
Reed Barton, appeared at the study
door.
Ibid I hear my name men,
tioned?" she called.
"Hunt Rogers was worrying about
you,' l SAID.
"But l wasn't" Rogers objected.
II merely inquired what had be-
come of you. I'd not seen you since
dinner"
In the brief moments of this con-
versation, Rogers had walked few
steps toward Elsa. The table where
her hat lay was close at hand. He
reached out of sudden and picked
up the quirt which lay partly con-
cealed underneath it, and held it I'D
before his eyes as if studying the
knob with the carved head. Elsa
continued to walk toward him.
Somehow Rogers had managed to
center our gaze upon what he was
doing. I found myself staring slight
ly at the quirt. 1t brought back to
mind that vivid scene of Elsa rae
ing madly toward the house, of her
horse suddenly checked and the de-