Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1944-01-14

bro. OF these five who could posi-
bly, wish him to die? Sonora Berta
Chatfeld? | can think Of no reason:
know OF no motive. in fact On the
other hand, Reed Barton and CHEESE.
bro quarreled with each other over
the love of Elsa ehatfeld. Cheese
bro had discharged Barton from his
employ. An excellent motive" he
commented "But-DWight Nichols
had been defrauded by Chesebro Of
fifty thousand dollars in a mining
deal. That is lot Of money Men
have been murdered before now for
much less. Senior Lombardo. And
how about Margaret Nichols, the
wife? Again fifty thousand dollars is
a lot of money-to a woman"
Eyes. Of course. much money"
murmured Lombardo. absorbed in
his own mental processes.
And. finally. there is Elsa" said
Rogers thoughtfully. Hers is
stronger motive than all the others
put together. senior. A young WON.
ans good name Is her most valuable
possession. You are Mexican. and
can understand the word revenge
Elsa was willing night before last to
permit the inference that she had
killed Chesebro. Senior. Is Pedro.
the pulque seller. q lying scoundrel
who seeks to protect woman. CT
does he tell the truth when be says
that Dwight Nichols Is the one who
killed."
Lombardo's face was puzzled: he
was now hopelessly at sea. A frown
had gathered on the forehead be-
tween the slittsd eyes Of Doctor
Cruz a. he followed the intricacies
Of the problem as set forth BY Rog.
srs. Al for Rogers. could not
escape the conviction that he was
enjoying himself hugely At the ex.
penss Of Lomhardo. His face. how
ever. was more solemn than that OF
Q Judge. Lombardo started slightly
at Rogers question.
"Yo no &c. senor." he admitted.
revertins to Spanish in his confu-
sion.
Il think. Senior Lombardo." said
Rogers. dropping with a smile into
Spanish. you will let Pedro out Of
Jail when I finish telling you who IL
the guilty person." Lombardo's only
response was an involuntary lifting
OF the eyebrows.
However" Rogers took up again
in English In a more serious vein,
'the name OF the guilty one must
wait few minutes longer. ! will
come to 1t at the proper time. But
now let us look for a moment at the
death Of Sam Chatfeld. His is the
most puzzling in the entire series.
So much seems accident, so little
may have been the handiwork Of
murderer. A nut had come un-
screwed from the swivel mechanism
Of the chair in which Sam sat in
the launch II the chair had not
collapsed, there is little likelihood
that he would have fallen overheard,
probably none at all. Did some
body remove the nut? There was
opportunity to do so for everybody
who went on the fishing excursion.
and even for George Rumble, who
did not 60. All o. US, except the
women members OF the party. knew
beforehand that Sam Chatfield would
sit in that chair when we went after
marlin.
And, yet, know Of no motive
upon the part Of anyone for the
death of Sam Chatfeld. OF course,
one never knows what's between
husband and a wife. Did Sonora
Chatfield have some motive I'M
known to US, and did she learn in
some manner which seat her hus-
band would occupy on that fatal ex-
cursion in the launch? Bullets
drop Sam Chathelds death for the
moment. and 60 on to George Rum
ble's. think that in II we will find
something Of interest-perhaps the
key we are seeking"
Lombardo shifted In his chair and
looked away for 4 moment to the
tall towers of the church. Doctor
Cruz crushed out the spark In his
cigarette under his heel, and for .
moment his hands were idle. The
mariachis were growing restless,
understanding nothing that had been
said In English. Reed Barton sat
easily with legs crossed. and Dwight
continued calmly to smoke.
There are motives recognizable
in the death Of George Rumble"
Rogers began once more. For
Margaret Nichols there was no op-
portunity. Sonora Chatfield has ad-
mitted she went to the wharf that
night to find someone to send for
her husbands fishing equipment.
Felipe and Pancho went on that err
rand for her. She returned to the
yacht. She asserts, however, that