Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-01-21

enjoying himself hugely at the ex-
pense of Lombardo. His face, how
ever, was more solemn than that Of
a judge. Lombardo started slightly
at Rogers question.
"Yo no Sc, senor," he admitted,
reverting to Spanish in his confu-
| sion.
II think, Senior Lombardo," said
Rogers, dropping with a smile into
| Spanish, 'you will let Pedro out Of
jail when I finish telling you who is
the guilty person." Lombardo's only
response was an involuntary lifting
of the eyebrows.
However," Rogers took up again
in English in more serious vein,
1.-THE name of the guilty one must
wait a few minutes longer. will
come to it 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. If 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 go. All of 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, I know of no motive
upon the part of anyone for the
death of Sam Chatfield. Of course,
one never knows what's between a
husband and a wife. Did Sonora
Chatfield have some motive un-
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 Chatfield's death for the
moment, and 60 on to George Rum
ble's. I think that in it we will find
something Of interest-perhaps the
key we are seeking"
Lombardo shifted in his chair and
looked away for 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
she did not see Rumble, who was
murdered on the wharf that night.
There was a motive for the murder
of Rumble on the part of Dwight
Nichols; he and Rumble quarreled
only a short time before Rumble
died. Rumble knew that Dwight
was the man who rushed in panic
out of Katherine Chatfield's house
the night she was murdered; he held
it over him, as it were, and Dwight
believed it was for the purpose of
blackmail. After the two separat-
ed, Dwight, in the presence of Bar
ry Madison, Sam Chatfeld and me,
made remark which could be in
terpreted as threat. He said that
he would have to manage some way
to quiet Rumble definitely"
Dwight was unmoved by this re-
cital; he tapped the ash from his
cigarette and continued to gaze
calmly at Rogers. The latter paused
20 sip his glass of limeade before
he went on.
"Another motive, not so strong,
perhaps, is one that can be assigned
to Reed Barton. George Rumble
had fallen in love with Elsa. You
knew that didn't you, Reed?"
"Yes."
"Again, Senior Lombardo," said
Rogers. turning back to the chief,
love is a possible motive. How
strong? How shall it be evaluated?"
He paused only briefly. However,
there's very definite motive, and
think the real one, to account for
Rumble's murder - Rumble knew
too much. He boosted that he knew
who the killer was. What, in that
case, will murderer do? He will
strike at the first opportunity, for
he prizes his safety above all else.
And that's what happened"
Lombardo stirred uneasily in his
chair. who, Senior Rogers" he
asked, "heard Senior Rumble boast
that he knew the murderer"
Barry Madison, Sam Chatfeld,
Dwight Nichols, and l."
"So?"
Reed Barton shifted his feet
and cleared his throat lightIv at