Hungry Horse news., 1948-05-21

NAAN iiOWy Wal Sdl Sl-e1ild tllC L 7
n of you too-Papa and Berta are e
ne pecting you all out to dinner tonigl
ly at the rancho. Jimmy and Rec
* are coming too, I think. If the
or get back from the mine in time"
e, At eight-thirty that night the hug
IS studded doors of the old ranch hous
at the edge of town swung back
d let Huntoon Rogers and me inside
T The house was a relic of other NOR
spacious days before time and revo
: luton had reduced the acreage O
, the rancho. The others of the part.
S had preceded us, and we found then
all gathered in a huge room filled
with ancient black walnut furniture
marvelously carved. Sam Chatfelc
and Berta, whom we had met that
February evening at the beach club,
greeted us with enthusiasm. That
night in California Berta had been
restrained, confined by strange con-
Ventlons, unresponsive; this evening
she was free of those, at home in her
native land, and in the house where
her family for several generations
before her had lived.
Most welcome, senores," she
said with marvellous smile and a
small soft hand extended impulsive-
ly. I am happy to have you with
u.s."
Later that evening, Sam Chatfield
said: Hollywood? Yes, I enjoyed it
the last time I was there, but 1 like
this better. Berta is child in some
things, the same loves and hates OF
a child, the quick resentments of in
jury whether fancied or real" He
was speaking to Huntoon Rogers and |
me in the sec1usion Of small book
lined study which opened off the liv-
ing room. Berta was entertaining
the others in the huge high-ceilinged
living room.
You were in California at the
time your sister died, were you not?
At the funeral, n7ean?' asked Rog-
ers casually.
A remarkable change came over
Sam Chatfeld's face, his whole man.
her was transformed. From a, Sc
'ene, quiet-spoken man of middle
years, who talked calmly of the Mex
can life that surrounded him.. he
vent to extremes of loquacity, lean :
ng forward in his chair, points of !
light glowing in the depths of his [
ray eyes-the same eyes that Elsa (
lad.
Yes. Yes, we were there, Berta
md I. We were there before the [
uneral, before Kitty died, in fact. (
We were at the house. that night. 7
'lept there, and next morning-she \
vas found dead" [
Rogers shook his head slowly. "It (
must have been shock to xou, 7
ir," he remarked. \
"Shock? Of course. 1t was very |
lWkward, also. We were not sup {
'osed to be stopping with my Sis +
er; we were registered at hotel. \
n Pasadena" l
"You say-aWkward?" {
eyes, Mr.. Rogers. My sister 4
would not recognize Berta, my wife. \
imagine that! My sister with ideas Y
ike that! And Berta-you see u
round you, gentlemen, what Berta
S used to from childhood. She was
ducated in Paris. She is not an in {
erior, as my sister stubbornly chose
D believe. 1t was that fact which /
made for the awkwardness. 1 kept I
from her as long as I could /
-itty's attitude toward her. On our /
early trips to Los Angeles since
'erta and were first married, Kit /
y would send word that she was
way, or that she was i'll and could
OF see anyone. Berta was puzzled;
he did not understand. /
"But this last time-I mean the
me Kitty died. could no longer
retend to Berta, and so l tele- /
honed from the hotel after dinner.
said that we would be over to
ae her, to make call. But after
hung up Berta said: No. We take
ur luggage. We stay at least one
light with your sister, You see,
ne realized the situation in spite of
~ effort to keep it from her. She /
as determined to force the issue"
Sam Chatfield ceased talking and
at back in his chair. After more
Ian year the subject still agi-
lted him; his face was flushed I'M
er its tan.
''What happened?" Rogers prod
ed gently. =
For moment Sam Chatfeld held
IS silence. "You see, gentlemen, :
lisa has told me about you-your
lterest in my sisters death. 1 am
eng very frank with you; 1 hope
N helpful"
"I'm sure you would be-" said
ogers.
''Tbat's why I say it was very
for me-and Berta. That's
by hurried back to Mazatlan aft
: the funeral. That last night of
er life there was a very disgrace
i scene. My sister insulted Ber- Y
!. And me-" ;,
"You didn't 60 back to your no. O.
II" 9
''No. Berta-" He smiled now with
nusement at the recollection.
3erta can be very stubborn, most a
tractively stubborn. She puts her Y
tie foot down and she said: NO. Ct
m. We stay one night as her O.