Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 January 1937 — Page 15

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BEGIN HERE TODAY The gaiety of the Christmas party at “Thunder Mesa,” the de Forest hacienda in New Mexico, has a tragic ending when Pearl Sam de Forest, oldest of three brothers, .is found dead with a knife in his throat. Each of the de Forest brothers has the first name ‘“Pearl.’”” As a family they cling to traditions, seldom see outsiders. Pearl John is the youngest brother, Pearl Pierre next. Others at the house are: Tante Josephine, old and an invalid; Betty Welch, her young companion; Ramon Vasquez and Angelique Abeyta, guests at the party; Professor Shaw, archeologist, and Bob Graham, tire salesman pstopping at the hacienda until his car is repaired. The body of Pearl Sam, placed in the. house chapel, disappears. Bob hears Tante Josephine, in a hysterical outburst, accuse each of the remaining brothers of Pearl Sam’s murder, Ramon and Angelique see Pearl Pierre poking about the embers of the burned Christmas greens. Later ihey discover that the body of Pearl Sam has been burned, Back at the hacienda, Angelique flirts with Pearl Pierre to see if she can learn from him anything about the murder. Next morning Pearl Pierre is missing. The Louse and grounds are searched and Pearl Pierre’s body is found below" a rocky ledge, the same knife that killed Pearl Sam in his throat. : NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

T was, beyond doubt, another murder. Pearl Pierre had not slipped on the snow and fallen to his death. There had been a mysterious hand striking him down with the knife, then pitching him over the edge of the mesa. Pearl John stared down at his brother’s lifeless body. : Ramon Vasqeuz took off his overcoat and carefully covered the body, then motioned to the Indian and Bob to help carry it to the house. Betty slipped her arm into ‘Pearl John’s and the strange little procession started back

across the snow. Not a word was |

spoken ° until they entered the patio. Then Pearl John seemed to have recovered enough to direct them to take the dead man to the chapel. This time, however, as they left the room he locked the door and put the key in his pocket. “We don’t want anything to happen as it. did to Pearl Sam,” he said. “I think we had all better go to the living room now and see what we tan find out.” As they walked to the front of the house every one was keenly conscious that each of the, others was a potential murderer. This time there could be no doubt that the person who had committed the crime was on the mesa. The sinister knife had been on the premises, althowgh every one had supposed it had been put away in safe keeping. The crude, hand-chipped point of " black, glass-like rock had struck twice at the household on Thunder Mesa. Would there be another victim? If so, who would it be?

” 2 2

S though he, too, had the same thought, Pearl John announced, “I have decided to destroy the obsidian knife. It seems; still, to crave sacrificial blood and I'm going to pound it to powder.” ° Prof. Shaw moved forward and looked down at Pearl John intently. “You can’t do that, de Forest!” he

protested, his voice shaking. “You'd |

be destroying one of the most valuable relics in this country. I beg you to sell it to the Museum and let me take it away where it can be studied and preserved. Almost any price can be arranged. Don’t act so hastily. It would set back the work of archeologists here in New Mexico immeasurably to destroy the knife. ~ I hope, by means of it, to prove a contention I've been working on for years.” “As if the knife hasn't already

played its part, as far as you are

concerned, Professor,” Pearl John icily. “Now, de Forest, that’s treating Prof. Shaw pretty roughly isn’t it?” Ramon interceded. “We all understand what a blow you've just had, but, after all, you haven't a clear idea, yourself, what happened to the knife when your oldest brother’s body disappeared, have you?” Pearl.John colored and, after a minute, he turned to the professor. “Forgive me, please. I shouldn’t have - said what I did. But—" his lips set “hard, “I still am going to dispose of the knife. I shall never have a minute’s peace until that is done.” Ramon laid a hand on his host’s arm. “Listen, de Forest. I've an archeologic interest in the knife, too. Although I've never had the chance to examine it closely, from what the * professor says it must be of more than ordinary value..I'd think twice before destroying it.” 2 2 2

“10?” Pearl John did not say what was in his mind, but the manner in which he looked at the other man was eloquent. Ramon shrugged and turned away. Pearl John went to the door and called a servant. “Tell Broken Shield to bring the heaviest sledge hammer from the shop here to me,” he directed. “You may as well all see me do this,” he added meaningly. “I think well all feel safer when we know the knife is no longer in existence.” Prof. Shaw walked rapidly up and down the room while they waited, as though trying to think of some way to dissuade de Forest. Finally Bob said irritably, “For gosh sake, Professor, do you have to prance around like that? We're all on edge, you know.” “Pardon.” The paused in the doorway. “I'll be in my room if you want me. I can’t stay here and see this thing done: It’s too outrageous, too preposterous!” He, stamped off down, the hall.

answered

archeologist

“The Indian, coming to the door

just then, distracted everyone’s attention from the excited scientist.

“Stay here, Broken Shield,” or-.

dered Pear: John. “I'm going to see that the obsidian knife is destroyed and you may as well be the one to do it. I'd like you to know,

~~ too, that the knife is no longer

available for use.” His tone was biting as he looked at the man with 8 penetrating glance. “You mean,” began the Indian, “you want me break knife?” “Pound it to powder, so we won't

“find it in some one else’s throat,” |

replied de Forest. : ‘No.” The Indian drew himself up. “Sacred knife. Indian gods bring bad medicine to any one who knife.” 2

E FOREST shrugged disdainfully. “It's already brought plenty of bad medicine to two persons in this house. I'm going to see to it that nobody else goes to the Happy Hunting Grounds by its help.” Once more the Indian spoke earnestly, his dark face suddenly alight with feeling. Bob watched him, trying to fathom just what emotion was in his mind. “Knife came from sacred Kiva,” Broken Shield said. “Very old—very strong medicine. Broken Shield not touch it to harm knife. The gods strike sure—pronto.” “There certainly seem to be a lot of people interested in keeping this cursed old thing in existence,” remarked Pearl John sarcastically. “Perhaps, Broken Shield, you can tell us just how the knife disappeared after my oldest ‘brother’s death?” r “No,” answered the Indian. “I not know. Not see until today.” “And it was in Pearl Pierre's throat when you got down there to his body on thé rocks?” demanded Pearl John. : “Yes. I see it. It was in throat.” The man motioned with one hand to his own neck. : “Um!” Pearl John took a turn about the room while the others watched him silently. “In his throat, eh?” He stopped opposite the Indian, his lips set in the thin line that Bob had noticed more than once. “In his throat—” Pearl John repeated. “Just as it'll be in some other throat unless it is destroyed. There are entirely too many people whe seem to have a reason for wishing that knife kept.” ” 4 ” AMON leaped to his feet in J rage. “I resent that implication, de Forest,” he roared. “Just

because Prof. Shaw and I see no reason for ruining a valuable artifact is no proof that we've been murdering your family. Since you've been so free to express your suspicions, let me remind you that, after all, you are the one here who really gains by the death of the older members of the family. As for him,” pointing to the Indian, “the knife undoubtedly holds some religious significance.” : Pearl John’s face turned scarlet with fury. Then, with an effort he got control of himself and said quietly, “We won't discuss this further, Vasquez. There’s been too much blood spilled already. I am going to the chapel now and get the obsidian knife. If no one else will do it, I shall destroy it myself and take whatever curses heathen gods care to send upon my head.” He walked quickly to the docr, where he turned. “I should prefer that you all wait here until I come back,” he said and then disappeared, “I feel as though I had a box seat at a blood-curdling mystery play,” Bob said in a low tone to Betty, beside him. “So do I,” she answered. “It’s as though we were waiting for the curtain to go up and show us how it all happened.” She shivered and looked around. Bob took her hand and held it fast, thinking as he looked down at the soft white fingers what it would mean to him if anything should happen to her. Then he felt those fingers grow tense. Pearl John was standing in the doorway and all eyes immediately turned to him. “The chapel door was still locked,” he said slowly, “but some one had removed the obsidian knife.”

(To Be Continued)

DIFFERENT

LD Johnny Fenton, who played ; the violin near the entrance to | the park to collect nickels and dimes, was worried. His friend, the poor widow Waskowitz, had been ill and unable to work for weeks. There was some question as to her elig-

ibility for government relief, and meanwhile, her two small children seemed on their way to starvation. Like others who took pity on the little family, old Johnny had given part of his meager substance to them, but it wasn’t enough. The children needed food, clothing and warmth. “Dang shame!” muttered Johnny, running a thin hand over his scraggly beard, then warming the hand in a pocket of his frayed overcoat. “If on’y I could get some money som’eres.” : Sleet had been falling and, with approaching twilight, the air had grown colder, Old Johnny tucked his violin and bow under one arm, and walked into the park, taking a stand near some shrubbery that shielded him from the biting wind.

” 2 ” S he stood, stamping his feet, a strange thing happened. He lieard some one on the other side of the shrubbery and, peeping around it, he saw a well-dressed man look

about him stealthily, then bend to a crevice in one of the great boulders that gave the park a certain viilderness. The man's actions were patently furtive. Old Johnny watched him with interest. The man slipped one hand under nis coat, produced a small paper package, tucked it into the crevices, then quickly covered it with twigs and leaves that he gathered near by. . : “What in the world is he up to?” Johnny wondered. “Don’t look like a& crook. . . . Now he’s sneakin’ away!” : Curiosity got the better of Johnny. When the man had gone, the old fiddler went over to the boulder and kicked the leaves and twigs away from the hiding place in the crevice. His searching fingers found the package. Undoing the paper wrapping, he found a small brass box. He lifted the lid—and gasped as a fifty-dollar bill fluttered out!

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E picked up the bill and, for L a long moment, stood staring at it, amazed. | Fifty dollars! What a lot of things that would buy for the Waskowitz kids! But it wasn't his money. Then, too, it might have been stolen. Johnny shook his head soberly, put the money back in the box, and the box back in the crevice. “Johnny,” he said to himself, “that’s the devil's work, to tempt you. You keep out of this. If you got any sense, you'll know nothing about it.” He wrapped his violin in a newspaper and went home to his shabby boarding house.

8 2 2

HE could not, however, get his mind off the cold and hungry Waskowitzes. That evening, after supper, he determined to go round and see them. It was but a step to their tenement home. * The conditions he found were heart-rending. - | Mrs. ~Waskowitz was worse. Some one had called a neighborhood nurse, and she said the woman should go to a hospital at once. But what about. the children? Louie, the older boy, sat sniffling on a broken chair, mute with the hopeless misery life had thrust upon him. Gus, the baby, lay wrapped in an old coat on the floor. pale, whimpering, his blue eyes large and questioning. Old Johnny simply couldn't stand it. His jaw set as a resolution formed.. .. Johnny's fingers found the package in the rock in the park. Ten minutes later, he was back at the Waskowitz lodging. Still more minutes and, from ‘a taxicab, he was entering a home for children. He had Louie by the hand, and little Gus on his arm. He thrust a $50 bill into an astonished attendant’s hand. “You take it and keep ’em here,” he ordered. “You' do the best you can while the money lasts. I du no's

By Harold Standish Corbin Daily Short Story— y

Lducing small round logs, yellowish-

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some. An’ if I go to jail, I don't care.” : ” u 2 HE next day, nickels and dimes were few and far between for old Johnny. Late in the afternoon, he salvaged from a refuse can an

old newspaper in which to wrap his violin, and prepared to go home.

As he folded the paper around the instrument, he suddenly stopped, and stared at a one-column heading. He unfolded the paper and slowly read the story beneath the headline: “There was much digging in Grentham Park last night, opposite the home of Mrs. Gordon Van Klester, to find the hidden prize for treasure hunters at a party given by Mrs. Van Klester for the benefit of the Fairlea Home for Impoverished Children. However, the prize -- a $50 bill—was never found. Some one else got to it first. “It had been enclosed in a brass cigaret box and had been hidden by a friend of Mrs. Van Klester’s in a crevice of a rock in the park. When one of the treasure hunters located the spot, he found in the box, in place of the $50 bill, a scrawled note which read: ‘I ain't never stole anything before but F am taking this money. for two- children which are hungry and cold pleas excuse me you would do the saim if you could see them.’ Thus, through a strange twist of circumstances, the money seems ‘to have reached the objective for which the treasure hunt was held—though through different channels, . . .” Old Johnny sighed, tucked his violin into the newspaper, and started home.

THE END

1936, by United

Syndicate, Inc.)

(Copyright, Feature

The characters in this story are fictitious. ro ————————————

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