Who was the chief in the laughing man?

In "The Laughing Man" by J.D. Salinger, the chief character is the Laughing Man himself, who is a fictional figure created by the narrator's friend, Chappy. The Laughing Man serves as a symbol of innocence and the complexities of childhood. He is depicted as a heroic figure whose adventures captivate the young boys in the story, particularly the narrator. The character embodies themes of imagination, loss, and the bittersweet nature of growing up.