Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-07-21

again, thenF querleu huiiiHoru' {"
gerly.
NO. I'm through. I've got what
wanted. Still, l don't wish to return
the stuff before Wednesday Asl
Wednesday. the end of the carniva.
season. Suppose you get out the loot
and find me some boxes. And be sure
they have no name on them or any
store labels"
Hammond leaped up and vanished II
the room adjoining. Presently he re-
turned. bearing several cardboard
boxes. which he dumped on the center
table. I'm blamed glad you're done.
believe mel" he uttered, fervently
glancing up at Gramont. Ears Pm
concerned l don't care much, but I'd
sure hate to see the bulls turn in a
guy like you, cap'n. Here we are.
Want me to keep each bunch separate,
don't your"
"Sure. I'll be writing some notes to
go inside"
Gramont went to a buhl writing
desk in the corner of the room, and sat
GOWN. ne lOOh Oul MS hNtSpNNh' wv
off several sheets, and from his pocket
produced a pencil having an extremely
hard lead. He wrote a number OF
notes, which, except for the addresses,
were identical in content:
Dear Sir:
Il inclose herewith certain Jewelry
and articles, also currency, recently
obtained by me under your kind aus
pieces.
81 trust that you will assume the
responsibility of returning these
things to the various guests who lost
them while under your roof. l regret
n discomfort occasioned by my TAX
ing them as a loan, which | now re-
turn. Please convey to the several
owners my profound esteem and my
assurance that | shall not in future
appear to trouble anyone, the carni-
val season having come to an end,
and with it my little jest.
1.-THE MIDNIGHT MASQUER."
Gathering up these notes in his
hand, Gramont went to the fireplace.
He tossed the pencil into the fire, fol-
lowing 1t with the notebook.
Cant take chances with that man
Fell" he explained. "All ready, SER
geant. Let's go down the list n by
one."
From the trunk Hammond produced
ticketed packages, which he placed
on the table. Gramont selected one.
opened it, carefully packed the con-
tents in one of the boxes, placed the
proper addressed note on top, and
handed it to the chauffeur.
Wrap it up and address it. Give
the return. address of John Smith,
Bayou Teche."
One by one they went through the
packages of loot in the same manner
Before them on the table, as they
worked, glittered little heaps of rings,
brooches, watches, currency; jewels
that flashed garishly with colored
fires, historic and famous jewels
plucked from the aristocratic heart of
the southland, heirlooms of a past gen.
Grafton side by side with platinum
crudities of the present fashion.
There had been heartburnings in
the loss of these things, Gramont
knew. He could picture to himself
something of what had followed his
robberies: family Quarrels, new pur-
chases In the gem marts, bitter re-
proaches, fresh mortgages on old her
itages, veXatiOnS of wealthy dowagers.
shrugs of N by the n~ouveaxx
riches; %perchance lives altered
divorces
There's a lot of human life behind
these baubles, sergeant" he reflected
aloud, a cold smile upon his lips as
he worked. when they come back to
their owners, I'd like to be lowering
around in an invisible mantle to watch
results! Could we only know it, we're
probably affecting the lives of a great
many people-for good and i'll. These
things stand for money; and there's
nothing like money, or the lack of it.
to guide the destinies of people,
you said it." and Hammond
grinned. I'm here to prove it, amt
/? l amt pulling no more gunplay.
now | got me a steady job"
"And a steady friend, old man.
added Gramont. did it occur to you
that maybe l was as much in need at
Il friend as you were?
He had come to the last box. now
that which must go to Joseph Mail
+"a of the money ana S,.a~s
pins which he placed in the box he
laid a thin packet of papers. He
tapped them with his finger.
"Those papers, sergeant To get
them, I've been playing the whole
game. To get them and not to let
their owner suspect that 1 was after
themi Now they're going back to
their owner."
"Who's he?" demanded Hammond.
young Maillard-son of the banker.
He roped me into an oil company;
caught me, like a sucker, almost the
first week l was here. l put pretty