The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1922-06-22
The tale Of a carnival
Joke that led to grim reall-
ties.
CHAPTER T..
Carnival.


nd Checkers club. and gazed out upon
/. Ne riotOus streets OF New Orleans.
Hslf an hour he had been waiting here
The lounge room for DIR. Cyril Ans
NJ. a middle-aged bachelor whe had
racticed in Opelousas for twenty
uars, and who had come 10 the city
n, the Mardi Gras festivities. An
aher man might have seemed irritated
X the walt, but Jachin Fell was quite
nufied.
he had much the air of a clerk. His
Natures were thin and uncomfortable;
Ik pale eyes constantly wore an ex-
.uesson Of wondering aloofness, as
Aough he saw around him much that
,s yalnly tried to understand. In his
n,lre manner was a shy reticence. He
has no clerk, however; this was evil
snt from his attire. He was CARRIED
Nom head to foot in soberly blending
Aades OF gray whose richness was
ko.able only at close view. One fan
HE'D him very precise sort of man, an
Ma maid OF the wrong sex.
Doctor Ansley, an Inverness flung
Mer his evening clothes, entered the
lounge room, and Fell turned to him
vIth a dry, toneless chuclile.
You're the limit Did you forget
W we're going to the Maillards' to-
Mlshti However, we need not leave for
lheen minutes yet, at least"
Doctor Ansley laid aside his cape.
dick and hat and dropped into one Of
XAt comfortable big chairs.
you intend to mask for the Mail
Eds'r Ansley cast his eye over the
Mrsy business attire Of the little man.
N Il never mask" Jachin Fell shook
b head. "I1l get domino and 90 as
am. Excuse me-Tll order a domino
pw, Back In moment"
Doctor Ansley followed the slight
ure Of the other man with specula-
De eyes. Well as he knew Jachin
NJ. he invariably found the man q
urce Of puzzled speculation.
During many years Jachin Fell had
|sn a member OF the most exclusive
Nv Orleans clubs. He was even re-
eTed In the inner circles OF Creole
dety. which In itself was evidence SUI
pine as 10 his position. At this par
uar club he was famed as a wizard
nner Of chess. He never entered q
ARMAMENT. yet he consistently defeat
the champions In private matches
isated them with a bewilderlng ease,
NY and apologetic ease. an ease
Aich left the beholders incredulous
aghast.
With all this. joachim Fell was very
Hch OF a mystery, even among his
sest friends. Very little was known
him; he was lawyer. and certainly
obtained Offices in the Mals0n
inche building. but he never APP
pared In the courts and no case OF his
sadIng was known.
Ansley knew him as well as did most
en' and Ansley knew of a few who
ud boast Of having been guest IN
eAin Fell's home. There was moth
an Invalid. Of whom Fell sometimes
pse and to whom he appeared to de-
himself. The family, an old one
The city. promised TO die cut with
chin Fell.
Ansley pulled at his cigar and con-
pred these things. Outside, In the
Orleans streets, was rocketing
mad mirth of carnival. The week
tedlng Mardi Gras was at Its close.
Vow, as ever, was Mardi Gras sym
NED by Mosques. In New Orleans
masquerade was not the pale and
lul frolic OF colder cliner, where
occasion is but one for display OF
els and costumes. and where actual
treatment Of identity Is a farce.
In New Orleans were Jewels and
fumes in a prOfusion of splendor;
mere WINS preserved the underlying
Of the masque itself-that In con-
nent Of identity lay the life OF the
Rl
men Jachin Fell returned and light
uls cigar he sank into one OF the
anous chairs beside Ansley and In
ed newspaper lying across the
VS. knee, Its tiarlng headlines
adng out blackly.
what's that about the Midnight
gaerf He's not appeared agaIni"
Nhat" Ansley glanced nj him In
pnse. You've not heard1 Good
ems man! He showed up last
at the Lapeyrouse dance. two
u.es before midnight, as usual A
SuNe had been engaged, but was
sard found locked In closet,
~ with his own handouts. The
suer wore his usual costume-and
through the party famously,
t,ug everyone in sight. Then he
through the doors and van.
|" Pointed his cigar at the ceiling.
sighed. "Ah, most interesting
,Vot was valued at about hun
thOusandY"
thought You said you'd not heard
demanded Ansiey.
laughed softly and shyly. II
merely hazarded a guess"