The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-09-11
,fContinued from .lass lssus)

. = r. 1cSS 3 a
s'Don't arrest him, Gramont."
sWhat?" Gramont gasped.
"Don't touch him, saidl Get in all
the others, no matter who they are,
bat leave Fell alone"
"You id coward!" shouted Gra-
mont, In heat of fury. $50 this is
the way You keep your promises, is it?
And thought you were above all In
fuences = real American! You're
NJ Of governor-oh, don't want
to- hear any more from you"
He jerked up the receiver.
There was a moment of dead silence
in the room. The chief mopped his
brow. in evident relief. joachim Fell
sat back in his chair and scrutfnized
GraInont with his thin-lipped smile.
eramont sat helpless, wrung by cha
grin, rage and impotency. There was
nothing he could say, nothing he could
%. The man behind him had failed
him. The entire power Of the state.
which had been behind him, had failed
him. There was no higher power to
which he could appeal, except the
power of the federal government. His
head jerked up sharply. -.
f"Fell, rye got evidence on you, and
I've got the evidence to put this lot
terry business into federal hands. Boys!
come. in here!"
, At his shout the door opened and
two Of his men entered. Gramont
locked at the chief.
you're willing to take care of all
the rest Of the gang, chief?"
Sure" assented the officer. !
a"All right. Boys, turn over the
visle crowd to the chief, and I'll trust
yeu to see that they're properly
booked and jailed. Turn over all the
evidence likewise, except that mail
sack. Have that brought up here, to
this room, and see that the corridor
outside is kept guarded. Get me?"
The two saluted. "Yes, sir"
Good. Send to the federal build
ing, find out where there's an agent
of the Department Of Justice, and get
him here. Have him here inside Of
fifteen minutes" ...- ..a.-
'My dear Gramont, your devotion
to duty is Roman in spirit" said ia
chin Fell, lightly. 81 really regret that
circumstances so conspire to defeat
yoal Why. can't you be satisfied with
bagging so many other victims? You
can't bag me"
cant II" said Gramont, taking a
cigar and biting at it. He was cooler
now. by heavens, Fell, there's one
thing in this country that you and no
other man can reach with any influ
ence, political bribery or crooked con-
i nections-and that's the government
Of the United States! You can reach
judges and senators and governors,
but you can't reach the unknown and
humble men who carry the badge of
the Department of Justice!'
Fell made slight gesture.
Human nature, my dear Gramont.
It is quite true that have not estab-
lished this gang of criminals, as you
call them, without taking proper pre-
cautions. Memphis Izzy, for instance.
has influence that reaches far and
wide. So have I. So have others in
the party. 1 give you my assurance
that your Department Of Justice man
will not arrest me-"
6ramont ,paled.
joachim Fell glanced ut his watch.
"Lucie will be here at any minute
now" he observed. II suppose your
sense of duty will force you to dis
close everything to herr
4ramont merely nodded, tight
Tipped. A knock at the door, and one
Of his men entered with the sack of
mail they had taken as evidence.
Il. "A lady is coming here ut any mo-
nent," said Gramont. "Allow her to
enter"
The other saluted and departed
- sense of duty is a terrible thing"
and joachim Fell sighed. "What about
the oil company? Are you going to
let Miss Ledanois' fortunes go to
wrack and ruin?"
"Better that" said Gramont, than
to have her profit come through crimi-
aal money and means. She'd be the
Hrst to say so, herself. But III tell
you this: I'm convinced that there is
ell under that land tof hers! If she'll
agree, I'll put up what money have
against her land; We'll be. able to have
one well drilled at least, on the
chapce!" ~-s~~----7-----"~
.If8 it's dry" said Fell; 'you'll be
breke."a ....
II can always get work." and Gra-
mont laughed harshly. q ~
Fen regarded him in silence MO
ment. Then: II think Lucie loves you,
Gramont."
A trembling seized Gramont; ful
srious impulse to shoot the man down
as he sat. Did he have the baseness
to try and save himself through Lu-
Gle? Something of his stified anger
must have shown in his eyes, for ia.
chin Fell laid down his cigar and con-
tinued quickly: 49,. s
'sDon't misunderstood. / say that ]
think she cares for you: it is merely
surmise on my part. Lucie is one per: