The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-10-19


covert glance at GramOnt. This fell
low is your chauffeur, amt he? Well,
we got To take him in to Houma, that's
all"
where's the sherif's bodyT" de-
manded Gramont, quietly.
over there" Chacherre geStured.
1--WE amt had a chance To bring him
back yet-thls fellow kept us busy.
Maybe you want 10 frame up an alibi
for him2'
Gramont paid no attention to the
snecring tone of this last. He regard
ed C~hacherre tixedly, thinking hard,
keeping himself we'll In hand.
"You say the sheriff was here, then
went over toward the Ledanois land?'
he asked. "Did he 60 alone, or were
YOU with him.
1--WE were fixin' 70 follow him. as
serted C~hacherre. confidently. This
was I'll Gramont wanted To know
that the man was lying. I'VE were
traiIiu' along after him when he
stepped into the bushes, This man of
YOURS was standing over him with a
knife"
Il was. too, when they found mel
was cuttln' me a fiShpoIe," said Ham
mond. ~ulkily. He was plainly begin
ming 10 bc impressed and alarmed by
the evidence against him. Gramont
only nodded.
$50 one saw the actual murder,
them
40 need for it," said Chacherre,
way. EhT
Il suppose not" answered Gramont,
ais eyes fastened ~thoughtfulIy on
Hammond. The latter caught the look,
let his jaw fall In establishment, then
flushed ana compressed his lipS-and
waited. Gramont glanced at Cha
ch"rrc, ana launched a chance shaft.
you're Ben C%hacherrc, aren't you?
. DO you work for Mr.. Fen"
The chance shot scored. yes
said Chacherre, his eyes narrowing.
"Nyhat are YOU doing here, them"
For an instant Chacherre was off
guard. He did not know how much
or little-GramOnt knew: but he did
know that Gramont was aware who
had taken the loot Of the Midnight
MaSqucr from the luggage compart-
m"nt Of the car. This knowledge very
naturally, threw him back on the de-
Tense of which he was most sure.
81 came on an errand for my mas
ter he said, and with those words
gave the game into HramontS hands.
There was a IN of silence.
Gramont stood apparently in muSing
thought, conscious That every eye was
fastened upon hln, ana ihat one false
move would now spell disaster. lie
gave no sign of the tremendous shock
that Chacherre'S words had Just given
him; when he spoke, II was quietly
and cOolly
Then your master is evidently as
ISOLATED with Memphis lzzN Gumherts'
who owns this place here. Is That
right
Both Hammond ma tliaChrrrc 5
two friends started at this.
81 don't know anything about that,
returned Chacherre, with a shrue
which did not entirely conceal his un.
easiness. II know that we've got a
murderer here, and that Wen have &c
dispose of him. Do you object?'
"Of course not" said Gramont
calmly. "Step aside and give me q
moment in private with Hammond
Then by all means take him in tC
Houma. I'd suggest that YOU tie hin
IN or make use of handouts If the
sheriff brought any along. Then you'C
better take In the body of the sheriff
also, Hammond n word with youi'
This totally u~pevpected acouies
cence on the mart of Gromont seemed
to sim Chocherre into inartion II,
half moved as though uncertain
vbatber to hor Cro,,ont from tho nris
oner then he steamed aside as era
mont advanced gesture IN his tvv,
comnanions nreveutad them from IN
terfering
.Keon ,em co,erod tbo,ob no eoid
shiftira bie avn rino eIigh,Iv ON,
wotobinc Win . soou., sc sTs,icion
cromort ;cnoroa hi, ond rront -,
to uommord with q IooL of uorrirc
.you,n horo 90 .rn,,it 80 ,his ole