The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-08-21

to something, but all it has given me
is the reward Of saving myself and
possibly retrieving Lucie. AS for the
larger game, the bigger quarry-it's
all wasted. I haven't unraveled a
single thread; the first real clue came
to me tonight. purely by accident.
Memphis kzy Gumberts! That's the
lead to follow! I'll get rid Of this
Midnight Masquer foolishness and go
after the real game"
Gramont was to discover that it is
not nearly so easy to be, rid Of folly
as it is to don the TESTERS cap and
bells; a fact which one Simplicissimus
had discovered to his sorrow three
hundred years earlier. But, as Ora
mont was not versed in the line of
literature, he yet had the discovery
ahead of him. RI - = -
- Hammenaaxe-enteredst the room with
the tin bo9A ftom. which Gramont took
his stock certificates issued by Bob
Maillard's oil 'ceYpany' He pocketed
i 'ITl go to Maillard the banker-Jo-
seph Maillard7 first thing in the morn
ing, and offer him my stock. He'll
be mighty glad to get It at discount,
knowing that it is in his sons COM
pany. You see, the son doesn't confide
in the old man particularly. I'll let
the father win a little money on the
deal with me, and by doing this I'll
manage to save the greater part Of my
Investment"
"Holy mackerel" Hammond ex-
ploded in a burst Of laughter as he
caught the idea. "Say, If this amt
the. richest thing ever pulled! When
the crash comes, the fancy kid will be
singing his dad good and hard, eh?"
Exactly; and I think his dad can
afford to be stung much better than I
can," agreed Grahont, cheerfully.
Nov let's take those packages and
stow them away in the luggage COM
partment Of the car. I'm getting
nervous at the thought Of having
them around here, and they'll be per-
fectly safe there overnight - safer
there than here, in fact. Tomorrow
you can take the car out Of town and
send the packages by parcels post
from, some small town.
''In that they ought to be de-
livered here on Wednesday. You'd
better wear one Of my suits. leaving
your chauffeur'ss outfit here, and don't
halt the car in front Of the post Office
where you mail the packages"
II get you," assented Hammond.
sagely. But what about them avia-
tors clothes?"
"Take them with you-better get
them wrapped up here and now. You
can toss them into ditch anywhere"
Hammond obeyed.
Ten minutes afterward the two men
eft the room, carrying the packages
Of loot and the bundle containing the
aviator's uniform. They descended
to the courtyard in the rear Of the
house. Here was a small garden, with
q fountain in its center. Behind this
were the stables, which had long been
disused as such, and which were now
occupied only by the car Sof Gramont.
It was with undisguised relief that
Gramonk now. saw the stun actually
out Of the house. Within the last few
hours he had become intensely afraid
Of joachim Fell. Concentrating himself
upon the man, picking up Information
guardedly, he had that day assimilatsd
many small items which increased his
sense Of peril from that quarter.
Straws, no more, but quite significant
straws. Gramont realized clearly that
If the police ever searched his rooms
and found this loot, he would be lost.
There could be no excuse that would
hold water for minute against such
evidence.
In the garage Hammond switched
On the lights Of the car By the glow