Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-12-07
CHAPTER XII
The Ganqsters.


forward.
He was thinking about that odd
mention of joachim Fell-had Cha
cherre lied in saying he had come here
on his masters business? Perhaps.
The man had come in Fells car. and
would not hesitate to lie about using
the car. For the moment Gramont
put away the circumstance, but did not
forget it.
He walked openly toward the Gum
berts buildings. thinking that he would
have time for a good look around the
place before dusk fell he would then
get off for Houma and attend to Ham
mond's defense.
AS for the place before him, he was
convinced that it was abandoned. Had
any one, other than Chacherre and
his two friends, been about the build
ings, the late excitement would have
brought out the fact. No one had ap-
peared and the buildings seemed va
cant.
Gramonts intent was simple and
straightforward In case he found as
he expected to find, any evidence of il
legal occupation about the place-as
the sheriff seemed to have discovered
to his cost-he would lay Chacherre
and the other two men by the heels
that night in Houma. He would then
go on to New Orleans and have Gum
berts arrested, although he had no ex-
pectation that the master crook could
be held on the murder-accessory
charge. If this place were used for
the lotteries, even, he was fairly GER
tain that Memphis Izzy would have his
own tracks covered. The men higher
up always did.
He walked straight in upon the
barn. 1t doomed before him, closed,
lurid in the level rays of the wester
ing sun. The doors in front had been
only Loosely swung together and Ora
mont found them unlocked. He stood
an the opening, and surprise gripped
him. He was held motionless, gazing
with aGtonished wonder at the sight
confronting him.
Directly before him was a small
roadster, one which he remembered to
have seen Jachin Fell using; in this
car. doubtless, Ben Chacherre had
driven from the city. He recalled the
fact later, with poignant regret for a
lost opportunity. But, at the present
moment, he was lost in amaZement at
che great number of other cars pre-
senting themselves to his view.
They were lined up as deep as the
barn would hold them, crammed into
every available foot of space; well
over dozen cars, he reckoned swiftly.
What was more, all we're cars Of the
highest class, with the exception of
Fell's roadster. Directly before him
were two which he was well aware
must have cost close upon ten thou
sand each. What did this mean? Ger
tainIy no one man or one group Of men,
In this back-country spot, could expect
20 use such an accumulation of ex-
pensive cars!
Granlont glanced around but found
no trace of machinery In the barn.
Remembering the motor that he had
heard. he turned from the doorway
In frowning perplexity. He strobe on
toward the long shed which, stood
closer to the house. At the end of
this shed was a door, and when he
tried it. Gramont found it unlocked. 1t
swung open to his hand, and he
stepped inside.
At first he paused, confused by the
vague objects around, for it was quite
dark in here. A moment, and his eyes
grew accustomed to the gloomier light
Ing. Details came to him: all around
were cars and fragments of cars,
chassis and bodies in all stages Of
dismemberment. Still more cars!
He slowly advanced to a long bench
that ran the length of the shop be-
meath the windows. A shop, indeed
a shop, he quickly perceived, fitted
with every tool and machine necessary
to the most complete automobile re
pair establishment Even an air
brush outfit, at one end, together with
a driving compartment, spoke of re
paint jobs.
COMPREHENSION was slowly dawning
upon the pi:nd of GramOnt; a moment
later it became certainty, when he
came to a stop before an automobile
engine lying on the bench. He found
it to be the engine from Stutz-the
latest multi-valve type adopted by that
make of car, and this particular bit of
machinery looked like new.
GramOnt inspected it, and he saw
that the men had done their work
well. The original engine number had
Jeen carefully dug out, and the place
as carefully filed and leveled with
metal. Beside it q new number had
been stamped. A glance at the cleo
tricaI equipment around showed that
these workers had every appliance
with which to turn out the most fin
ished jobs.
AS he Strengthened up from the en-
CINE Gramors's eyes fell upon typed
sheet of Paper affixed to the wall
above the bench. His gaze widened
as he inspected it by the failing light.
Upon that paper was a list Of cars.
AFTER eEch car was q series of num-
bers plainly comprising the original
numbers Of the engine body, radiator
and other component parts, followed
by another series Of new numbers to
De inserted. That sheet of paper
showed brains, organizing ability, care
and attention to the last detaill
Here was the most carefully