The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-07-21
CHAPTER v
The Masuuer unmasks.


knows nothing of, them. Even If he
knew, indeed, he might, have some
difficulty in obtaining accommodations,
for 1t is not nearly enough to have
the money; one must also have the in-
Productions, come well recommended,
and be under the tongue of good re-
pute.
Gramont had obtained small apart
ment en- pension-a quiet and severely
retired house in Burgundy street,
maintained by very proud old lady
whose ancestors had come. out of
Canada with the Sieur dIberville.
Here Gramont lived with Hammond,
quite on basis of equality, and they
were very comfortable.
The two men sat smoking their pipes
before the fireplace, in which blazed a
small flre-more for good cheer than
through necessity. 1t was Sunday
evening.
Gramont stared into the Pickering
fire and sucked at his pipe. Suddenly
he reused himself and shot a glance
at Hammond.
Sergeant! You seem to have a
pretty good recollection Of that night
at the Lavergne house, when I found
you entering and jumped on you"
"You bet I havew Hammond
chuckled. "When you'd knocked the
goggles off me and we recognized each
other-h-l! I felt like boob"
Gramont smiled. "How many places
had you robbed up to then? Three,
wasn't it,"
'Three is right cap'n," was the un-
ashamed response.
eve haven't referred to it very Of
ten, but now things have happened"
Gramont's face took on harsh lines of
determination. ''Do you know, it was
lucky thing that you had no chance
to dispose Of the jewels and money
you ebtained"
mo chance?" snorted the other. emo
chance is right, cap'n! And I was
sore. too. Say, they got ring Of
crooks around this town you couldn't
bust into with grenades! Listen here,
and I'll tell you something big"
Hammond leaned forward, lowered
his voice, and tamped at his pipe.
"When I was young fellow lived
in little town up north-I amt say
in where. My old man had livery
stable there, see? Well, one night a
guy come along and got the old man
out Of bed, and slips him fifteen hum
dred for rig and a team, see? I
drove the guy ten miles through the
hills, and set him on road he wanted
to find.
snow. that guy was the biggest
crook in the country in them days
still Is, guess. He was on the dead
run that night, to keep out O. Leaven-
worth. He KEEP out, all right, and he's
settin' in the game to this minute. No
body never pinched him yet, and never
will"
"Why"
Because his gang runs back to
politicians and rich guys all over the
country. You ask anybody on the in
side if they ever heard of Memphis
Izzy Gumberts! Well, cap'n, I seen
that very identical guy on the street
the other day. never could forget his
ugly mug And where he is, no out
side crooks can get in, you believe
met"
"Hm Memphis Izzy Gumberts, Ell?
What kind Of crook is he, sergeant?"
"The big kind You remember them
Chicago lotteries? But you don't, o.
course. Well, that's his game-lot-
teries and such like"
Gramont's lips clenched for min
ute, then he spoke with slow distinct
| ness:
Sergeant. I'd have given five hun
dred dollars for that information a
week ago"
"Why?" Gramont shook his head
"Never mind. Forget 1t! Now. this
stunt of yours was clever. You showed
brains when you got yourself up as an
aviator and pulled that stuff, SER
geant. But you handled it brutality
terribly brutality"
SIT was little raw, guess" con-
| ceded Hammond. 81 was up against
1t, that's all. When you took over the
costume and began to get across with
the Raffles stuff-why, it was pipe
for you, cap'n! Look what we've done
In a month. Six jobs, every one rum
ming off smooth as glass! Your mo-
ton of going to parties ready dressed
with some kind Of loose robe over the
flynn buds was scream! And then
me running that motor with the cut
out on+all them birds that never
heard an airplane think you come and
go by air, for certain! Nobody will
ever find us out"
Gramont nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes? But, sergeant, how about the
quiet little man who came along last
night at the Maillard house and asked
| about the car? Perhaps he had dis
covered you had been running the
engine"
"Him?' Hammond shifted In scorn.
she wasn't no dick"