Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-08-25

door. He glanced out into the hall,
closed the door, and with a nod re-
turned to his chair
"WenY" Jachin Fell regarded him
with intent. searching eyes. Have
you any light to throw on the occa-
sion?"
Chacherre's usual air of cool impu-
dence was never in evidence when he
talked with Mr.. Fell.
NO" he said. shaking his head.
"Hommond worked on the car until
about nine o'clock. then beat it to
he'd. | guess. l quit the job at ten.
and his light had been out some time.
Well. master. this is a queer affair |!
There's no doubt that Gramont pulled
It, eh?"
"You think soT asked Fell.
Chacherre made a gesture of assent.
"yyhen the tree falls, the kid can climb
III Any fool can see that Gramont
was the man. Don't you think so
yourself, master?"
Jachin Fell nodded.
"Yes. But we've no evidence-ev-
ervthing lies against young Maillard
Early in the morning Gramont goes to
Paradis TO examine that land Of Miss
Ledanois along the bayou. He'll
nrobably say nothing Of this murder
to Hammond. and the chauffeur may
not find out about 1t until a day or
two-they get few newspapers down
there.
sDriye down to Paradis In the morn
ing. Ben; get into touch with Ham,
mond. and discover what time Gra-
mont got home tonight Write me
what you find out. Then take charge
of things at the Gumberts place. Make
SIRE that every car is handled right.
headquarters man from Mobile VIII
be here tomorrow to trace the Non
pareil Twelve that Gramont now
owns"
Chacherre whistled under his breath.
"What?"
Jachin Fell smiled slightly and
nodded. 'Yes. If Gramont remains
at Paradis, l may send him on down
therein not sure yet l intend TO
get something on that man Ham
mond."
"But you can't land him that way,
masterl He bought the car"
"And who sold the car to the ga
rage people? They bought it inno-
Gently" A peculiar smile twisted
FelI's lips awry. "In fact, they
bought it from a man named Ham
mond, as the evidence will show very
clearly"
Ben Chacherre started, since he had
sold that car himself. Then a slow
grin came into his thin features-a
grin that widened into a noiseless
laugh.
Master, you are magnificent" be
said, and rose "Well, if there is norn-
ing further on hand, shall go to bed
IAN excellent program" said Jachin
Fell, and took his hat from the desk.
'T must get some sleep myself"
They left the Office ard the build
ing together.
Three hours afterward the dawn
had set ina cold, gray and dismal
dawn that rose upon a city Uttered
with the aftermath Of carnival. Lean
Wednesday" it was, in sober fact.
Thus far, the city in general was ig-
norant of the tragedy which had taken
place at the very conclusion of its
gayest carnival season. Within few
hours business and social circles
would be swept by the fact of Joseph
Maillards murder, but at this early
point of the day the city slept. The
morning papers, which today carried
news story that promised to shock
and stun the entire community, were
not yet distributed.
Rising before daylight Henry Gra-
mont and Hammond breakfasted early
and were off by six in the car. They
were well outside town and sweeping
on their way to Terrebonne parish
and the town of Paradis before they
realized that the day was not going
to brighten appreciably. Instead, 1t
remained very cloudy and gloomy,
with chill threat of rain in the air.
Weather mattered little to Gramont.
WnSn uudlly In6 eACelleut highway
was left behind, and they started on
the last lap of their seventy-mile ride,
they found the parish roads execrable
and the going slow. Thus, noon was
at hand when they at length pulled in
to Paradis, the town closest to Lucie
Ledanois' bayou land. The rain was
still holding off.
"Too cold to rain," observed Gra-
mont. Lets hit for the hotel and
get something to eat. I'll have to
locate the land, which is somewhere
near town."
They discovered the hotel to be an
ancient structure, and boasting prices
worthy of Lafitte and his buccaneers
AS in many small towns of Louisiana,
however, the food proved fit for a
king. After light luncheon of quail
crayfish bisque, and probably illegal
venison, Gramont sighed regret that
he could eat no more, and set about
| inuuiring where the Ledanois farm Law