The Yale expositor., 1922-12-14


tol was lowered instantly. 1t was well
that he ceased speaking, for what he
had just said proved to be open to
miscOnstruction, and II he had said
any more he would have spoiled it.
For the man facing him was staring
at him in mingled disgust and sur
prise.
you're in partnership with the
boss !" came the astounding words.
We'll why in hi didn't you say all
that in the first place, instead o.
beefin' around? That's no way to butt
in, and me thinking you was some
dick on the job! Got anything to
prove that you amt pulIin something
cute on me?"
DO you know Fell's writing?" asked
Gramont, with difficulty forcing him
self to meet the situation coherentiy
Jachin Fell-the boss
81 know his mitt, all right"
From his pocket GramOnt produced
paper-the memorandum or agree.
ment which he had drawn up with
Fell the previous afternoon. relating
to the oil company. The other man
took ii and switched on an electric
light bulb overhead. In this glare he
was revealed as a ratty little indi-
vidual with open mouth and teeth
hanging Out-an adenoidal type, and
certainly a criminal type.
1t crossed the mind Of GramOnt that
one blow would do the workout he
stood motiOnless. No sudden game
would help him here. The discovery
that Fell was "the boss" paralyzed
him completely. He had never dreamed
Of such a contingency. Fell, of all
men
Jachin Fell the 'bOss" of this estab.
lishment Jachin Fell the man high.
er up-the brains behind this criminal
organizationi 1t was a perfect thun.
derbolt to Gramont Now he under.
stood why Chacherre was in the EN-.
ploy of Fell-why no arrest of the
man had been pUsSible Now he per-
ceived that Chacherre must have told
the truth about coming here on busi-
ness for Fell. Reaching farther back.
he saw that Fell must have received
the loot of the Midnight Masquer,
must have turned it over to Lucie
Ledanols-
Did she know7
"All right. Mr.. Gramont." The ratty
little man turned to him with evident
change of front. 1--WE amt takin' no
chances here, y'understand. Got quite
a shipment of cars comm in from
Texas, and we're tryin' to get some o.
these boats cleaned out TO make room.
Bring out any ordersT'
Gramont's brain worked fast
BY overcoming this guttersnipe he
might have the whole place at his
mercy-but that was not what he
wanted. He suddenly realized that he
had other and more important fish to
fry in New Orleans Gumherts was
there. Fell was there What he must
do demanded time, and his best play
was TO gain all the time possible and
TO prevent this gang from suspecting
him in any way.
did you see Ben Chachtrre?' he
countered.
"Uh-huh-seen him Just after he
come. Gumberts will be out day after
tomorrow, he said The bose rs fraI1in
some sort of deal on guy that he
wants laid away-sOme guT name o.
Hammond Chacherre is running It.
He fggers on gettin' Hammond on ac-
count of some car that's bein' hunted
up"
Gramont laughed suddenly, for there
was grim humor about .he thing. So
Jachin Fell wanted to 'get something"
on poor Hammond! And Chacherre
had seized the golden opportunity that
presented itself this af: ernOon-in.
stead of getting" Hammond for the
theft of a car, Chacherre had coolly
fastened murder upon him!
"Ben is one smart man; expect he
thinks the gods are working for him."
said GramOnt, thinly. $50 you don't
know what happened today, eh2 Well,
it's great news. but I've got no time
to talk about it. They'll tell you wheI
they get back"
"Where'd they goT demanded the
other.
"Houma. Now listen closet Cha.
cherre did not know that l was In
partnership with the boss, get me?
didn't want to tell all the crowd In
front of him. Between you and me,
the boss isn't any too sure about
Ben"
Say, get you there Z" broke in the
other, sagely. ~ tells him six months
ago to watch out for that Creole guy :"
Exactly. You can tsii the boys
about me when they come back-I
don't suppose Ben will! be with them.
Now, I've been looking p7er that place
next door"
"Oh!" exclaimed the other. sudden.
ly. "Sure! The boss sai6 that one Of
his friends would be 6ewn to"
"I'm the one-or one O1 them" ard
Gramont chuckled as he reflected on
the ludicrous aspects of the whole af.
fair. "I'm going to Eouma now. and
then back to the city. Ny cars over
next door. Mr.. Fen wanted me to
warn you to lay log on the lottery