Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-11-16
The Mardi Cras Mystery
Bv n. BEDFORD-JONES
CHAPTER Discontinued.
copyright by Doubleday. Page & Co.

CHAPTER IK--CohIlnueos
Is
Books be DID," sEorted the chief,
and leaned forward earnestly. Look
here. Fell Do you believe in your
heart that Maillard killed his father?"
Fell was silent a moment under that
intent scrutiny.
''From the evidence, / am forced
against my will to believe it," he said
af last. "Of course, he'll be able to
prove that he was not the Masquer on
previous occasions; his alibis viii take
care Of that. Up to the point of the
murder, his story is all right. And,
nv friend. there is chance-a very
slim tenuous chance-that his entire
story is true. In that case, another
person must have appeared as the
Masquer which seems unlikely"
cor else" put in Ben Chacherre,
smoothly. ''the real original Masquer
showed upP'
There was an instant silence. ia
chin Fell regarded his henchman with
steady gray eyes. Ben Chacherre met
the look with almost a trace Of def
ance The chief frowned darkly.
Eyes" said the chief. That's the
size Of it, Fell. You're keepin' quiet
about the name Of the real Masquer; ;
why?"
Because" said Fell, calmly, 81 hap
pen to know that he was in the audi
forum at the time of the murder"
Again silence. Ben Chacherre stared
at Fell, with amazement and admira-
ton in his gaze. "When the master
lies, he lies magnifcently Y he MUIR
INJURED in French.
We'll" and the chief gestured de
spaiingly, 81 guess that lets out the
real Masquer, eh?"
Exactly" assented Fell. mo use
dragging his name into it. I'll keep
at work on this, chief, and if any
thing turns up to clear young Mall
lard, I'll be very glad"
.All right" grunted the chief, and
rose. "I'I be on my way"
He departed Neither Fell nor Cha
cherre moved or spoke for a space.
When at length the clang Of the ele-
vator door resounded through the de-
serted corridors Ben Chacherre slipped
from his chair and went to the outer
door. He glanced out into the hall,
closed the door, and with nod re-
turned to his chair.
'Well?' joachim 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.
mo" he said, shaking his head.
Hammond worked on the car until
about nine o'clock, then beat it to
bed, I guess. l quit the job at ten,
and his light had been out. some time.
Wen, master, this is a queer affair
There's no doubt that Gramont pulled
it, eh?"
"You think so?" asked Fell.
Chacherre made a gesture of assent.
''When the tree falls, the kid can climb
It'll Any fool can see that Gramont
was the man. Don't you think so
yourself, master?"
joachim Fell nodded.
Eyes. But we've no evidence--ev-
erything lies against young Maillard.
Early in the morning Gramont goes to
Paradis to examine that land of Miss
Ledanois' along the bayou. He'll
probably say nothing of this murder
to Hammond, and the chauffeur may
not find out about it until day or
two-they get few newspapers down
there.
''Drive down to Paradis in the morn
ing, Ben; get into touch with Ham
mond, and discover what time Ora
mont got home tonight Write me
what you find out Then take charge
of things at the Gumberts place. Make
sure that every car is handled right.
A headquarters man from Mobile will
be here tomorrow to trace the Non
pareil Twelve that Gramont now
owns"
Chacherre whistled under his breath.
''WhatP"
joachim Fell smiled slightly and
nodded. eyes. If Gramont remains
at Paradis. I may send him on down