Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-08-18

| None Of the male guests, however, was
allowed to participate in the festivity
until Rex and his queen should ar
rive-at midnight; thus Gramont saw
almost nothing of Lucie during the
evening.
| While in search of smoking compan-
ions. Gramont encountered many OF
/ his acuuaintances, and among them
Doctor Ansley and Jachin Fell. The
three strolled off together into one of
the unused passages leading to other
parts of the building. They opened a
window and stood watching the crowd
that surged in the street below, CON
stantlv increasing as the hour grew
later, for the procession Of Rex would
be well worth seeing and nobody
meant to miss anything upon this
| night Of nights.
Suddenly, at the sound of an ap-
preaching footstep, the three men
turned. The electric lights were going
in all of the Railways, and they per-
ceived that the individual approaching
them was a member Of the Krewe of
COmus. He was also, it became evil
dent. giving a share of his allegiance
to Bacchus, for his feet were obviously
unsteady. He was clad in a parti-
colored costume, which was crowned
by an exaggerated head of Mephisto.
"Wouderin' who / am aren't you J"
he hiccuped. "Well, don't wonder:
sail between ol' friends tonight. Tell
you what. M friends-come with me
and I'll find you a lii drink, eh? Real
old Boone pinchneck-got it from some
boys in Louisville, been savin' it up for
tonight"
He wagged his head at them, and
pursued his subject in a half-maudlin
burst of confidential assurance.
''Havin little party in one of the
rooms" he continued. "All of US
frlends-lots more fun than dancin
And say I'm going pull something
great, positively great; you don't
want to miss it, gentlemen You come
along with me and I'll fix it for you.
Come on, Gramont, that's good fel-
low You'n l had a disagreement to-
day-don't matter tonight, nothin'
matters tonight, nothin' at all. Mardi
Gras only comes once a year, eh7
Come along, now"
Jachin Fell very civilly refused the
invitation, as did the others. Gramont,
who now recognized their accoSter,
was less civil in his refusal. Mephisto
regarded them with vinous regret.
mo 'joyment in you, any more? Bet
ter come along. Tell you, I've got the
biggest joke of the season ready to
pull off-something rich! Gramont,
come on!"
Thanks, no." responded Gramont
curtly
The masquer gave up the struggle
and moved on down the empty hall
way.
IL wonder who that was, now?" |
mused Doctor Ansley, frowning. "Evi-
IDENTIFY someone who knew US; at least,
he recognized you, Gramont."
$50 it seemed" put it Jachin Fell.
His tone, like his eyes, had somber
fire. "A party of them drinking, eh? |
That will make trouble. The Krewe |
won't like it. Who was he, Gramont? |
Sounded like"
'Young Maillard" At Gramont's |
response a whistle broke from Doctor |
Ansley. Jachin Fell nodded assent
You took the words out of my |
mouth. SO Bob is drinking again, Ell? |
Hello, Gramont-where tor
Gramont tossed his cigar through
the open window
II think I'll make my adieux, Fell. l
intend to be up early in the morning
and get off to work"
"WhatY protested Ansley in aston
ishment. you must stay until Rex
comes, at least Why, that's the event
OF the carnival! The evening hasn't
started YETI
"I'm growing old and sober, DOCTOR"
/ was drifting with the crowds all aft
ernoon, and I've just begun to realize
that Pm dead tired. Rex or no Rex,
I'm afraid I'd best say goodnight,
gentlemen"
Returning to the auditorium, Gra-
his farewells, although not without
encountering some opposition. At
length he was free, he had obtained
his hat and coat, and as he passed out
of the building he again met Fell and
Ansley, who were finishing their ci-
gars at the entrance. He bade them
final adieu and plunged into the crowd
1t lacked half an hour of midnight.
For a little, Fell and Doctor Ansley
stood talking, then tossed away their
cigars and turned into the building.
They halted in the foyer before the
appearance of two men-Joseph Mail
lard, looking extremely agitated, and
behind him old Judge Forester, who
wore distinctly worried expression.
"Ah, here are Fell and Ansleyt" ex-
claimed Maillard, almost with relief.
"1-ah-my friends, I don't suppose
you've seen Bob recently?"
Ansley was silent. Jachin Fell,