The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-08-25
and moved On dow" the empty half

mUSeO DOCCOT AnSI0y, 1IOWulu3. EVIL
IDENTIFY someone who knew us; at least,
he recognized you, Gramont.' w..
$50 it seemed" put it joachim Fell.
His tone, like his eyes. had 4 somber
fire. "A party Of them drin king. Ell !
That will make trouble. Tie Krewe
won't like it. Who was he, Gramont?
Sounded like" ! 81 A.
Young Maillard.@ At Gramont's
response q whistle broke from Doctor
Ansley., :Jachin ell{nodded assent.
you took the words out of my
mouth. So Bob is drinking again, eh ?
Hello, GramOnt-where toy'
7 Gramont tossed his cigar Through
the open window.
n ! II think III make MY adEenx, Fell. 1
intend to be up early in The morning
and get of to work"
"What?" 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 yet"
I'm growing old and sober, doctor"
and Gramont chuckled whats more,
was drifting with the crowds all aft
ernoon, and I've just begun to realize
that I'm dead tired. Rex or no Rex,
I'm afraid I'd best say goodnight,
gentlemen"
Returning to the au ditorium, Gra-
mont sought out his hosts and made
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-.
CARS at the entrance. He babe them a
final adieu and plunged into the crowd.
It 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 a distinctly worried expression.
"Ah, here are Fell and Ansley!" ex-
claimed Maillard, almost with relief.
"I-ah-my friends, I don't suppose
you've seen Bob recently7"
"Ansley was silent. joachim Fell,
however, responded with cold nod
Of assent.
Eyes," he said in his peculiarly tone
less manner. Eyes, we have. At least,
1 believe it was he"
I'm worried" said Maillard, anxi-
ously, hurriedly. he made an express,
i've gesture of despair. Hes in cos
tune, of course. I've been given to
understand that-well, that he has
been-well, drinking"
HE has," said Jachin Fell, without
any trace of compassion. "A number
Of the iKrewe are occupying one of
the rooms in the building, and they
must have been visiting it frequently.
trust for your sake that the fact
hasn't become generally known in
side?'
Maillard nodded. Shame and anger
lay heavily in his eyes.
Judge Forester, In his kindly way,
laid his hand on the bankers arm.
"Tut, tut. Joseph" he said, gently.
a fund Of sympathy in his voice.
Boys will be boys, you know; really,
this is no great matter! Don't let it
hit you 50 hard. I'll go with you to
find the room, Of course. Where Is
it, Jachin?''
"We'll all CO." put in Ansley. "We'll
have a little party Of our own, gentle
men. Come on, I believe we'll be able
to discover the place"
The four men left the foyer and
started through the corridors.
II hear" said Judge Forester to
Doctor Ansley, as they followed the
other two, that there has been aston
fishing news today from the Midnight
Masquer It seems that number of
people have received back property
this afternoon-loot the bandit had
taken. 1t appears to have been some
sort of carnival Joke, after all.'
"a poor one, then responded Ans
ley, land in doubtful taste. I've
heard nothing of it. I wouldn't mind
getting back the little cash lost,
though I must say I'll believe tn
story when I see the money"
He broke off quickly.
AS they turned a corner of the cor
ridor to the four men came realiza-
ton that they had attained their goal.
From one of the rooms ahead there
sounded snatches of boisterous Choir
us being roared forth Justify. As
/ they halted, to distinguish from which
door the singing proceeded, the Choir
US was broken OF by IAN abrur: and
udden silence. This silence was &C
:entuated by the preceding noise, as
hough the singers had checked their
naudlin song in mid-career.
Oh it," muttered Maillard. "Did
hey hear US coming? No, that
wouldn't matter a hang to them-but
, What checked them 80 quickly"
"This door," said Fell, indicating
,ne to their right. He paused at it,
listening, and over his features came.
singular expression As the others
Joined him, they caught low MUIR
nur of voices, a hushed sound Of talk,
rattle as a number Vof chips fell
! rom a table.
Cursed queer" observed joachim
Fell frowning. II wonder what hap
oened to them so abruptly? Perhaps
|