The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1922-09-21
The MarG Gras Mystery

hVahNGu AhG NAAaAhNuhe WV
things cleaned up hne. cap'ni You
won't know the old shack"
Good enough" said Gramont.
Here. step over this wayi want to
show you something"
He led Hammond to the rlvulet ana
pointed out the thin film OF oil on the
surface.
There's our golden fortune, ser
geant OIL actually coming out OF the
ground II doesn't happen very often,
but Il does happen and this Is one OF
the times. I'll not bother to look
around any farther"
"Glory bel" said Hammond, staring
at the rivulet. "want to hit back for
tewnf"
mo; we couldn't get back until
some time tonight, and the roads
aren't very good for night work. I'm
going to get some leases around here
perhaps I can do II right away, and
well start back In the morning. Go
ahead and get your fish,"
Regalning the house. he saw that
Hammond had indeed cleaned up In
great style. and had the main room
looking clean as pin. with flre pop
ping on the hearth. He did not pause
here. but went to the car. got In. and
started II. He drove back to the road
and followed this toward town for q
few rods, turning In at a large ana
very decent-looklng farmhouse that
he had observed while passing Il on
the way out.
He found the owner, an intelligent
appearing Creole. driving In some
cows for milking, and was q little
startled TO realize that the afternoon
was SO late. When he addressed the
farmer in French. he received cor.
dial reply. and discovered that this
man owned the land across the road
from the Lednnols piace-that his
farm. in fact. covered several hundred
acres. IA
"Who owns the land next to the
Ledanols placer inquired Gramont
II sold that on my land a couple Of
years ago" replied the other. "A,man
from New Orleans wanted II for a
summer place--a business man there.
IsIdOre Gumberts."
Gumberts-"Memphis Icy" Gum
bertsl The name flashed to Ora
mont's mind. and brought the recollec-
ton Of conversation with Hammond.
Why. Gumberts was the famous crook
OF whom Hammond had spoken.
81 saw the sheriff while ago, head
ing up the road" observed the Creole.
did you meet hlmr
Gramont shook his head. "No. but
I saw several men at the Gumberts
place. Perhaps he was there"
mot there, guess" and the farm
er laughed. "Those fellows have rent
ed the place from Gumberts. hear
they're inventors, and quiet enough
men. You're stranger herer
Gramont introduced himself as q
friend Of Miss Ledanois. and stated
frankly that he was looking for oil
and hoped to drill on her land.
"rd like lease option from you
he went on. II don't want toibuy your
land at all; what want is Alright e
drill for oil on It. In case any shows
up on Miss Ledanols' land. It's all q
gamble, you know. I'll give you q
hundred dollars for the lease. and the
usual eighth interest In any oil that'I
found I've no lease blanks with me
but II you'll give me the option, q
signed memorandum will be entirely
sufficient"
The farmer regarded OIL as a Joke
and said 80. The hundred dollars
however. and the prospective eight
interest. were sufficient to Induce hin
to part with the option without any
q delay. He was only too glad to gel
J, the thing done with at once. and Il
pocket Gramont's money.
Gramont drove away. and was JUS
r coming to the Ledanois drive when h,
+ suddenly threw on the brakes ant
e halted the car. listening. From some
r where ahead Of him-the 0umbertl
r place. he thought instantly-echoed I
y shot, and several faint shouts. Ther
e silence again.
; Gramont paused. indeclslve. Tit
sheriff was making an arrest. HI
s thought. A hundred possibilities fiit
J, ted through his brain. suggested b!
v the sinister combination of Memphi
n Izzy. known even 10 Hammond as
!. prince among crooks, with this sc
v cluded place leased by Inventors.
: Bookkeeping? Counterfeltlngf
+ AS he paused. thus he suddenl!
d started; he was certain that he hat
a caught the tones of Hammond, a
= though In a sudden upllfted oath o
/ anger. GramOnt threw In his clutcI
l. and sent the car jumping forward--h
e remembered that he had left Ham
e mond beside the rlvulet, close to tn
Gumberts property. What had hap
y pened7
d He came, after a moment OF impa
n tlence, TO an open gate whose driv
e led TO the Gumberts place. Before hin
e as he turned In, unfOlded a startlln
N scene. Three men. the same tire
n. whom he had seen from the bushes
,r were standing In front OF the lON
10 shed; two Of them held rifles. tn