The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-06-16
The tale of a carnival
joke that led to grim reali-
ties.
CHAPTER l.
Carnival.

curtains between the VOIumln0uS over
draperies in the windows of the Chess
and Checkers club, and gazed out upon
the riotous streets of New Orleans.
Half an hour he had been waiting here
in the lounge room for DR.. Cyril Ans
ley, a middle-aged bachelor who had
practiced in Opelousas for twenty
years, and who had come to the city
for, the Mardi Gras festivities. An
other man might have seemed irritated
by the wait, but joachim Fell was quite
unruf1ed.
He had much the air Of clerk. His
features were thin and uncomfortable;
his pale eyes constantly wore an ex-
preston of wondering aloofness, as
though he saw around him much that
he vainly tried to understand. In his
entire manner was shy reticence. He
was no clerk, however; this was evil
dent from his attire. He was CARRIED
from head to foot in soberly blending
shades of gray whose richness was
notable only at close view. One fan
cied him very precise sort of man, an
old maid of the wrong sex.
Doctor Ansley, an Inverness flung
over his evening clothes, entered the
lounge room, and Fell turned to him
with dry, toneless chuckle.
you're the limit! Did you forget
we were going to the Maillards' to-
night? However, we need not leave for
fifteen minutes yet, at least"
Doctor Ansley laid aside his cape,
stick and hat and dropped into one Of
the comfortable big chairs.
'You intend to mask for the Mall
lards'?" Ansley cast his eye over the
gray business attire of the little man.
II never mask" joachim Fell shook
his head. "I'll get domino and go as
am. Excuse me-Tll order domino
now. Back in moment"
Doctor Ansley followed the slight
figure Of the other man with specula-
tive eyes. Well as he knew joachim
Fell, he invariably found the man
source of puzzled speculation.
During many years joachim Fell had
been a member of the most exclusive
New Orleans clubs. He was even re-
ceived in the inner circles of Creole
society, which in itself was evidence SUI
preme as to his position. At this par
ticular club he was famed as wizard
master of chess. He never entered a
tournament, yet he consistently defeat
ed the champions in private matches
defeated them with a bewildering ease,
a shy and apologize ease, an ease
which left the beholders incredulous
and aghast.
With all this, Jachin Fell was very
much Of a mystery, even among his
closest friends. Very little was known
of him; he was lawyer, and certainly
Blanche building, but he never ap-
peared in the courts and no case Of his
pleading was known.
Ansley knew him as well as did most
men, and Ansley knew of few who
could boast of having been a guest in
joachim Fell's home. There was moth
er, an invalid, of whom Fell sometimes
spoke and to whom he appeared to de-
vote himself. The family, an old one
in the city, promised to die out with
joachim Fell.
Ansley pulled at his cigar and con-
sidered these things. Outside, in the
New Orleans streets, was rocketing
the mad mirth of carnival. The week
preceding Mardi Gras was at it's close.
Now, as ever, was Mardi Gras SYM
bolized by Mosques. In New Orleans
the masquerade was not the pale and
pitiful frolic of colder climes, where
the occasion is but one for display Of
Jewels and costumes, and where actual
concealment of identity is a farce.
Here in New Orleans were jewels and
costumes in profusion of splendor;
but here was preserved the underlying
idea of the masque itself-that in con-
cealment of identity lay the life Of the
thing!
When joachim Fell returned and light
ed his cigar he sank into one of the
luxurious chairs beside Ansley and in
dicated a newspaper lying across the
latter's knee, its faring headlines
standing out blackly.
WnaJS LnaI ABOUT tne Midnight
Masquer? He's not appeared again?"
"What?" Ansley glanced at him in
surprise. you've not heard? Good
heavens, man! He showed up last
night at the Lapeyrouse dance, two
minutes before midnight, as usual A
detective had been engaged, but was
afterward found locked in a closet.
bound with his own handouts. The
Masquer wore his usual costume-and
went through the party famously,
stripping everyone in sight. Then he
backed through the doors and van
ished.'
Fell pointed his cigar at the ceiling,
and sighed. "Ah, most interesting
The loot was valued at about hun
bred thousand?"
IT thought you said you'd not heard
Of itT' demanded Ansley.
Fell laughed softly and shyly. II
didn't. I merely hazarded guess"