St. Tammany farmer., 1922-10-07

| ~ AAouAAd. SODcI Teu0ctlOu SelZeC
him. Not only was this crowd Of
crooks working q lottery, but they
were also managing stupendous
thfevery of automobiles, in which cars
were looted by wholesale! And the man
at the head OF it all, the man above
Memphis 1zzy and his crooks, was
Jachin Fell Of New Orleans.
Did Lucie Ledanois dream such a
thing? No. Gramont dismissed the
question at once. Fell was not an un.
usual type Of man. There were many
Jachin Fells throughout the country
he reflected. Men who applied their
brains to- crooked work, who kept
themselves above any actual share in
the work, and who protited hugely by
tribute money from every crook In
every crime.
To the communities In which they
lived such men were patterns Of all
that wealthy gentlemen should be. Sell
dom, except perhaps in gossip Of the
underworld, was their connection with
crime ever suspected. And-this
thought was SOLDERING to Gramont-
never did they come within danger of
retribution at the hands of the law.
Their ramificaf1ons extended too far
Into politics; and the governors of
some Southern states have unlimited
powers of pardon.
"This Is big day!' reflected Gra-
mont, dismisslng the sinister sugges-
tion of this last thought. "A big day !!
What 1t will lead to, I don't know.
Not the least Of 1t Is the financial end
Of 1.-THE oil seepagel That little
tridescent trickle of oil on the water
| means that money worries are over,
both for me and for LucIe. I'm sorry
that I am mixed up with Fell; I've
enough money of my own to drill at
least one good well, and one is all
we'll need to bring In oil on that place.
Well, we'll see what turns upl Ny
first Job is to make sure Hammond is
safe; and to relieve his mind. I'll have
to leave him In Jail, I suppose"
Why did Fell want to "get some
thing" on Hammond7 To this there
was no answer.
He drove to Houma to find the town
abuzz with excitement, for the news
of the sheriff's murder had stirred the
place wildly. Proceeding straight to
the courthouse, Gramont encountered
Ben Chacherre as he was< leaving the
car.
"Hello, there" he exclaimed. Lost
my road. Where's Hammond7
Chacherre jerked his head toward
the courthouse. -..e
I'm yonder. Say, are you going
back to the city tonight?'
"Yes" Gramont regarded him.
"Why7"
''Take me back, will your I've missed
the last up train, and If you're goin'
back anyhow I won't have to hire
car. I can drive for you, and we'll
make 1t In couple Of hours, before
midnight sure"
'Hop in," said Gramont, nodding
toward the car. "Kl be back as soon
as I've had a word with Hammond.
No danger Of his getting lynched, l
hope7"
''Not a chance" said the other, con-
clusively "Six deputies up there
now, and quite bunch Of ex-soldiers
comm to stand guard. You goin' to
fight the case7'
NO." said Gramont. "Can't fight
sure thing, can your I'm sorry for
him; though"
Chacherre shrugged his shoulders
and got into the car.
Gramont was much relieved to find
that there was no danger Of lynching,
which had been his one fear. 1t was
with much persuasion that he got past
the guard and into the courthouse,
where he was received by a number
Of deputies In charge Of the situation.
After comforting with them at some
length, he was grudgingly taken to the
cell occupied by Hammond. The lat
ter received him with wide grin. and
gave no signs of the grueling ordeal
through which he had passed.
Listen, old man, said Gramont,
earnestly. "Will you play out the.
game hard to the end7 I'll have to
leave you here for two days. At the
end of that time you'll be free"
The listening deputies shifted, but
Hammond merely grinned again and
put hand through the bars.
Whatever you say, cap'n," he re-
Joined. 1T sure looks bad"
''Don't you think It," said Gramont,
cheerfully. "A lot Of things have
happened since I saw you last! I've
got the real murderer right where I
want him-but can't have him ar
rested yet"
"It's a gang" said Hammond. "You
watch out, cap'n, I heard 'em say
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