The Southern herald., 1922-09-15

nounced the chauffeur, grinnlng. "GOt |
things cleaned up fine, cap'n You
won't know the old shack"
"GOod enough" said Gramont
Here, step over this way! l want to
show you something"
He led Hammond to the rivulet and
pointed out the thin film of oil on the
surface.
"There's our golden fortune, SER
geant Oil actually coming out of the
ground! 1t doesn't happen very often,
but it does happen and this is one Of
the times, I'll not bother to look
around any farther"
"Glory be-" said Hammond, staring
at the rivulet. want to hit back for
| town."
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 | can do it right away, and
we'll start back in the morning. Go
ahead and get your fish,"
Regaining the house, he saw that
Hammond had indeed cleaned up in
great style, and had the main room
looking clean as a pin, with a fire pop
ping on the hearth. He did not pause
here, but went to the car, got in, and
started it. He drove back to the road
and followed this toward town for
few rods, turning In at large and
very decent-lOoking farmhouse that
he had observed while passing 1t on
| the way out.
He found the owner, an intelligent
appearing Creole, driving in some
cows for milking, and was a little
startled to realize that the afternoon
was so late When he addressed the
farmer \in French, he received a cor.
dial reply and discovered that this
man owned the land across the road
from the Ledanois place-that his
farm in fact, covered several hundred
acres.
"Who owns the land next to the
Ledanois placer inquired Gramont.
II sold that off my land a couple of
years ago" replied the other. "a man
from New Orleans wanted it for a
summer place-a business man there,
Isidore Gumberts."
Memphis Izzy" Gum
berts The name flashed to Gra-
mont's mind and brought the recollec-
tion Of a conversation with Hammond.
Why, Gumberts was the famous crook
Of whom Hammond had spoken
II saw the sheriff while ago, head
ing up the road" observed the Creole.
did you meet him2''
Gramont shook his head. mo but
saw several men at the Gumberts
place. Perhaps he was there"
"Not there, l guess" and the farm
er laughed. "Those fellows have rent
ed the place from Gumberts, l hear
they're inventors, and quiet enough
men. You're stranger here?"
GramOnt introduced himself as a
friend of Miss Ledanols, and stated
frankly that he was looking for oil
and hoped to drill on her land.
"rd like a lease option from you,
he went on. 81 don't. want to buy your
land at all; what want Is a right to
drill for oil on 1t, in case any shows
up on Miss Ledanols' land. It's all a
gamble, you know. I'll give you O
hundred dollars for the lease, and the
usual eighth interest In any oil that's
found I've no lease blanks with me
but If you'll give me the option, 9
signed memorandum will be entirely
sufficient"
The farmer regarded oil as a Joke
and said so. The hundred dollars
however, and the prospective eight
interest, were sufficient to induce hin
to part with the option without an!
delay. He was only too glad to &c
the thing done with at once, and t,
pocket GramOnts money.
Gramont drove away, and was jus
r coming to the Ledanois drive when h
suddenly threw on the brakes an
e halted the car, listening. From some
r where ahead Of him-the Gumbert
r place. he thought instantly-echoed
= shot, and several faint shouts. The
e silence again.
+ Gramont paused, indeclslve. TIL
sheriff was making an arrest, h
s thought. A hundred possibilities fl
!, ted through his brain, suggested b
Y the sinister combination of Memphi
a Izzy, known even to Hammond as
l, prince among crooks, with this S,
v cluded place leased by Inventors
: BOotlegging? Counterfelting?
: AS he paused, thus, he suddenl
d started; he was certain that he ha
a caught the tones of Hammond, {
e, though in a sudden uplifted oath {
l. anger Gramont threw in his clutC
4 and sent the car jumping fOrward-l
'e remembered that he had left Har
le mond beside the riyulet, close to Il
Gumberts property. What had ha
" pened?
ID He came, after a moment Of imp
IN thence, to an open gate whose dri'
le led to the Gumberts place. Before hil
We as he turned in, unfolded a startlil
in scene. Three men, the same thr
n. whom he had seen from the bushC
or were standing in front of the lC
We shed; two of them held rifles, Z