St. Tammany farmer., 1922-09-02

"Hm! Memphis Izzy Gumberts, Ehl
What Kind Of Crook 10 He, Ser.
oeantT'
ut was little raw, I guess" con-
ceded Hammond. II was up against
It, that's all. When you took over the
costume and began to get across with
the Raffles stuff-why, 1t was pipe
for you. cap'n! Look what we've done
In month. Six jobs, every one run
ming off smooth as glass! Your no
ton Of going to parties ready dressed
with some kind Of loose robe over the
dyin' duds was scream! And then
me running that motor with the cut
| out On-all them birds that never
heard an airplane think you come and
go by air, for certain! Nobody will
ever find us out"
GramOnt nodded thoughtfully.
Eyes? But, sergeant, how about the
quiet little man who came along last
night at the Maillard house and asked
about the car? Perhaps he had dis
covered you had been running the
engine"
"Him?'' Hammond shifted In scorn.
HE wasn't no dick"
swell, l was followed today; at
least, I think was And let me tell
you something about that same quiet
little man! His name Is Jachin Fell.''
"Heluva name," commented HAM
mond, and wrinkled up his brow.
"Jachin, huh? Seems like I've heard
the name before. Out O. the Bible,
ain't It? Something about Jachin and
Boaz?"
II imagine So" Gramont smiled as
he replied "This chap Fell is sharp,
confoundedty sharp!" he went on,
while the chauffeur listened with
frowning ifltentness. think that he
Is on to me-, and is trying to get the
goods on me"
"Oh!" said Hammond. "And some
one was trai1!n' you7 Think he's put
the bulls wisp?''
Gramont shrugged his shoulders. II
don't know. He almost caught me last
night. Wen have to get rid of that,
aviator's suit at once, and of the loot
also. suppose you've reconciled
yourself to returning the stuff?''
Hammond stirred uneasily, nnd laid
down his pipe.
"Look here, cap'n," he said, earnest
ly. II wasn't runnin' a holdup game
because l liked it, and I wasn't do
Ing it for the fun Of the thing, like you
are. I was dead broke, l hadn't any
hope left, and l didn't care d-n
whether. lived or died-that's on the
dead! Right there, you come along
and picked me up.
'You give me Job. What's more,
you've treated me white, cap'n. You've
given me something decent to live
for-to make good because you got
some faith in me! Why, when you
went out on that first Job Of ours,
d'you know 1t like to broke me up7
It did. Only, when we got home that
night and you said 1t was all joke,
and you'd send back the loot later on,
then began to feel better about It."
Gramont nodded In comprehension
of the others feeling.
TITS not been altogether Joke, ser
geant," he said, graxely. ITO tell the
truth, did start it as Joke, but soon
afterward learned something that led
me to keep 1t up. kept 1t up until /
could hit the Malllard house 1t was
my intention to turn up at the Comus
ball, on Tuesday night, and there
make public restitution of the stuff
but that's impossible now dare not
risk It! That man Fell is too smart"
you're not goin' to pull the trick
again, thenY' queried Hammond, ca
gerly.
mo. I'm through. I've got what l
Still, don't wish to return
the stuff before Wednesday -- Ash
Wednesday, the end Of the carnival
season. Suppose you get out the loot
and find me some boxes. And be sure
they have no name on them or any |
store labels.'
Hammond leaped up and vanished in |
the room adjoining. Presently he re-
turned, bearing several cardboard |
boxes, which he dumped on the center
table. I'm blamed glad you're done,
believe mel" he uttered, fervent1y,
glancing up at Gramont. Ears I'm
l don't care much, but I'd |