The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-10-05

showed up"
There was an instant silence. ia
chin Fell regarded his henchman with
steady gray eyes. Ben Chacherre met
the look with almost a trace Of def
ance. The chief frowned darkly.
Yes" said the chief. That's the
size of It, Fen. You're keepin' quiet
about the name OF the real Masquer;
why?"
BECAUSE" said Fell, calmly, II hap
pen to know that he was In the audi
forum at the time Of the murder"
Again silence. Ben Chacherre stared
at Fell, with amazement and admira-
ton IN his gaze. "When the master
lies, he lies magnificently" he muir
INJURED in French.
We'll" and the chief gestured de
spairingly, II guess that lets out the
real Masquer, eh?"
Exactly" aSsentcd Fell. "NO use
dragging his name into it. I'll keep
at work on this, chief, and If any
thing turns up 20 clear young Mall
lard, I'll he very glad"
"All right" grunted the chief, and
rose. "Ill be on my way"
He departed. Neither Fell nor Cha
cherre moved or spoke for a space
when mt length the olung Of the ele-
vutOr door reSouuded through the de
serted corridors Ben Chacherre slipped
from his chair and Went to the outer
door. He glanced ont into the hall,
yl,g.l tho ln., and with a NOD rn
turned to his chair.
"NYellf" joachim Fell regarded him
with intent, searching eyes. Have
you any light to throw on the occa-
sionY'
Chacherre's usual air of cool impu-
dence was never in evidence when he
talked with Mr.. Fell.
mo-" he said, shaking his head.
Hammond worked on the car until
about nine o'clock. then beat 1t to
bed, l guess. | quit the job at ten,
and his light had been out some time.
Well, master, this Is a queer affair!
There's 10 doubt that Gramont pulled
it, eh?'
you think SOP" asked Fell.
Chacherre made q gesture Of assent.
"Wheu the tree falls, the kid can climb
It! Any fool can see that Gramont
was the man. Don't you think so
yourself, master?"
joachim Fell nodded.
Yes. But we've no ~evldence-ev-
erythlng lies against young Maillard.
Early In the morning Gramont goes to
Paradis TO examine that land of Miss
Ledanois' along the bayou. He'll
probably say nothing Of this murder
to Hammond. and the chauffeur may
not find out about 1t until a day or
two-they get few newspapers down
there.
"Drive down to Paradis In the morn
ing, Ben get into touch with Ham
mond, and discover what time Ora
mont got home tonight. Write me
what you find out. Then take charge
Of things at the Gunberts place. Make
sure that every car is handled right.
A headquarters man from Mobile will
be here tomorrow to trace the Nom
parell Twelve that Gramont now
owns"
Chacherre whistled under his breath.
"What?"
joachim Fell smiled slightly and
nodded. Eyes. If GramOnt remains
at Paradls, l may send him on down
there-Im not sure yet. / intend to
get something on that man Ham
mond."
But you can't land him that way,
master! He bought the car
And who sold the car to the ga
rage people? They bought 1t limo
Gently. A peculiar smile twisted
Felps lips awry. in fact, they
bought 1t from a man named Ham,
mond, as the evidence will show very
clearly"
Ben Chacherre started, since he had
sold hat car himself. Then a slow
grin came into his thin features-a
grin that widened into a noiseless
laugh.
Master, you are magnificent !" he
said, and rose. well, If there Is norn-
ing further on hand, l shall go to bed"
"An excellent program" said joachim
Fell, and took his hat from the desk.
II must get some sleep myself"
They left the office and the build
Ing together.
Three hours afterward the dawn
had set ina cold, gray and dismal
dawn that rose upon a city Uttered
with the aftermath Of carnival. Lean
Wednesday" it was, in sober fact.
Thus far, the city In general was ig-
norant Of the tragedy which had taken
place at the very conclusion Of Its
gayest carnival season. Within a few
hours business and social circles
would be swept by the fact Of Joseph
Maillard's murder, but at this early
point Of the day the city slept. The
morning papers, which today carried a
news story that promised to shock
and stun the entire community, were
not yet distributed.
Rising before daylight, Henry Ora
mont and Hammond breakfasted early
and were off by six In the car. They
were well outside town and sweeping
on their way to Terrebonne parish
and the town Of Paradis before they