The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-10-06

Christmas, and Is closed by that or the
Krewe of Comus on Mardf Gras night
Upon this evening Of Fat Tuesday
indeed. both Rex and Comus hold
forth. Rex is the popular ball. the
affair Of the people. and is held in the
Athenaeum. From here, about mid
night. the king and queen proceed to
Comus ball
Comus Is an assembly OF such rigid
exclusiveness that even the tickets TO
The gallery are considered social
prizes. The personae of the Krewe.
on this particular year, as in all previ-
Gus ones. would remain unknown
there Is no unmasking at Comus. This
institution, tremendous social power
| and potentially a financial power also,
] during decades of the city's life, Is
held absolutely above any faint OF IA
vorltlsm or cOmmercialism. Even the
families of those concerned might not
always be certain whether their sons
and brothers belonged to the Krewe
Of Comus.
| Henry GramOnt did not attend the
ball Of Proteus on Monday night. In
stead, he sat In his own room, while
through the streets OF the French
quarter outside was raging the carni-
val at its height Before him were
maps and reports upon the gas and
oil fields about Bayou Terrebonne-
fields where great domes OF natural
gas were already located and In use.
and where oil was being found In some
quantity. Early on Wednesday morn
ing Gramont intended to set forth to
his work. He had been engaged to
make report to Bob Malllards COM
pany, and he would make It. Then he
would resign his advisory job, and be
free. A smile curled his lips as he
thought Of young Malllard and the
company.
THE young gentleman will be sadly
surprised to discover that I've gotten
out from under-and that his respect
ed father holds my stock" he reflect
ed. "That was good deal l lost a
thousand TO old Maillard In order to
have the balance of thirty thousand"
A knock at his door interrupted the
thread of his thought Gramont
opened, to find the concierge with a
note which had been left at the door
below by MASKED Harlequin. who
had then disappeared without await
ing any reply.
Gramont recognized the writing on
the envelope, and hasened to the note
inside. His face CHANGED, however. as
he read it,
"Please call promptly at eleven to-
morrow morning. | wish to see you
upon matter of business.
LUCE LEDANOIS."
Gramont gazed long at this note, his
brows drawn down into harsh line.
1t was not like Lucie In It's tone,
somehow he sensed something amIss,
something vaguely but mostly decided
ly out of tune. "Eleven tomorrow
morning, eh?" he murmured. THAT'S
queer, too, for she's to be at the Pro
teus ball tonight. Most girls would
not be conducting business affairs at |
eleven In the morning. after being up |
all night at Proteusl 1t must be
important. Besides, she's
not in class with anyone else. She's
a rare girl; no nonsense in her-full
Of deep strong sense of things"
He forced himself from thoughts OF
Lucie. forced himself from her per-
sonalty, and returned to his reports
with an effort of concentration.
When Gramont went to bed that
hight 4 was with startling and auda-
.ious scheme we'll defined in his brain;
scheme whose first conception
ludicrous and impossible, yet
which, on second consideration. ap-
reared in a very different light. 1t de-
erved serious thought-and Gramont
lad made his decision before he went
o sleep.
The following day was Tuesday
,fardi Gras. Shrove Tuesday, the last
lay before Lent began, and the final
day of carnival. Henry
;ramont. however, was destined to
ind little in its beginning Of much
'ers0nal pleasure.
AT eleven In the morning Hammond
Rove him to the Ledanois home,
vhere Grnmont was admitted by one
+ the colored servants and shown into
he parlor. A moment later Lucie her
elf appeared. At first glance her
milling greeting removed the half
ensed apprehensions of Gramont. Al
lost Immediately afterward. however
e noted a perceptible change in her
manner. as she led him toward the
ear Of the room. and gestured toward
mahogany tilt-top table which stood
D a corner.
Come over here, please. have
Of. athing which | wish to show you
She needed 10 say no more. era
,out, following her. found himself
IarIng blankly down at the symbol OF
which overwhelmed him.
or upon that table lay all those
oxes which he himself rad packed b
18th the loot OF the Midnight Masquei 6
the Identical boxes. apparently I'M
pened. which had been stolen from
is automobile by the supposed thief, 8
hacherre. n