Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-10-06
p XIV
When the Heavens Fall.

When the Heavens Fan.
The chief of police entered the Of
fee of Jachin Fell, high in the Maison
Blanche building, at eight o'clock on
Friday evening. Mr.. Fell glanced up
at him in surprise.
Hello, chief! What's upT"
The officer gazed at him in astonish-
ment.
whats up? Why, 1 came around to
see you. of course"
Jashin Fell smiled whimsically. "To
see me? Well, chief, that's good of
O sit down and have a cigar, eh?
What's the matter? You look rather
taken aback."
81 am said the other, bluntly.
didn't you expect me-"
mo" said joachim Fell, hating sud-
denly IN the act of reaching for a
cigar. and turning his keen gaze upon
the chief. Expect you? No"
Its darned queer. then That chap
Gramont called me up about ten min
utes ago and said to get around here
as quick iS could make it, that you
wanted to see me-"
.sGrammt," .Eachin Fell frowned.
"Shre'S Zen CHaeherre? Haven't you
49,. a'tt. NJ
"Nary a sign of him, chief"
The door opened, and Henry Ora
mont appeared, his right hand band
aged and in q sling.
Good evening, gentlemen !" he said,
smiling.
Here's Gramont, now!" exclaimed
Fell. did you call the chief over
here"
II sure did," and Gramont came for
ward. II wanted to see you two gen.
tlemen together, and so arranged it.
Miss Ledanois is to be here at nine,
Fell?"
The little man nodded, his eyes in
tent upon Gramont. He noticed the
%bandaged arm.
"Yes. Have you been hurt?"
slightly" Gramont brought up a
chair across the desk from Fell, and
sat down. He put his left hand in his
pocket and brought forth a document
which he handed to the chief of police.
"Cast your eye over that, chief, and
say nothing. You're here to listen for
the present. Here's something to cover
your case, Mr.. Fell"
Gramont produced his automatic
from the pocket of his coat, and laid
1t on the desk before him. There was
a moment of startled silence. The Of
icer, looking over the paper which
N.o-o0@% hid hondnd him cnamod IN
find it of sudden, intense interest.
"What means all this mystery and
m~elodramatic action. Gramont?" de-
manded joachim Fell, a slight sheer in
his eyes, his voice quite toneless.
sit MEANS" said Gramont, regarding
him steadily, shat you're under arrest.
1 went out to the Gumberts place on
Bayou Terrebonne this morning, ar
rested Memphis Ivy Gumberts and
four other men engaged in operating
a lottery, and also arrested two
mechanicians who were engaged in
working on stolen cars. We took in,
further, a gentleman by the name of
Dick Hearne; a lesser member of the
gang, who is now engaged in debating
a confession. Just a moment, chief
] prefer to do the talking at present"
Gramont smiled into the steady, I'M
faltering eyes of Fell.
you are next on the program" he
said. evenly. I'VE know that you are
at the head of an organized gang,
which is not only operating a lottery
through this and adjacent states, but
also is conducting an immense bust
ross in stolen automobiles. There
fore"
"Just one minute, please" said
.achin Fell. DO you forget, Mr.. Ora
mont. the affair of the Midnight
Nlasqaer? You are a very Jealous citi-
zoa. l have no doubt, but"
Il was about to add struck in Ora
Eaont, that your pleasant friend Ben
{ acherre is charged with the murder
Of the sheriff of Terrebonne parish, in
which l have clear evidence against
him. having been present at the scene
of the crime. He is also charged with
the murder of Joseph Maillard-"
MY heavens! !" said Fell, staring. 81
never dreamed that Chacherre-'
Perhaps you didn't" Gramont
shrugged his shoulders. Neither did
anyone else. 1 imagine that Ben
learned of this room and drinking
party, and rightly decided that he
could make a rich haul off a span
crowd of drunken young sports. He
had the costume stolen from my car.
as you know; also the automatic
which went with it. Two shots were
missing from the automatic when we
found it in Ben's possession; and you
remember the Masquer fired twice at
the time Maillard was killed"
Felr's keen eyes sparkled angrily.
you're a very Jealous citizen, young
man." he said. softly. II see that you've