St. Tammany farmer., 1922-09-30

IN the opening, and surprise gripped
him. He was held motionless, gazing
with astonished wonder at the sight
confronting him.
Directly before him was a small
roadster, one which he remembered to
have seen Jaehin Fell using; In this
car, doubtless, Ben Chacherre had
driven from, the city. He recalled the
fact later, with poignant regret for a
lost opportunity. But at the present
moment, he was lost In amazement at
the great number Of other cars pre-
senting themselves to his view.
They were lined up as deep as the
barn would hold them, crammed into
every available foot Of space; well
over dozen cars, he reckoned swiftly.
What was more, all were cars Of the
highest class, with the exception Of
Fell's roadster. Directly before him
were two which he was well aware
must have cost close upon ten thou
sand each. What did this meant Ger
tainly no one man or one group Of men,
In this back-country spot, could expect
to use such an accumulation Of e1-
pensive cars!
Gramont glanced around, but found
no trace of machinery in the barn.
Remembering the motor that he had
heard, he turned from the doorway
In frewning perplexity. He strobe on
toward the long shed which stood
closer to the house. At the end Of
this shed was a door, and when he
tried 1t, Gramont found it unlocked. II
swung open to his hand, and he
stepped inside. ~
At first he paused, confused by the
vague objects around, for It was quite
dark In here. A moment, and his eyes
grew accustomed to the gloomier light
ing. Details came to him: all around
were cars and fragments Of cars,
chassis and bodies in all stages Of
dismemberment. Still more carsl ,
He slowly. advanced to long bench
that ran the length Of the shop be-
meath the windows. A shop, indeed
a shop, he quickly perceived, fitted
with every tool and machine necessary
to the most complete automobile re-
pair establishment Even an air
brush outfit, at one end, together with
a drying compartment, spoke Of rs-
paint Jobs.
Comprehension was slowly dawning
upon the mind Of Gramont; a moment
later 1t became certainty, when he
came to a stop before an automobile
engine lying on the bench. He found
1t to be the engine from Stutz-the
latest multi-valve type adopted by that
make Of car, and this particular bit Of
machinery looked like new.
Gramont inspected it, and he saw
that the men had done their work
well. The original engine number had
been carefully dug out, and the place
as carefully filled and leveled with
metal. Beside 1t new number had
been stamped. A glance at the cleo
trical equipment around showed that
these workers had every appliance
with which to turn out the most I'm
ished Jobs.
AS he Strengthened up from the en-
gine Gramont's eyes fell upon a typed
sheet of paper affixed to the wall
above the bench. His gaze widened
as he inspected It by the falling light.
Upon that paper was list Of cars.
After each car was a, series of num-
bers plainly comprising the original
numbers of the engine, body, radiator
and other component parts followed
by another series OF new numbers to
be inserted. That sheet Of paper
showed brains, organizing ability, care
and attention to the last detail!
Here was the most carefully
planned and thorough system of auto
mobile thievery that Gramont had ever
heard Of. He stood motionless, know
Ing that this typed sheet of paper In
itself was damning evidence against
the whole gang of workers. What was
more to the point, that paper could be
traced; the typewriting could be
traced to the man higher up-doubt-
less Memphis Izzy himself! These
men ran In cars by the wholesale,
probably from states adjacent to
Louisiana. Here, at this secluded
point on the bayou, they changed the
cars completely about, In number,
paint, style of body, and then prob
ably got rid Of the new product In
New Orleans.
Gramont stood motionless. Surprise
had taken hold Of him, and even a
feeling of slight dismay. This was
not at all what he had hoped to find
there. He had thought to come upon
some traces of the lottery game
"Seen all you want, boz" said a
voice behind him.
Gramont turned. He found himself |
gazing directly into an automatic pis-
tol over which glittered pair of blaz- |
ing eyes. The man was a stranger to |
him. The place had not been desert
ed, after all. He was caught.
"Who are you r. demanded Gramont,
quietly.
"MeT The stranger was unsmiling,
deadly. In those glittering eyes Ora
mont read the ferocity of an animal
at bay. II s'pose you would like to !
know that, huh7 I guess you know
enough right now to get all that's |
comm to you, bo! Got any particu-
lar business here? Speak up quick !"
Gramont was silent. The other
sneered at him, viciously.
Y1nf T1,vr thn