The Southern herald., 1922-08-04

will argue something with youl"
"You are Ben Chacherre, eh1 Does
anyone here know your"
Chacherre exploded in violent
oath. "Dolt that you are, do have
to be known when the check is in
dorsed under my signaturef Who
taught you business, monkey"
"True," answered the teller sulkily.
"Yet the amount"
"Oh, BAH! Chacherre snapped his
fingers. "Go and telephone Jachin
Fell, you old woman! Go and tell
him you do not know his Signature
well, who are you looking at2 Am
telephone, then2 You are not hired
to look but to act Get about 1t"
The enraged and scandalized teller
beckoned confrere. Jachln Fell was
telephoned. Presumably his response
was reassurlng, for Chacherre was
presently handed thousand dollars
in small bills, as he requested. He
| insisted upon counting over the money
at the window with lnsolent assidulty,
flung q final compliment at the teller,
and staggered across the lobby He
was still standing by the entrance
when Henry GramOnt left the private
office Of the president and passed him
by without a look.
Toward noon Gramont arrived afoot
at his pension. Behind the garage, In
the alley, he discovered Hammond
busily at work cleaning and polishing
the engine of the car.
"Hello! he exclaimed, cheeriiy,
"What luck?"
"Pretty good, cap'n." Hammond
glanced up, then paused
A stranger was strOlllng toward
them along the alleyway, a jaunty in
dlvidual who was gayly whlstllng and
who seemed entirely carefree and
happy. He appeared to have no In
terest whatever in them and Ham
mond concluded that he was innocu'
Gus.
"They got them prints fine, capn
What's more, they think they've locat
ed the fellow that made EN-"
"Ah, good work !" exclaimed Gra
mont. "SOme criminal?
Hammond frowned. The stranger
had come to a halt few feet distant
flung them jerky, careless nod, anC
was beginning to roll cigarette. tie
surveyed the car with a knowing anC
appreciative eye. Hammond turned
his back on the man disdainfullV.
"Yep-a sneak thief they'd pinchet
a couple Of years back; didn't know
where he was but the prints seemet
to fit him. They'll come up and lool
things over sometime today, then g
after him and land him."
GramOnt gave the stranger a glance
but the other was still surveying thu
car with evident admiration. If HI
heard their words he gave them NJ
attention.
"Who was the man, then?" askeC
GramOnt.
"a guy with a queer name-Bel
Chacherre." Hammond pronounced
as he deemed correct-as the nam
was spelled. "Only they didn't cal
him that. Here, l wrote 1t down."
He fished in his pocket and Pre-
duced a paper GramOnt glanced a
It and laughed.
"Oh, Chacherre He gave tn
name the Creole pronunciation.
yep Sasherry. l expect they
come any time now-sald two bull
would drop in"
"All right" Gramont nodded an
turned away with another glance q
the stranger. "Tll not want the ca
today nor tonight that know Of. II
not going to the PrOteus ball SO you
times your own until tomorrow max
the most of itw
He disappeared, and Hammond r.
turned to his work. Then he straigh
ened up, for the jaunty stranger wa
bearing down upon him with evider
intent to speak.
"Some car you got there, brother
Ben Chacherre, who had Overhear
= most of the foregoing conversation
lighted his cigarette and grinned Fl
miliarly Some car, eh2 All sh
needs is some good tires, new cot
Of paint a good steel chassis, and
new engine"
= "Huh?" snOrted Hammond. "Sa
, you 'bo, who sold you chips In tn
game? Move along!"
Ben grinned anew and rested hir
self against a nearby telephone pol
"Free country, amt it" he 4
quired lazlly. "Or have you investt
your winnings and bought this he
alley?"
Hammond Redeemed with anger al
took a step forward. The next wort
of Chacherre, however, jerked hi
sharply into self-cOntrol.
"Seen anything of an aviator's HI
met around here?"
e "Huh?" The chauffeur glared
his tormentor, yet with sudden si'
e feeling inside his bosom. "Who "
D. kiddin' nOw?'
5 Nobody. I was asking a questio
o that's all. was fyln' along here la
8 night in my airplane, and I lost n
helmet overheard. Thought may
II you'd seen It. SO long, brother" !"