The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-08-30
SYNOPSIS,

New orleans carnival season joachim Fell.
wealthy though somewhat mysterious cit
lien. and Pr. Ansley. are . discussing SIN e..
a. the Midnight Masquer, who. invariably
attired Is an aviator, has long defed the
police. Joseph Maillard, wealthy banker.
Masqusr, has threatened to appear and
roh-the guests. Fell and Ansley, on their
way to the affair. meet girl dressed as
Colunlbine, seemingly known to Fell. but
masked, who accompanies them to the
ball.
CHAPTER II-Lucie Ledanois, recent
ly the ward of her uncle. Joseph Mail
lard. is the Columbine.
CHAPTER III-Iu his library Joseph
MaiIlard and q group of friends are held
up and robbed by the Midnight Masquer.
CHAPTER Iv-Lucis ,Ledanols, the last
of an old family, IS in straitened circum:
stances. Joseph Maillard's handling, OF
her funds has been unfortunate. Fell Is
an old friend Of her parents and deeply
interested in the girl. Henry Gramont:
really the prince de Gramont. son OF
: French father and an american motner:
snAmored of Lucfe and believes himself
. not unfayored sutton.
CHAPTER v.-Gramonts chauffeur.
Hammond. sergeant in the American
army in France, and there known to
Gramont,s lives with him. He was the
original Midnight Masquer. and Gramont.
Ing Hammond's activities. assumes the
role. Where Hammond had been q rob-
Der for financial gain. Gramont, OF
course. is not. He arranges to return
The jewels and money. In individual pack
ages, are got ready for delivery next day
to their original owners. That night they
are stolen from Gramont's auto.
CHAPTER vL-Ben Cacherre. An in
dividuai Of unsavory character. appears
to be associated with joachim Fell, He
has peculiar interview with one Mem:
crook, in which there Is significant refer
encs to q mysterious "boss.'
CHAPTER vII.-Lucie summons Ora
riont to her home and shows him the
packages from his auto. He admits ne
is the Midnight Masquer. but convtnces
He refuses, however, to explain his pur-
pose. : The packages ere returned to
their owners.
,dAPTER v11T!1nax evening Fell.
Gramont. and DR.. Ansley. at the Krewe
OF Comus ball. are accosted by an In
toxicated masked indiyidual whom they ..
them to a conyivial, party in private
room They refuse, and Gramont leaves
the building. Joseph Maillard seeks his
Sobs eonaRo %ew via and Fes
going on, Entering they discover an in
dfyidual, >attired as an aviator, In the act
4 struggle that ensues Maillard Is shot
and killed. The "Masquer" escapes.
CHAPTER 1x.-Gramont. with Ham,
Of the country, to inspect Lucte Ledanois
land, which he believes contains oil. He
finds indications of apparently almost I'M
belieyable quantities Of the stuff While While
clearly shows traces Of oil or its sur
face, Gramonr hears his name spoken.
CHAPTER X.-He cannot sec tho
speakers, but the conversation ends singu-
larly abruptly. Gramont does not investi-
gate. Hammond finds a dead man in
cherr- and two other men with murder.
Gramont can do nothing. The men take
Hammond to the town Of Houma. Later
Gramont finds a bloodstained knife where
he had heard the voices He then realizes
that Cacherre was one OF the men talk
ing. and is the murderer.
CHAPTER XI-Believing himself alone,
Gramont investigates buildings on the
adjoining farm. which he kac~s belongs
to Memphis Izzy Gumberts. He finds
evidence OF automobile stealing on a
stupendous scale and learns from man
who discovers him and whom he outwits,
that the place is also the headquarters
Of the Underground lottery game and
that joachim Fell is the mysterious boss. -
CHAPTER xII.-BacK In the city. Ora
mont learns Of the killing Of Joseph Mail
lard. He seeks further evidence against
Fell. Gramont. Fell. and I.ucie Ledanois
form a company to bore for oil on the Le-
danois place. Fell tells Gramont he plant
ed" the evidence Of oil there and I'M
folds scheme to make a fortune for the
u (SpoY
the project Fell threatens to prove him
the murderer Of Maillard. which he seems
able to do, and Gramont reluctantly
agrees to ion him.