The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-09-29
CHAPTER XXI
ID
The Ganqsters

forward.
He was thinking about that odd
mention Of Jachin Fell-had Cha
cherre lied in saying he had come here
on his masters business? Perhaps.
The man had come in Fell's car. and
would not hesitate to lie about using
the car For the moment Gramont
putsaway tine circumstance. but did not
forget it.
He walked openly toward the Gum
berts buildings, thinking that he would
have time for good look around the
place before dusk fell; he would then
get off for Houma and attend to Ham
mond's defense.
AS for the place before him, he was
convinced that 1t was abandoned. Had
any one, other than Chacherre and
his two friends, been about the build
ings, the late excitement would have
brought out the fact. No one had APP
peared and the buildings seemed va
cant.
Gramont's intent was simple and
STRAIGHTFORWARD. In case he found, as
he expected to find, any evidence Of IL
legal occupation about the place-as
the sheriff seemed to have discovered
to his cost-he would lay Chacherre
and the other two men by the heels
That night In Houma. He would then
60 on to New Orleans and have Gum
berts arrested, although he had no ex-
pectation that the master crook could
be held on the murder-accesspry
charge. If this place were used for
the lotteries. even, he was fairly GER
tain that Memphis Izzy would have his
own tracks covered. The men higher
up always did.
He walked straight in upon the
barn. 1t doomed before him. closed,
lurid in the level rays of the wester-
ing sun. The doors In front had been
only loosely swung together and Gra-
mont found them unlocked. He stood
in the opening. and surprise gripped
him. He was held motionless, gazing
with astonished wonder at the sight
confronting him.
Directly before him was q small
roadster, one which he remembered to
have seen joachim 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, erammed into
every available foot Of space; well
over a 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 mean? Ger
tainly no one man or one group of men,
in this back-country spot. could expect
to use such an accumulation of ex-
pensiye 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 frowning perplexity. He strobe on
toward the long shed which stood
closer to the house. At the end of
this shed was q door. and when he
tried it, Gramont found it unlocked. 1t
swung open to his hand, and he
stepped inside.
At first he paused, confused by the
vague objects around. for 1t 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 cars!
He slowly advanced to long bench
that ran the length of the shop be-
meath the windows. A shop. indeed
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 re-
paint jobs.
Comprehension was slowly dawning
upon the mind of Gramont; a moment
later 1t became certainty, when he
came to stop before an automobile
engine lying on the bench. He found
1t to be the engine from a 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
,Speen carefully dug out, and the place
Sas carefully filed 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 fin
ished Jobs.
AS he Strengthened up from the en-