St. Tammany farmer., 1922-09-09

the most of itr'
He disappeared, and Hammond re
turned to his work. Then he straight
ened up, for the jaunty stranger wal
bearing down upon him with evident
intent to speak.
"Some car you got there, brother!' =
Ben Chacherre, who had overheard
most of the foregoing conversation
lighted his cigarette and grinned, ia.
miliarly. ''Some ear, eh? All she
needs is some good tires, a new coat
of paint, a good steel chassis, and a
new engine"
"Huh?" snorted Hammond. "Say,
you 'bo, who sold you chips in this
game? Move along!"
Ben gr1nned anew and rested him
self against nearby telephone pole.
"Free country, ain't it?" he In
quired lazily. "Or have you invested
your winnings and bought this here
alley" ~
Hammond reddened with anger and
took step forward The next words
Of Chacherre, however, jerked him
sharply into self-control. a.
"Seen anything of an aviator's he'll
met around here7'
"Huh?' The chauffeur glared at
his tormentor, yet with a. sudden sick
feeling inside his bosom. "Who you
kiddin' now2"
Nobody. was asking question,
that's all. was flynn along here last
night in my airplane, and / lost my
helmet overheard. Thought maybe
you'd seen 1t. So long, brother!"
Hammond stood staring after the
staggering figure; for once he was
speeches.. The jaunty words had
sent terror thrilling into him. He
started impulsively to pursue that Inn
pudent accoster-then he checked
himself. Had the man guessed some
thing? Had the man known some
thing? Or had those words been only
a bit of meaningless impertinence-a
chance shaft which had accidentally
flown home?
: The last conjecture impressed itself
on Hammond as being the truth, and
his momentary fright died out. He
concluded that the incident was not
worth mentioning to Gramont, who
surely had troubles enough Of his own
at this juncture. SO he held his peace
about it.
AS for Ben Chacherre, he sauntered
from the alley a careless whistle. upon
his lips. Once out of Hammond's
sight, however, he quickened his pace.
Turning into side street. he directed
his step toward that part Of the old
quarter which, in the days before pro-
had been given over to~aow
.abarets and dives of various sorts.
Coming to one Of them, which ap-
peared more dirty and desolate than
he rest, Chacherre opened a side door
and vanished.
He entered what had once been the
Red Cat cabaret. At table In the
main room sat two men.
One Of them, who was the proprietor,
erked his chin in an invitation to
oin him.
A man famous In the underworld
'frcles, man whose renown rested
IN curious feats and facts, this pro-
)rietor; few crooks in the country had
lot heard the name of Memphis Ley
1umberts. He was grizzled old bear
low, but In times past he had been
he head OF a far-hung organization
which, on each pay day, covered every
lrmy post in the country and diverted
nto its own pockets about two-thirds
t Uncle Sans payroll-a feat still
elated In criminal circles as the ne
lus ultra Of success. Those palmy
ays were gone, but Memphis 1zzy,
vho had never been "mugged" in any
allery, sat In his deserted cabaret
nd still did not lack for power and |
1f1uence u
The man at his side was apparently |
OF anxious to linger, for he rose and |
lade his farewells as Chacherre ap-
reached.
"We have about eighteen cars left"
e said to Gumberts. "Charley the
|oog can attend to them, and the
lace is safe enough. They're up to
ou. I'm drifting back to Chi"
Drift aiong," and Gumberts nod
ed, leer in his eyes. His face was
road, heavy-jowled, filed with q keen
nd forceful craft. TITS a cinch that
obody in this state Is goin' to inter-
re with us. About them cars from
exas-any newsT'
1--WE sent orders to bring 'em In
ext week."
Gumberts nodded again, and the
an departed. Into the chair which
e had vacated dropped Ben Cha
lerre, and took from his pocket the
enee he had obtained at the bank.
e laid 1t on the table before Gum- i
,rts. Il
There you are" he said. "Amounts
u want and oil. The boss says to
mme receipt"
wouldn't trust you, ehY' jeered
why wouldn't the boss
ave the money come out Of the TAX
s, hey2"
Wanted to keep separate accounts"
i'd Chacherre.
Gumberts nodded and produced two
rye sealed envelopes, which he
lshed across the table +,
There's a rakeoff for week before
st, he announced. Last week will
the big business 1udQin, from aarlu