The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-08-28
SYNOPSIS

CHAPTER I.-During the height OF the
New Orleans carnival season Jachn rel,
wealthy though somewhat mysterious CIT
ixen, and DR.. Ansley. are discussing
series of robberies by an Individual known
as the Midnight Masquer. who. lnvalanay
attired as an ayiat1r; mas aonf bsnktx
is giving a ball that night, at Whlcn tns
Masquer has threatened to appear anu
rob the guests. Fell and Ansiey, on tne as
wav to the affair, meet girl dressed as
CoIumbine. seemingly known to Fell. put
masked, who accompanies them TO Inc
bah.
CHAPTER 1I.-Lucie Ledanois. recent
ly the ward of her uncle, Joseph Mall
lard, is the Columbine.r
CHAPTER HIN his library Joseph
MailIard and 4 group OF friends are held
up and robbed BY the Midnight Masquer.
CHAPTER Iv.-Lueie Ledanois, the last
Of an old family. is in straitened Sircum,
Stances. Joseph Maillard's handling OF
her funds has been unfortunate. Fell Is
an old friend OF her parents and deeply
really the prince de Gramont, son OF
\ French father and an American mother,
but who spurns the title of prince, 10
enamored Of :Lucie and believes nlmselt
q not unf2vored sutton.
CHAPTER v.-Gramonts chauffeur 1!saI
Hammond, sergeant IN Inc tne . nmsr'cI to
Gramont. lives with him. He was the
original Midnight Masquer. and Gramont'
for particular purpose, after dlseoV th.
ing Hammonds activities; e. assumes hsen ro ohs
Der for financial gain, Gramont. OF
course is not. He arranges to return
the loot to those whom he has robbed.
ages, are got ready. for delivery next Day
to their original owners. That night they
are stolen from Gramont's auto.
CHAPTER vI-Ben cacherre. an in
dividual Of unsavory character. appears
to be. associated with joachim Fell; He
has a peculiar interview with one Mem
phis Iz7y Gumberts notorious innuental
crook. in which there is significant refer
ence to, a mysterious boss"
CHAPTER vII-Lucie summons Ora
1aont to her home and shows him the
packages from his auto. He admits ne
is the Midnight Masquer. but convincea
her that, he had no thought OF robbery.
He refuses, however. to explain his pur-
pose; The packages are returned to
their owners.
xdAPFER vIrI.-Inas evening Fell
Of Gomus ball. are accosted BY an in
'toxicated masked individual whom they
recognize as Bob Maillard. He invites
them to convivial' party IN p 1asaes
The building. Joseph Maillard seeks his
son, fearing public scandal as result OF
.Bobs condition. With Fell and Ansley
they find the room where the revels are
going on Entering they discover an 1n1
diytdual. attired as an aviator, In the ac'
Of ro6bing the intoxicated youths. u
a struggle that ensues Maillard Is shot
and killed. The 'Masquer" escapes.
CHAPTER 1x.-Gramont. with Ham,
imond, visits Terrebonne. wild section
of the country, to inspect Lucie Ledanois'
land, which he believes contains oil. !He
finds indications Of apparently almost I'm.
believab BILE quantities of the stuff. While
STOPPING over a pool Of water which
clearly shows traces of oil on its sur.
face, Gramont hears his name spoken.
CHAPTER X.-Efe cannot see the
speakers. but the conversation ends Singh
larly abruptly. Gramont does not investi-
gate. Hammond finds a dead man In
some woods and is charged by Ben Ca
cherre 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 %I.-Believing himself alone.
Gramont investigates buildings on the
adjoining farm. which he knows belongs
to Memphis IZZy Gumberts. He finds
evidence Of automobile stealing on a
stupendous scale and learns from a 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;'