The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-11-03
BY H. BEDFORD JONES
Copyright by Doubleday. Page q Co.
CHAPTER XIV
When the Heavens Fan.

Tne cnlef or ponce enLereu the VI
fice Of joachim Fell, high in the Maison
Blanche building, at eight o'clock on
Friday evening. Mr.. Fell glanced up
at him in surprise.
"Hello, chief What's up?"
The officer gazed at him in astonish-
ment.
whats up? Why, / came around to
see you, Of course!"
Jashin Fell smiled whimsically. ITO
see me? Well, chief, that's good Of
!. you; sit down and have a cigar, Ell?
What's the matter? You look rather
taken aback."
II am" said the other, bluntly.
Didn't you expect me?"
.No," said joachim Fell, halting sud-
denly in the act of reaching for a
cigar, and turning his keen gaze upon
the chief. expect your mol"
'It's darned queer, then! That chap
Gramont called me up about ten min
utes ago and said to get around here
as quick as could make 1t, that you
wanted to see me-"
"Gramont |" Jachin Fell frowned.
sWhere's Ben Chacherre? Haven't you
found him YETI"
''Nary a sign Of him, chief"
The door opened, and Henry Ora
mont appeared, his right hand band
aged and in sling.
"Good evening, gentlemen he said,
smiling.
Here's Gramont. noww exclaimed
Fell. did you call the chief over
here"
II sure did," and Gramont came for
ward. II wanted to see you two gen.
tlemen together, and so arranged 1t.
Miss Ledanois is to be here at nine.
Fell?"
The little man nodded, his eyes in
tent upon Gramont. He noticed the
bandaged arm.
Eyes. Have you been hurtf"
slightly" Gramont brought up a
chair across the desk from Fell, and
sat down. He put his left hand in his
pocket and brought forth document
which he handed to the chief of police.
Cast your eye over that, chief, and
say nothing. You're here to listen for
the present. Here's something to cover
your case. Mr.. Fell"
Gramont produced Ahis automatic
from the pocket of his coat, and laid
1t on the desk before him. There was
moment of startled silence. The Of
ficer, looking over the paper which
Gramont had handed him, seemed to
find it Of sudden, intense interest.
''Wflat means all this mystery and
melodramatic action. Gramont" de-
manded Jachin Fell, slight sneer in
his eyes, his voice quite toneless.
at mcans,~ said Gramont, regarding
him steadily, shat you're under arrest.
/ went out to the Gumberts place on
Bayou Terrebonne this morning, ar
rested Memphis Icy Gumberts and
four other men engaged in operating
a lottery, and also arrested two
mechanicians who were engaged In
working ON stolen cars. We took In,
further, gentleman by the name OF
Dick Hearne; lesser member of the
gang, who is now engaged in debating
a confession. Just moment, chief
prefer to do the talking at present"
Gramont smiled into the steady, un-
faltering eyes of Fell.
"You are next ON the program" he
said, evenly. ave know that you are
at the head of an organized gang
which is not only operating lottery
through this and adjacent states, but
also is conducting an immense bust
ness in stolen automobiles. There.
rore-"
"Just one minute. please" said
Jachin Fell. do you forget, Mr.. Ora.
mont, the affair Of the Midnight
MasQuer? You are a very jealous citi-
zen, 1 have no doubt, but"
II was about to add" struck in Ora.
mont, ''that your pleasant friend Ben
Chacherre is charged with the murder
of the sheriff Of Terrebonn2 parish, in
which I have clear evidence against
him, having been present at the scene
Of the crime. He Is also charged with
the murder of Joseph Maillard-"
MY heavers!r said Fell. staring. 81
never dreamed that Chacherre-"
Perhaps you didn't" Gramont
shrugged his shoulders. Neither die
anyone else. imagine that Bef
learned Of this room and drinking
party, and rightly decided that he
could make a rich haul Off small
crowd Of drunken young sports. HI
had the costume stolen from my car
as you know; also the automatic
which went with 1t. Two shots were
missing from the automatic when VIZ
found IL In Ben's possession; and you
remember the Masquer fred twice al
the time Maillard was killed"
Fell's keen eyes sparkled angrily.
you're very jealous citizen, young
man." he said. softly. II see that you'v,
been hurt. trust your little game
did not result In casualties?"
Gramont nodded. "Charlie the Coos
went west. He was desperate,
fancy; at all events he got me in thu
arm, and had to shoot him. Memphi.
Izzy hardly justified his tremendou!