St. Tammany farmer., 1922-10-21

us lie sat. Dlu he nave lAc DdScucSS
to try and save himself through Lu-
Gle? Something of his stif1ed anger
must have shown in his eyes, for Ja-
chin Fell laid down his cigar and con-
tfnued quickly:
"Don't misunderstood. I say that I
think she cares for you; It is merely
surmise on my part. Lucie is one per-
son~for whom I'd do anything. l stand
and have stood in the place OF par
ent to her. She is very dear to me.
have a special reason for intruding
on your personal affairs In this man.
ner, and some right to ask sou In re-
gard to your intentions"
II don't recognize any right what
ever on your part" said Gramont,
steadily.
Fell smiled. "Ah! Then you are In
love- Well, youth must be served!''
IT'D like to know one thing" struck
in Gramont. ."rhat is, why you were
so cursed anxious to- get something ON
my man Hammond! And why you
held the Midnight Masquer affair over
me as a threat. Did you suspect my
business?'
Fell threw back his head and
laughed in hearty amusement that
was quite unrestrained.
THAT he responded, "is really hu-
morous Do you know, I honestly
thought you fortune-hunter from
Europe? There, confess, I made
grave error"
Without a knock the door opened
and Lucie Ledanois entered.
"Good evening, stockholders she
exclaimed. ''Do you know there's
crowd down In the street-policemen
and automobiles and lot Of excite
ment?"
"Allow me-" said Gramont, taking
her coat and placing chair for her.
"Will you sit down, please7 You re-
member that I warned you regarding
a shock that would come; and now
must explain" Gramont gravely handed
her his commission from the COVER.
nor, and resumed his seat. "When /
say that I have come here, not to
attend a meeting Of our OH company,
but to arrest Mr.. Fell, you will under
stand. I am very sorry, Lucie, to
have to tell you all this, for I~know
your attachment to him."
"Arrest-you, Uncle JachinT' The
girl glanced from the paper to Fell,
who nodded "Why-this isn't a Joke
OF some kindy
"None whatever, my DEAR" said
Fell, quietly. "Mr Gramont Is to be
congratulated. He has discovered that
I was the head of large organization
Of criminals. Here, II mistake not,
are your Department of Justice
friends. Gramont.
A knock at the door, and It opened
to admit one of Gramont's men.
"Here they are, sir-the chief agent
and deputy. Shall let them inr'
Gramont nodded. Two men entered
the room, and Gramont dismissed his
own man WITH gesture. He saw that
the agents both nodded to Fell.
"Do you gentlemen know this manr'
he demanded, rising.
"Yes," said one Of them, regarding
him keenly. "Who sent for us7''
81 did" Gramont gave his name,
and handed them his commission. 'eI
have been investigating a lottery
which has been conducted in this state
for long time by an organization
OF very clever criminals. Jachin Fell
Is the man at the head of this organi-
zation. The lesser members of. the
gang are in custody. The police de-
partment will not arrest this man
Fell; his influence and that Of his
gang Is extensive in political fields and
elsewhere. I have called up the gov
ernor, and have been told not to arrest
him. have disregarded these facts,
and l now call upon you to hold him
in custody as federal prisoner. Now
60 to IT.
The chief agent laid Gramont's
commission on the table and looked ut
Jachin Fell. For an instant there was
a dead silence Then, when the fed
eral man spoke, Gramont was para
lyZed. ~
'I'm very sorry, Mr.. Gramont, to
have to refuse"
"What!" cried Gramont, incredu-
lously. "Do you dare stand there
and"
"One moment, please" said Fell, his
quiet voice breaking In. ut is quite
true that have organized all the
criminals possible, Mr.. Gramont, and
have. put the underground lottery into
a systematized form. have done this
by the authority Of the United States,
in order to apprehend Memphis Izzy
Gumberts and other men at one crack.
These gentlemen will tell you that I
am special agent Of the Department
Of Justice, employed In that capacity
through the efforts Of Judge Forester
and Senator Flaxman I-regret that
this had to be held 80 secret that not
even the governor himself was aware
of it until this evening The conflict
was quite unavoidable. Not a men,
Der of that gang must become aware
Of my real identity"
Gramont sank into his chair, the au-
tomato dropping from his hand. He
was suddenly dazed. thunderstruck.
Yet he had to believe He was dimly
aware that Lucie had gone to Jachin
Fell, her arms about his neck. He
stared from unseeing eyes.