Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-10-06

INlAs VI A'A
The chief cleared his throat.
"Why. Mr.. Gramont," he observed,
~nervously, "about the rest of the gang,
weIl take care Of 'em, sure! But it's
different with Mr.. Fell, here. He's a
friend of the senator
"Different, HILL" snapped era
mont. angrily. Hes a criminal, no
matter who his friends may be, and l
have the proof Of it!'
"Well, that may be So" admitted
the chief Of police. "But this thing IS
goin' to raise a HI of a scandal all
M and down the state! You know
that as well as l do. Now, if / was
YOU, I'd act kind of slow"
Gramont smiled bitterly.
perhaps you would, chief. In fact,
I don't doubt that you would. But you
are not me. Now, as a duly-appolnted
officer acting under authority Of the
governor of the state, l call upon you
to arrest this criminal, and I make you
duly responsible for his s~afe-keeping.
Do you dare refuseT'
The chief hesitated. He looked at
Fell for help. but none came Fell
seemed to be rather amused by the
situation.
Gramont leaned back In his chair.
The purpling features of the |
were streaming with perspiration the
man was in a frightful dilemma, and
his plight was pitiable. At this In
etoD+ Iocb{D Foil M
LET me speak, please" he SAID
gently. "My dear Mr.. Gramont, 1t mas
Just occurred to me that there may be
a compromise
arm not compromising" snapped
Gramont.
Certainly not / speak Of u mutu-
al friend here" and Fell indicated the
chief with a bland gesture. 81 believe
that Judge Forester of this city is at
present consulting with the governor
at Baton Rouge on political matters.
With them, also, Is Senator Flaxman,
who has come from Washington on the
same errand. Now, it would be a very
simple matter to end all this anxiety.
Suppose that you call up the governor
on long distance, from this telephone.
and get his assurance that am not to
be arrested Then you'll be convinced"
Gramont laughed with deep anger.
you gangsters are all alike!" he
said, turning to the desk telephone.
"You think that because you have
planted your Shiny %tentacles in high
places you can do anything with ahso-
Lutte impunfty. But the governor OF
this state Is not in your clutches.
Hes a man, by heaven! l have his
assurance that he'll prosecute to the
limit whoever is behind this criminal
gang-and he keeps his word! Don't
think that If YOU friend the senator is
with him. you will be saved. I'll cab
him, If only to show the chief, here.
that influence is not going to count In
this game"
Gramont took down the receiver.
called long distance, and put in a hur-
ried call for the executive mansion,
asking for the governor in person.
$50 you think that he's immune from
influence. do your joachim Fell smiled
patronizingly and lighted a fresh cigar.
The chief of police was hopping his
brow.
"My dear GramOnt, you exhibit a
youthful confidence in human nature
Let me topple your clay-footed idol
from its pedestal in a hurry. Mentioa
to the governor that you have me un-
DER arrest. AMI that l have asked him
TO speak with Judge Forester and Sen
ator Flaxman before confirming the ar
rest. TIL wager you five hundred ool-
lars"
The telephone rang sharply. Taunt-
ed almost beyond endurance, Gramont
seized the instrument and made n
swer. In a moment he had the COVER
nor on the wire His gaze went ex-
~ultantly to Fell.
Governor, this is Henry Gramont
speaking" he said I've just succeed
ed in my work, a l wired you this af-
ternoon-no, hold on a minutel This
is important.
1.-THE head of the entire gang is a
man here in New Orleans by the name
of joachim Fell. Yes, Fell. 1 find it
very hard to get him arrested. Fell
boasts that his influence is superior to
any that l can bring to bear. He asks
that you speak with Judge Forester
and Senator F1axman before confirm
ing the arrest, and boasts that you will
order me to keep my hands off.
Speak with them, governor! If
they're in the gang, too, don't you
worry. You confirm this arrest, and
I'll put Fell behind the bars if I have
to turn all New Orleans inside out.
Go ahead! l know you can't be
reached by any of these crooks-Tm
merely calling Fell's bluff. We have
the chief of police here, and he's
sweating. Eth? Sure. Take as long
as you like, governor"
He smiled grimly at joachim Fell as
he waited. Two minutes passed
49, c,- nha- h. go AhA ~