St. Tammany farmer., 1922-09-09
CHAPTER vi.
Chachern.

Ing dralnOntS car apprOacneQ Canal
street, and halted a block distant
Gramont left the car, and turned to
speak with Hammond.
'Tve made out at least two finger
prints on the luggage compartment"
he said, quietly. Drive around to
police headquarters and enter a COM
plant in my name to robbery of the
compartment; say that the thief got
away with some valuable packages ]
had been about to mail. They have q
process Of transferring fingerprints
such as these; get it done. Perhaps they
can identify the thief, for 1t must have
been some clever plcklock to get into
the compartment without leaving q
scratch. It was someone sent by that
devil Jachln Fell, and I'll land him
II can!"
'Then Fell will land US IL he's got
the stuff"
LET him! How can he prove any
thing, unless he had brought the po-
lice to open up that compartment? Get
along with your
Hammond grinned, saluted, and
drove away.
Slowly Gramont edged his way
through the eddying crowds to Canal
street, and presently gained the impos-
ing portals Of the Exeter National
bank. Entering the building, he sent
his card to the private Office Of the
president; a moment later he was
ushered in, and was cEoseted with Jo-
seph Maillard.
The interior of the Exeter National
reflected the stern personality that
ruled it. The bank was dark, old
fashioned, conservative, guarded with
much effrontery of iron grills and bars
against the evil doer.
The window men greeted their Gus
toners with infrequent smiles, with
caution and reserve SO great that it
was positively chilly. Suspicion
seemed In the air. The banks reputa-
tion for guarding the sanctity OF
wealth seemed to rest heavily upon
each pair Of bowed shoulders.
The business customers Of this bank
found their affairs handled coldly, ef-
ficiently, with an inhuman precision
that was admirable. 1t was good for
business, and they liked 1t. There
were no mistakes.
People who were accustomed to
dealing with bankers OF cordial smile
and courteous word, people who liked
to walk into bank and to be met
with personal greeting, did not
come here, nor were they wanted
here. Chance customers who entered
the sacred portals were duly cowed
and put In their proper place. Most
Of them were, that Is. Occasionally
some intrepid soul appeared who
seemed impeiv.ous to the gloomy
chill, who seemed even to resent 1t,
One Of these persons was now stand
ing in the lobby and staring around
with cool impudence which drew un-
favorable glances from the clerks.
He was decently dressed fellow,
obviously no customer Of this sacro- |
sanct place, obviously a stranger to |
Its interior. Beneath rakishly |
cooked soft hat beamed a countenance |
that bore look Of self-assnred imper-
tinent devlltry. After one look at that |
countenance the assistant cashier
crooked hasty finger at the floor
guard, who nodded and walked to the
intruder with polite query
"Can I help you, sir7"
The intruder turned, favored the
guard with cool stare, then broke
into laugh and a flood Of Creole dia-
lect.
"Why, IL it isn't old Lacroix from
Carencro! And look at the brass but
tons-diable! You must own this
place, hein?-the cats tail grows In
time, see! You remember me7"
"Ben Chacherre!" exclaimed the
guard losing his dignity for an In
slant. "Why-you vaurien, .you!" /