The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-10-26
e with Chacherre and the other

whats that3' The glittering eyes
famed up with suspicion and distrust.
Herewith them2 No, l didn't. l
beer away fishing all afternoon. What
the HI you doing around this joint?'
Your best scheme" said Gramont,
coldly, rs to change your style OF
tone, and to do it in a hurry! If you
don't know what's happened here this
afternoon, don't ask me; you'll find
out soon enough when the other boys
get back. You'd better tell them I'm
going to get in touch with Memphis
Izzy the minute l get back to the city,
and that the less talking they do"
What the HIS all thisT" demand
ed the other again, but with Il soften
ing Of accent. The moniker Of Gum
berts had its effect, and seemed to
shake the man instantly. Gramont
smiled as ne perceived that the game
was Won.
II never heard of no Gramont," went
on the other, quickly. what you dom
here?"
You're due to learn a good many
things, l imagine" said Gramont, are
lessly. "As for me-, l happened on the
place largely by accident. l happen
to be in partnership with a IA
named Jachin Fell, and l cam out
here on business"
To Gramont's establishment the pis-
toll was lowered instantly. 1t was we'll
that he ceased speaking, for what he
had just said proved to be open to
misconstruction, and If he had said
any more he would have spoiled 1t.
For the man facing him was staring
at him In mingled disgust and sur
prise.
you're in partnership with the
boss! !" came the astounding words.
"Well, why in HI didn't you say all
that in the first place, instead O.
beefin' around2 That's M way to butt
In, and me thinking you was some
dick on the job! Got anything to
prove that you amt pullln' something
cute on me?"
"Do you know Fell's writing?" asked
Gramont, with difficulty forcing him
self to meet the situation c~oherently.
joachim Fell-the boss!
II know his mitt, all right"
From his pocket Gramont produced
n paper-the memorandum or agree
ment which he had drawn up with
Fell the previous afternoon, relating
to the oil company. The other man
tnnL II nnI cJrtfcbnd on on olanf rfo
light bulb overhead. In this glare he
was revealed as a ratty little indi-
vidual with open mouth and teeth
hanging Out-an adenOidal type, and
certainly a criminal type.
It crossed the mind Of Gramont that
one blow would do the workout he
stood m%otionless. No sudden game
would help him here. The discovery
that Fell was 1.-The boss paralyZed
him completely. He had never dreamed
OF such a contingency. Fell, Of all
men!
joachim Fell the boss" of this estab-
lishment! joachim Fell the man high
err up-the brains behind this criminal
organization 1t was a perfect thun-
derbolt to Gramont. Now he under
stood why Chacherre was In the en-
plOy Of Fell-why no arrest Of the
man had been possible! Now he per-
ceived that Chacherre must have told
the truth about coming here on bust
ness for Fell. Reaching farther back,
he saw that Fell must have received
the loot Of the Midnight Masquer,
must have turned 1t over to Lucie
LedanOis-
Did she know?
"All right, Mr.. Gramont." The ratty
little man turned to him with evident
change of front. 1--WE amt takin' no
chances here, y'understand. Got quite
a shipment of cars comm II from
Texas, and we're tryin' to get some o.
these boats cleaned out to make room.
Bring out any ordersT"
GramOnt's brain worked fast.
BY overcoming this guttersnipe he
might have the whole place at his
mercy-but that was not what he
wanted. He suddenly realized that he
had other and more important fish to
fry in New Orleans. Gumberts was
there. Fell was there. What he must
do demanded time, and his best play
was to gain all the time possible, and
to prevent this gang from suspecting
him in any way.
Did you see Ben ChacherreY" he
countered,
"Uh-huh-seen him just after he
come. Gumberts will be out day after
tomorrow, he said. The boss is framin'
some sort Of deal on q guy that he
wants laid away-sOme guy name O
Hammond. Chacherre is running il.
He figgers on gettin' Hammond on aC-
count Of some car that's bein' hunted
up"
Gramont laughed suddenly, for there
was q grim humOr about the thing. so
joachim Fell wanted to get something
on poor Hammond! And Chacherre
had seized the golden opportunity that
presented itself this afternoon-in-
stead Of getting" Hammond for the
theft Of a car, Chacherre had cooIly
fastened murder upon him!
Ben is one smart man I expect he
thinks the gods are working for him.
said Gramont, thinly. $50 you don't
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