The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-08-22


things over sometime today, then 60
after him and land him."
Gramont gave the stranger a glance,
but the other was still surveying the
car with evident admiration. If he
heard their words he gave them no
attention.
"Who was the man. then?" asked
Gramont..
"A guy with a queer name-Ben
Chacherre." Hammond pronounced it
as he deemed correct-as the name
was spelled. "Only they didn't call
him that. Here, I wrote it down."
He fished in his pocket and pro-
duced a paper. Gramont glanced at
it and laughed.
"Oh, Chachere!" He gave the
name the Creole pronunciation.
yep, Sashery. l expect they'll
come any time now-said two bulls
would drop in"
"All right" Gramont nodded and
turned away, with another glance at
the stranger. I'll not want the car
today nor tonight that know Of. I'm
not going to the Proteus ball. So your
times your own until tomorrow; make
the most of it!".
f. He disappeared, and Hammond re-
turned to his work. Then he straight
ened up, for the jaunty stranger was
bearing down upon him with evident
intent to speak.
"Some car you got there. brother!"
Ben Chacherre, who had overheard
most Of the foregoing conversation.
lighted his cigarette and grinned IA
miliarly. "Some car, Ell? All she
needs is some good tires, new coat
of paint, a good steel chassis, and a
new engine
"Huh? snorted Hammond. "Say,
you 'bo, who sold you chips in this
game? Move along"
Ben grinned anew and rested him
self against nearby telephone pole.
Free country, amt it," he in
auired lazily. "Or have you invested
your winnings and bought this here
alley?"
Hammond Redeemed with anger and
| took a step forward. The next words
Of Chacherre, however, jerked him
sharply into self-control.
3 "Seen anything of an aviator's he'll.
met around here?'
"Huh?" The chauffeur glared at
his tormentor, yet with a sudden sick
feeling inside his bosom. "Who you
kiddin' now?"
Nobody. I was asking question.
that's all. was flynn along here last
night IN my airplane, and I lost my
helmet overheard. Thought maybe
you'd seen 1t. So long, brother"
Hammond stood staring after the
staggering figure; for once he was
speeches.. The jaunty words had
sent terror thrilling into him. He
started impulsively to pursue that i'm
pudent accoster-then he checked
himself. Had the man guessed some
thing? Had The man known some
thing? Or had those words been only
a bit Of meaningless impertinence-a
chance shaft which had accidentally
flown home?
The last conjecture impressed itself
on Hammond as being the truth, and
his momentary fright died out. He
concluded that the incident was not
worth mentioning to Gramont. who
surely had troubles enough Of his own
at this juncture. SO he held his peace
about 1t.
As for Ben Chacherre, he sauntered
from the alley, careless whistle upon
his lips. Once out of Hammond's
sight, however, he quickened his pace.
Turning into a side street. he directed
his step toward that part Of the old
quarter which, in the days before pro-
hibition, had been given over to low
cabarets and dives OF. various sorts.
Coming to one Of them, which ap-
peared more dirty and desolate, than
the rest, Chacherre opened side door
and vanished.
He entered what had once been the
Red Cat cabaret At table In the
half,darkened main room sat two men.
One Of them, who was the proprietor.
ierked his chin in an invitation to
join him. il
1 A man famous In the underworld
circles, q, man whose renown rested
ION, curious ieats and facts, this pro-
prietor :lfew crooks in the country had
not heard the name Of Memphis Icy
Gnnnbefts. He was grizzled old bear
now, but in times past he had been
the head Of a far-Hung organization
which, on each pay day, covered every
army post in the country and diverted
into its own pockets about two-thirds
of Uncle Sans payroll-a feat still
related in criminal circles as the ne
plus ultra Of success. Those palmy
days we're gone, but Memphis Icy,
who had never been 'smugged' In any
gallery, sat in his deserted cabaret
and still did not lack for power and
influence.
The man at his side was apparently
not anxious to l:Eaaf, for he rose and
made his farewells as Chacherre ap-
, preached. -----------&--
iContlnued In Next lssue)