The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-10-27
CHAPTER xiv
chaeherre's Bundle.

1t was seven in the morning when
Henry Gramont drove his car into
Houma.
In the wire which he had sent over
Chacherre's signature he had COM
manded Dick Hearne to meet Gramont
at, about this time at a restaurant
uear the court house. Putting his car
ut the curb, Gramont went into the
restaurant and ordered hasty break
fast. He had brought with him copies
of the morning papers, and was perus-
ing the accounts of Bob Maillard's
pitifully weak story regarding his
fathers murder, when stranger
stopped beside him.
"GramontT' said the other. Thought
It was you. Hearne's my name-I had
orders to meet you. What's up?"
The other man dropped into the
chair opposite Gramont, who put
away his papers. Hearne was sleek
Individual of pasty complexion who
evidently served the gang in no better
light than as go-between and run
uer of >errands. That he. suspected
nothing was plain from his casual
manner, although he had never seen
Gramont previously.
Business" said Gramont, leaning
back to let the waitress serve his
breakfast. When she had departed.
he attacked it hungrily. "You got
Chacherre's wire about the stuff in
his carr" Was 1t burned2"
mo. He countermanded it just as I
was hirin' a car to go over to Para
dis" said Hearne. whats stirrin',
anyhow"
PLENTY. Memphis Izzy's coming
down today. When'll he get in?'
Hell go direct to the other place,
won't come here. Oh, reckon he'll
get there along about nine this MORN
ing. Why?"
"We'll have to go over there to meet
him." said Gramont. II stopped in
here to pick you up. Hammond is still
safe In jail?"
don't guess he'll get out in hurry,
neither!'
"Chacherre was pinched last night
for the murder" said Gramont, watch
ing the other.
''The HIP Hearne looked aston
ished, then relaxed and laughed again.
"Some fly cop will sure lose his but
tons, thenl They amt got nothin' on
him."
II heard they had plenty
"Don't worry" Hearne waved a
hand grandiloquently. 1.-THE boss is
solid with the bunch up to Baton
Rouge, and they'll take care of every
body. So old Ben got pinched, huh?
That's one joke, man"
Gramont's worst suspicious, were
confirmed by the attitude of Hearne,
who plainly considered that the entire
gang had nothing to fear from the law.
Chacherres boasts were backed up SOL
idly. 1t was obvious to Gramont that
the ramifications of the gang extended
very high up, indeed.
"Better cut out the talk" he said,
CURLY, until we get out of here"
Hearne nodded and rolled ciga-
rette.
When his hasty meal was finished,
Gramont paid at the counter and led
the way outside. He motioned toward
the car, and Hearne obediently climbed
in, being evidently of so little account
in the gang that he was accustomed to
taking orders from everyone.
Gramont headed out of town and
took the Paradis road. Before he had
driven mile, however, he halted the
car, climbed out, and lifted one side of
the hood. y
"Give me those rags from the bot
tom of the car, Hearne," he said,
briefly.
The other obeyed. AS Gramont made
no move to come and get them,
Hearne got out of the car; then Ora
mont rose from the engine unexpect-
eddy, and Hearne looked into a pistol.
"Hold out your hands behind you
and turn around!" snapped Gramont.
''No talk!"
Rearne uttered an oath, but as the
pistol jerked at him he obeyed the
command. Gramont took the strip of
cloth, which he had previously pre-
pared, and bound the mans wrists.
"These are better than handouts, -
he commented. Too many slick indi-
viduals can get rid Of bracelets-but
you'll have one mans job to get rid of
thesel Oh! a gun In your pocket, Ell ?
Thanks"
"What tell you doin'?" exclaimed
the bewildered Hearne.
"Plaeing you under arrest" said
Gramont, cheerfully.
Here, where's your warrant? You
amt no dick" r
Gramont cut short his protests with
a long cloth. which effectually bound
his lower jaw in place and precluded
any further idea of talk.
He then tied Dick Hearne securely,
hand and foot. and then dashed him to
one Of the top supports of the car.
8 When he had finished. Heane was
reasonably safe. He then climbed