St. Tammany farmer., 1922-09-02

~All "d8teQ--Ine WnOle EHorIl" no
Murmured.
Hammond re-entered the room with
the tin box, from which Gramont took
his stock certificates issued by Bob
Maillard's OIL company. He pocketed
the shares.
'Pll go to Maillard the banker-Jo-
seph Maillard-first thing In the morn
ing, and offer him my stock. He'll
be mighty glad to get it at discount.
knowing that it Is in his sons COM
pany. You see, the son doesn't confide
in the old man particularly. I'll let
the father win little money on the
deal with me, and by doing this I'll
manage to save the greater part Of my
Investment"
"Holy mackerell'' Hammond ex-
ploded in a burst Of laughter as he
caught the idea. "Say, If this amt
the richest thing ever pulled! When
the crash comes, the fancy kid will be
stinging his dad good and hard, eh?"
Exactly; and / think his dad can
afford to be =stung much better than l
can," agreed Gramont, cheerfully.
snow let's take those packages and
stow them away In the luggage COM
partment Of the car. I'm getting
nervous at the thought Of having
them around here, and they'll be per-
fectly safe there overnight - safer
there than here, In fact. Tomorrow
you can take the car out Of town ar :
send the packages by parcels post
from some small town.
TN that way they ought to be de-
livered here on Wednesday,. You'd
better wear one Of my suits, leaving
your chauffeur's outfit here, and don't
halt the car In front Of the post office
where you mail the packages
Il get you,' assented Hammond,
sagely. "But what about them avia-
tors clothes?"
''Take them with you-better get
them wrapped up here and now. You
can toss them into ditch anywhere"
Hammond obeyed.
Ten minutes afterward the two mel,
IclI TIC IOOIIl, Citiif1llS lHt plCh:tEES /
Of loot and the bundle containing the
.aviators uniform. They descended
to the courtyard In the rear Of the
house. Here was small garden, with /
q fountain in its center. Behind this
were the stables, which had long been
disused as such, and which were now
occupied only by the car of Gramont.
It was with undisguised relief that
Gramont now saw the stuff actually
out Of the house. Within the last few
hours he had become intensely afraid
OF Jachin Fell. Concentrating himself
upon the man, picking up information
guardedly, he had that day assimilatsd
many small items which increased his
sense Of peril from that quarter.
Straws, no more, but quite significant
straWs. Gram0nt realized clearly that
1t the police ever searched his rooms
and found this looty he would be lost.
There could be no excuse that would
hold water for minute against such
evidence.
In the garage Hammond switched
on the lights Of the car. BY the glow
they disposed their burdens In the lug
gage compartment OF the tonneau,
which held them neatly. The COM
partment closed and locked, they re-
turned into the house and dismissed
the affair as settled.
Upon the following morning Gra-
mont, who usually breakfasted en- pen
sion with his hostess, had barely seat
ed himself at the table when he per-
ceived the figure Of Hammond at the
rear entrance Of the dining room. The |
chauffeur beckoned him hastily.
"Come out here, cap'n!' Hammond |
was breathing heavily, and seemed to |
be In some agitation. "Want to show I
you s0methin'i" |"
Gramont rose and followed Ham
mond out to the garage, much to his
The chauffeur halted be-
side the car and extended him key,
pointing to the luggage compartment.
Here's the key-you open her!''
whats the matter, man?''
The stufrs gomez
dramont seized the key and opened
The compartment. It proved empty
indeed. He stared up into the face
u Hammond. who was watching In
logged silence.
Il knew you'd suspect me-" broke
'ut the chauffeur, but Gramont inter-
'upted him curtly.
Don't be fool; nothing OF the
'ort. Was the garage locked?'
"Yes, and the compartment, tool I
'ame out to- look over that cut tire,
md thought I'd make sure the stun
vas safe,-"
Were up against It, that's all.
Someone must have been watching us
asst night, eh ~
The guy that trailed you yester-
lay, most llke,' agreed Hammond,
lourly. "You think they got us, cap'n1
What can we do?''
"Do?" Granont shrugged his shoul-
ers and laughed Nothing except to
Valt and see what happens nextl .
>on't touch that compartment door. i /,
Vant to examine it later"
Hammond gazed admiringly after
I'm as he crossed the garden. IT you is
int cool hand, I'm Dutchmanls II
e murmured, and followed his master. lie
Continued next week. Ia