The Yale expositor., 1922-11-02

L Il
Fell Is to be trusted. He's very strong
politically, have found--although
few people know IT,"
| but he's not interested In oil, In
heT
81 don't know; take for granted
that he's interested in making money
Most men are. The only way TO make
money In oil Is to have mOney--and
he has some! ] have little. can
| put In twenty-five thousand With an
| equal amount from him, we can sink
a couple of wells, perhaps three. II
we 60 broke, oil right If we find oil
we're richl"
But, my dear Henry, II he knew
you to be the Midnight Masquer, do
you think he'd want to go into bust
ness with your"
"Why not?" Gramont laughed. "If
he knew that j had brains enough to
! pull off that stunt and keep all New
Orleans up in the air-wouldnt ]
make q good partner Besides, be-
lieve ] have some notion where to &c
after oil; I'm going to examine your
land first"
MY good prince, you surely have nc
lack Of audacity!" She broke into
peal Of laughter "Your argument
about inducing Mr.. Fell to 20 into
business with you is naive"
But, as an argument, isn't is quite
sound?"
Possibly. Since 1t is Lucie Leda-
nS4s and not joachim Fell who has
brought you 10 confession of your
crimes against society-aren't you
going to propose that she go into bust.
ness with you? Doesn't the argument
hold good with herr"
mo. Oil is no woman's game, I'm.
less she can well afford to lose. ]
imagine that you cannot, Lucie."
you're right, / can't put in any
money. I'm land poor. Unless were
to sell that Bayou Terrebonne land
it's an old farm, abandoned since be
fore father died"
Don't sell 1t !" he exclaimed quick.
ly. Don't consider any dealings with
it until have looked 1t over, will
your"
"Since you ask It, no. II there's gas
near by, there must be OIL"
"Who knows" he shrugged. "No
one can predict OIL"
"Then you still mean to go to Jachin
Fell with your schemeT'
Gramont nodded. Eyes. See here,
Lucie-it's about noonl Suppose you
cor,oa alamo and lunch NTH mn at tba
Louisiana, il you've no engagement.
We can put those boxes in the mail en-
route. and after Luncheon I'll try and
get hold of Fell"
She put her head on one side and
studied him reflectiveIy.
you're sure you'll not kidnap me
or anything like that? It's risky to be
come a friend Of hardened criminals,
even If one is trying to. uplift them"
Good You'll conner
IF you can give me ten minutes"
"My dear Lucie, you are the most
charming object in New Orleans at
this minute! Why attempt to make
yourself still more attractive? Gid
Ing the lily is an impossible task"
well, wait for me. Is your car
here7 Good l want to see Ham
mond's face when he sees us carrying
out those boxes"
Laughing, the girl started toward
the stairs. At the doorway she paused,
Zone thing, NJ. lie prince! Do you
solemnly promise, u2on your honor
that the Midnight MasQuer is dead
foreverr
upon my honor" said Grnmont
seriously. "The farce Is ended, Lucie.'
"AlI right. I'll be right down. Smoke
If you like"
In her own room upstairs Lucie
closed the door and sat down before
her dressing table. She made DO
move toward the array Of toilet ar.
ticles. however. Instead she took q
desk telephone from the table. and
called a number. In a moment she
received a response.
"Uncle Jachin" she exclaimed
'Yes-it's just as we thought; it's all
joke. No, II was not joke, either,
because he had some motive behind It
but he won't tell me what II was. I'm
terribly glad that you opened one OF
those boxes and found the letter-ii
you had gone to the police II would
have been perfectly dreadful"
II never go to the police said ia
chin Fell with his dry chuckle. "YoC
are quite satisfied that there is moth
ing serious in the affair. then?'
Absolutely! He told me that he
had accomplished his purpose, what
ever it was, and that it's all ended
He just gave me his word that the
Masquer was dead forever. Now.
aren't you glad that you confded In
me?"
very" said joachim Fell. "very
glad, indeedw
Nov you're laughing at Dne-neveI
mind We're going to lunch down.
town, and we'll mail those bAxes on
the way, by parcels post. Is shat all
rightT
quite all right, my dear. Dill your
gown come for tonight?