The Southern herald., 1922-09-29
CHAPTER xI
The Ganosters,

NEuIibll ltll lllE NDNEll anu W dAhCh
forward
He was thinking about that odd
mention Of Jachin Fell-had Cha
cherre lied In saying he had come here
on his masters businessf Perhaps.
The man had come in Fells car. and
would not hesitate to lie about using
the car. For the moment GramOnt
put away the circumstance, but did not
forget It.
He walked openly toward the Gum
berts buildings, thinking that he would
have time for a good look around the
place before dusk fell; he would then
get off for Houma and attend to Ham
moDd's defense.
AS for the place before him, he was
convinced that 1t was abandoned. Had
any one, other than Chacherre and
his two friends, been about the build
ings, the late excitement would have
brought out the fact No one had ap-
peared and the buildings seemed va
cant
Gramont's intent was simple and
straightforward In ae he found as
he expected to find, any evidence of il
legal occupation about the plaCe-as
the sheriff seemed to have discovered
to his cOst--he would lay Chacherre
and the other two men by the heels
that night in Houma. lie would then
60 on to New Orleans and have Cum
berts arrested, although he had no eX-
peCtati0n that the master crook could
be held on the murder-accessory
charge. If this place were used for
the lotteries, even, he was fairly GER
tain that Memphis Izzy would have his
own tracks covered. The men higher
up always did.
He walked straight in upon the
barn. 1t loomed before him, closed,
lurid In the level rays of the wester-
Ing sun. The doors in front had been
only loosely swung together and Gra-
mont found them unlocked. He stood
In the opening, and surprise gripped
him. He was held motionless, gazing
with astonshed wonder at the sight
confronting him.
Directly before him was small
roadster, one which he remembered to
have seen Jachin Fell using In this
car, doubtless, Ben Chacherre had
driven from the city. He recalled the
fact later, with poignant regret for a
lost opportunity. But, at the present
moment, he was lost in amazement at
the great number of other cars pre-
senting themselves to his view.
They were lined up as deep as the
barn would hold them, crammed into
every available foot Of space; well
over dozen cars, he reckoned swiftly
What was more, all were cars Of the
highest class with the exception Of
Fells roadster. Directly before hin
were two which he was well aware
must have cost close upon ten thou
sand each. What did this mean? Ger
tainly no one man or one group Of men
in this back-cOuntry spot, could expec
TO use such an accumulation of eX
pensiye cars
GramOnt glanced around but fOun'
no trace of machinery in the barn
Remembering the motor that he ha
heard he turned from the doorwa
in frowning perplexity, He strobe o
toward the long shed which stoo
closer to the house. At the end 0
this shed was a door, and when h
tried it, Gramont found it unlocked.
swung open to his hand and h
stepped inside.
At first he paused, confused by tn
vague objects around, for it was quit
dark in here. A moment and his eye
grew accustomed to the gloomieT llgh
ing. Details came to him: all areun
were cars and fragments Of car
chassis and bodies in all stages I
dismemberment. Still more cars
lie slowly advanced to a long benz
that ran the length Of the shop b
meath the window. A shop, indeed
shop, he quickly perceived titt'
with every tool ana machine necessa
to the most complete automobile I
pair establishment Even an al
brush outfit, at one end, together wi
drying compartment spoke of l
paint jobs.
Comprehension was slowly dawni
upon the mind of Gramont; nome
later 1t became certainty, when
came to a stop before an autOmOb
engine lying on the bench. He fou
It to be the engine from a Stutz-t
latest multi-valve type adopted by tn
make Of car, and this particular bit
machinery looked like new.
GramOnt inspected it, and he 81
that the men had done their VIC
well. The original engine number h
been carefully dug out, and the pla
as carefully filled and leveled W
metal Beside 1t new number h
been stamped. A glance at the el
trical equipment around showed Il
these workers had every appliaI
with which to turn out the most
Ished jobs.
AS he Strengthened up from the