The Southern herald., 1922-08-18

politically, l have found-although
few people know It,"
'But he's not interested In oil, is
he?
81 don't know; l 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 sonnet have q little. I can
put In twenty-five thousand. With an
equal amount from him, we can sink
couple Of wells perhaps three. If
we go broke, all right. If we find oil,
we're rich !"
"But, my dear Henry, If he knew
you to be the Midnight Masquer, do
you think he'd want to go into busi-
ness with your
"Why not1" Gramont laughed. "If
he knew that had brains enough to
pull off that stunt and keep all New
Orleans up in the air-wouldn't l
make q good partner? Besides, 1 be-
lieve have some notion where to go
| uLlel VII Ia BOluB W SAuhAAS yVuA
land first"
my good prince, you surely have no
lack Of audacity" She broke into a
peal o. Laughter. 'Your argument
about inducing Mr. Fell to go into
business with you is naive"
But as an argument, isn't is quite
soundT
Possibly. Since 1t is Lucie Leda-
nois and not Jachin Fell who has
brought you to a confession Of your
crimes against Society-aren't you
going to propose that she go into busi-
ness with your Doesn't the argument
hold good with herr"
"No. Oil is no woman's game, un-
less she can well afford to lose. l
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"
"Dont sell itw he exclaimed, quick
ly. Don't consider any dealings with
1t until l have looked 1t over, will
you"
"Slnce you ask II, no. II there's gas
near by, there must be oil"
"Who knowsr he shrugged. mo
one can predict OIL"
"Then you still mean to 90 to Jachin
Fell with your scheme?"
Gramont nodded. Eyes. See here,
Lucie-lt's about noon! Suppose you
come along and lunch with me at the
Louisiana, If 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 rehectlvely.
you're sure you'll not kldnap 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 Gomez"
'If you can give me ten minutes"
'My dear Lucle, you are the most
charming object In New Orleans at
this minute! Why attempt to make
yourself still more attractlve2 Gid
Ing the lily is an impossible task"
"Well, wait for me. Is your car
here? Good! want to see Ham
monds face when he sees US carrying
out those boxes"
Laughing, the girl started toward
the stairs. At the doorway she paused.
"One thing, NJ. lie prince! Do you
solemnly promise upon your honor,
that the Midnight Masquer is dead
foreverT
upon my honor" said GramOnt,
seriously. 1.-The farce is ended, Lucie."
"All right. I'll be right down. Smoke
II you like"
In her own room upstairs Lucie
closed the door and sat down before
her dressing table. She made no
move toward the array Of toilet ar
ticles, however. Instead, she took a
desk telephone from the table, and
called number. In a moment she
received a response.
"Uncle JachlnW she exclaimed
"Yes-it's just as we thought; it's all
Joke. No, 1t was not a joke, either
because he had some motive behind 1t
but he won't tell me what 1t was. In
terribly glad that you opened one o.
those boxes and found the letter-it
you had gone to the police it woult
have been perfectly dreadful"
II never go to the police said ia
chin Fell with his dry chuckle. "Yol
are quite satisfied that there is moth
ing serious in the affair, then?"
Absolutely He told me that h,
had accomplished his purpose, what
ever 1t was, and that it's all ended
He Just gave me his word that tn
MasQuer was dead forever. Now
, aren't you glad that you cOnfded Il
mel"
: VERY" said Jachin Fell. "Ver
glad, indeed!"
"NOw you're laughing at me-neve
: mind We're going to lunch down
town, and wen mail those boxes O
the way, by parcels post Is that al
rightr
"Qulte all right, my dear. Did you
gown come for tonightf"
, ats to come this afternoon"