Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-07-28

of the act. Why did you 90 1t! Come
tell me the TRUTH"
Gramont shrugged. "The truth
wen, my chauffeur, Hammond, was
the original Masquer. / caught him
in the act-you remember l told you
about him? After taking him into my
employ, 1 became the Masquer."
"Why did you do it" persisted the
girl.
"Call it bravado. my dear Lucie.
Cali it anything you LIKE can't lie
to YOU! l had a motive, and l refuse
to admit what 1t was; that's ALL"
aren't you ashamed of yourselfY"
"Not particularly" He smiled. 81
had a good end in view, and | accom-
plished it. Now that I'm all through,
now that I've finished playing my
little game, you happened to dis
cover it."
81 think you've been very silly" she
said with a diseoncerting calmness.
He regarded her for a moment, stead
fly. "And you have displayed a fear
full lack of Judgment"
"Sillyi Well-perhaps. What are
you going to do with those boxes?"
"T1l put them in the mail. I'm GO
ing downtown for luncheon, and will
do it then. They'll be delivered this
afternoon"
He nodded. 81 had meant to have
them delivered tomorrow; it makes
no difference. You're the boss. 1t
will give the good people a little more
reason for iubilation tonight. ehY"
A sudden laugh broke upon his lips.
"Tm beginning to see the humor of 1t,
Lucie-and I know who put you next
TO me. 1t was Jachin Fell, the old
fox! l suspected that he was on my
trail. and | thought that he had man.
aged the theft of those boxes. In fact.
I was preparing to give him a big sur
prise this afternoon. But tell me, Lu-
cie-are you angryT"
She looked at him steadily for a
space, then a swift smile leaped to her
lips and she extended a pardoning
hand. Her gesture and words were
impulsive. sincere.
"Angry? No. l think you've some
good reason behind it all. which you
won't confide to me. / can read you
pretty clearly, Henry Gramont; I
think l can understand some things
In you. You're no weakling, no ro-
mantle, flibustering c%rackbrain. And l
like you because you won't lie to me.
You've a motive and you refuse to
tell it-very well! I'll be just as
frank and say that Pm not a bit angry.
So, that's settledl
snow what was the big surprise that
you just mentioned you were going to
give poor Mr.. Fell this a~fternoonT"
Gramont's eyes twinkled. you re
member that I thought he suspected
me of being the Masquer? Well, |
was going to him to propose that we
enter business together"
oh! As bandits?"
mo, as oil promoters. I'm out of
Maillard's company. or shall be out of
II soon. The minute Pm out. I'll be
free to go into business for myself. 1t
occurred to me that if joachim Fell had
brains enough to run down the Mid
night Masquer, he would be a mighty
good business partner; because I'm
poor on business detail. Also. l think
Fell is to be trusted. He's very stronc
politically, l have SOund-although
few people know it."
"But he's not interested in oil, is
hep
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 some! l have a little. l car
put in twenty-five thousand. With ali
equal amount from him, we can sink
a 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 60 into bust
aess with you?"
"Why not?" Grar1ont laughed. ~
he knew that l had brains enough 10
pull off that stunt and keep all New
Orleans up in the air-wouldn't l
IudhS q SOOu pdTLueI DeSlueS, l DS-
lieve l have some notion where to 60
after oil; I'm going t. examine your
land first"
my good prince, you surely have nc
lack of audacity !" She broke into a
peal of 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 it 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 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. l
imagine that you cannot, Lucie."
"You're right, 1 can't put in any
money. I'm land poor. Unless | we're
to sell that Bayou Terrebonne land
IFS an old farm cinoo 10