The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-09-07
p v
The Masuuer Unmasks.

In New Orleans one may find pen
sions in the old quarter-the quarter
which Is still instinct with the pulse
of old-world life. These pensions do
not advertise. The average tourist
knows nothing Of them. Even If he
knew, indeed, he might have some
difficulty in obtaining accommodations,
for il is not nearly enough to have
the money one must also have the in
Productions. come wen recommended,
and be under the tongue of good re-
pute.
Gramont had obtained a small apart
ment en- pensiOn-a quiet and severely
retired house in Burgundy street,
maintained by n very proud old lady
whose ancestors aad come out OF
Canada with the SIeur d'Iberville.
Here Gramont lived with Hammond,
quite on n basis of equality, and they
were very comfortable.
The two men sat smoking their pipes
before the fireplace, in which blazed a
small ire-more for good cheer than
through necessity. 1t was Sunday
evening.
Gramont stared into the hickering
fire and sucked ut his pipe. Suddenly
he reused himself and shot n glance
at Hammond.
Sergeant! You seem to have n
pretty good recollection Of that night
at the Lavergne house, when | found
x,aY, antariny and ipnnnn1 nn ynrr
"You bet l have!" Hammond
chuckled. when you'd knocked the
goggles off me and we recognized Zach
other-h-l! l felt like a boob"
Gramont smiled. How many places
had you robbed UP to then2 Three,
wasn't it?"
"Three is right cap'n," was the un-
ashamed response.
1--WE haven't referred to it very Of
ten, but now things have happened"
Gramont's face took on harsh lines OF
determination. ado you know, it was
a lucky thing that you had no chance
to dispose of the jewels and money
you obtained?"
mo chance?" sn0rted the other. mo
chance is right, cap'n! And | was
sore, too. Say, they got a ring OF
crooks around this town you couldn't
bust into with grenades! Listen here,
n I'll tell you something big"
Hammond leaned forward, lowered
his voice, and tamped at his pipe.
when | was a young fellow / lived
In a little town up north-I amt say
In where. My old man had a livery
stable there, see? Well, one night a
guy come along and got the old man
out of bed, and slips him fifteen hun
dred for a rig and a team, see? |
drove the guy ten miles through the
hills, and set him on a road he wanted
to find.
"Now, that guy was the biggest
crook in the country in them days
still is, l guess. He was on the dead
that night, to keep u o. Leaven-
worth. He KEEP out, all right. and he's
settin' In the game to this minute. No
body never pinched him yet, and never
will"
"Why?"
Because his gang runs back TO
politicians and rich guys all over the
country. You ask anybody on the in
side If they ever heard of Memphis
Izzy Gumberts Well, cap'n, l seen
that very identical guy on the street
the other day. never could forget his
ugly mug! And where he is, no out
side crooks can get In, yon believe
mep'
"Hm! Memphis Ivy Gumberts, Ell?
What kind of a crock is he, se%rgeant?"
1.-THE big kind. You remember them
'Chicago lotteries? But you don't, o.
Well. that's his game-lot-
teries and such like"
Gramont's lips clenched for a min
ute, then he spoke with slow distinct
ness:
sergeant. I'd have given five hum