White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-02

perhaps I can do 1t right away, and
wen start back in the morning. Go
ahead and get your fish,"
Regaining the house. he saw that
Hammond had indeed cleaned up In
great style, and had the main room
looking clean as n pin, with a fire pop
ping on the hearth. He did 10 pause
here, but went To the car, got in, and
started II. lie drove back to the road
and followed this toward town for a
few rods, turning In at a large and
very decent-looking farmhouse that
he had observed while passing 1t or
the way out.
He found the owner. an intelligent
appearing Creole. driving In some
cows for milking. and was a little
startled to realize that the afternoon
was $ 10 late. When he addressed the
farmer In French. he received a cor
dial reply, and discovered that this
man owned the land across the road
from the Ledanois place-that his
farm, in fact, covered several hundred
acres.
"Who owns the land next to the
Ledanois place." inquired Gramont.
II sold that of my land a couple OF
years ago. replied the other. "A man
from New Orleans wanted II for a
summer place-a business man there,
Isidore Gumberts."
Gumberts-"Memphis Ivy Gum
berts The name flashed to Ora
mont's mind. and brought the recollec-
lion of u conversation with Hammond
Why, Gumberts was the famous crook
Of whom Hammond had spoken.
II saw the sheriff a while ago. head
ing up the road,' observed the Creole.
Did you meet him?'
Gramont shook his head. No. but
l saw several men at the Gumberts
place. Perhaps he was there"
mot there. I guess" and the farm
er laughed. Those fellows have rent
ed the place from Gumberts. l hear;
they're inventors. and quiet enough
men. You're a stranger here7"
Gramont introduced himself as n
friend of Miss Ledanois. and stated
frankly that he was looking for oil
and hoped to drill on her land. .
I'D like n lease option from you,"
he went on. Il don't want to buy your
land at all what I want Is a right to
drill for oil on II, IN case any shows
up on Miss Ledanois' land. It's all a
gamble. you know. TIL give you q
hundred dollars for the lease. and the
usual eighth interest in any oil that's
F..-4 - ... lns.Ir xs44h ~
but If you'll give me the option, a
signed memorandum Will he entirely
| sufficient"
The farmer regarded oil as a Joke,
and said SO. The hundred dollars.
however. and the prospective eighth
interest, were sufficient to induce him
TO part with the option without any
delay. He was only too glad to get
the thing done with at once. and To
pocket Gramont's money.
Gramont drove away, and was just
coming to the Iedanols drive when he
suddenly threw on the brakes and
halted the ear. listening. From some
where ahead OF him-the Gumberts
place. he thought instantly-echoed a
shot. and several faint shouts. Then
silence again. IL
Gramont paused. indecislve. The
sheriff was making an arrest, he
thought, ! hundred possibilities 1jt-
ted through his brain, suggested by
the sinister combination of Memphis
Izzy, known even 10 Hammond as n
prince among crooks, with this Sc
cluded place leased by Inventors"
B~ootlegging? counterfeltIng9
As he paused, thus. he suddenly
started he was certain that he had
caught the tones OF Hammond, as
though In n sudden uplifted oath OF
anger. Gramont threw in his clutcll
and sent the car jumping forward-he
remembered that he had left Ham
mond beside the rivulet. close to the
Gumberts property. What had hap
pened?
He came. after Il moment of Impa-
thence. TO an open gate whose drive
I led to the Gumberis place. Before him,
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