The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-08-18

good business partner; because I'm
POOR on business detail. Also think
Fell is to be trusted. He's very strong
politically, 1 have found although
few people know it."
"But he's not interested In oil, is
he?
Il don't know; 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 little. / 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 bust
ness with your
'Why not?' Gramont laughed. "If
he knew that / had brains enough to
pull off that stunt and keep oil New
Orleans up in the air-wouldn't
make a good partner? Besides, l be-
lieve l have some notion where to go
after oil; I'm going to examine your
land first"
my good prince, you surely have no
lack Of audacityi" 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
sound?"
Possibly. Since 1t is Lucie Leda-
nois and not joachim Fell who has
brought you to 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 her?'
"No. OIL is no woman's game, un-
less she can well afford to lose. I
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"
"Don't sell it RI he exclaimed, quick
". Don't consider any dealings with
it until I have looked it over, will
your"
'Since you ask it, no. If there's gas
near by, there must be OIL"
"Who knows?" he shrugged. "No
one can predict OIL"
"Then you still mean to go to joachim
Fell with your scheme?"
,Gramont nodded. Eyes. See here
Lucie-its 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 reflectively.
you're sure you'll not kidnap me
or anything like that? It's risky to be-
come friend of hardened criminals,
even If one is trying to uplift them"
"Goodl You'll conner"
eff you can give me ten minutes"
my dear Lucie, you are the most
charming object in New Orleans at
this minute! Why attempt to make
yourself still more attractive? Gid
ing the lily is an impossible task"
SWELL, wait for me. Is your car
here? Good! I want to see Ham
mond's face when he sees US carrying
out those boxes"
Laughing, the girl started toward
the stairs. At the doorway she paused.
"One thing, M. lie prince! Do you
solemnly promise, upon your honor,
that the Midnight Masquer is dead
forever"
"Upon my honor!" said Gramont,
seriously. 1.-THE farce is ended, Lucie."
'.All right. I'll be right down. Smoke
If 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 a number. In a moment she
received response.
"Uncle joachim! 7" she exclaimed.
"Yes--it's just as we thought; it's all
joke. No, 1t was not joke. either,
because he had some motive behind it.
but he won't tell me what it was. I'm
terribly glad that you opened one Of
those boxes and found the letter-if
you had gone to the police 1t would
have been perfectly dreadful"
Il never go to the police" said ia
chin Fell with his dry chuckle. "You
are quite satisfied that there is moth.
ing serious in the affair. them"
Absolutely! He told me that he
had accomplished his purpose, what
ever it was, and that it's all ended.
He just gave me his word that the
Masquer was dead forever. Now,
aren't you glad that you confided in
met"
"very," said joachim Fell. every
glad, indeedw
snow you're laughing at me-never
mindl We're going to lunch down