The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-09-14

come any time now-said two bulls
would drop in"
"All right" Gramont nodded and
turned away, with another glance at
the stranger. "Tll not want the car
today nor tonight that | know of. I'm
not going to the PrOteus ball. SO your
times your own until tomorrow; make
the most Of it,"
He disappeared, and Hammond re-
turned To his work. Then he straight
encd up, for the jaunty stranger was
bearing down upon him with evident
intent to speak.
"Somc car YOU got there, brother ~
Ben Chachcrre, who had overheard
most Of the foregoing conversation,
lighted his cigarette ana grinned ia
millarIy. "Some car, eh? All she
needs is some good tires, a new coat
Of paint, a good steel chassis, and a
new engine"
"HuhT' suortcd Hammond. "Say,
you DO, who sold you chips in this
gamef Move alongn'
Ben grinncd anew and rested him
self against a nearby telephone pole.
Free country. amt it," he in
quired lazily. cor have you invested
your winnings and bought this here
aIley?"
Hammond REDEEMED with anger and
took q step forward. The next words
Of C~hachcrrc, however, jerked him
sharply into Scl~f-control.
seen anything of an avlator's he'll
met around hcrcf'
Hum The chauffeur glared at
his tOrmentor, yet with a sudden sick
feeling inside his bosom. "Who you
kiddin' now?"
"Nobody. ] was asking a question,
that's all. was nyin' along here last
night In my airplane, and | lost my
helmet overheard. Thought maybe
you'd seen it,. so long, brother"
Hammond stood staring after the
staggering figure; for once he a
s~peechlesS. The jaunty words had
sent terror thrilling into him. He
started impulSively to pursue that I'm
pudent accoSter-then he checked
himself. Had the man guessed some
thing2 Had the man known some
thing? Or had those words been only
n bit of meaningless impertinence-a
chance shaft which had accidentally
flown home?
The last conjecture impressed Itself
on Hammond as being the truth, and
his momentary fright died out. He
concluded that the incident was not
worth mentioning to Gramont, who
surely had troubles enough Of his own
at this juncture. SO he held his peace
about It.
AS for Ben Chacherre, he sauntered
from the alley, a careless whistle upon
his lips. once out of Hammond's
sight, however, he %quickened his pace.
Turning into a side street, he directed
his step toward that part of the old
quarter which, in the days before pro
hibition, had been given over to low
cabaretS and dives of various sorts.
Coming to one of them, which APP
peared more dirty and deSOlate than
the rest, Chacherre opened a side door
and vanished.
He entered what had once been the
Red Cat cabaret. At a table In the
half-darkened main oOm sat two men.
one of them, who was the proprietor,
ierked his chin In an invitation to
join him.
A man famous In the underworld
circles, a.-man whose renown rested
on curious featS and facts, this pro-
prietor: few crooks in the country had
not heard the name of Memphis Ivy
GumbertS. He was a grizzled old bear
now, but In times past he had been
the head Of a far-flung organization
which, on each pay day, covered every
army post in the country and diverted
into its own pockets about two-thirds
of Uncle Sans payroll-a feat still
related in criminal circles as the ne
plus ultra OF success. Those palmy
days were gone, but Memphis Ivy,
who had never been 'mugged' in any
gallery. sat in his deserted cabaret
and still did not lack for power and
influence.
The man at his side was apparently
! not anxious to linger, for he rose and
made his farewel,s as Chacherre APP
preached.
1--WE have about eighteen cars left"
he said to Gumberts. Charley the
Goog can attend to them, and the
place is safe enough. They're up to
you. I'm drifting back TO Chi"
Drift along" and Gumberts nod
ded, a leer in his eyes. His face was
broad, heavy-jowled, filled with a keen
and forceful craft. Its "A cinch that
nobody in this state is goin' to inter
fere with US. About them ears from
TeXas-any news?'
1--WE sent orders to bring EN- In
mex week"
Gumberts nodded again, and the
man departed. Into the chair which
he had vacated dropped Ben Cha
cherre, and took from his pocket the
money he had obtained at the bank.
He laid it on the table before Gum.
berts.
There you are" he said. Amounts
You want and all. The boss says to
gimme a receipt"
wouldn't trust you. ehY" jeered