White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-18

- t'@s 49, NDtf' ~
down the Masquer! He tried 10 WIS.,
ualize the situation more clearly and
his brain whirled. He knew, of course.
that she was fairly intimate with Fell,
but he was not aware of any particu-
lar connection
He glanced up Mt her suddenly, and
surprised a CLINT of laughter in her
eyes as she watched him.
"You seem TO be rather asfonished,"
she observed.
II am" Gramont drew n deep
breath. "You-do you know that
those boxes were taken from my
carr"
She nodded again. Certainly. They
were brought to me-
"Then you had someone on my
trailf" Gramont flushed a little as
he put the question to her.
"No. | have been chosen to settle
affairs with you, that is all. 1t has
been learned from the note in the
opened box that you were not criminal
In what you did"
She leaned forward, her deep eyes
searching him with a steady scrutiny.
Tell me. Henry Gramont, what mad
impulse brought you to all this? Was
1t a silly, boyish effort to be roman
tic-was 1t a mere outburst of bra
vado7 IT was not for the sake of rob-
berry, as the note explained very clear
~. But why, then? Why? There
must have been q definite reason In
your mind. You would not have taken
such dangerous chances unless you
had something to gafni"
Gramont nodded slightly. A slight
smile touched his lips. you're not
going to send me to prison, | trust?'
81 ought to-" The girl broke Into
a laugh. "Why, ! can hardly yet be-
lleye that II was really you who were
guilty of those things. II mortified
me. 1t stunned me-until I realized the
truth from the note. Even the fact
ends does not relieve the sheer folly
of the act. Why did you do 1t? Come,
tell me the truth"
Gramont shrugged. "The truth?
Well. my chauffeur, Hammond, was
the original Masquer. I caught him
In the act-you remember | told YOU
about him? After taking him int my
employ, became the Masquer.'
why did you do itY' persisted the
girl.
Call ii bravado, my dear Lucie.
Call II anything you LIKE can't lie
TO you! had a motive, and I refuse
to admit what 1t was; that's ALL"
Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"
Not particularly" He smiled. II
had a good end in view, and l accom-
plished 1t. Now that I'm all through.
now that I've finished playing my
little game, you happened TO dis
cover IT.
II think you've been very silly she
said with a disconcerting calmness.
He regarded her for a moment, stead
lily. And you have displayed a fear
full lack Of Judgment
SILLY. Well-perhaps. What are
you going to do with those boxes?"
"I1l put them In the mail. I'm 60
Ing downtown for luncheon. and will
Wy ~ thch. ihcs III uc ueiiNtrtu tnis
afternoon"
lie nodded. II had e to have
them delivered tomorrow; IL makes
no difference. You're the boss. II
Will give the good people a little more
reason for jubilation tonight, ehf"
A sudden laugh broke upon his lips.
I'm beginning to see the humor of II.
Lucie-and I know who put you next
to me. II was Jachin Fell, the old
fox. ] 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 angryf'
She looked at him steadily for a
space, then q swift smile leaped TO her
lips and she extended a p~ardoning
hand. Her gesture and words we're
impulsive, sincere.
Angry No. / think you've some
good reason behind Il all. which you
won't confde 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 crackbrain. And I
like you because you won't lie I me.
You've a motive and you refuse to
tell livery WELL I'll be just as
frank and say that I'm o a bit angry.
SO. that's settled
Now what was the big surprise that
you just mentioned you were going 10
give poor Mr.. Fell this afternoon1"
Gramont's eyes twinkled. You re-
member that I thought he suspected
me of being the Masquer? Well, I
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 I'm out. I'll be
free to go into business for myself. It
occurred to me that II joachim Fell had
brains enough TO run down the Mid
night Masquer. he would be a mighty
good business mariner. hecouea I'm