St. Tammany farmer., 1922-10-21

l
The door opened, and Henry Ora
mont appeared, his right hand band
aged and in a sling.
| "Good evening, gentlemen !" he said
smiling.
Here's Gramont, now!" exclaimed
Fell. did you call the chief ovel
here"
Il sure did," and Gramont came for.
ward. II wanted to see you two gen.
tlemen together, and so arranged It.
Miss Ledanois Is to be here at nine,
Fell7"
The little man nodded, his eyes in.
tent upon Gramont. He noticed the
bandaged arm.
"Yes Have you been hurt?"
slightly" Gramont brought up a
chair across the desk from Fell, and
sat down. He put his left hand in his
pocket and brought forth document
which he handed to the chief of police.
Cast your eye over that, chief, and
| say nothing. You're here to listen for
the present. Here's something to cover
! your case, Mr.. Fell"
Gramont produced his automatic
from the pocket Of his coat, and laid
1t on the desk before him. There was
a moment of startled silence. The Of
ficer, looking over the paper which
Gramont had handed him, seemed to
find 1t of sudden, intense interest.
"What means all this mystery and
melodramatic action, Gramont?" de-
manded Jachin Fell, slight sneer in
his eyes, his voice quite toneless.
1T means," said Gramont, regarding
him steadily, "that you're under arrest.
went out to the Gumberts place on
Bayou Terrebonne this morning, ar
rested Memphis Izzy Gumberts and
four other men engaged in operating
lottery. and also arrested two
mechanicians who were engaged in
working on stolen cars. We took In,
further, gentleman by the name Of
Dick Hearne; a lesser member of the
gang, who is now engaged in debating
prefer to do the talking at present" !"
Gramont smiled into the steady, un-
faltering eyes Of Fell.
"You are next on the program" he
said, evenly. "We know that you are
at the head of an organized gang,
which is not only operating lottery
through this and adjacent states, but
also. Is conducting an immense busi-
ness in stolen automobiles. There
fore"
"Just one minute, please" said
Jachin Fell. ''Do you forget, Mr.. Gra-
mont, the affair of the Midnight
Masquer? You are very Jealous citi-
zen, have no doubt, but"
II was about to add" struck In Gra-
mont, "that your pleasant friend Ben
Chacherre is charged with the murder
of the sheriff of Terrebonne parish, in
which L have clear evidence against
him. having been present at the scene
of the crime He is also charged with
the murder of Joseph Maillard-"
"My heavens!" said Fell, staring. II
never dreamed that Chacherre-"
perhaps you didn't" Gramont
shrugged his shoulders. "Neither did
anyone else I imagine that Ben
learned Of this room and drinking
party, and rightly decided that he
could make rich haul off d small
crowd of drunken young sports. He
had the costume stolen from my car,
as you know; also the automatic
N1xyra oh
missing from the automatic when we
found it in Ben's possession; and you
remember the Masquer fired twice at
the time Maillard was killed.
Felrs keen eyes sparkled angrily.
"You're very Jealous citizen, young
man." he said, softly. Il see that you've
been hurt. trust your little game
did not result in casualtfesT
Gramont nodded. Charlie the Goog
went west. He was desperate, l
fancy; at all events he got me in the
arm, and I had to shoot him. Memphis
Izzy hardly justified his tremendous
reputation, for he yielded like lamb"
$50 you killed the Goog, eh?' said
Fell. every Jealous, Mr.. Gramont! And
l suppose that the exigencies OF the
case justified you-a private citizen, IN
CARRYING arms and using them? Who
aided you in this marvellous affair?''
"A. number Of friends from my post
of the American Legion" said Gra-
mont, evenly.
"Ah! This organization Is going IN
for politics, then?"
"Not for politics, Fell; for justice.
deputized them to assist me.'
"Deputized repeated Fell, slowly.
Certainly" Gramont smiled. you
see this lottery business has been
going on for year or more. Some
time ago, before I came to New Or
leans, the governor of this state ap-
pointed me a special officer to invest1-
cate the matter There is my commits
sion, which the chief has been reading.
It gives me good deal Of power, Fell;
quite enough power to gather in you
and your bunch"
The chief Of police looked very un-
easily from Gramont to Jachin Fell,
and back again. Fell sat erect In his
chair, staring at Gramont.
"You were the original Midnight
Masouer." said Fell in his toneless
voice. At this direct charge, and at
Gramont's assent, the chief started In
surprise.