The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-09-22
The Mardi Gras Mystery
BY
H. BEDFORD-JONES


ten or spoken rather frankly, perhaps
Also, Bob may have blabbed to him
Bob still drinks-prohibition has no
hit him very hardi"
NO" agreed Fell. gravely. "Unfor
tunately. no. Lucie, I've discovered q
most important fact. Joseph Maillard
did not own any stock in the Bayou
on company at the time your land
was sold them by him. and he had no
interest at all In the real estate con-
Germ that bought your st. Landry
swamp lands and made a fortune on
| them. We have really blamed him
most unjustly. / do not believe that
he has profited In the least from you.
His investments in the companies con-
cerned were made afterward. and
am certain he sold the lands limo
Gently"
Lucie drew a deep breath.
II am glad you have said this," she
returned simply. Its been hard for
me to think that Uncle Joseph had
taken advantage of me; think that
he honestly likes me. as far as he
permits himself to like anyone"
He'd not loan you money on IT,"
said Fell. Friendship isn't tangible
security with him."
well, who really did profit by my
loss7 Anyone?"
Felrs pale gray eyes twinkled. then
cleared in their usually wide limo
cence
MY dear Lucie, is there one person
In this world to whose faults Joseph
Maillard is deliberately blind = one
person to whom he would refuse moth
Ing. in whom he would pardon every
thing. of whom he would never believe
any evil reportT'
'You mean" Lucie drew a quick
Eyes, | mean Bob. That he has
profited by your loss am not yet In
a position to say; but I suspect II.
When 1 have finished with the
Sfasquer, shall take up his trail"
Jachin Fell rose. 'Now / must be
,ff. my dear. 'Will you dine with US
tomorrow evening, Lucie2 My mother
me to bring you as soon
IS possible"
"Oh, your motherr' exclaimed the
girl, contritely. II was so absorbed
n the Masquer that forgot to ask
after her. How is she7'
"Quite as usual. thank you"
"rll come tomorrow night gladly,
Uncle joachim"
"And wen take look at the Pro
teus ball afterward, IL you like. III |
send Ben Chacherre for you with the |
car, If you're not afraid of him.
I'm not exactly afraid of him."
Lucle responded soberly, but there
IS something about him that I can't
Ike. I'm sorry that you're trying to
him, In a way"
Fell shrugged lightly. "All life is
IN effort. little onel Well, goodby."
joachim Fell left the house at three
orty. Twenty minutes later the bell
ang again. Lucie sent one of the
ervants to admit Henry Gramont;
he kept him waiting full fifteen
minutes before she appeared. and then
he made no apologies whatever for
he delay.
Not that Gramont minded waiting;
e deemed II a privilege to linger in
his housei He loved to study the
lace. so reflective OF It's owner. He
wed the white Colonial mantel that
urrounded the fireplace. perpetually
light, with its cleaning sheen of old
raises. and the glittering fire-set to
ne side. The very air of the place,
kko& q |
weet to him.
The Napoleon bed that filed the
DIV window, with its pillows and soft
,verings; the inlaid walnut cabinet
ade by Sheraton, with Its quantity
rived glasses that reflected the old
me curlos within the tilt tables, the
chairs. the rugs, bought be
ire the oriental rug market was
ooded with machine-made SIENNA
lots-about everything here had an
r of comfort. of long use. OF restfui- :
ess. II was not the sort Of place {
lIlt up, raw item by raw item. by Y
e color-frenzIed hands of decorators. r
was the sort of place that decora-
RS strive desperately to initiate, and
nnot T
When she made her appearance, !
ramont bent over her hand and adj
'essed her in French. f
"You are charming as ever, Shining Z
ne And in years to come you viii h
, still more charming. That is the @
,auty of having a name taken direct
ON the classics and bestowed as a
'od fairys gift" f.
Thank you, monsieur - but you II
I've translated my name at least 81
'enty times. and am weary OF hear S,
2 IT," responded Jucie, laughingly. 1,
"Poor taste mademoiselle, to grow c,
cary of such beautyI' d
mot of the name, but OF your exc y
sis upon 1t. Why should l not be
spleased? Last night you were pos
vely rude. and now you oecry my h;
stel Did you leave oil your man 81
rs In France, NJ. lie princeY 81