The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-08-18

"The bandit did not enter the house
during the evening, nor did he leave,
nor was he found in the house after
ward" he went on, tonelessly. so.
incredible as 1t may appear. he was
one of the guests. This Mr.. x. came
to the dance wearing the aviator's cos
tune, or most Of 1t, underneath his
masquerade costume. When he was
ready to- act, he doffed his outer cos
tune, appeared as the Midnight
Masquer. effected his purpose. then
calmly donned his outer costume
again and resumed his place among
the guests. You understand? II
"Well, then! Maillard yesterday re-
ceived y note from the MasQuer. bra
zenly, stating that he intended to call
during the evening. have that note.
1t was written with an extremely
hard pencil, such as few men carry,
because It does not easily make very
legible writing. Last night I asked
Mr.. x. for pencil. and he produced
one with an extra hard lead-men-
tioning that he had borrowed it from
Bob Maillard, as indeed he had"
what Surely you don't mean"
"Of course don't. Mr.. x. Is very
clever, that's all. Here is what took
place last night. Mr.. 4. brought US
another note from the Masquer, say.
ing that he had found it pinned to the
library door. As a matter of fact,
he had written it on leaf torn from
his notebook. took the note from
him, observing at the time that the
paper had no pin holes. Probably
Mr.. X. saw that there was something
amiss; he presently went back down.
stairs, took the remainder Of the torn
leaf from his notebook, and pinned It
to the door. A little later met him
and mentioned the lack Of pin holes;
he calmly referred me to the piece on
the door, saying that he had merely
torn off the note without removing
the pins. You follow mel"
"Of course" murmured the girl, her
eyes wide in fascinated interest. "And
he knew that you guessed him, to be
the Masquer?' =
HE suspected me, I think" said
Fell, mildly. !.'It is understood that
you will not 60 about tracing these
little clues?" ~|
"Don't be, silly, Uncle Jachin J" she
broke in. "You know I'll do nothing
Of the sort. Go on. please! Did you
find the airplane7" -.
"Yes." joachim Fell smiled dryly. II
was thinking Of that as I left the
house and came to the line of waiting
automobiles. A word with one Of the
outside detectives showed me that one
of the cars in the street had been test
ing its engine about midnight. I found
that the car belonged to MIX. =
Z 'How simple, Lucle, and how very
clever! The chauffeur worked pow
erful motor with muffier cutout at
about the time Mr., x, inside the
house, was making his appearance. 1t
scarcely sounded like an airplane mo-
tor, yet frightened and startled, people
would imagine that 1t did. Thus arose
the legend that the Midnight Masquer
came and departed by means Of air.
plane-a theory aided ingeniously by
his costume. Well, that is all I know
or suspect, my dear Lucie! And
now" s1 -
Snow, suppose" said the girl.
thoughtfully, "you'll put that awful
Creole Of yours on the track Of Mr.. X.7
Ben Chacherfe, is: q good chauffeur,
and he's amusing enough-but he's a
bloodhound! I don't wonder that he
used to be criminal. Even If you have
rescued him from q life Of crime, you
haven't improved his looks"
"Exactly-Ben is at work." asserted
Jachin Fell. '4The gentleman under
suspicion is very prominent. TO &C.
cuse him. without proof would be
utter folly. TO catch him In fiagrante
delicto will be difficult. So I am In
no haste. Besides. can as yet dis
cover no motive for his crimes, since
he is quite we'll OF financially. Well,
70 matter! Now that I have fully
unbosomed myself, my dear, it Is your
turn" ...
"An right, Uncle Jachin." Lucis
took a large morocco case from the
chair beside her, and extended It.
"You lent me these things to wear last
night, and IT,
mo, no." intervened Fell. II gave
them to you, my dear-in fact, I
gave them to you two years ago, and
kept them until now! You have worn
them; they are yours, and you be-
come them better than even did poor
Queen Hortense! So say no more"
Lucie leaned forward and imprinted
a kiss upon the cheek of the little
gray man. There! that is all the
thanks can give you, dear uncle; the
gift makes me very happy. and I'll
not pretend otherwise. Only, I feel as
though had no right to wear them
they're so w0nderful!"
"Nonsensei But all this isn't why
you summoned me here you bundle
of mystery! What bothered you last
night, or, rather, whoT IT,. y. ~:
Lucie laughed. 'There was Fran
ciscan who tried to be very mysteri-
Gus, and to read my mind. He talked
about oil, about a grasping, hard man,
and mentioned You as my friend.
Then he warned me against = pro-
posal that Bob might make; and sure
enough. Bob did propose to buy what