Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-09-08

] shake the man instantly. Grau1Out
smiled as he perceived that the game
was won.
81 never heard of no Gramont," went
on the other, quickly. what you dom
here?'
you're due to learn a good many
things. | imagine" said Gramont, care
lessly. "As for me, l happened IN the
place largely by accident. / happen
to be in partnership with a man
named Jachin Fell, and l came out
here on business"
To Gramont's astOnishment the pis-
toI was lowered instantly. 1t was wen
that he ceased speaking, for what he
had just said proved to be open to
misconstructiOn, and If he had said
any more he would have spoiled It.
For the nan facing him was staring
at him in mingled disgust and sur
prise.
you're In partnership with the
boss! =" came the astounding words.
well. why in hi didn't you say all
that in the first place. instead O.
beein' around? That's nc way to butt
in, and me thinking you was some
dick on the job! Got anything to
prove that YOU amt pullin' something
cute on me?"
"Do you know Felfs wrftingT asked
Gramont, with difficulty forcing him
self to meet the situation coherently.
Jachin Fell-the boss!
81 know his NIT, all right"
From his pocket GraIhont produced
a paper-the memorandum or agree
ment which he had drawn up with
Fell the previous afternoon, relating
to the oil company. The other nan
took 1t and switched on an electric
light bulb overhead. In this glare he
was revealed as a ratty little indi-
vidual with open mouth and teeth
hanging out-an adenoidal type, and
certainly a criminal type.
It crossed the mind of Gramont that
one blow would do the workout he
stood motionless. No sudden game
would help him here. The discovery
that Fell was "the boss" paralyzed
him completely. He had dreamed
of such a contingency. Fell, Of all
menl
joachim Fell the boss OF this estab-
lishment! Jachin Fell the man high
er up-the brains behind this criminal
organization! 1t was a perfect thun-
derbolt to Gramont. Now he under
stood why C~hacherre was in the en-
ploy of Fell-why no arrest Of the
man had been possible! Now he per
ceived that Chacherre must have told
the truth about coming here on bust
ness for Fell. Reaching farther back.
he saw that Fell must have received
the loot of the Midnight Masquer.
must have turned it over to Lucie
Ledanois-
Did she know?
"All right, Mr.. Gramont-" The ratty
little man turned to him with evident
change of front. I'VE amt takin' no
chances here, understand. Got quite
a shipment of cars comm in from
Texas, and we're tryin' to get some O.
these boats cleaned out to make room.
DTluS Out any OTueTS
Gramont's brain worked fast.
BY overcoming this guttersnipe he
might have the whole place at his
mercy-but that IA not what he
wanted. He suddenly realized that he
had other and more important fish to
fry in New Orleans. Gumberts was
there. Fell was there. What he must
do demanded time. and his best play
was to gain all the time possible. and
to prevent this gang from suspecting
him in any way.
"Did you see Ben Chacherrer he
countered.
"Uh-huh-seen him just after he
come. Gumberts will be out day after
tomorrow, he said. The boss is framin'
some sort Of deal on a guy that he
wants laid away-some guy name O.
Hammond Chacherre is running ii.
He figgers on gettin' Hammond on ac-
count of some car that's bein' hunted
up"
Gramont laughed suddenly, for there
was a grim humor about the thing. So
Jachin Fell wanted to "get something"
on poor Hammond And Chacherre
had seized the golden opportunity that
presented itself this afternoon-in-
stead of getting" Hammond for the
theft of a car, Chacherre had coolly
fastened murder upon himl
"Ben is one smart man l expect he
thinks the gods are working for him"
said Gramont, thinly. $50 you don't
know what happened today, Ell? Well,
itE great news, but I've got no time
to talk about it They'll tell you when
they get back"
"Where'd they go?" demanded the
other.
"Houma. Now listen closet Cha
cherre did not know that l was in
partnership with the boss, get me? I
didn't want to tell all the Grove in
front of him. Between you and me.
the boss isn't any too sure about
Ben"
SAY, | get you therei' broke in the
| other capplv CT tolls hin, civ r,o,tz