The Southern herald., 1922-10-13
By H. BEDFORD.JONES
Copyright BY Doubleday, Page q Co.

that Miss LedanOls should receive the
entire amount"
Lucie seemed a triie bewlldered.
"But-but, Henry" she exclaimed.
what do you think of selling the
lease to these other men?'
GramOnt eyed the smoke from his
cigar reflectlvely, quite conscious that
Mr.. Fell was regarding him very
steadily.
II can't answer for you, Lucie," he
said at last. II would not presume
to advise"
Mr.. Fell looked slightly relieved.
Lucie, however, persisted.
"What would you do, then, if you
were in my place"
Gramont shrugged his shoulders.
"In tnat case" he said, slowly, 81
would gamble We know oil is in that
ground; we know that it has been
found in large quantities at Houma or
near there. To my mind there is no
doubt whatever that under your land
lies a part of the same oil feld-and a
rich one. To sell fifteen-siXteenths of
that oil for a hundred and fifty thou
sand is to give it away. l would sooner
take my chances on striking a twenty
thousand barrel gusher and having the
whole Of it to myself However, by
all means disregard my words; that is
not my affair"
Lucie glanced at Jachin Fell.
"YOu think it is the best thing to do;
Henry does not" mused the girl. II
know that you're both thinking of me
of getting that money for me. Just
the same, Uncle Jachin, II won't be
prudent! I'll gamble! Besides" she
added with smiling nalvete, "I'm not
bit willing to give up having a real oil
company the very minute 1t is formed
So We'll Outvote you, Uncle Jachin."
Despite their tension, the two men
smiled at her final words.
"That motion of mine has not yet
been made" said Fell. Her rejection
Of his proposal had no effect upon his
shyly smooth manner. "Will you ex-
cuse us one moment Lucie? If l may
speak with you In the outer office, Mr..
Gramont, l would like to show you
some confidential matters which might
influence your decision in this regard"
Lucie nodded and leaned back in her
chair.
GramOnt accompanied Fell to the
outer office, where Fell sent the ste
nOgrapher to keep Lucie company.
When the door had closed and they
were alone, Fell took a chair and mo-
toned GramOnt to another. A cold
brusQuerle was evident In his man.
ner.
"Gramont," he said, briskly, II am
going to make that motion, and want
you to vote with me against Lucie.
Unfortunately, have only a third of
the voting power. might argue LuCle
into agreement, but she Is a difficult
person to argue with. SO mean that
you shall vote with me-and I'm going
to put my cards on the table before
you"
"AhW Gramont regarded him coolly.
Your cards will have to be powerful
persuaders !"
"They are" returned Jachin Fell. 81
have been carefully leading up to this
point-the point of selling. l have
practically arranged the whole affair.
/ propose to sell the mineral rights in
that land, largely on the strength of
the signed statement you gave me
few moments ago. That statement is
going to be given wide publicity, and
it will be Substantiated by other re-
ports on the oil seepage."
'N"You interest me strangely" Gra-
mont leaned back in his chair. The
eyes of the two men met and held in
cold challenge, cold hostility. whats
your motive, FellT
"Tll tell you: it's the interest of
Lucie Ledanois." In the gaze of Fell
was a strange earnestness. In those
pale gray eyes was now a light of fierce
sincerity which startled and warned
Gramont. Fell continued with trace
Of excitement in his tone.
1--WE known that girl all her life,
Gramont, and love her as a father.
loved her mother before her-in a
different way, l can tell you that at
this moment Lucie is poor. Her house
Is mortgaged. she does not know In
fact, just how poor she really is. Of
course, she will accept no money from
me in gift. But for her to get hun
dred and fifty thousand in a business
deal will solve all her problems, set
her on her feet for lifep
II see" said Gramont with harsh
impulse. what do you get out of it?"
He regretted the words instantly.
Fell half rose from his chair as though
to answer them with blow. GramOnt,
aware of his mistake, hastened to re-
tract 1t.
"Forgive me, Fell" he said, quickly.
"That was an unjust inslnuatlon, and
l know it. Yet, l can't find myself In
agreement with you. I'm firmly set in
the belief that fortune in oil will be
made off that land of Lucie's. sim
ply can't agree to sell out for a COM
parative pittance, and I'll fight to per-
suade her against doing It'll AS l look
at 1t, the thing would not be just to
her. I'm thinking, as you are. only