Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-11-02
CHAPTER VIII.
Conus.

From the time they left the Leda-
nois house with Lucie, Gramont had
no opportunity of seeing his chauffeur
in private until, later in the afternoon,
he left the Maison Blanche building
He had enjoyed thoroughly satisfac-
tory interview with joachim Fell. The
car was waiting for him in Royal
street, not far from the Monteleone,
and Gramont approached it to find
Hammond in deep worry over the OUT
come of the interview with Fell.
"WeIl, cap'n!" he exclaimed, anx-
iously, as Gramont drew up. you're
smilin', so I guess it amt a pin@Ap'
''Don't worry. The stuff is returned
and the matter is now closed. We can
forget all about the Midnight Masquer.
Now, there's another and more impor-
tant thing that l want to speak with
you about, a matter OF business"
Hold on capnr' interrupted Ham
mond, quietly, his eye on a spot be-
hind Gramont. "One of your friends
ia headed over this way, and if
know anything about it, he's got blood
in his eye"
Gramont turned, to see Bob Mall
lard approaching. The latter adj
dressed him without any response to
his greeting.
"Have you moment to spare, Ora
mOnt?"
"All afternoon" answered Gramont,
cheerfuIly. He affected not to observe
Maillard's air of heavy business, nor
the frowning suspicion that lurked
half-veiled in the others glowering
features.
The two were standing a bit apart.
and Hammond was fussing with one of
the headlights, but Gramont suspected
that the chauffeur was listening avid
~. "I've just come from talk with
dad How did it happen that you sold
him that stock of yours in the COM
pany|
Gramont smiled a little 81 hap
pened to need the money. Why?"
"But why the devil didn't you hang
on to that stock? Or if you needed
money, why didn't you come to me?"
exploded the other, angrily.
Heavens !" drawled Gramont, who
was quite willing to exasperate young
Maillard to the limit ''You seem
frightfully concerned about it! What's
the big idea, anyway? | offered the
stock to your father at a discount. He
realized that it was good buy, and
took it. What's wrong with that?"
Nothing wrong, if you put it that
way" snapped Maillard, angrily. "But
it's a confounded sly way of doing
things"
"Now, just wait right there! !" Ora
mont's easy smile vanished. II don't
take that kind of talk, Maillard. I'm
off in the morning to start work on
that report l was engaged to make.
When the report comes in, my resig-
nation comes with it."
"All right. Let it come here and
now, then" MailIard's tone was ugly.
"If you're so blamed anxious to get
out of the company, get OUT"
Thanks. I'll be glad to be re-
lieved of the job" Gramont turned
and addressed his chauffeur. "Ham-
mond, you'll kindly remember this
conversation, in case your future tes-
timony is needed"
"Confound you, what dyou mean
talking that way?" broke out Maillard.
''Do you suppose I'll deny firing your"
'I don't care to have you offer any
reflections on my actions, Maillard,"
said Gramont, evenly. my course in
this matter is perfectly open and above
board, which is more than you can say
for your doings."
'What?" Maillard clenched his
stick and took a forward step, anger
working in his face. "What the devil
d'you mean"
Exactly what say-and perhaps I
can prove it. Remember the oil con-
Germ to which you persuaded your
precious father to sell some of Miss
Ledanois' Bayou land? Remember the
real estate company to which you per-
suaded him to sell her st. Landry par
ish property? You had interests in
both concerns; l don't imagine you'd
care to have your share in those trans
actions exposed. Further, | entirely
understand your Indignation over my
getting rid Of this stock before the
crash, and it Ill becomes you to assume
any such attitude"
MaiIlard glared at him for a long
moment, o red tide of rage flooding
and ebbE fr0m hts heavy counte-