Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, August 15, 1922, Page 2

!« .. _CHAPTER L %« Carnival. nchln Fell pushed aside the glass curtains between the voluminous over- draperies in the windows of the Chess and Checkers club, and gazed out upon the riotous streets of New Orleans. Half an hour he had been waiting here in the lounge room for Dr. Cyril Ans- ley,:a middle-aged bachelor who' had practiced in, Opelousas for twenty years, and-who liad come to the city for the ‘Mardl $'l'ns festivities. An- " other man might;have seemed irritated by the wait; but Jachin Fell was quite anruffled. He had much q:e air of a clerk. His features wete thin and unremarkable; his pale eyes cofistantly wore an ex- pression of wonflerlng aloofness, as though he saw around him much that he vainly tried td understand. In his entire manner was a shy reticence. He was no -clerk, however; this was evi- dent from his attire. He was garbed from head to foot, in soberly blending ghades of gray whose richmess was notable ionly. at close view. One fan- cied'him a 'very, precise sort of man, an old-matd :of. the Wrong sex. Doctor Ansley, an Inverness flung nver hla evening clothes, entered the lounge, room, and Fell turned to him with-a dry, toneless chuckle. “You're the limit! Did you forget we were going .to the Maillards’ to- night?,However, we need not leave for fifteen ‘minytes, yet, at least.” Dpctqr Ansley - lald aslde his “cape, stick and hat and. dropped Into one of the.. com!ortnble big chairs. ., “You, intend, to mask.for the Mail- 1ards'?” Ansley -cast. his’ eye.over, the gray. business attire ‘of: the little man. ‘“I'mever mask.” .Jachin:Fell .shook his )lead ,“I'll get a'domino and go as I am, ‘Excuse me—T'll 'order a domino now Back in a moment.” ‘ ‘Doctor Ansley’ followed the slight figure : u& the other man with specula- tive eyes. Weu as’ he knew 'Jachin lnvarlab'ly found the man a puzzled speculation. - During . many years Jachin Fell had been a;member of the most exclusive New Orleans clubs. He was even re cetved in ‘the igner circles "of- Creole ' soclety, which in itself was evidence su- preme’as to his position. ‘At this par- ticular club he was famed as a wizard master of chess. He never entered a tournament, yet he consistently defeat- ed the champions in private matches— defeated them with a bewlldering ease, a shy and apologetic ease, an ease which left the bekolders Incredulous and aghast. . With all this, Jachin Fell was very much of a mystery, even among his closest friends. Very little was known of ‘him; he was a lawyer, and certainly . maintalned ' offices In the Maison Blanche bullding, but he never ap- peared in the courts and no case of his pleading was known. Ansley knew him as well as did most men, and Ansley knew of a few who aould boast:of hdvlng been a guest in Jachin Fell's hormp. There was a moth- er, an invalld, of whom Fell sometimes spoke and to ‘whom he appeared to de- vote himself. ‘The family, an old one in the city,. promised to die out with Jachin Fell.” ; Ansley puffed ‘at his cigar and con- sidered these things. Outside, in the New Orleans s{reets, was rocketing the mad mirth of carnival. The week preéceding Mardl Gras was at its close. Now, as ever, ‘was Mardil Gras sym- bolized by masques. In New Orleans the masquerade was not the pale and pitiful frolic of colder climes, where the occasion is but one for display of Jewels and costumes, and where actual concealment - of - identity is a farce. Here in New Orleans were jewels and costumes in a profusion of splendor; but here was preserved the underlying idea of the masque itself—that in con- cealment of identity lay the life of the thing! ‘When Jachin Fell returned and light- ed his cigar he sank into one of the luxurious chalrs beside Ansley and in- dicated a newspaper lying across the “latter's knee, its flaring headllnes standing out blackly. ) “What's that about the Midnight Masquer? He's not appeared again?” “What?" . Ansley glanced at him in sutprise, -“You've not heard?’| Good} | : heavens, manl He showed up last night ‘at @;9 Lapeyrouse ‘dance, two minutes b¢fore midnight, as usuall® detective Hfd b}tn engaged, but _wn afterward found: locked in a 'closet, bound with his own handcuffs. The Masquer wore his usual costume—and went -through the party famously, stripping everyone in sight. Then he backed through the doors and van- fatied.”: . Fell'pointed his cigar at the ceiling, and ‘sighed. “Ah, most interesting! /The loot' was valued at about a hum- dred thousand " . Copyright by Doubloday, Page and. Compdruy: “I thought you said yow'd not heard ' of it?” demanded Ansley. Fell laughed softly and shyly. didn’'t. I merely hazarded a guess.” “Wizard!” The doctor laughed in unison. “Yes, about that amount.” “The Masquer is a piker,” observed Fell, in his toneless voice. “Eh? A piker—when he can make & hundred-thousand-dollar haul?” “Don't dream that those figures rep- resent value, Doctor. They don’'t! All the loot the' Masquer has taken since he began work is worth little to him, Jewels are hard to sell, , Of course, the crook has obtained a bit of money, but not enough to be worth the risk.” “Yet he has got quite a bit," re- turned Ansley thoughtfully. “All-the men have money, naturally; we don’t want to find ourseivés bare at some gay carnival moment! I'd warrant you've a hundred or o m *our pocket right now!” “Not 1,” rejoined Fell calmly. “One ! ten-dollar bill. Also I left my watch at home, And P'm not dressed; I don't’ care to lose my pearl studs.” “Eb?" Ansle} frowned. you mean?” Lo Jachin took a folded pnper from his | pocket and handed it to the physician. “I met ‘Maillard at ‘the bank this morning. He called me into his office and handed me; this—he had just re- celved it in the mail."” Doctor Ansley opened, the folded pa- | per; an exclamation broke from him ] “Whlt do Al'\-:yflt' k “Eh? A Plker—When He: CaA Madke a Hundred Thousand Dollar Haui?” as he read the note,” which was ad- dressed to their host of the evening. “Joseph Malllard, President, “Exeter National Bank, City. “I thank you for the masque that you are giving tonight. .I shailbe pres- | town.” { of nnrestrained: delight. :| unusual thing. }‘mw.‘ -y he's: - become qulu popular in .Ansley nodded. “Quite a fine chap. His mother was an American—she married the prince de Gramont; an in- rnational affair of the past genera- tion. De Gramont led her & dog's life, I hear, until he was killed in a duel. She lived in Paris with the boy, sent him to school; here, at home,. and he was at Yale when the war broke out. a French subject, A page brought the domino. F:ll, rding the mask, u;rev bout his shdulders, and tha * ‘They sought thetr defltlmtlon afoot —the home of the banker Joseph Mall- lard. The streets were riotous, filled |- with an eddying. laughing crowd of masquers and merrymakers of all ages and sexes; confetti twirled through the' air,. horns; were ‘deafening, and lnuhlu voices'rose into sharp screams At last gaining St. Charles avenue, with the Maiflard residence a half- dozen, blocks distant, the two compan- fons found themselves well away from the main carnival throngs. touched the arti of’Ansley and Indicat-. ®d an inconspicuous figure to one side »f the entrance steps. “An:oute! " he murmured. “Ohr 't seems, 18 neglecting no recaution) I feel sorry for the ‘{Masquer, if he appesrs here.” ! They came to the doorway. Colum- sine produced an invitation, duly num- |sered, and the three entered the house together, 5570 . b 5 et . Continued in next lssue The costliness of keeping friends does not le in what one does for them, but fn' what ongjj obit ofeo dpnuon ot them re; from doingt Fhis means’ the crushing of many an intellectual |- germ.—Letter, Tbgen to Brandes, 1870, SUBSCRIBE FOR THE ' DALY PIONEER or our Nylvfi. Aa powder at the psychological moment, 3-oto ‘speak; means a lot to a pretty woman. Carry’ in your' hand bag & dainty puft and a bit of our powder; it helps. Are m ing our Nyul’a face ernfl: That "hélps, too. s MY S vy asTan As they walked along they were sud- ; denly aware of a lithe figure approach- ing from the rear; with a running leap and an explamation of delight the fig- ure forced' itself in between them,. grasping <an arm of either man, and a bantering vofice broke in upon thelr train of talk. “Forfeit " it eried. “Forfelt—where " AUGUST 15—16—-17—18—19 E‘UN—SPORT—--—EDUCATION are your' grave physician may. be pardoned, but qot.a ‘domino who refuses to mask! And for forfeit you shall_be my escort and take ;me whither you are going.”. Laughtbg, the two fell into step, glancing at the gay figure between them. . cloaked and ‘masked. Encircling her hair was a magnificent scarf shot with metal designs of solld gold—a most Also, from her words it was evident that she had recognized them. “Willingly, fair Columbine,” respond- ed Fell in his dry and unimpasgioned tone, of voice. “We shall be most happy indeed to protect and take you with us—" “So far as the door, at least,” inter- rupted Ansley, with evident caution. But Fell drily’laughed aside this wary | imitation.. ¢ ' “Nay, good physician, farther!” went on Fell.” “Our Columbine has an excel- lent passport, I assure you. This gauzy | scarf about "her raven tresses was woven for ‘the good Queen Hortense, and I would venture a random guess that, clasped about her slender throat, lies the queen's collnr ot star sap- phires—' +40Oh!" From the Colllmblne broke a ry of warning and. swift' dismay. “Don’t you dare speak my name, sir— don’t you dare!” Fell -assented - with & chnckle, and subsided. Ansley regarded his two compnnlons with ‘sidelong curiosity. He could.not recognize Columbine, and he could not tell whether Fell was speaking of the scarf and jewels in jest or earnest.’ Such historic things were not uncom- mon in New Orleans, yet Ansley never heard of these particular treasures. their companion, and accepted her as a fellow guest at.the Malllard house. ‘“What -are you ' dolng out on the dtréets dione? “demanded Fell, sud- denly. “Haven't you any friends or relatives to take care of you?” 'olumbine’s laughter pealed out, and she pressed Fell's arm confidingly. ave I not some little rights in the world, monsieur?” she sald in French, “I have been mingling with the dear crowds and enjoying them, before I go to be burled in the dull splendors of the rich man’s house. Tell me, do you think that-the Midnight Masquer will ent. Please see that Mrs. M. wears her dlamonds—-I reed them:: i . |* “THE MIDNIGHT MASQUER."' Ansley glanced up! ' “What's' this— some hoax? Some carnival jest?” “Malllard pretended ‘ol think ‘so.” Fell shrugged his.shoulders as he re- pocketed the note. “But he was nerv- ous. He'll have a brace of detectives Inside the house tonight, and others | outside.” Ever since the first ball of the year by the Twelfth Night club' this Mid- night Mdsquer, as he was termed, had held New Orleans gripped in terror, fascination and vivid m}ere!t. During the past -month he appeared at least once a week, now at some private ball, now at some restaurant banquet, but always in the same garb: the helmet, huge goggles and mask, and leathern clothes of a service aviator. On 'these occasions the throbbing roar of an afr- plane motor had been reported, so that it was popular gossip. that he landed on the roof of his-designated victims and made his getaway In the same ‘manner—by dirplage; ‘ No' machine had ever been seen, and the theory was: believed by| pme,,h'nm,ed/‘ at hy others. Doctor Ansley. r.noed at p,ll 'watch, and deposited hls clgar in an ash tray. “We'd best be ,mnving. Fell. You'll '\want & oo+ “I _ordered one., lfll be here in a Iintnuite 112 “Do you aarlnmly thlnk t_hnt note 1Is | genuine?” Fell shrugged lightly. “Who k‘nows'l I'm not worried. Maillard. can mord to be robbed.” v “You're - . ‘,ulm ons!” Anxley chuckled, -“Oh, T belleve the. prince is to be: there tonlght. !on ve'met him, I suppose?” { “No. Heard something about him, though. An American,isn't he? They m an appearance tonight?” Ve ‘gvery. reason to belleve that he Wil said Jachin Fell, gravely. Columbjne put one hand to- her throat, lnd' shivered a trifie. “You—you really think so? You are not trying to trighten me?” Her voice 'was no longer gay. “But—the jewels— it they are taken by the Masquer—" {“In that{ ‘case,” sdld Fell, “let the blame be mine- entirely. If they are lost, little Columbine, others will be lost with them, fear not! I think that this party would be a rich haul for the Mluqner, eh? Take the rich man and his friends—they could bear pluckln.. that crowd! Rogues all.” “Confound you, Fell!” exclaimed Ansley, uneasily, “If the bandit does stiow up there would be the very devil to pay!" ’ “And Maillard would do the paying.” Fell's dry chuckle held a note of bit- terness, “Let him. Who cares? Look at his house, there, blazing with lights, ‘Why pays for those lights? The people his financial tentacles have closed their sucker-like grip upon. His wife's jew- dishave been purchased with the coin of oppression and injustice. His son’s life’ds one of roguery and drunken wildness—" cated the Columbine between them. #We're not alone here—you must. not talk that way—" Jachin Fell only chuckled again. Col- umbine's laugh broke in wlth renewed galety: “Nonsense, my ‘dear Galen! masquers may admit among ourselves that Bob Maillard is—" . “Is not the man we would have our daughters marry, provided we had daughters,” sald Fell. They had come to a file of limou- sines and cars,” and approached the gateway of the Malllard -home.. They turned into the gate. Jachin Fell HHERRB RIS ks, sober gentlemen? This | A Columbine, she was both | However, it seemed that Fell knew .{Man, are-you mad?” Ansiey’indi- [} We | 403 Beltrami Ave. o z'l 1evivy] ‘U b b, ‘1111 Seatiomery . Crepe Paper " 11" Greeting Cards . Party Favors “IBésk’ Blotters’ #0171 'Office Clips Clip Boards ~ Labels Pencils Books Yy s R “;s‘ smmu'. anld'Base for sale, price $15.00 if taken at once. \Filink Devices ' ' Every-Day Pencils Drawing llllm.:llv COMPANY EXTENDS TO FAIR VISITORS A CORDIAL WELCOME : TO MAKE THlS’ Ex CLUSIVF BOOK STORE THEIR H"ADQUARTERS DURING FAIR WEEK&' i i You will fifld here the best of everythmg in ,E'enlurp Ponclll School Supplm Steel Cabinets ° Piériic Packiges Birth Card Place Card Desk Pads. ‘Bark Pins Letter Files Pin. Tickets.. . .. .. Punches . Books Latestnovel by James Oliver Curwood “THE COUNTRY BEYOND" Great. novel by A M. S. Hutchinson—a big seller " “IF WINTER COMES” Read Harold’Bell Wright’s popular book umuommol.nnws" w Fo\mum Pens | xEuvelflpu 4 Note Books :: ol index Trays Deak Sets Erasers Invoice Files /String Tags . Tablets 4% Books Jme{wmcomb Ry i ot i AR ‘mmgmmmx —-Rlley verse. . * Here s one you'll like by Webster “DAWY I.ONG LEGS” REAL GIF T BOOKS . .“FROM ERIEND TO FRIEND” by, Edwin Olgood Grover 'B?émldj fi il ‘Stationery C I (1] " i Pencil Fillers Jean §4 0870 A. G. JACOBSON, Manager ~ 'Bemidji’s Exclusive - Book & Statxonery Siore MTIHA S WET 14 “OUT T0 OLD AUNT MARY'S” . by James Whitcomb Riley | ‘ “THE STORY OF THE OTHER. wnsnm" ‘by Henry Vlndykc ‘ ’.m.nk Books Pencil Slurpmn Card Trays Card Files ° Corréspondence M Transfer Files Crayons Albums Books Unaerwooi “Typ i : ‘writer; model 5, S | for sale; good as v new} price $40.00 if taken at once.