Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, August 24, 1922, Page 2

Sl St R S I S R—— i3 I syNopsIs | . CHAPTER I.—During the helght of the New Orleans carnival season Jachin Fell, ‘wealthy though somewhat mysterious cit® izen, and Dr. Ansley, are discussing a series of robberies by an individual known as the Midnight squer, who, invariably attired as an aviaior, has long defied the e. -Joseph Maillard, wealthy banker, is giving a ball that night, at which the Masquer has threatened to appear and rob the guests. Fell and Ansley, on their way to the affair, meet a girl dressed as Columbine, seemingly known to Fell, but masked, Who accompanies them 1o the CHAPTER Il.—Lucie Ledanols, recent- ‘CHAPTER 1lI_In his library Joseph Malllard and & group of friends are he/d up and robbed by the Midnight Masquér. CHAPTER IV.—Lucie Ledanols, the la.st of &n old family, is in straitened circum- wtances. Joseph Maillard’s handling . of her funds has been unfortunate. Fell is &n 0ld friend of her parents and degply Interested in the girl. Henry Gramint, reslly the prince de Gramont, sonj of & French father and an American mother, & mot unfavored suitor. CHAPTER _V.—Gramont's ~ chauffeur, Hammond, sergeant in the American army in France, and thers known to Gramont, lives with him. He was the original Midnight Masquer, and Gramont, for a_particular purpose, after discover- Ing Hammond's activitiés, assumes the role.” Where Hammond had been a rob- ber for financial gain, Gramont, of ‘The jewels and money. in individual pack- ages, are got ready for delivery mext day to their original owners. That night they are stolen from Gramont's auto. CB’AFI'FR VI.—Ben Cacherre, an in- dividual of unsavory character, appears te be assoclated with Jachin FWI He has a peculiar interview with ome Mem- phis Izay Gumberts, notorious influential crook, in wl ence to a m there is signifgant refer- erious “'boss.” CHAPTER VIL—Lucie sutnmons Gra- mont to her home and shows him the packages. from his auto. He admits he is the Midnight Masquer, put convinces her that he had no thought of robhery. He refuses, however, to explain his pur- pose. The packages are returned to their owners. .dAPTER VIIL-Thax evening Tell, Gramont, and Dr. Ansley, at ths Krewe of Comus ball, are accasted Yy an in- toxicated masked individual wnom they recognize as Bob Maillard. jHe invites them to a convivial party in a private room. They refuse, and Grivaont leaves the building. Joseph Maillurd seeks his son, fearing public_scandal as a result of Bob's condition. With Fefl and Ansley lll!y find the room where./the revels are olng on. Entering they discover an in- "dividual. attired a5 an & siator, i the Act of robbing the IntoXicated youths. In a strugsle that ensues ; Maillard s shot and killed. The “Mas quer” escapes. (Continued fros last imue) “Now what was the big surprise that you just mention éd you were golng to glve poor Mr. Fell this afternoon?” Gramont's evés twinkled. “You re- member that L thought he suspected me of being ‘the Masquer? ‘Well, I was geing to him to propose that we enter business together.” “Oh! As bandits?® “No, as oil promoters. I'ms out of Malllard's company, or shall be out of It soon. The mivute I'm out, I'll be free to go into business for njyself. It occurred to me that if Jachin Fell had brains enough to run down the Mid- night Masquer, he would be, a mighty ®ood business partner; bocagse I'm | poor on business. detall. Also, 7 think Fell Is to be trv.sted. He's, very strong politically, I have found—although few people kriow 1t.” “But he's, not intervsted : in soil, Is he?” “I don’t know; T ta¥e for granted that he’s Mterested in making money. Most men; are. The or 1y way to make money in oil is to b yve money—and he bas some! [ har e q little. I can put in twenty-five t/ ,ousand. With an equal amount from him, we can sink a couple of wellss perhaps three. If we go brn\e,‘fill gight. If we find oll, weé're rich® “But, ¥y dear Henry, if he knew you to/he the, Nlidnight Masquer, do You {¥.ink hel want to go into busi- ness’ with yuu? b, Why not® 'Gramont laughed. It e knew thutgX had brains enough ta pull oft that stunt and keep all New Orleans up, im the air—wouldn't I make a goodl partner? Besides, I be- lieve I have same notion where to go ly the ward of her uncle, Joseph Mail- lard, is the Columbine. course, 1s not. He arranges to return the “loot” to those whom he has robbed. , “No—Oil Is-No Woman’s Game, Un- less She Can Afford to Lose.” to sell that Bayou Terreboune land— it's an old farm, abandoned since be- fore father died—" “Don’t sell jt!” he exclaimed, quick- ly. “Don’t consider any dealings with it lmtll I bave looked it over, will ou re you ask” it, no. If there's gas v. there must be oil.” “Who kno he shrugged. “No one can predict (6l “Then you stili mean to go to Jachin Fell with your scheme?” Gramont noddeyl. “Yes. See here, Lucie—It’s about moon! Suppose you come along and lanch with me at the Leouisiane, if yowve no engagement. Wle can put those hoxes in the mail en roite. and after Runcheon Il try and g2t hold of Fell.” .She put her hewd on ome side and s tudied him reflectively. “You're sure yowll not kidnap me «r anything like that? It's risky to be- dome a friend of hardened criminals, eyen if one is trying to uplift them.?’ “Good! You'H come?” “If you can give me ten minutes—" “My dear Lucie,. you are the most charming object in New Orleans at this minute! Why attempt to make yourself still morg: attractive? Gild- ing the lily is an Smpossible task.” “Well, wait for me. Is your car here? - Good! I want to see Jdam- mond’s face when he sees us can’ying out those boxes.” Laughing, the girl started toward the stairs. At the doorway she paused. “One thing, M. le prince! Do you solemnly promise, upon your; honor, that the Mldnlglt Masquer Js dead forever?” “Upon my lmnnr !” gaid Cframont, seriously. “They farce is ended, Lucie.” “All right. T'fl be right down. Smoke it you like—" In her own' room upstairs Lucle closed the mur and sat down; before her dressing' table. She made no move toward the array of toilet ar- ticles, howev er. Instead, she: took a desk telephone from the tdble, and called a nuraber. In a moyuoent she recefved a re sponse. ' “Uncle Jachin!” she e1:claimed. “Yes—It's just as we thought ; it's all a joke. No, it was not a joke, either, because he ] ad some motive by *hind it, but he won't tell me what it was. I'm terribly gla@ that you opeped@ one of those boxes and found tly: leyter—if you had gpone tor the polfce jt would have been parrwtly dregdful-«"" “I never gos to the poMce.” suhd Ja- chin Fell, wnh Ma dry dnuckle, “You are quipe satisfield that ‘there is wnoth- ing §eious in tlie affair, then?” ‘YAbsolutely! He told me that he | h? d uccomplished his purpose, vrhix- ever it was, and that it's all ended. He just gave me his word that the after oil; I'm going to examine your, | Masquer was dead forever. 1iow, land first—' “My good prince, you surely have n/ ) Jack ‘of ‘audacity!” She broke into a peal of Yaughter. “Your argume nt abiput dgducing Mr.- Fell to go l‘uto iness with you is naive—" ¥But, ‘as an argument, Isn't is #yuite sobnd?" - 2Possibly. Since It Is Luciea Leda- nois. and not Jachin Fell who has brought vou to a canfession ¢.f your crimes against society—arep 't you | goIng to.propose that she ge, irito busi- ness with you? Doesu’t the ri.rgument hold good with her?” H #No. . Oil is no woman's gsame, un- less - she can well afford ta. lose. I injrgine that you cannot, Lu cie.” “Yow're right, I can’t put in any mghey, I'm land poor,” Unjess I were aren’t you glad that you conflded( o me?” “Very,” said Jachin Fe!L “yery | glad, indeed!” “Now “you're laughtng-at nme—ra:ver:) mind! We're going to lunch de.wn-J| town, and we'lljogl1f those boxers on’] | the way, by purcels post. Is that all right?” “Quite all right, my dear. . Didy your gown come for tonight?” “It's to come this afternoon.” | “Very well. Do not plan to, ’wear any Jewels, Lucle. I have a sdt to lend you for the occasion—no, not a gift, merely a loan for the :sake of Comus. They are very nice pearls: a little old fashioned, because tey were mounted for the Princess de Lamballe, but you will find that they ‘fit in ex- cellently with your gown. I'll biting them with me when I call for you—*" “And I'll tender fitting thanks tlen. Muillard to the limit. One thing more: Henry Gramont Is going to see you affer luncheon, T think—on business. And I want you to be nice to him, Uncle Jachin.” “Most assuredly,” said the other, dryly. “I should like to be associated in business with that young man. The firm would prosper.” Smiling, she hung up the receiver. Ten minutes later, when Gramont and Miss Ledanois entered the wait- ing car, Hammond saw the boxes that they carried. He stood beside the open door, paralyzed, his eyes fas- tened on the boxes, his mouth agape. “To the post office, sergeant,”-said Gramont, then affected.to observe his stupefaction. “Why, what's the mat- r?? Hamionidi et his_twinkling eyes; w the . layghter of Lucie, and swal- lowed hard., R . “I—er—nothing at all, cap'n,” he an- swered, hoarsely. “A—little: chekin’ spell, that’s all. Post office? Yes, CHAPTER VIII, Comus. 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 a thoroughly satisfac- tory interview with Jachin 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. “Well, cap'n!” he exclaimed. anx- iously, as Gramont drew up. “You're smilin’, so I guess it ain’t a pinch!” “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 I want to speak .ith you about, a matter of business—" “Hold on, cap'n!” interrupted Ham- mond, quietly, his eye on a spot be- hind Gramont. “One of your friends is headed over this way, and if I know anything about it, he's got blood in his eye.” Gramont turned, to see Bob Mail- lard approaching. The latter ad- dressed him withont any response to his greeting. “Have you a moment to spare, Gra- mont?” “All afternoon,” answered Gramont, cheerfully. He affected not to observe Maillard’s alr of heavy business, nor the frowning suspicion that lurked half-veiled in the other’s 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- ly. “I've just come from a talk with dad. How did it happen that you sold him that stock of yours in the com- pany?” Gramont smiled a little. “I 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 “You seem frightfully concerned about it! What's the big idea, anyway? I offered the stock to your father at a discount. He realized that it was a 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!” Gra- mont's easy smile vanished. “I don’t take that kind of talk, Maillard. I'm off in the morning to start work on “What the Devil D'You Mean?” | that report T was engaged to make. ‘hen the report comes in, my resig- Mtion comes with it.” ¥ CAll right‘ Let it come. here and oWy then.” Malllard’s tone was ugly. 413 you're so blamed anxious to.get out of the company, get out!” 2 4rpanks. Il be glad td be re- Reved X the job.” Gramont turned and addissed his chauffeur. “Ham- mond, you'll kindly remember -this conversation, 4 case your future tes- timony Is n?eLw ” “Confound youY. What d'you mean talking that “fly?" ‘proke out Malllard. “Do you suppose I'll deny firing you?” “I don't care to have you offer any reflections on my ncum-. Maillard,” said Gramont, evenly. (y course in this matter is perfectly oper*and above board, which is more than yoX ean say for your doinzs.” “What?" Maillard clenched Whis ever shown by us. be returned Tuesday evening, August 29th FRIDAY “Ringtail Cat (Continued in Next issue) 3 FUR. BOAS FUR COATS FUR SCARFS FUR SHAWLS FUR CHOKERS These must We will take orders for Four Days Only SATURDAY TUESDAY Selections may be made from these MONDAY beautiful samples and delivery will be made when you want them. WE LIST BELOW THE ENTIRE SHIPMENT Avail yourselves of this exceptional opportunity to secure furs! French Coney Choker, small; .. 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