Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, August 30, 1922, Page 2

ot 58 i duze oy ot | e e T £} e % "~ SYNOPSIS' - R I—During the helght of the New Orleans carnival season Jachin Fell, wealthy though somewhat mysterious cit® tsen, and Dr. Ansley, are discussing a seriés of robberies by an individual known a8 the Midnight Masquer, Who, invariably attired as an aviator, has long defied the police. Joseph Malllard, wealthy bankes, is giving a ball that night, at which the Masquer has threatened to appear and reb-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 to the Vel CHAPTER IL—Lucle Ledanols, recent- Iy the ward of her uncie, Joseph Mail- lard, s the Columbine. ‘CHAPTER TIL—Iu his library Joseph Msillard and a group of friends are held up and robbed by the Midnight Masquer. | «CHAPTER IV.—Lucle Ledanols, the last of an old family, is in straitened circum- stances. Joseph Malllard’s handling of her funds has been unfortunate. Fell is an oldifriend of her parents and deeply interested in the girl. Henry Gramont really the prince de Gramont, son of s French father and an American mother. but who ‘spurns the title of prince, is emamored of Lucle and belleves himself & ‘not unfavored suitor. CHAPTER V.—Gramont's chauffeur, Hammond. sergeant in the American army in. France, and there known to Gramont, lives with him. He was the original Midnight Masquer, and Gramont, for a_particular purpose, after: discover- lnf Hammond’s activities, assumes the role.” Where Hammond had been a rob- ber for financial gain, Gramont, of is not. He arranges to return the *loat” to those whom he has robbed. ‘The jewels and money, In fndividual pack- | ages, are got ready for delivery next day | to their original owners. That night they are stolen from Gramont's auto. CHAPTER VL—Ben Cacherre, an in- dividual of unsavory character, appears to be assoclated with Jachin Fell. He has a-peculiar interview with one phis Izzy Gumberts, notorious influential crook, in which there is significant refer- ence to a mysterious *'boss.” CHAPTER VIL.—Lucie summons Gra- mont to her home and shows him the packages trom his auto. He admits he is the Midnight Masquer, but convinces her that he had no thought of robbery. He refuses, however, to explain his pur- pose. The packages are returned to their owners. _JAPTER VIIL—Tnat evening Fell, Gramont, and Dr. Ansley, at the Krewe of Comus ball are, accosted by an In- toxicated masked indlvidual whom they recognize as Bob Malllard. He invites them to_a convivial. party In a private room. They refuse, and Gramont leaves the bullding. ‘Joseph Maillard seeks his ‘o, fearing public_scandal as a result of Bob's _condition. With Fell and Ansley they, find: the-room where the revels are golng on.. Entering they discover an in- ‘dividual, attired as an aviator, In_the act of -robbing: the - infoxicated youths. In a struggle that ensues Maillard Is shot and killed." The “‘Masquer” escapes. CHAPTER IX.—Gramont, With Ham- mond, visits Terrebonnie, a wild section of the country, to inspkct Lucie Ledanols’ land, which he believes containg oil. He finds Indications of apparently almost Un- | believable quantities of the stuff. While stooping over a pool of water which clearly shows traces of oil on its sur- face, Gramont hears his name spoken. PTER X.—He cannot ses the speakers, but the conversation ends singu- Jarly abruptly. Gramant does not investi- cate. Hammond finds a dead man in Some - woods' and is charged by Ben Ca- cherrs and two other men with murder. Gramont can do nothing. The men_take Hammond to the town of Houma. Later Gramont finds a bloodstained knife where he had heard the voices. He then realizes that Cacherre. was one of the men talk- ing, and is the murderer. CHAPTER XI—Believing himselt alone, Gramont investigates buildings on thé adjolning farm, which he kacws belongs to Memphis Izzy Gumberts. He finas evidence of automobile stealing on a stupendous scale and lezrns from a man who discovers him and whom he outwits, that the place is_also the headquarters of the undergretnd lottery game and that Jachin Fell is the mysterious “boss.” CHAPTER XIL.—Back Tn the cfty, Gra- mont learns of the killing ot Joseph Mail- lard. He seeks further evidence agaimst Fell. Gramont, Fell, and Lucle Ledanois form a company to bore for oll on the Le- danois place. 1 tells Gramont he “plant- ed” the evidence of oil there and un- folds a_scheme to make a fortune for the girl. Gramont refuses to be a party to the project. Fell threatens to prove him the murderer of Maillard. which he seems able to do, and Gramont reluctantly agrees to ioin him. - (Continued from last irsue) friend .of Miss Ledanols, and stated frankly that he was looking for oil and hoped to drill on her land. “I'd like a lease option from you,” he went on. “I don’t want to buy your land at all; what I want is a right to drill for oil on it, in case any shows up on Miss Ledanois’ land. It's all a gamble, you know. T'll give you a hundred dollars for the lease, and the usual eighth interest in any oil that's found. T've no lease blanks with me, but if you'll give me the option, a signed memorandum will be entirely sufficient.” The farmer regarded oll as a joke, and said so. The hundred dollars, however, and the prospective eighth interest, were suflicient to induce him to part with the option without any | delay. He was only too glad to get the thing done with at once, and to pocket Gramont's money. Gramept drove away, and was just coming to, the Ledanois drive when he suddenty . threw on the brakes and halted the car, listening. From some- where ahead of him—the Gumberts place, he thought instantly—echoed a shot, and several faint shouts. Then silence again. :Gramont paused, indecisive. The sheriff . was making an arrest, he thought. A hundred possibilities flit- ted’-through his brain, suggested by the -sinister combination of Memphis lzz:"_i', known even to Hammond as a flBedfor;lrJones Mem- | by .. Hustrations by - prince among crooks, with this se- cluded place leased by “inventors.” Bootlegging? Counterfelting? As he paused, thus, he suddenly started; he was certain that ‘he had caught the tones of Hammond, as though in a sudden uplifted oath of anger. Gramont threw in his clutch and sent the car jumping forward—he remembered that he had left Ham- mond beside the rivulet, close to the Gumberts property. What had hap- pened? He came, after a moment of impa- tlence, to an open gate whose drive led to the Gnmberts place. Before him, H ! | & | “i Fourd a Dead Man Over-in Them ' ' Bushes” Shot Out Hammond. as he turned ‘n, unfolded a startling scene. Three men, the same three whom he had seen from the bushes, were standing in front of the low shed; two of them held rifles, the thir4, one of the “inveptors’ in ovet-, ulls, was winding a bandsge:about a | bleeding hand. The two, rifles “were | 100sely léveled at “Hammond, who | his arms in the air. v Whatever had happened, Hammond | stood in the center of the group with J I tpelt. Gramont— anything was plossible in this isolated spot—this spot: where murder had so lately been comsummated! He checked on his very Ifps what he had been about to blurt forth; at this instant, Hammond volced the thought in his mind. \ ¢It's a frame-up!” said the chaut- feth', angrily. “That's likely, isn't it?" Chacherre flung' the words in a sneer, but with a covert ‘glance, at Gramont. “This fel- low is yeur cbauffeur, ain’t he? Well,. we got to ‘take him in to Houma, thats al.” “Where's “ithe sheriff’s . body?". de- | ) nrndad . Gramnont, quietly. . “Over ‘there,” Chacherre 'gestured. M“We ain’t'had a chance to bring him %n‘k nt—‘—‘(hls fellow kept us busy. Maybe you want to frame up an alibi for him?*" ' i Gramont. ;pald no attention to the sneering ton. of this last.” He regard- ed Chacherr b ‘fixedly, thinking hard, keeping himsblf well in hand. “You say tiie shegiff was here, then went over towiard the Ledanols land?” he asked. “Did he go alone, or were you with him’¥” “We were $xin’ to follow him,” as- serted Chachérre, confidently. This was all Gramont wanted to know— that the man 'was lying. “We were trailin’ along | after him when he stepped Into the bushes. This man of yours was staiding over him with a knife—" “I was, too, when they found me—I was cuttin’ me a fishpole,” said Ham- mond, sulkily.. He was plainly begin- ning to be impressed and alarmed by the evidence against him. Gramomt only nodded. “No onme saw the actual murder, then?” “No need for -it,” sald Chacherre, brazenly. “When we found him that way! Eh?” £ “I suppose not,” answered Gramont, nls eyes fastened thoughtfully on Hammond. The latter caught the look, let his jaw fall 4n astonishment, then flushed and compressed his lips—and waited. Gramomt glanced at Cha; cherre, ‘and launched a chance shaft. Do you Work for Mr. Fell?” The chance shot scored. “Yes,” said Chacherre, his eyes narrowing. “What are you doing here, then?” For an instant: Chacherre was off guard. He did not know how much— know that Gramont was aware who had taken the loot of the Midnight | Masquer from the luggage compart- | | ment of the car. This knowledge, very naturally, threw bim back on the de- | fense of which he was most sure. i .#1 came on an errand for my mas- | ter,” he said, and with those_words | gave the game into Gramont's fiands. Gramont stood apparently in musing thought, conscious that' every eye was fastened upon him, and that one false move would now spell disaster. He gave no sign of the tremendous shock that Chacherre’s words had just given him; when he lpyke, it was gel'auy | and coollye, . v, “Then your master is evlflefi(fy as | sociated with’ Memphis Tzzy Gumberts, | who ‘owns - this place ‘here. Is that right?” ,-Both’ Hammond and Chacherre's two friends started:at this. ind evidently not been easily cap- | “I don’t know anything abgmt that,” | tured. His countenance was sorie-* | what battered, and the one captor who wore a collar was bleeding copiously . from a cut cheek. Tle¢ three turned as’Gramont's car drawe.up, and Ham- mond gave an ejaculation of relief. “Here he Is now—" “Shut .up!” snapped one. of his armed ‘captors In ‘an ugly tone. “Hurry up, Chacherre—get a rope and tie this | gink 1™ Gramont leaped from the car and strode forward. “What's been going on here?’ he <demanded, sharply. “Hammond—" “I found a dead man ',ovm in them bushes,” shot out. Hammond, “and these guys jumped me before I seen ‘em. They claim I done jt—" “A dead man!” repeated Gramont, and looked at the thregf"“'lhnt do you mean?” 3 “Give him the splel, CBacherre” growled one of them. Ben Chacherre stepped forward, his bold:wgyes: fas- tened on those of Gramont'with a:l60k of defiance. . { “The sheriff was here some time | ago, looking for a stolen:boat,” he ! said, “and went off toward' the Leda- | nois place. We were following; in or- { der to help him search, when we came upon this man standing in the bushes, over the body of the sheriff. A kpife was in his hand, and the sheriff had been stabbed to death. He drew a pis- | tol and shot one of us—" Gramont was staggered for a mo- ment. “Wait!” he exclaimed. “Ham- | mond, how much of this is true?” | “What I'm tellin’ you, cap'n,” an- swered Hammond, doggedly. “I found man layin® there and was looking at him when these guys jumped me. I | shot that fellow In the arm, all right, then they grabbed my gun and got me down. That's all.” - | The sheriff—murdered! Into the mind of Granont leaped that brief conversation which he had '| | overheard between Ben Chacherre and the sheriff; the strange, unnatural si- lence whi d . goncluded . to th# others, o | broken-o! |- from: Ha i less for - t moment, yet with hot | words rjsing impetuously in him. | Now he noticed that Chacherre and his two companions were watching him very intently, and were -slightly circling out. He sensed an acquaint- ance among all these men. He saw that the wounded man had finished his | bandaging, and wa$ ‘now holding his | | unwounded hand in his pocket, bulk- | 15, menacingly. __ v G ‘paused-and I returnea Chacherre, with a shrug which did not entirely conceal his un- easiness, “I know that we've got & murderer here, and that we'll have to dispose of him. Do you object?” “Of course not” . sald Gramon calmly. moment in private with Hammond. Then by all means take him in to ; - Houma. I'd suggest that you tie himy| up, or make use of handcuffs if the | sheriff brought any along. Then you'd ; better take In the body of the sheriff | . also. Hammond, a word with you!” { This totally unexpected acquies.| cence on the part of Gramont seemed-|| to-stun Chacherre into inaction. He half moved, as though ‘uncertain whether to bar Gramont from the pris- oner, then he stepped aside as Gra- mont advanced. ' A gesture to his two companions prevented them from 4n- terfering. - i 5 “Keep ‘em coveréd, though,” he sald, shifting his ownj¥ifie slightly and watching with a séewl of suspicion. Gramont ignored him and went up to Hammond, with a look of warning. “You'll have to submit to this, old man,” he said, in a tone that the oth- ers could not overhear. “Don’t dream that I'm deserting you; but I want a good look at this place if all three of them go awdy. They must not sus- pect—" { “Cap'n, look out!” broke in Ham- ’ mond, urgently. “This here is a gang l—the whole thing is a frame-up on | me!” b “I know It—I was present when the sheriff was murdered; but keep qulet. | Il come to Houma later tonight and | see you” He turned away with a | shrug, as though Hammond had. de- I nied him some favor, and lifted his | voice. “Chacherrel | take this man into town} How did yon | | get here? ‘Wil you need to use my |l car?” 31 i1 s % | “No” The Creale jerked his head toward the barn. “I came in Mr. Eell's car—it’s got a sprung axle and | glanced arciind. “This is a terrible | blow, men. I never dreamed that { Hammond was a murderer G could be: | one! You don’t know of dny motive for the crime?” They shok their heads, but suspl- cion was dying from tielir eyes. Gra- | mont glanced again at his chauffeur. ' THE BEMIDJI DAILY PIONEER - “Youre Ben Chacherre, aren’t you? | { or little—Gramont knew; but he did ; There was a moment of silence. | “Step aside and give me & | How are you to |; l 12 TERWARTN lawyer. P e —— !‘at Houma and see’that you have a | Had heard dJuring that Intermiuable I think, gentlemen, we had | silence which had followed the con- better attend to brioging In the body | versation between the sheriff and Ben of thie sheriff, en?” The wounded man dodged Into the barn and returned with a strip of rope. Chacherre took this and firm- ly bound Hammond’s arms, then forced him to sit down and bound his ’ ankles. i | wounded ‘member of the trio. “We'll | get the sherift.” | “You watch h‘lm," he ordered the | | Allowing- Chacherre and- his com- | panion to take the lead, Gramont went | with them to the place where the 1aur- | dered officer lay. As he went, the con- | viction grew miore sure within him | that, when be lay there by thé rive: !'let, he had actually heard the ]ast ; §round, heedless that the water soaked | words uttered by the sheriff ; that Ch: cherre had committed the murder: in | that moment—a noiseless, deadly:stabt | That Hammond could or would have | done it he knew was absurd. They found’ the murdered man lying among the bushes. He had been ‘stabbed under the fifth rib—the knife bad gone direct to the heart. . Cha- cherre announced that he had Ham- | mond’s knife as evidence and Gramont merely nodded his head. 3 R Lifting the body between them, they bore it back to the barn. “Now,” said Gramont, quickly, “I'm oft for Houma—if I don’t miss my | road! “Ina jiffy,” sald Chacherre promptly. i Gramont. climbed into his car and | drove away. He had no fear of any- | thing happening to Hammond; the | evidence against the latter was damn- ing, and with three men to swear him into a hangman’s noose, they would i bring him <o jall safe enough. | “A ‘clever devil, that Chacherre!” ! ‘he thought, grimly. “We're up against they don't suspect me—" . 3 | _ He turned In at the Ledanols gateé, ! hearing of thé Gumberts place. - He | drove the car away from the house, | and- into - the thick of the densest | bush-growth that he could find, where |’ it was well concealed from sight. | Then, on foot, he made:his way along the bank of “the bayou until he had come to the rivulet where oil showed. Here he paused, concealing ‘himself | and gaining 'a place where he could | get a view of the Gumberts land. He i saw Chacherre and Hammond there be- | side-the body.-ef the sheriff; the other. | two men were swinging open the barn door. They disappeared inside, and | a moment later Gramont heard the whirr of an engine starting. - A car backed into the yard and halted. | - The three men lifted the body of the sheriff into the tonneau. Chacherre ‘| took the wheel, Hammond being bun- e other two men | dled in beside hif; T - climbed*in ‘béside-the body, rifles in hand. Chacherre started the car to- | | ward the road. | “All fine!” thought Gramont with a thrill of exultation. “They've cleared out and left the place to me—and I want a look at that place.” Suddenly, as. he stood.there, he re- membered_the_slicht_“pinmn” that he i | | Larson & Larson SPECIALISTS { ING EYES FITTING GLASSES ' Office, First Floor ' 4 “213 Third St. Office Phone 131 Res. 310 McKee Furniture and Undertaking Company H. N. McKEE Licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director PHONE 222-W RESIDENCE PHONE 222-R { , 120 {THIRD STREET Huffman & O'Leary | -~ FURNITURE ! ~AND . UNDERTAKING * 0.M. OLSON LICENSED EMBALMER ARD FUNERAL DIREC- “Pll not tbandon you, Hammond,” he said. severely, coldly. “Ill stop in Day phone 178 Night phones 332 or 388 e e it & You men will be right along?” | knowing himéelf to be beyond sight or | | a gang, beyond any doubt. Now, if | Chacherre. It was a sound as though something had fallen near him in’the soggy ground. The remembrance startled him strangely. He visualized an excited murderer standing beside his victim, knife in band; he visualized'the abhor- rence which must have seized.the man for a moment—the -abhorrence which must have caused him ‘to do some- thing in that moment, which in a cool- er time he would not have done. Gramont turned toward the_ !lgfla marshy spot where he had lain listen- ing. He bent down, searching the wet. into his boots. "Ahd, &ffer a minute; low exclamation” bt" satisfaction broke J CHAPTER X1 i ,'- The Gangsters, '@ "¢ ‘Gramont left the covert and Walked He was thinking about that “odd mention of Jachin Fell—had Cha- cherre lied in saying he had come here on his master’s business? . Perhaps. uvan had come in Fell's car, and ! would not hesitate to, lle about using the car." For the moment Gramont put away. the circumstance, but did not forget it. " (Continged in Newt Blackberry Pie : 'l."rom Hbirieicanned Blackberries ‘ a few shelves full of home-canned WITH ¥ blackberries you an wonderful blackberry pie the year round! This delicious dessert is always welcome. And the cost js small indeed, if you put up your own blackberries at home, in Bail Mason jars. By canning at home you saveone-third to X The plump, juicy, full-flavored: blackberries from Puyallup 2nd Sum- 3 market for . et them this week or, ner, Washington, are on only a short time.: Ge you may be disappointed. © ° Pacific N. W. Growers & Jobbers Ass'a General Offices, Minnespolis, Minn. such value as U. S. products 3 " . from him as he foifiid whit'he sought. |: The Outstanding Ti in the 30x3% inch field before has the light car owner heen offered ROYAL CORDS—the measure of-all automobile tire values—both clincher and straight side—$14.65. The New and Better USCO—thicker tread, thicker sidewalls, more rubbér—$10.65. Roval ABRIC s‘“’ Nobby Chain _Usco _Phin 10.65 2 30x3 CL R I 200 5| — 2045 1570 | — 24.35 2085 | —— 25.55 2195 | —0 26.05 .4 —_— 31.95 o 33.00 = 34.00 35.65 36.15 'WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 30, 1922 (HE PIONEEK WANI aLd RRING RESULTS It Is Excellent Superlatives ‘would not do half as mucl{ to convincé ou of thé excel- - lence of our milk as a'trial, Biy a bottle “and you’ll ask for’ its daily delivery. als high gr ade. reasonable. . ,"We 'have a pipe ma-- chine that cuts and . threads from 1 inch to 8 inch pipe. Roy V. 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