Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, September 6, 1922, Page 2

2 [3Ee (Continued from last isaue) “He regrefted thé words inatantly. Fell half rose from his chair as though “} See,” Said Gramont With Harsh Im- pulse. “What Do You Get Out of I1t?” to answer them with a blow. Gramont, aware of his mistake, hastened to re- tract it. “Forgive me, Fell,” he sald, quickly. “That was*an unjust insinuation, and 1 know it. Yet, I can’t find myself in agreement with you. I'm firmly set in the belief that a fortune in oil will be made of that land of Lucie's. I sim- ply can’t agree to sell out for a com- parative pittance, and I'll fight to per- suade her against doing it! As I look at it, the -thing would not be just to her. T'm thinking, as you are, only of her interest.” A light of sardonic mockéry glit- tered in the pale eyes of Jachin Fell. “You are basing your firm convic- tion,” he queried, “very largely upon your discovery of the free oil?” “To a large extent, yes.” “I thought you would,” and Fell laughed harshly. “What do you mean?” “I mean,” sald the other, flercely earnest, “that for a month I've worked to sell that land! 1 had young Mail- lard hooked and landed—it would have been poetic justice to make him hand over a small fortune to Lucie! But that deal is off, since he's in jall. And do you know why young Maillard wanted to buy the land? For the same reason you don't want to sell. I sent him out there and he saw that oil seepage, as I meant that he should! He thought he would skin Lucle out of her-land, not dreaming that I had prepared a nice little trap to swal- low him. And now you come along—" “Man, what are you driving at?” ex- claimed Gramont. He was startled by what he read In the other man’s face. “Merely that I planted that oil seep- age myself—or had it done by men ¢ could trust,”“sald Jachin Fell, calmly. He sat back In l¥'s chair and took up his clgar with an air'of flnality. “The , confession 1s shameless. I love Lucle more than my own ethical purity. Be- sides, I intend to wrong no one in the matter.” Gramont sat stunned beyond words. The oil seepage—a plant. There was no reason to doubt what Fell sald. Gramont believed the little man sincere in his love for Lucie. “No matter what the outcome, your reputation will not be affected,” said Fell, quietly. “The company which will buy this land of Lucle's is con- trolled by me. You understand? Even if no oil is ever found there..I shall see to it that you will not be injured because of that signed statement.” Gramont nodded indull comprehen- sion. He realized that Fell had de- vised this whole business scheme with infernal ingenuity; had devised it in order to take a hundred ‘and fifty thou- isand dollars out of his‘awn pocket and Jput’it into that of Lucle. It was a “’ptésent which the girl:would never ac- “ept as a gift, but which, if it came in the way of business, would make her financially..independent. *Nobody woild. be defrauded. There ‘Wats no chicadery about ‘it. The thing was straight enough. “That’s not quite all of my plan,” pursued Fell, as though reading Gra- mont’s unuttered thoughts. “The mih- ute this news becomes publie, the min- ute your statement is published, there will: be a tremendous boom in that whole section. [ shall take charge of Lucié’s money, and within three weeks 1 should double it, treble it, for her. Before the boom bursts she will be out of it.all, and wealthy. Now, my dear e —————— e A 2 = et o e . ““Then prove it, my -dear fellow; prove it—if you can. Now, we shall tkeep Lucie out of all this. What re- mains? I know that you were the Midnight Masquer. My man, Ben Cha- cherre, can prove by another man who accompanied him that the Masquer's loot' was taken from your car. tograph ‘In the private office, yonder, has a record of the talk between us of the other morning, In which you made patent confession tc being the Masquer. \“Q&Q‘; : band this array of evidentce over to the'district attorney, and you will most-certainly stand sriall | ABE\r you do stand trial, 1 can pramige you faithfully that you will meet convictiom:y I have friends, you see, and many of them are influ- ential in.such small,matters.” It was not a nice ‘smile that curved the lips of Feli. i Gramont choked back any response, A die- | (! ,-WRAIDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 6, 1922 | L School Teacher’s Friends Made Glad “One of them had this to say yes- terday. “We never thought that poor Ellen would ever recover, she had suffered so long from stomach and liver trouble and had lost more than 40 pounds in weight. She taook a bottle of Mayr’s Wonderful Rem- edy upon the advice of her aunt and has steadily improved from the first dose. We' are all confidént of her complete .recovery.”; ' 1/ A from the intestinal.tract, and allays the inflammation which causes prac-. tically -all stomach, liver and inges- tinal ailments, including appendigitis. One dose will convince or money re- funded, at ALL. DRUGGISTS,—Adv. It xemoves - the. catarrhal ,mfi:cu‘n‘ k WA " 70 OPEN IUSIC STUDID HERE ————————— ————— Prof, Chas. Pflock with over 20 years experience, having studied in the best conziervatories, Leipzig ‘and Frankfort, wil} teach VlOLlN—PH,ANO and ORCHESTRA Phone 562 or 508-W, or call at the Elko Theater gagaos s’ HAVING YOUR - Gramont, I do not presume’ that “you will still refuse to vote with m&? ‘I have been quite frank, you see.” Gramont stirred In his chair. “Yes!” he sald, low-voleed. by heavens, I do refuse!” With an effort he checked hotly im- pulsive words that were on his toague. Qne word now might ruin him. He daved .not say that he did not want to see ¥(4l's money pass into the hands of Lucli—money gained by fraud and theft am1 crimé! He dared not .give his reaso.ns for refusing. He meant now to c¢-ush Fell utterly—but one wrong wory! would give the. man full warning. H.e must say notldng. “Ir's not s\'raight work, Fell. Re- gardless of youir motives, L refuse to Jjoin you.” % Jachin Fell sigired slight®y, and laid down his cigar with preciyion. “Gramont,” his voice ca¥ae with the softly purring menace ¢f a tiger's throat-tone, “I shall now adjourn this company meeting for two days, until Saturday morning, in ord’r to give you a little time to recon'sider. Today is Thursday. By Saturday “I need no time,” saifl Gramont. “But you will need 'it. I suppose you know that Bob Ma Illard has been arrested for parricide? You are aware “Yes, cumstantial?” . Gramont frowned. “\What has that got to do with our present business?” “Quite a bit, I fancy.” A thin smile curved the lips of Jachin Fell. “Mail- Iard is not gullty.of’the murder—but you are.” “Liar!” Gramont started from his | chair as those three words burned into him. “Liar! Why, you know that I went home—" “Ah, walt!” Fell lifted his hand for | peace. His volce was calm. “Ansley i and I both saw, you depart, certainly. We have since;learned that you-dld | not reach home until'sgme time ‘after | midnights . Youizhgve/ positively. | alibi, Gramont. * You imay allege,: of streets—" | b3 “As I Is the ideal helps to _digest meal. Is Great R of the evidence agains.t him—all cir- | course, that you were wandering the | was!” | ¢ried " Gréimont, heat- Se:l ?I'i?i;f Kept Righi holding himself to silence with a firm will. He dared say nothing, lest he say too much. He saw that Fell could indeed make trouble for him— and that he must strike his own blow at Feil without great delay. It was a battle, now; a fight to the end. Fell regarded Gramont cheerfully, seeming to take this crushed silence as evidence of his own triumph. “Fufther,” he added, “your man Hammond is now in jail at Houma, as you know, for the murder of the sher- iff. Now, my influence is not con- fined to this city, Gramont; I may be able to clear Hammond of this charge —it you decide to vote with me. I may keep what I'know about the Mid- night Masquer from. the press and from the district, atforney—ig you de- cide to vote with me. Yos compre- hend?” N 5 Gramont nodded. ‘'He saw agw why Fell wanted to “get somethlng” on Hammond. Fell had rightly reasoned that Gramont would do more to save Hammond than to save himself. “You think I murdered Maillard, then?” he asked. . “Gramont, I don't> know what to think, and that's the honest truth!” answered Fell, with a steady regard. “But I am absolutely determined to put this oil deal across, to make Lucie Ledanols at least Independent, If not wealthy. I can do it, Pve made all my plans to do it, and—I will do it! “We'll hold another meeting day after tomorrow—Saturday morning.” | Fell rose. “That will give me time to | conclude all arrangements. I trust, Mr. Gramont, that you will vote with me for the adjournment?” “Yes,” said Gramont, dully. “I will.” “Thank. you,” and Jachin Fell | bowed slightly, not without a trace of mockery in his air. (Continued in Next Issue) LEARN BARBERING- Now is the time, - Sunimew rates- still in effect. Enroll now and fave’ $25. Twin City Barger College, 204-Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, | has its piace in childhood’s joys, and it is ‘good for grown-ups ftoo. A life-long friend. 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