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Show THE RICH COUNTY NEWS, RANDOLPH, UTAH Cie Mardi Gras Mystery H. Relief Sure FOR ItlDUSIZSTIOIJ By 1 BEDFORD-JONE- S 25$ and 75i Packages. Everywhere Continued. 11 and Miss Ledanois entered the waiting car, Hammond saw the boxes that they carried. He stood beside the open door, paralyzed, his eyes fas-- tened on tbt boxes, his mouth agape. To-th- e post office, sergeant, said Gramont, then affected to observe his stupefaction. Why, whats the mat- ter? Hammond met saw tire laughter lowed hard. I er nothing swered, hoarsely. spell, thats all. sir. his twinkling eyes, of Lucie, and swal-- I at all, capu," A he an- little chokin Post office? Yes, CHAPTER VIII. . Comus. From the time they left the Ledanois 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 satisfactory 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 outcome of the interview with Fell. "Well, capn! he exclaimed, anxYoure iously, as Gramont drew up. smilin, sol I guess it aint a pinch!" Dont worry. The stuff is returned, and the matter is now closed. We can forget all about the Midnight Masquer. Now, theres another and more important thing that I Want to speak with you about, a matter of business Hold on, capn I interrupted Hammond, quietly, his eye on a spot beOne of your friends hind Gramont Is headed over this way, and if I know anything about it, hes got blood In his eye. Gramont turned, to see Bob Mail-lar- d The latter adapproaching. dressed him without any response to bis greeting. Have you a moment to spare, cern to which you persuaded your precious father to sell some of Miss Ledanois Bayou land? Remember the real estate company to which you persuaded him to sell her St. Landry parish property? You had Interests in both concerns; I dont imagine youd care to have your share In those transactions exposed. Further, I entirely understand your Indignation over my getting rid of this stoek before the crash, and it 111 becomes you to assume any such attitude. Maillard glared at him for a long moment, a red tide of rage flooding and ebbing from his heavy countenance. Then, mastering himself, he turned away without further speech. Leaving Hammond to take the car home, Gramont headed for Canal street to mingle with the carnival crowd and revel in his sense of freedom. Now that he was his own master, he felt like a new man. With a boyish abandon be tramped the streets merrily, exchanging Jests and confetti, shoves and bladder-blowlaughs and kisses. Madness and reckless gayety were in the very air, and Gramont drank deep of these youthful tonics. When at last he wandered home to his pension, he was footsore, weary, disarranged and tousled and very happy. The wine of human comradeship is a good wine. That evening the Comus ball, the most exclusive revel of the most exclusive aristocracy of the southland, crowded the edifice in which it was held to capacity. Here evening dress was prescribed for all the guests. The Kretve of Comus alone were masked and costumed, in grotesque and magnificent costumes which had been in the making for months. The Krewe is to the South what the Bohemian club is to the western coast, with the added enhancement of mystery. Despite the revels of the Krewe, however despite the glittering jewels, the barbaric costumes,-th- e music, the excitement an indefinable air of regret, almost of sadness, pervaded the entire gathering. This feeling was something to be sensed, rather than new-foun- d s, Gra-mon- t? All afternoon, answered Gramont, cheerfully. He affected not to observe Uaillards air of heavy business, nor tbe frowning suspicion that lurked d 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 avidly. Ive Just come from a talk with dad. How did It happen that you sold him that stock of yours In the company? I hapGramont smiled a little. pened to need the money. Why? But Why the devil didnt you hang on to that stock? Or If you needed money, why didnt you come to me? exploded the other, angrily. Heavens! drawled Gramont, who was quite willing to exasperate young You seem v Maillard to the limit. 1 it Whats concerned about frightfully 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. Whats wrong with that?" Nothing wrong, if you put it that way, snapped Maillard, angrily. But Its a confounded sly way of doing things Now, Just wait right there! I dont easy smile vanished. take that kind of talk, Maillard. Im off In the morning to start work on that report I was engaged to make. When the report comes In, my reslg-- . nation comes with It. " ' All right. Let it come here and Mailiards tone was ugly. now, 'then. If youre so blamed anxious to get at of the company, get out! "Thanks. Ill be glad to be re-Gramont turned lleved of the Job. Hamand addressed his chauffeur. mond, youll kindly remember this conversation, in case your future testimony is needed ' Confound you, what dyou mean talking that way?Nbroke out Maillard. "Do you suppose Ill deny firing you? I dout care to have you offer any affections on my actions, Maillard, arid Gramont, evenly. My course in i this matter Is perfectly open and above board, which Is more than you can say for your doings." Maillard clenched his Whnt? stick and took a forward step, anger What the devil Working In his face. pair for Mardl Gras. It was itself a landmark. Nothing else would ever be like It. From his seat in the Lavergne box Gramont contented himself during the early evening with the common role that of lookof all the blacfccoats More than once he saw ing on Idly Lucie Ledanois called out, among others of the fair sex, as a dancing partner for some member" of the Krewe. None of the male guests, however, was allowed to participate in the festivity until Rex and his queen should arrive at midnight ; thus, Gramont saw almost nothing of, Lucie during the ' evening. While in search of smoking companions, Gramont encountered many . of his acquaintances, and among them Doctor Ansley and Jachin Fell. The three strolled off together tnto one of the unused passages leading to other parts of the building. They opened a window and stood watching the crowd that surged in the street below, constantly increasing as the hour grew later, for the procession of Rex would be well worth seeing and nobody meant to miss anything upon this night of nights. Suddenly, at the sound of an approaching footstep, the three men turned. The electric lights were going in all of the hallways, and they perceived that the individual approaching them was a member of the Krewe of Comus. He was also, it became evident, 'giving a share of his allegiance to Bacchus, for his feet were obviously unsteady, pe was clad in a particolored costume, which was crowned by an exaggerated head of Mephisto. Wonderin who I am, arent you! he hiccuped. Well, dont wonder; sail between ol friends tonight. Tell you wlmt, m friends come with me and Ill find you a lil drink, eh? Real old Boone pinchneck got it from some boys in Louisville, been savin it up for tonight. He wagged his head at them, and pursued his subject in a burst of confidential assurance. Havin a little party In one of the All of us he continued. rooms, friends lots more fun than dancin! And sayi Im going pull something great, positively great; you dont want to miss it, gentlemen ! You come along with me and Ill fix it for you. Come on, Gramont, thats A' good fellow! Youn I had a disgreement tonothin day dont matter tonight, matters tonight, nothin at all. Mardi Gras only comes once a year, eh? Come along, now. Jachin Fell very civilly refused the invitation, as did the others. Gramont, who now recognized their accoster, was less civil in his refusal. Mephisto regarded them with vinous regret. No joyment In you, any more? Better come along. Tell you, Ive got the biggest joke of the season ready to pull off something rich ! Gramont, come on! Thanks, no, responded Gramont half-maudl- curtly. The masquer gave up the struggle and moved on down the empty hall balf-veile- way. "What the Devil DYou Mean? I wonder who that was, now? Evimused Doctor Ansley, frowning. us ; at least, knew someone who dently he recognized you, Gramont. So it seemed," put it Jachin Fell. His tone, like his eyes, had a somber A party of them drinking, eh? fire. That will make trouble. The Krewe wont like it.' Who was he, Gramont? Sounded like At Gramonts Young Maillard. response a whistle broke from Doctor Ansley. ' Jachin Fell nodded assent. You took the words out of my mouth. So Bob again, eh? Hello, Gramont where to? Gramont tossed his cigar through the open window. I think Ill make my adieux, Fell. I intend to be up early in the morning and get off to work " What? protested Ansley in astonYou must stay until Rex ishment. comes, at least ! Why, thats the event of the carnival! The evening hasnt started yet. Im growing old and sober, doctor,1 and Gramont chuckled. Whats more I was drifting with the crowds all afternoon, and Ive just begun to realize that Im dead tired. Rex or no Rex, Im afraid Id best say goodnight, gentlemen." Returning to the auditorium, Gramont sought out his hosts and made his farewells, although not without encountering some opposition.- - At length he was free, he had obtained his hat and coat, and as he passed out of the building he again met Fell Ansley, who were finishing their at the entrance. He bade them a final adieu and plunged into the crowd. It lacked half an hour of midnight. For a little, Fell and Doctor Ansley stood talking, then tossed away their cigars and turned into the building. They halted in the foyer before the appearance of two men Joseph Maillard, looking extremely agitated, and behind him old Judge Forester, who wore a distinctly worried expression observed definitely. Some said, afterward, that it Was a premonition of the terrible event that was to happen this night. Wrong! It was because, for the first time in many generations, the Comus ball was held In one of the newer public buildings Instead of In Its accustomed place. Everyone was speaking of it. Even Maillard the banker, that cold man of dollars, spoke uneasily' of It when Gramont encountered him In the smoking room. "It doesnt seem like Comus, said And Maillard, with a vexed frown. to think that we had just finished redecorating the opera house when It was burned down! Comus will never be the same again. I didnt know you could feel such emotion for a ruined building, Mail-larsaid Gramont, lightly. The banker shrugged a trifle. Emotion? No. Regret! None of us, who has been brought up in the traditions of the city, but regarded the French Opera house as the center of all our storied life. You cant understand It, Gramont ; no outsider can. By the way, you havent seen Bob? Hes In costume, but he might have spoken to you Gramont answered in the negative, with a slight surprise at the question, It was not long before he came to comprehend more fully just what the loss of the old French Opera house meant to the assembly. He beard comparisons made on every hand, regretful allusions, sighs for the days that were no more. Thls present building, to be sure, was one of the citys finest, up to date in every way, with an abundance of room and yet everyone said that Comus would never be the same. About the opera house had clung the romance of many generations. About it, too, (TO BE CONTINUED.) had clung the affections of the people a reason. fierceness beyond with More The reason a man scratches his famous buildings had been allowed to head when puzzled has never been Iyou sneanr "Kxactly what I say and perhaps I go to ruin, like the Hotel Royaie, out satisfactorily accounted lor by can prove it. Remember the oil con the opera house had been kept m re Gra-mon- ts ' water ELL-AW- S Very well. Do not plan to wear any Jewels, Lucie. I have a set to lend you for the occasion no, not a gift, merely a loan for the sake of Cornua. They are very nice pearls; a little old fashioned, because they were mounted for the Princess de Lamballe, but you will find that they fit in excellently with your gown. Ill bring them with me when I call for you And Ill tender fitting thanks then. One thing ,more: Henry Gramont is going to see you after luncheon, 1 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 . Bell-an- s Hot Sure Relief v Copyright by DOUBLBDAY , PACE AND COMPANY CHAPTER VII 6 d, 11 USEFUL for all the ailments bumps, bruises, sores, sunburn and chafing. 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GrapeNuts -- Begin today with a- dish of Grape-Nut- s with cream or milk and fresh or preserved fruit added if you like;. - Keep on with this crisp, delicious, strengthening food in place of heavy, starchy breakfasts and lunches and see if the old-tizest and speed ot the old-tilevel path doesnt come back again.. me me THE BODY BUILDER "Theres a Reason Made by Poetum Cereal Company, Ine., Battle Creek, Michigan |