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Show X the rict r 'rrc- news, - rando. Children Cry For Mardi Gras Mystery ie C. ' H. By BEDFORD-JONE- S "4 Copyright by DOUBLED kY, PAGE AND COMPANY 8 GRAMONT AND FELL SYNOPSIS During the height of the New Orleans carnival season Jachin Fell, wealthy though somewhat mysterious citizen, and Dt Ansley, are discussing a series of robberies hy an individual known as the Midnight Masquer, who. invariably attired as an aviator, has long defied the police Joseph Mail-larwealthy banker, is giving a ball that night, at which the Mashas threatened to appear and quer rob the guests. Fell and Andley, on their way to the affair, meet a girl dressed as Columbine seemlrg-lknown to Fell, but masked, who accompanies them to the ball. Lucie Ledanois, recently the ward of her uncle, Joseph Maillard, is the Columbine. At the ball, Bob Maillard, son of the banker, again proposes to her and is refused. He offers to buy some of her property. A Franciscan monk interests her He turns out to be Prince Gramont. In his library Joseph Maillard and a group of his friends are surprised hy the Midnight Masquer. y CHAPTER III Continued. the search was concluded. was a small scrap of paper. Mr. Not a ers-btrace of the scoundrel! Here, Fell Tell glanced at It again, then shook can't you help us out? Havent you his head and slowly turned away, as discovered a thing? though resisting a temptation. No. It would No," he muttered. Nothing, responded Jachin Fell, he sure to fit the pirper In my pocket. calmly. At this Instant Bob Maillard rushed It would be sure to fit, confound him I" He had just learned of the A little inter he left the house, up. Masquers visit. In response to his striding briskly down the avenue. excited questioning his father de- When he approached the first street scribed the scene in the library, and light he came to a pause, and began added : softly to pat hi- person as though I trust there was nothing imporsearching for something. tant among those papers of yours, - I told you that youd pay for Robert? knowing too much about me, young No. No, said the younger man. man! he said, softly. Whats this, now whats this? Nothing valuable at all." A slight rustle of paper, as he Henry Gramont was passing. He caught the words and paused, his gaze walked along, had attracted his attenresting for an instant upon the group. tion. He passed his hands over the A faint smile rested upon his rather loose, open domino that cloaked him; he detected a scrap of paper pinned harshly drawn features. I just found this, he announced, to It in the rear. He loosened the It was pinned paper, and under the street light manholding out a paper. to the outside of the library door. I aged to decipher the writing which it presume that your late visitor left it bore. as a memento? A faint smile crept to his rips as he Jachin Fell took the paper, the other read the penciled words: men crowding around him. The same hand"l do not love you, JariUn Fell, "Ah, Maillard The reason why, I cannot tell, writing as that of- your letter! But this I know, and know fuU well, Upon the paper was penciled a I do not love you, Jachin Fell" line: single hasty My compliments to Robert MailCertainly the fellow has wit. If not lard and my thanks. originality, muttered Mr. Felt, as he Boh Maillard sprang forward, an- carefully stowed away the paper. grily inspecting the paper. When he The writing upon it was in the hand of relinquished it, Fell calmly claimed it. the Midnight Masquer. Confound the rogue muttered the bankers son, turning away. His feaCHAPTER IV. tures were pale, peihaps with anger. There was nothing but stock certifiCallers. cates in that em elope and they can The houe in which Lucie Ledanois be reissued." lived had been her mothers; the furThe festivities were not broken up. niture and other things in It had been News of the robbery gradually leaked her mothers; the two negro servants out among the guests; the generaiiy who spoke only the Creole French paaccepted verdict was that the Masquer tois, had been her mothers. It was a had appeared, only to be frightened small house, but very beautiful inside. away before he could secure any loot. The exterior betrayed a lack of paint It was nearly two in the morning or the money with which to have when Jachin Fell, who was leaving, painting done. encountered Henry Gramont at the The Ledanois family, although dishead of the wide stairway. He halted tantly connected with others such as and turned to the younger man. the Maillards, had sent forth its final Ah have you a pencil. If you bud of fruition in the girl Lucie. Her please? mother had died while she was yet an I think so, Mr. Fell. Gramont felt infant, and through the years she had beneath his Franciscan's robe, ana ex- companioned her father, an invalid, tended a pencil. during the latter days. He had never Jachin Fell examined It, brought a beena man to count dollars or costs, paper from beneath his domino, and and to a large extent he had outworn himself and the family fortunes tn a vain search for health. With Lucie he had been In Europe at the outbreak of war, and had come home to America only to die shortly afterward. Once deprived of his fine recklessness, the girl hatr found hef affairs in a bad tangle, .tinder the guardianship of Maillard tne tangle had been somewhat resolved and simplified, but ''even Maillard would appear to have made mistakes, and of late Lucie had against her will suspected something amiss in the matter of these mistakes. It was natural, then, that she should take Jachin Fell into her confidence. Maillard had been hee- - guardian, but it was to Fell that she had always come with her girlish cares and troubles, during even the lifetime of her father. At precisely three oclock or the Sunday-afterno- on Jachin Fell King the doorbell and Lucie herself admitted him. Tell me quickly. Uncle JatTiin!" Did you eagerly exclaimed the girl. actually see the Midnight Masquer last night? I didnt know until afterward that he had really been downstairs and had robbed I saw him, my dear, and the little Did You Actually. See the Midnight man smiled. There was more gray Last Night? Matquer warmth to his smile than nsnal Just wrote down a word. The paper was now. Perhaps it tns a reflection from that on which the farewell message the eager vitality which so shone in I saw him, yes of the Midnight Masquer had been the eyes of Lucie. A restful face was Iters not beauwritten. tiful at first glance ; a little too strong A hard lead, a very hard point Indeed! said Fell. He pocketed .the for beauty, one would say. The deep paper again and regarded Gramont gray eyes were level and quiet and steadily as he returned the pencil. wide apart, and on most occasions Few men carry so hard a pencil, were quite inscrutable They were now filled with a quick eagerness as sir." Youre quite right, and Gramont they rested upon Jachis Fell. Lucie I borrowed this from Bob called him uncle, but not as she called smiled. Maillard only a moment ago. Its hard- Joseph Maillard uncle; here was no ness surprised me. relationship, no formal affectation of "Do you know, a most curious relationship, but a purely abiding trust and friendship thing Jachin Fen had done mere for Lucie Yes? prompted Gramont, his ayes than she herself knew or would know ; Intent upon the little gray man. That paper you brought us the without her knowledge ne had quietly paper which you found pinned to the taken eaie of her finances to an aplibrary door, said Fell, apologetically. preciable extent. Between them lay Do you know, Mr. Gramont, that an affection that was very real. Lucie, oddly enough there were no pin holes better than most, knew me extraordiin that paper?" nary capabilities of this little gray Gramont smiled faintly, as though man; yet not even Lucie guessed a he were inwardly amused over the re- tenth of the character mat lay his surface. To her be was mark. . Not at all curious," he said, his never rvserved or secretive. NonetheoIce level. It was pinned rather less she touched sometimes an Lri I off the portion bearing penetrable wall that seemed evet tore stoutly the message. Ill wager that youll present wbhin bin. find the end of the paper still on the You mtglit make door downstairs. certain that Its torn dge fits that of the paper in your pocket ; lr It did not, then the fact would be curious ! I am most happy to have met you, Mr. Fell. I trust we shall meet again, often." (TO BE CONTINUED ) With a smile, he extended his hand, which Mr Fell shook cordially. Silver Tongues. . Rev. Ernest F. Tittle of Evanstoh, Upon gaining the lower hall Fell glanced at the door of the library. I1L, says its great to be a distinguished There, still pinned to the wood where orator, nut that It is s water to teb it had been unregarded by the pasa-- the troth' I ALCOHOL-- 3 PER CENT, r AVe elablelVoparationrarAs , similatinthcFood by Reula-- f ImtheStcnGdisandSoctsw Special Care of Baby. That Baby should have a bed of its own all are agreed. Yet it than to use is more reasonable for an infant to sleep with grown-up- s a mans medicine in an attempt to regulate the delicate organism of that same infant. Either practice is to be shunned. Heither would be tolerated hy specialists in childrens diseases. Your Physician will tell you that Babys medicine must be prepared with even greater care than Babys food. A Babys stomach when in good health is too often disarranged by improper food. Could you far a moment, then, think of giving to your ailing child anything but a medicine especially prepared for Infants and Children ? Dont be deceived. Make a mental note of this: It is important, Mothers, that you should remember that to function well, the digestive organs of your Baby must receive special care. No Baby is so abnormal that the desired results may be had from the use of medicines primarily prepared for grown-up- Thereby Promoting Digestion Cheerfulness andRestCofitauis nor neither Opium, Morphine Mineral. NotNahcotic IiccfpeofOM&WZffltMB. JumplUiSa Senna - JbchelU Salti AntstSuA IS? crwfteUSmr Flavor AhelpfulRemedyfcr Diarrhoea Constipation and feverishness and and I loss of Sleep resuttiniSlherefronHnMan(y far Simile s. MOTHERS SHOULD READ THE BOOKLET THAT IS AROUND EVERY SijnatMfgpt BOHLE OF FLETCHERS CASTORIA GENUINE CASTORIA . ALWAYS Bears the Signature of ! - ' Toil money trickster ! Do you think I would spare such a man as you? You draw your rents from the poor and destitute, your mortgages cover half the parishes in the state, and In your heart is neither compassion nor pity for man or woman. Bah! I could shoot you down without a qualm ! In his voice was so deadly a menace that Maillard trembled There is nothing of mine in that safe, he said, his voic a lew growl. I have given It to my turn to use. He Is not here. That, said the Masquer calmly, Is exactly why I desire you to open It. Tour son must make his contri-- , bution, for I keemy regret his absence. If you are a criminal, he is worse! You rob and steal under shelter of the law, but you have certain limitations, certain bounds of an almost outgrown honor. He has none, that son of yours. Why, he would not hesitate to turn your own tricks back upon you, to rob you, if he could I Open that safe or take the consequences; no more talk, now! The command cracked out like a whiplash. With a shrug of helplessness the banker turned and fumbled with the protrnding knob of the safe. With one exception all eyes were fastened upon this amazing Masquer. The exception was fachin Fell, wno, suddenly alert and watchful, had turned his attention to Maillard and the safe, a keen speculation in his gaze as though he were wondering what that steel vault would produce. All were silent There was something about thi Midnight Masquer that held them intently. Perhaps some were inclined to think him a Jester, one of the party masquerading under the famobs bandits guise; if so, his last words to Maillard had removed all such thought. That indictment had been leadly and terrible and true, as they knew. Bob Maillard was not greatly admired by those among his father's friends who best knew him. Now the ddor of the safe swung The compartments appeared open. empty. , Take out the drawers and turn them up over the table, commanded . the Masquer. Maillard obeyed. From the last drawer there fell out on the table a - large envelope, sealed. The Masquer leaned forward, seized upon this envelope, and crushed it into his pocket. Thank you," he observed. That Is all." D n you ! cried Maillard, shaking a fist. Youd try blackmail, ' would you? The bandit regarded him a moment, ' then ladghed. If you knew what was in that envelope my dear financier, you might not speak so hastily. If I knew what was In it, I might answer you. But I dont know. I only suspect and hope. And now, my friends au revoir ! The Masquer sprang backward Into the hall. The door slammed, the key clicked. He was gone ! Maillard was the first to wake into voire and action. The other door! he cried. Into the dining room He flung open a second door and dashed into the dining room, followed by the other men. Here the windows, giving upon the garden, were open. Then Maillard came to a sudden halt, and after him the others; through the night was pulsating, with great distinctness, the throbbing roar of an airplane motor From Maillard broke a bitter cry: The detectives Ill get the fools here! You gentlemen search the house. 'That fellow cant possibly have escaped " They hastily separated. Maillard dashed away to summon the detectives, also to get other men to aid In the search. The result was vain. No one had een seen to enter or leave the house and certs Inly ' there had been no airplane about. The Masquer had not appeared except tn the library,, and now he was most Indubitably not In the By all testimony, he had neither entered It nor left it I d d! said Maillard, Well, helplessly, to Judge Forester, when r - THE CENTAUR NEW YORK CITY. COMPANY, gives Oinrming Mm Color Tne to Old Sweaters ! PUTMASVS MIGHT DO BETTER NEXT TIME IN FADELESS DYES LAST LINE OF dyes or tints as you wish DEFENSE West Texas Military Academy RO.to. Small Girls Ingenious Plea for Her Recruits Answer Offers an Explanation of Why Some Army Pet Bantam Should Have Softened Daddys Heart. Go Drill-maste- rs Insane. The sergeant major was reaching end of his patience in his examination of the recruits squad. For the last time, he jelLed, going almost purple in the face, I ask you the simple question: What is a fortification? Shoulders dropped and with faces void of Intelligence as a vacuum of air, the recruits stood fast as a man. No one answered. Rushing up to the most intelligent-lookin- g man, the irate N. C. 0. bawled : Tell me, my man, what is a fortification? The answer came like a cork out of a bottle: London Two twentlfications, "Sir ! d Mary Jane had a pet bantam hen. Recently the latter batched six little chickens, but she proved herself to be an unnatural mother and wouldnt take care of them. The family v as provoked and Mary Janes father threatened to sell the hen if she didnt take care of the chickens. That brought Mary Jane to strategy. That evening when her father came home she was waiting for him. Where's your hen? he demanded. Is she caring for her chickens? . Oh, no, Mary Jane was very serious. Shes in the hen coop getting ready to lay some more eggs to hatch some more chickens. Indianapolis Five-year-ol- the Answers. News. Tempering Justice With Mercy. In writing up this performance of As You Like It, given hy the Dramatic club, use a little discretion. Hows that, boss? Just forget that you ever saw a professional show." Chig-gersvil- le Think This Over. Marshal Foch at a dinner party in Denver said of politeness: We attach great importance to politeness in France, and I think that we are wise to do so. Politeness is like a pneumatic tire. There's nothing in it but wind, yet it eases the jolts along lifes highway wonderfully. toX San Antonio, Texas 30t,h Year with the University of Texas, West Point, Annapolis and leading instmi turns of tbo United States Army ottkers Uniform detailed by War Department Separate eqmpmentissued by Government. Junior School. Shimming Pool Athletic Pie Id. Champions of bootball and Bast ball. Opens SEPT. 5. Write for new illustrated catalogue. J.TOM WILLIAMS, feupt. Affiliated - C O L I FOR BURNS CUTS ITCH SORES 75c at stores; 65c by mail. 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