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Show THE SAUNA SUN. SAUNA UTAH MARDI GRAS MYSTERY ft I b H.BedfordJon es Illustrations bxj Irwin Mtjers Copyright by Doubleday. Pag? and Compare j "Sure, SYNOPSIS. During the height of the New Orleans carnival season Jachin Fell, wealthy though somewhat mjsterioud citizen, and Dr. Ans.ey, are discussing a series of robberies by an individual known as the Midnight Masquer, who, Invariably attired as an aviator, lias long defied the police. Joseph Mail-- i lard, wealthy banker, Is giving a ball that night, at which the r has threatened to appear and rob the guests. Fell and Ana'.cy, on their way to the affair, meet a girl dressed as Columbine, seemingly known to Fell, but masked, who them to the ball. accompanies Lucie Ledanois, recently the ward of her uncle, Joseph Malllard, Is the Columbine. At the ball, Dob Malllard, 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 Prin e Gramont. In his library Jveph Maillard and a group of his friends are held up and robbed by the Midnight Masquer. Lucie Ledanois, the last of an old family. Is In straitened cirMas-que- cumstances. Joseph Malllard's handling of her funds has been unfortunate. Fell Is an old friend of her parents and deeply Interested n the girl. Henry Gramont, really the Prince de Gramont, is enamored of Lucie. Lucie talks with Fell about her affairs and the Masked Gramonts Masquer. chauffeur, Hammond, sergeant In the A. E. F., lives with him. He was the original Midnight Masquer, and Gramont had assumed the role. Where Hammond had been a robber for financial gain, Gramont, of course, is not. He arranges to return the "loot to those whom he has robbed. r Ill be writing some notes to go Inside." "YOUNG MAILLARD! Gramont went to a buhl writing desk In the corner of the room, and sat down. He took out his notebook, tore off several sheets, and from his pocket produced a pencil liaving an extremely hard lead. He wrote a number of notes, which, except for the addresses, were Identical in content: Dear Sir: I Inclose herewith certain Jewelry and articles, also currency, recently obtained by me under your kind auspices. I trust that you will assume the of responsibility returning these things to the various guests who lost them while under your roof. I regret any discomfort occasioned by my taking them as. a loan, which I now return. Please convey to the several owners my profound esteem and my assurance that I shall not In future appear to' trouble anyone, the carnival season having come to an end, and with it my little jest. THE MIDNIGHT MASQUER. Gathering up these notes in his hand, Gramont went to the fireplace. He tossed the pencil Into the fire, following It with the notebook. Cant take chances with that man All ready, serFell, he explained. geant. Lets go down the list one by one. Those papers, sergeant! To get them. Ive been playing the whole game. To get them and not to let their owner suspect that I was after them Now they're going back to their owner." Mho's he7" demanded Hammond. I oung Maillard son of the banker. He roped me into an oil company; caught me, like a sucker, almost the first week I was here. I put pretty near my whole wad Into that company of his. You mean he etung you? Not yet." Gramont smiled coldly, harshly, I feu right enough but Ill come out on top of the heap." The other frowned. I dont get you, capn. Some kind o stock deal?" "Yes, and no." Gramont paused, and seemed to choose his words with care. "Miss Ledanois, the lady who was driving with us this afternoon, la an old friepd of mine. I've known for some time that somebody was fleecing her. I suspected that it was Maillard the elder, for he has had the handling of her affairs for some time past. Now, however, those papers have given me the truth. He was straight enough with her; his son was the man. He worked on his father, made his father sell land owned by Miss Ledanois, and he himself reaped the profits. There are notes and stock Issues among those papers that give his whole game away, to my eyes. By the way, get that tin box out of my trunk, will you? I want to take my stock certificates with me in the morning, and must not forget them." Hammond disappeared into the adjoining room. Gramont sat gazing at the boxes before him. He shook his head gloomily, and ids eyes clouded. All wasted the whole effort! he I thought it might lead murmured. to something, but all it has given me is the reward of saving myself and possibly retrieving Lucie. As for the larger game, the bigger quarry Its all wasted. I havent unraveled a single thread ; the first real due came to me tonight, purely by accident. Memphis Izzy Gumberts! Thats the lead to follow! Ill get rid of this Midnight Masquer foolishness and go after the real game. Gramont was to discover that It is not nearly so easy to be rid of folly as it is to don the jesters cap and bells; a fact which one Simpllelsslmus had discovered to his sorrow three hundred years earlier. But, as Gramont was not versed In the line of literature, he yet had the discovery ahead of him. Hammond the room with the tin box, from which Gramont took his stock certificates Issued by Bob Malllards oil company. lie pocketed the shares. "Ill go to Maillard the banker Joseph Malllard first thing In the morning, and offer him my stock. Hell be mighty glad to get it at a discount, knowing that it is in his son's company. You see, the son doesnt confide in the old man particularly. I'll let the father win a little money on the deal with me, and by doing this I'll manage to save the greater part of my Investment " Holy mackerel!" Hammond exploded In a burst of laughter as he caught the Idea. Say, If this aint the richest thing ever pulled I When the crash comes, the fancy kid will be stinging Ws dad good and hard, eh?" Exactly; and I think his dad can afford to be stung much better thnn I can," agreed Gramont, cheerfully. Now let's take those packages and stow them away In the luggage compartment of the car. Im getting nervous at the thought of having them around here, and theyll be persafer fectly safe there overnight there than here, In fact. Tomorrow you can take the car out of town and send the packages by parcels post from some small town. In that way they ought to be delivered here on Wednesday. You'd better wear one of my suits, leaving your cl.i uffeurs outfit here, and dont halt the var In front of the post office where you mail the packages I get you, assented Hammond, But what about them aviasagely. tor's clothes? "Take them with you better get them wrapped up here and now. You can toss them Into a ditch anywhere." Hammond obeyed. Ten minutes afterward the two men left the room, carrying the packages of loot and the bundle containing the aviators uniform. They descended to the courtyard in the rear of the house. Here was a small garden, with a fountain in its center. Behind this vveie the stables, which had long been dis ised as such, and which were now occupied only by the car of Gramont. R was with undisguised relief that Gramont now saw the stuff actually out of the house. Within the last few hours he had become Intensely afraid of Jachin Fell. Concentrating himself upon the man. picking up Information guardedly, he had that day assimilated many small items which increased his sense of peril from that quarter Straws, no more, but quite significant straws. Gramont realized dearly that if the police ever searched his rooms and found this loot, he would he lost. There could he no excuse that would hold water for a minute against such evident e. 1 From the trunk Hammond produced ticketed packages, which he placed on the table. Gramont selected one, opened It, carefully packed the contents In one of the boxes, placed the proper addressed note on top, and CHAPTER V Continued. handed it to the chauffeur. "Wrap it up and address it. Give Well, I was followed today; at the return address of John Smith, least, I think I was. And let me tell Bayou Teche." One by one they went through the you something nbout that same quiet little man ! His name Is Jachin Fell. packages of loot in the same manner. Heluva name, commented Ham- Before them on the table, as they mond, and wrinkled up his brow. worked, glittered little heaps of rings, Jachin, huh? Seems like I've heard brooches, watches, currency; Jewels the name before. Out o the Bible, aint It? Something about Jachin and Boaz? I Imagine so. Gramont smiled as he replied. This chap Fell Is sharp, he went on, confoundedly sharp! while the chauffeur listened with frowning intentness. I think that he Is on to me, and is trying to get the goods on me. And someOh! said Hammond. one was trailin you? Think he's put the bulls wise? I Gramont shrugged his shoulders. don't know. He almost caught me lat night. Well have to get rid of that aviators suit at once, and of the loot also. I suppose youe reconciled yourself to returning the stuff? Hammond stirred uneasily, and laid down his pipe. Look here, capn, he said, earnestI wasnt runnln' a holdup game ly. because I liked it, and I wasnt doing it for the fun of the tiling, like you are. I was dead broke, I hadn't any hope left, and I didnt care a d n whether I lived or died that's on the dead! Right there, you come along md picked me up. You give me a job. What's more, 'ouve treated me white, cap'n. You've ;!ven me something decent to live i'or to make good because you got some faith in me! Why, when you that flashed garishly with colored went out on that first job of ours, fires, historic and famous jewels aristocratic heart of dyou know it like to broke me up? plucked from the It did. Only, when we got home that tlie southland, heirlooms of a past gennight and you said It was all a joke, eration side by side with platinum and youd send hack the loot later on, crudities of the present fashion. There had been heartburnings in then I began to feel better about it." Gramont nodded In comprehension the loss of these things. Gramont knew. He could picture to himself of the others feeling. serof what had followed his a something not been joke, altogether Its To tell the robberies: family quarrels, new purgeant, he said, gravely. retruth, I did start it as a joke, hut soon chases in the gem marts, bitter afterword I learned something that led proaches. fresh mortgages on old herme to keep it up. I kept it up until I itages, vexations of wealthy dowagers, could hit the Maillard house. Ii was shrugs of unconcern h.v the nouveaxx lives allered my intention to turn up at the Comus riches; perchance divorces there and on night, Tuesday hall, "Theres a lot of human life behind make public lestitution of the siuff but thats impossible now. I dare not these baubles, sergeant," he reflected his lips as risk It! Thai u,, Fell is too smart. aloud, a cold smile uponcome hack to When they Youre not goin to pull the trick he worked. lie to like eaowners. Id their hovering again, then? queiied Hammond, around in an invisible mantle to watch gerly. I results! Could we only know It, were what No. Im through. Ive got return to probably affecting the lives of a great I wish dont wanted. Still. A'li many people for good and ill. These the stuff before Wednesday carnival things stand for nmnev ; and theres of the end Wednesday, the or the lack of it, season. Suppose you get out the loot nothing like money, of people. ile'tmies the to sure he guide And and find me some boxes. Hammond and it. said You they have no name on them or any here to prove it, aint "Im grinned. store labels. no more gunplay, Hammond leaped up and vnnis! ed in I? I aint pulling Seen anything of an aviaI got me a steady job. renow lie the room adjoining. Presently tors helmet around here? old man. stesolv a fiimid, Arid turned, hearing several cardboard Did it occur to you added Gramont. boxes, which he dumped on the eeetei much in need (if as (TO BE CONTliS L'ED.) he ma.v 'J,s table. Pm blamed glad youre done, that wete: as i IVielld n;i he uttered, fervently, believe me! Conscious Rectitude. He had come to the hist box. now, Furs Ini glancing up at Gramont. Im the cat that brings to Joseph Mail-irPussywillow must go which I that concerned I dont care much, but York Herald. scarf-pin- s New and birds. the money the of On top sure hate to see the bulls turn in a in the box he he which pkoed guy like you, capn. Here we arc A wife Is seldom Jealous of her bus He aid a thin packet of papers. Want me to keep each bunch separate band's first love alter meeting her. his fingir- with them tapped dont you? 1 IbI!0Ml T3B0QDt5 TTS)t3E mmatsv The Economy BRCSURItS PBVMEBU Thats What Millions oG Housewives Do They know that Good Baking Powder cant be sold for less; that More for the Money means bake day failures, waste of time and money; that Calumet is pure and sure. -- BEST BY TEST The Worlds Greatest Baking Powder HOW BOOKS ARE DISINFECTED Method Employed Be the in HAD SUBJECT DECLARED HIMSELF AT CNCc HIS STUDIED France Is Said to Little Bobbys Essay Showed He Knew Yet Practically All There Was to Most Successful Devised. Know About Doors. The danger of contagion from books that have been in the hands of persons suffering from various diseases has led to the invention of methods of disinfecting, of which none appears to he more effective than that devised by a member of the municipal couudl of Paris. This process consists of two features. In the first place, the books are placed In a "heater, where a strong current of air opens every leaf, and an aspirator sucks out the dust and deposits it in aseptic water. Then they are suspended In a disinfector, the covers being bent hack and held by clips, so that the leaves are widely opened, and placed over a heater, which for a long time subjects them to a temperature of 107 degrees Fahrenheit. The paper is not damaged, and the efficiency of the process Is said to be well demonstrated. Little Bobby Jones was told to write an essay on "Door, and the effort which he sent in was as follows: Most houses have all the doors that they need, and no house Is complete without at least one. The two main differences between a door and a gate is: first, their opposite location; and, second, that people have much less respect for a gate, and would rather kick it than knock on it. Rut a gate is more useful than a door because It does everything that a door can do, and, besides that, It can he climbed over, and often Is. The door handle Is a small but Important part of the door which people never appreciate until it comes off. Most people never notice the door handle unless it is brought to their notice on account of having jam spread all over it. Doors are great things to give people privacy, and would give them still more if it wasnt for the keyholes. Exchange. Roll Butter. The young housekeeper who told At the Womens Club. the Ashman that she wanted some eels and when he asked her how "That was an awfully good speech much, replied About two yards and a Mrs. Blakeley made. has a rival In a Baltimore linlf, Still, my dear, a woman who so woman. ob iously makes her own hats could I wish to get some butter, please, never comince me of anything. she said to the dealer. Lite. Roll butter, maam? lie asked, politely. Taking life too seriously Is a beNo; we wish to eat it on toast. We lief that others shouldnt be allowed seldom have rolls. to guide their own souls. New Yorker Saw Fearsome Possibility of Near Future and Gave Wife Due Warning. Visitors to Central park the other day saw a new angle of the family pet out for an airing, reports the New York correspondent of the Pittsburgh Dispatch. A young woman was out with her variegated parrot. The bird stalked majestically about the lawn, bpt quickly came buck and perched on the young womans finger whenever she called. His comings and goings to and from the finger gave the parrot its prescribed exercise, whether It wanted it or not. The young woman didnt seem to mind the crowd that gathered about to watch. In fact she seemed rather proud of the attention she and the bird, were attracting. Jiggers, whose family pet is a dog, happened along with his wife and stopped to look. I suppose the next thing. he remarked to his wife, will be that Im to take the canary up to the park for a walk. Right here I announce the answer: Nothing doing! In Generous Mood. First Workingman What sort of a Job have you got now? Second Workingman Oh, I collect nlms on the Putreuux bridge, between midnight and 1 oclock In the morning. First Workingman Are the people particularly generous there at that hour? Second No heat with this summer meal with cream of crisp, delicious A DISH or milk (some berries or fresh fruit, too, if you Grape-Nut- s, like) is cooling to serve, cooling to eat and cooling to digest with a charm of flavor and goodness that rouses appetite enthusiasm. No preparation, no cooking no heating of the body afterward, as heavy, nourishment starchy meals do but for every bodily need. Theres a noticeable feeling of lightness and com fort after such a meal. Try this way out of the heat, bother and uncertainty that usually goes with the midsummer food problem. well-round- Order ed GrapeNuts from your grocer today. Theres a Reason Made by Postum Cereal Company, Ino, Battle Creek Michigan Yes. Workingman They me everything they Paris 1s Baionnette. generally give have on them. -- |