•wn folly now. If this affair were to It be laid at my door, some kind of a case might be made up against me, and It would s«'em plausible. But, fortunately, 1 was out of It in time. — Were we merely character* In a । By H. BEDFORD-JONES standardise«! detective story, I suppose ! By DOUGLAS M ALLOCH Copyriund the length, he was grudgingly taken to the that aviation uniform, it's still awful Life Is loving, living. nest. He had spout so much time In hunt ­ Ure had died down beyond all danger, cell occupied by Hammond. The lat­ to believe. I can't realise thut it has Life ths common road, "Whnt homely looking cregtura* ing about that he found It wns almost and swiftly removed the few things ter received him with a wide grin, and actually happened." IJfe Is getting, giving, day nnd he wns far from his hollow they ar*, too! I .won’t have them here they had taken from the car. Carry­ gave no signs of the grueling ordeal "According to the papers, poor Mra Helping with the loud. tree home, so lie run up a tree close another minute, Whnt right had any ing these, he stumbled back to where through which he had passed. Maillard has gone to pieces. No won­ There are brothers near you. by and there he found au old nest left one to come to the hollow tree a.nl he had hidden the automobile. He der." Sweet comraderie; “Listen, old man,” said Gramont, leave all this trouble?" by Mra Hawk. ■carcely dared to think, scarcely dared earnestly. “Will you play out the "Yes. I wns there with her ull day Mr. Coon was just going In when “Ahl here I will take a good nap," to congratulate himself on the luck game hard to the end? I’ll have to yesterday, and shall go again today. Lift your eyes and sea. he felt a shnrp rap right on htn rar. said Mr. Coon, "and tie off «w»rly to ­ that had befallen him, until he found leave you here for two days. At the They say Bob Ls terribly broken up. night for a farm I know about, where nnd tho angry voice of hts wife said. himself in his own car once more, and end of that time you'll be free." He sent for his mother, and she re­ Life Is loving, lifting, "Don’t you dare touch those darling with open throttle sweeping out Life is hand-in-hand. The listening deputies sniffed, but fused to see him. 1 don't know how it pretty babies. you heartless parent.- through the twilight toward 1’aradis Hammond merely grinned again and Is all going to end! Do you think his Are you only drifting? Mr. Coon looked Into the flashing and Houma beyond. A whirlwind of put a hand through the bars. story might be true—that somebody Do you understand? eyes of his wife. "Heartless paruotF mad exultation was seething within else might have acted as the Masquer Love has never found you?— "Whatever you say. cap'n," he re­ ho questioned. "Do you mean to say him—exultation as sudden and tre­ joined. “It sure looks bad—" that night?" Then a brother bet those crying, blind creature* ar* our mendous as the past weeks had been Gramont shook his head. Love Is all around you— “Don’t you think it.” said Gramont, uneventful and dragging. "It's possible," he said, reluctantly, children?" Lift your eyes and seel cheerfully. "A lot of things have Graniont, in common with many happened since I saw you last! I've "yet It hardly seems very probable. "Yea, I do; but you do not deservo (© by MaOars Syndtests.) others, had heard much indefinite got the real murderer right where I And now, Lucie. I'm very sorry Indeed to have such pretty babies,' snapped rumor of an underground lottery game want him—but I can’t have him ar­ to say it—but you must prepare your­ Mrs. Coon. “And ns for their crying, that was being worked among the ne­ rested yet." self against another shock iu the near why shouldn't they, when their heart­ groes of the state and the Chinese vil­ future. ” less father stays away all day and "It'i a gang," said Hammond. “You lages along the gulf coast. And now watch out, cap'n, I heard 'em say “What do you mean? About the port of the night and their mother has he knew definitely. to go looking for him? Now you go In Th «y talk about a woman’« «ph«r« a» somethin' about Memphis Izzy—re- oil—” Lotteries have never died out in “No. it's too long a story to tell the house nnd don't you dare atlr until though It had a limit. Louisiana since the brave old days of you now; here we are at the Maison Th«r«'a not a place In earth or heavsn. "How Csr«l««s of H«r," H« Said. I tell you. I am nlmont frozen, and the government-ordained gambles, Blanche. Just remember my words, Th«r«‘a not a task to mankind given, how ran you export me to keep six Th«r«'« not a blessing or a woe, the farmer 1s not so careful with hla children wnrm nil alone?" laws and ordinances to the contrary. please. It's something that I can't go There's not a whispered yes or no. poultry, and If 1 take homo a nice, No laws can make the yellow man and into now.” There's not a life or death or birth. “I—I thought It was springtime,' the black man forego the get-rlch- “Very well, Henry! Do you think That has a feather's weight of worth— plump chicken to Mrs. Coon, I am stammered Mr. Coon. without a woman tn IL sure she will forgiva me for going quick heritage of their fathers. On that It's possible your chauffeur, Ham­ "Well, It Isn't.” Mid bl* wife. Mr. away without her." the Pacific coast lotteries obtain and mond, could have learned about the FOOD FOR THE HOUSEHOLD So all day ho slept In the nest and Coon meekly crawled Into bin nest nnd will obtain wherever there is a China­ drinking party, and could have—" the sun was nice and warm, but when curled up with hla family, glad to be <• town. In Louisiana the days of the Gramont started. “Hammond? No. HEN ths chicken for Sunday din­ evening came Mr. Coon awoke with a back where It was **m. and he made grand lottery have never been forgot­ I’ll answer for him beyond any ques­ ner has served the family, re­ up hla mind to stay there until th« ten. The last two years of high tion, Lucie. By the way. does Fell move all the bits of leftover meat from shiver, for the sun was gone and a spring’lme rame to stay, for he felt wages had made every negro wealthy, know anything about Hammond hav­ th* roasted chicken uud cut fine. Pre­ cold wind waa blowing, which made Mr. Coon feel very unhappy and un­ sure that six children to rare for comparatively speaking. The lottery ing been the first Masqfter?” pare a white or brown sauce, season comfortable. He wished he was at would not have been thrust upon him mongers would naturally find them a “Not from me," said the girl, watch­ well, add the chicken, a teaspoonful home close beside Mra Coon In the If he had been there Instead of Mra. ripe harvest for the picking. And who ing him. of onion Juice, any good stock like Coon. would gravitate to this harvest field “Very well. Hammond got Into a bit chicken or cream, cook thick, and hollow tree. by McClure N»w*p«p«r Rynd I cat«.) Mr. Coon forgot alt about the fat if not the great Gumberts, the un­ of trouble at Houma, and I had to tho crumbled yolks of two hard cooked caught Memphis Izzy, the promoter leave him there. It was none of his eggs and a half cupful of cooked peas, who had never been “mugged!" fault, and he'll get out of it all right. If at hand. Serve poured over but­ Here, at one stroke, stumbling on Well, come along up to our oil meet­ THE RIGHT THING tered toast the thing by sheer blind accident, Gra­ ing! Forget your troubles, and don’t at the mont had located the nucleus of the let my croaklngs about a new shock Grapo Juice Dessert. TAe whole business! RIGHT TIME cause you any worry just yet.” Take twelve almond macaroons, one Gradually his brain cooled to the He was thinking of Jachin Fell, and cupful of grape juice, one cupful of realization of what work lay before By MARY MARSHALL DUFFER the girl’s closeness to Fell. Had he cold cooked custard, one cupful of w«h< i^R.w^ him. He was through Paradis, almost not known that Fell was responsible whipped cream, two tablespoonfuls of • ■ —»----------------------- without seeing the town, and switched for Hammond's being In Jail, he might blanched almonds broken Into small DON ’ T BE TOO NICE on his lights as he took the highway have felt differently. As It was, be pieces. Place two fresh macaroons to Houma. Sober reflection seized fence corners was now forewarned and forearmed, in each sherbet cup, pour over a You ar« too finical for mo; apeak plain, him. Not only was this crowd of although he could not see what ani­ small amount of grape Juice, set on •Ir.—Ben Jonson. crooks working a lottery, but they mus Fell could possibly have against ice until chilled, put a small portion LEAR out the fence corners. were also managing a stupendous Any good farmer knowa that he Hammond. HERE nre always some persons of custard over each, then the whipped thievery of automobiles, in which cars la endangering his crops when he per­ It was lucky, he reflected grimly, with whom we have to Como In cream, sprinkle over the almonds and to the End? ” were looted by wholesale! And the man mits weeds and briars to grow In ad­ contact, who. In their effort toward that he had never breathed to a soul serve at once. at the head of it all, the man above member the guy I told you about one except Lucie the fact that Hammond joining postures or in the ureas near displaying good manner*, nre really Memphis Izzy and his crooks, was day? Well, this is no piker's game! had been the first Masquer! Had Fell to fences surrounding the fields. too nice. The unfortunate result Is that Apricot Tart. Jachin Fell of New Orleans. Everyone has some Idea of the dis­ Instead of appearing extraordinarily We're up against somethin’ solid—” known this fact, his desire to lay Ham­ Cook, drain and pass through a col ­ Did Lucie Ledanois dream such a reputable appearance of farms where well bred they apt>enr ridiculous. We “I know it,” and Gramont nodded mond by the heels might have been thing? No. Gramont dismissed the He turned to the deputies. “Gentle­ easily fulfilled—and Hammond would ander enough dried apricots to make fences are tumbling down and all aort accuse the man who has ncqulred such one and one-half cupfuls of pulp, add question at once. Fell was not an un­ man. you have my address if you wish probably have found himself charged of rubbish and undergrowth conveys tricks as being n “Miss Nancy." to the pulp three tablespoonfuls of usual type of man. There were many to communicate with me. I shall be with Maillard's murder. orange Juice and pour into a baked th* Impression of a run-down place. What nre soma of these undesirable Jachin Fells throughout the country, back here day after tomorrow—at They found Jachin Fell dictating to pastry shell. Cover two dozen halves Yet it is not uncommon to find dis­ mannerisms? he reflected. Men who applied their least, before midnight of that day. I a stenographer, He greeted them gruntled agriculturists who complain One of them In a too finlcnl way of brains to crooked w'ork, who kept warn you, that if anything happens to warmly, ushering them at once into of apricots with warm water and let of weeds tn their fields and low pricea stand on hour. Place over a slow fire handling things. The woman who themselves above any actual share in this man in the meantime, you shall his private office. and cook until tender but not too soft. offered for their land. keeps her little finger nt right angles the work, and who profited hugely by be held personally responsible. He Is An authority recently said that way­ or curved back when using n fork or Gramont found it difficult to con- Oover'the pulp with the halves of apri­ tribute money from every crook in I -innocent.” vince himself that his experiences of cot, hollow side up; In each hollow side weeds should be destroyed for spoon may think she In displaying a every crime. “Looks like we'd better hold you, the previous afternoon had been real. place a blanched almond and cover these reason*: i charming dalntlneaa, hut to most per­ To the communities in which they too,” said one of the men. “You seem It was almost impossible to believe with a Jelly made by thickening . the “They act as centers of weed Infec­ sona she la offensively prim when she lived such men were patterns of all that this shy, apologetic little man In apricot Juice with gelatine. to know a lot!” tion for adjoining fields. does this. There nre some men who that wealthy gentlemen should be. Sel­ gray was in reality the “man higher Gramont looked at him a moment. “They sometimes are carried for handle cards when they piny cards as dom, except perhaps in gossip of the “I know enough to tell you where to up!” Yet he knew it to be the case— Bacon Salad Dressing. miles by vehicle* and passing nnhnnls. If they were nfrnld they might soli underworld, was their connection with head in if you try any funny work knew it beyond any escape. five thin slices of bacon, cut Take "They harbor harmful insects and their fingers If they touched them too crime ever suspected. And—this here,” he said, evenly. “Gentlemen, “By the way,” and Fell turned to Into squares and fry until crisp and plant ill sea see. freely, so they shuffle them and deal thought was sobering to Gramont— thank you for permitting the inter­ Gramont, “If you'll dictate a brief brown. Mix one-fourth of a teaspoon- "They create unsanitary conditions. them nnd hold them—well, you hnva never did they come wit bin danger of view ! I’ll see you later.” statement concerning that oil seepage, ful of mustard with one teaspoonful of seen this mannerism nnd know how “They are unsightly." retribution at the hands of the law. I’d be obliged! Merely give the facts. sugar, one egg slightly beaten, then The coroner ’ s jury had already ad ­ Their ramifications extended too far Admitted that this is true of the ridiculous It Is. Then there nre some finirai hnblts into politics; and the governors of judged Hammond guilty of the mur­ I may have need of such a statement add one-third of a cupful of vinegar, fence corners which have been neg­ diluted If very strong. Cook until some Southern states have unlimited der. Returning to the car, Gramont from you.” lected, is it not also *s true in the case that come really from n fear of con­ had Ben Chacherre drive to a restau­ Gramont nodded and joined the smooth and thick, and serve hot or of other corners which have been per­ tact and not from any false nicety. powers of pardon. “This is a big dayF reflected Gra­ rant, where they got a bite to eat. stenographer In the outer office, where cold on a green salad. mitted to lie uncleaned and unsightly? Thus some persons always wipe off mont, dismissing the sinister sugges­ Twenty minutes later they were on he dictated a brief statement. It did How about the comers In men's minds fork and spoon on their napkin or the tion of this last thought. “A big day! their way to New Orleans—and Gra­ not occur to him that there might be and men's hearts which are tilled with edge of the tablecloth before begin­ What it will lead to, I don’t know. mont learned for the first time of Jo­ danger in this; at the moment, he was unimportant, unwholesome and disap­ ning to eat, and I have even wen these (©. 1923. Western Newspaper union.) Not the least of it is the financial end seph Maillard's murder by the Mid­ rather off his guard. He was thinking cranks polish off the top of their drink­ pointing thoughts and desires? of It—the oil seepage! That little night Masquer, and of the arrest of so much about his future assault on ing glass before they would touch It Is It not just as important to keep Kell that he quite Ignored the possi- iridescent trickle pf oil on the water Bob Maillard for the crime. How to Read Your with their Ups. The fact Is that If yon homes and lives free from contamina ­ bility of being placed on the de- means that money worries are over, Cha raot oris tie« dine at a restaurant or house where tion as It Is to keep fields free from CHAPTER XII fensive. both for me ami for Lucie. I'm sorry there may be contagion or germs and Tendencies — the weeds and disease? Within five minutes he had returned that I am mixed up with Fell; I’ve or something of that sort lurking In Capabilities or Weak- «© by th* WhMlpap«r Syndicat«.) to you? mont called with the car for Lucie. Lucie, both Henry Gramont and I are Apollo, it means loss of money In the was no answer Symptoms: Small face and He drove to Houma to find the town Under the spell of her smiling eager­ putting twenty-five thousand dollars pursuit of art. (The Une of Apollo, or freckled, little bridgeless flat abuzz with excitement, for the news ness, the harshness vanished from his Into this company, while you are put­ line of brilliance, one of the most In­ baby noae; great builder of air of the sheriff’s murder had stirred the face; it returned again a moment la­ ting in your land, which I am valuing teresting of the Unes of the palm, runs castles with no airplane ap­ ter, for he saw that she, too, was Into the mount of Apollo, which Is the at an equal amount. The stock, there­ place wildly. Proceeding straight to proaches — Impracticable chap changed. There was above them both fore, will be divided equally among third or ring finger; the Une may have the courthouse, Gramont encountered whose ma and sisters have filled Its rise In the Une of life, the plain of Ben Chacherre as he was leaving the a cloud. That of Gramont was secret us. That is understood ?” him to his eyes with what a mar­ and broodinr. As for Lucie, she was “Yes. It's very good of you, Uncle Mars or the mount of the moon, at the car. velous bridge player, billiard “Hello, there!” he exclaimed. “Lost in mourning. The murder of Joseph Jachin," said the girl, quietly. “I’ll outside of the palm). player, chauffeur, etc., he Is. His Maillard, the arrest and undoubted If the money was lost by the parent leave everything to your judgment” my road. Where’s Hammond?" delight Is spying ahead to see while the subject was young, the loss The little gray man smiled. 1 Chacherre Jerked his »head toward guilt or Bob Maillard, dwarfed all else how rich he'll be out of some in her mind. Even the news of the oil Is Indicated by a tassel at the end of “Judgment Is a poor horse to ride. the courthouse. unknown by-product of some “In yonder. Say. are you going seepage, and the fact that she was Here’s everything In black and white. the Une of life. manufactory. . . . probably now on the road to wealth, When a moneyless old age Is threat ­ I suggest that you both glance over back to the city tonight?” IN FACT “Yes.” Gramont regarded him. appeared to make little impression the articles, sign up, and we will then ened, a sign of it Is seen by hairlines He himself seems to be a by upon her. at the termination of the Une of life. hold our first meeting.” “Why?” product. “Thank heaven," she scid, earnestly, Gramont and Lucie read over the Loss of money In stocks, or possibly “Take me back, will you? I’ve missed Prescription for bride-to-be: as they drove toward Canal street, loss of an estate, Is shown In the pnlm partnership agreement, and found It the last up train, and if you're goln' n Sing praises to and of him by a break In the Une of health. This back anyhow I won't have to hire a “that so far as you are concerned, perfectly correct. as hts ma and slaters did. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Henry, the Midnight Masquer affair Is a variable sign, since the Une of car. I can drive for you, and we’ll Absorb This: health, which rises In the mount of make it In a couple of hours, before was all cleared up before this tragedy IT’S A LONG LAN« THAT good husband is one who lets the moon, and proceeds toward Mer- took pla ! It was fearfully Impru ­ midnight sure.” HAS NO YEARNING, his wife get her fall clothes bo- enry, the little finger. Is not always “Hop in," said Gramont, nodding dent of you—” i© by McClur« N«w«p«p«r Syndloat« ) he lays In the winter supply of present In the hand. fore "Yes, ” answered Gramont, soberly, toward the car. “Til be back os soon as I've bad a word with Hammond. reading her thought. "I can realize im coal. The Mardi Gras Mystery : Life Is Love and Laughter M W Friendly ¿Paih - C YOUR-^ HAND I T