Newspaper Page Text
The
Mardi Gras
Mystery
By
H. BEDFORD-JONES
•
illustration* by
Irwin Myers
v
fopcirfct t>T DoobMxy. P*s *d Compuy
CHAPTER Vlll—Continued.
—l2
-Ah, here are Fell and Ansleyl” ex-
Maillard, almost with relief.
‘•l—ah rny friends, I don’t suppose
you’ve seen Bob recently?”
Ansi* v was silent. Jachin Fell,
however, responded with a cold nyd
of assent.
“Yes,” he said in his peculiarly tone
less manner. “Yes, we have. At least,
I believe it was he ”
“I’m worried,” said Maillard, anxi
ously, hurriedly. He made an express
ive gesture of despair. “He’s In cos
tume, of course. I’ve been given to
understand that—well, that he has
been—weil. drinking.”
"He lias,” said Jachin Fell, without
any trace of compassion. “A number
of the Krewe are occupying one of
the rooms in the building, and they
must have been visiting it frequently.
I trust for your sake that the fact
hasn’t become generally known In
side?’’
Maillard nodded. Shame and anger
lay heavily in his eyes.
Judge Forester, in his kindly way,
laid his hand on the banker’s ann.
' “Tut, tut, Joseph,” he said, gently,
a fund of sympathy In his voice.
“Boys will be boys, you know; really,
this is no great matter! Don’t let It
hit you so hard. I’ll go with you to
find rlie room, of course. Where is
It, Jachin?"
“We ll all go,” put In Ansley. “We’ll
have a little party of our own, gentle
men. Come on, I believe we’ll be able
to discover the place.”
The four men left the foyer and
started through the corridors.
“I hear.” said Judge Forester to
Doctor Ansley, as they followed the
other two, “that there has been aston
ishing news today from the Midnight
Masquer. It seems that a number of
people have received back property
this afternoon—loot the bandit had
taken. It appears to have been some
sort of a carnival joke, after all.”
“A poor one, then,” responded Ans
ley, “and in loubtful taste. I’ve
heard nothing of it. I wouldn’t mind
getting back the little cash I lost,
though I must say I’ll believe the
story when I see the money ”
He broke off quickly.
As they turned a corner of the cor
ridor to the four men came realiza
tion that they had attained their goal.
Irom one of the rooms ahead there
sounded snatches of l boisterous chor
us being roared forth lustily. As
they liulted, to distinguish from which
door tlie singing proceeded, the chor
us was broken off by an abrupt and
sudden silence. This silence was ac
centuated by the preceding noise, as
though the singers had checked their
uiaudlin song in mid-career.
“D-n it!” muttered Maillard. “Did
tliey hear us coming? No, that
wouldn’t matter a hang to them—but
what checked them so quickly?”
“This door,” said Fell, Indicating
one to their right. He paused at it,
istoning, and over his features came
o singular expression. As the others
joined him, they caught a low mur
wiur of voices, a hushed sound of talk,
a rattle as a number of chips fell
from a table.
Cursed queer!" observed Jaehln
ell, frowning. “I wonder what hap
pened to them bo abruptly? Perhaps
ie was finished—they’re having
w f, ame ' Wel1 > g 0 ahead, Joseph I
el! back you up as a deputation
r om the blaekcoatß, and If you need
aDy rnoial support, call on Judge For
ester."
Th -t gentleman flung open the door,
an ' Mai Hard entered at his side. They
f came t 0 a startled halt, at view
or the scene which greeted them.
Tl ‘ room was large and well light*
a, windows an( j transom darkened
' r tae occasion. Tobacco smoke
aiad* a bluish haze in the air. In
t hi CeDter ot the room stood a large
.f e ' Ottered with glasses and bot
with scattered cards, with chips
ar ‘d money.
it this table had been sitting
• dozen members of the Krewe
nius - Now, however, they were
K their various identities eora
”J'-> con cealed by the grotesque cos
wliich cloaked them.
_ .:<;];ng at ano jf,er doorway, mld
tween their group and that of
M i ir unex Pected intruders, was the
' Masquer— holding them up at
~ nt of his automatic I
nil was the flrßt to break the
tiCe of stupefaction.
“By heavens!” l, e cried, furiously.
Heres that d— and villain again—hold
him, you ! at him, everybody I”
In a blind rage, transported out of
himself by his sudden access of pas
sion, the banker hurled himself for
ward. From the bandit burst a cry
of futile warning; the pistol in his
hand veered toward his assailant.
This action precipitated the event
Perhaps because the Mnsquer did not
fire instantly, and perhaps because
Maillard’s mad action shamed them,
the nearer members of the drinking
party hurled themselves at the bandit.
The threat of the weapon was forgot
ten, unheeded in the sweeping lust of
the man-hunt. It seemed that the fel
low feared to fire; und about him
closed the party in a surging mass,
with a burst of sudden shouts, strik
ing and clutching to pull him down
and put him under foot.
Then, when it seemed that they had
him without a struggle, the Masquer
broke from them, s.vep; them apart
and threw them off, hurled them clear
away.
With an oath, Maillard hurled him
self forward, struck blindly and furi
ously at tl.e bandit, and fastened up
on him about the waist. There was
a surge forward of bodies as the oth
ers crowded in to pull down the Mas
quer before he could isenpe. It looked
then as though he were indeed lost—
until the automatic flamed and roared
In his hand, its choking fumes burst
ing -at them. The report thundered
in the room; a second report thun
dered, deafeningly, as a second bul
let sought its mark.
Like a taint echo to those shots
came the slant of a door. The Mas
quer was gone!
After nim, Into the farther room,
rushed some of the party; but he had
vanished utterly. There was no trace
of him. His complete disappearance
confused the searchers. After a mo
ment, however, tliey returned to the
lighted room. The Musquer had gone.
In the room which he had just left,
however, there hod fallen a dread si
lence and consternation. One of the
masqued drinkers held an arm that
hung helpless, dripping blood; but his
hurt passed unseen and uncared for,
even by himself.
Doctor Ansley was kneeling above
n motionless figure, prone on the dir
ty floor; and it was the figure of
Joseph Maillard. The physician
glanced up, then rose slowly to Ills
feet. He made a terribly significant
gesture, and his crisp voice broke
In upon the appalled silence.
“Dead,” he said, curtly. “Shot
twice —each bullet through the heart.
The Threat of the Weapon Was For
gotten, Unheeded in the Sweeping
Lust of the Man-Hunt.
Judge Forester. I’m afraid there Is
no alternative but to call in the police.
Gentlemen, you will kindly unmask—
which one of you is Robert Maillard?"
Amid a stunned and horrified silence
the members of the Krewe one by one
removed their grotesque headgear,
staring at the dead man whose white
face looked up at them with an air
of grim accusation. But none of them
came forward to claim kinship with
the dead man. Bob Maillard was not
in the room.
“I think," said the toneless, even
voice of Jaehln Fell, “that ail of you
gentlemen had better be very careful
to say only what you have seen—
and know. You will kindly remain
here until I have summoned the po
lice.”
He left the room, and if there were
any dark implication hidden in his
words, no one seemed to observe it.
CHAPTER IX.
On the Bayou.
At three o’clock on the morning of
Ash Wednesday the great white Mnl
son Blanche building was deserted and
desolate, so far as its offices were
concerned. The cleaners and scrub
women had long since finished their
tasks and departed. Out In the streets
the tag-ends of carnival were running
on a swiftly ebbing tide. A single ele
vator in the building was, however,
the DAMELSVILLE MONITOR, DANIELSVILLE, GEORGIA.
in use. A single suite of offices, with
carefully drawn blinds, was lighted
and oecunied.
Tliey were not ornate, these offices.
They consisted of two rooms, a small
reception room and a large private
office, both lined to the celling with
books, chiefly law books. In the larger
room were sitting three men. One
of the three, Ben Chacherre, sat in
a chair tipped back against the wall,
his eyes closed. From time to time
he opened those sparkling black eyes
of his. and through narrow-slitted lids
directed keen glances at the other
two men.
One of the men was the chief of
police. The second was Jachin Fell,
whose offices these were.
“Even If tilings are as you say,
which 1 don’t doubt at all.” said the
chief, slowly, “1 can’t believe the hoy
did It! And darn It all, if I pinch
him there’s goin’ to be a h— of a
scandal!’
Fell shrugged his shoulders, and
made response in his toneless voice:
“Chief, you’re up against facts.
Those facts are bound to come out
and the newspapers will nnil your
hide to the wall in a minute.
a bare chance to save yourself by tak
ing in young Maillard at once."
The chief chewed hard on his cigar.
“I don't want to save myself by put
ting the wrong man behind the bars,”
he returned. “It sure looks like he
was tlie Masquer all the while, but
you say that he wasn't. You say tills
was his only job—a Joke that turned
out bad.”
“Those are the facts,” said Fell. “I
don’t want to accuse a man of crimes
1 know he did not commit. We have
the best of evidence that he did com
mit this crime. If the newspapers
fasten the entire Midnight Mnsquer
business on him, as they’re sure to
do, we can’t very well help him. I
have no sympathy for the boy/’
“Of course he did it,” put in Ben
Chacherre, sleepily. “Wasn’t he caught
with the goods?”
The others paid no heed. The chief
indicated two early editions of the
morning papers, which lay on the desk
in front of Fell. These papers car
ried full necounts of tlie return of
tlie Midnight Masquer’s loot, explain
ing ills robberies as part of a carnival
jest.
‘The later editions, cornin’ out now,"
said tlie chief, “will crowd all that
stuff off tlie front page with the Mail
lard murder. Darn It, Fell I Whether
I believe it or not, I’ll have to ar
rest tlie young fool.”
Chacherre chuckled. Jachin Fell
smiled faintly.
“Nothing coukWie plainer, chief,” he
responded. “First, Bob Maillard conics
to us in front of the opera hods©, und
talks about a groat Joke that tie’s
going to spring on tils friends ucross
tlie way ’’
"Mow’d you know who he was?” in
terjected tlie chief, shrewdly,
“Grnniont recognized him; Ansley
and I confirmed tlie recognition. He
was more or less intoxicated —chiefly
more. Now, young Maillard was not
in tlie room at the moment of tlie mur
der —unless lie was the Masquer. Five
minutes afterward he was found In a
nearby room, hastily changing out of
an aviator’s uniform into his masquer
ade costume. Obviously, lie had us
suined tiie guise of tlie Masquer as a
joke on ids friends, and tlie joke had
a tragic ending. Further, lie was In
tlie aviation service during tlie war,
and so had the uniform ready to hand.
You couldn’t make anybody believe
that he hasn’t been the Masquer ull
tlie time!”
“Of course,” and the chief nodded
perplexedly. “It’d be a clear case—
only you call me in and say that he
wasn’t the Masquer 1 D—n it, Fell,
this thing has my goat!”
“What’s Maillard’s story?" struck in
Ben Chacherre.
“He denies the whole tiling," said
the worried chief. “According to Ills
story, which sounded straight the way
he tells it, he meant to pull off the
joke on his friends and was dressing
in tiie Masquer’s costume when he
heard the shots. He claims that the
shots startled him and made him
change hack. He swears that he hud
not entered the other room at all, ex
cept In his masquerade clothes. He
says the murderer must have been the
real Masquer. It’s likely enough, be
cause all young Maillard’s crowd knew
about the party that was to be held
In that room during the Comus hall ’
“No matter," said Fell, coldly.
“Chief, this is an open and shut case;
ttie boy was bound to lie. r I hat he
killed his futher was an accident, of
course, but none the less It did take
place.”
“The boy’s a wreck this minute.”
The chief held 8 match to his unlight
ed cigar. “But you say that he ain’t
the original Masquer?"
“No!” Fell spoke quietly. “The
original Masquer was another person,
and had nothing to do with the pres
ent case. This information is confiden
tial and between ourselves.”
“Oh of course," assented the chief.
“Well, I suppose I got to pull Maillard.
but I hute to do it. 1 got a hunch
that lie ain’t the right party.”
“Virtuous man!" Kell smiled thinly.
“According to all the hooks, the chief
of police is only too glad to fasten the
crime on anybody
iTO BJS CONT'NUEL.>
PLEASANT HOME
AT MODEST COST
Neat, Gracefyi 3ne-Floor Type
That Ha? Strong Appeal.
SUITABLE FOR SMALL FAMILY
Thia Design Provides Well-Built, Ar
tistic Home Th;H Will Afford Joy
ous Spot for Any Family—
Pergola Splendid Feature.
By WILLIAM A. RADFORD
Mr. William A. Radford will answer
question and give advice FREE OF
COST on all subjects pertaining to the
subject of building, for the readers of tills
paper. On account of his wide experience
as Editor, Author and Manufacturer, he
is, without doubt, the highest authority
on all these subjects. Address all Inquiries
to William A. Radford, No. 1827 Prntrle
avenue. Chicago, 111., and only Inclose
two-cent stamp for reply.
One of the factors which hns re
stricted home building is the popular
feeling that “a home of your own” is
solely tlie privilege of the moneyed
class. Now It is true that one can
well invest $15,000 or .$12"),000 in a
modern home. But it is equally true
that a comfortable well-built home can
jgi™
be had for far less money. Those .per
sons who nre standing on tlie side
lines and watching their neighbors ac
quire a home of their own ought to
open their eyes to tlie fact that tliey,
too, can build a lmine which will tit
their financial situation.
In deciding on tlie moderately priced
home there Is no need to resort to
shoddy construction. In fact, such a
policy can never be considered wise.
It is possible to have a home that is
plainly stamped with quality and at
tlie same time keep tlie investment
down to a reasonable figure.
A design that will appeal to all who
want a home, but who nre not able
to build one costing a small fortune
n p
Porch |
P*J Living (LDiningßm : _
w n " s ' u 4.
n----- i ■
k 28-Cfl- 1 ?-G'-S /1
\ Terrace In
Floor Plan.
is shown here. There Is no need to
make any apologies for this really de
lightful little home. It Is well built,
artistic In style and will afford a Joy
ous spot for any family.
This Style is of the ever popular and
most frequently followed frame con
struction, the preponderant material
in Ml home building. It has been
transformed from plain lines into a
most pleasing contour by the curved
window roof treatment, a type of hay
window that is sure to please. This
effect is accomplished by an over
hanging roof, which adds so little to
the cost that it seems immaterial when
the grace and beauty of the effect Is
considered Another touch of adorn
inent is glvan in the pergola effect at
the side. Pergolas are in vogue, very
much so, and add a great deal to the
pleasing lines of the home.
Any woman will be delighted with
the interior arrangements, whicii are
compact without being crowded. The
living room is a combination living
and dining room of splendid size, meas
uring 27 feet liy 15 feet. Tlie kitchen
is well planned and the two bedrooms
at tlie rear of the home are a pledge of
quiet and convenience.
Besides individual closets in tlie bed
room, provision inis been made for a
roomy closet for which there are al
ways a thousand vises In every home.
Tlie pergola, of course, will be n pop
ular spot during tlie outdoor weather,
and there is also a useful rear porch.
Those wlio adopt this style for their
home will have a pleasant place in
which to live, and one -which may ho
built without excessive cost.
ONLY MAN-POWER IN CHINA
Human Lives and Labor About Cheap
est Thing in That Vast East
ern Country.
Life and labor arc* so cheap In China
that men are still used for heavy work
instead of machinery or beasts of bur
den, writes Robert Dollar In The Na
tion’s Business.
“This was brought home to me very
forcibly In the handling of the big tim
bers which I donated for the rebuild
ing of tlie famous Ling Ying temple
near Hangchow. This temple was
first built In 83(1 A. 1). Marco I’olo
tells of It. There are caves and
shrines of all descriptions.
“Ills excellency Sheny lvung l’ao,
learning that Americans were planning
to erect a college nearby for the edu
cation of Chinese boys, decided to re
build the central hall of the temple In
all Its former greatness and splendor —
in its day it was the most magnificent
of all Chinese temples. For this pur
pose he ordered 28 of tlie largest
round timbers that could be found in
America. I donated these timbers and
sent them over on tin: deck of the
M. S. Dollar. They ran in size as
long us 125 feet, and 48 Inches In dl-
nmetcr at the butt; they were perfect
ly straight, and as fine pieces as ever
left America.
“At Shanghai the timbers were put
on a raft and taken up the Grund
canal to Hangchow. From there they
were carried by coolies over the five
miles to tiie site of the temple. Two
hundred and fifty men, 125 to each
side, handled these great logs. A bam
boo pole for each man was tied to
the timber by a small rope, the poles
angling slightly to permit tiie man on
one side to carry on his right shoulder,
and Ills associate on tiie other side,
on his left shoulder.”
Your worst enemv wears vour hat