The Mardi Gras Mystery

by H. Bedford-Jones

  CHAPTER XIV

  _Chacherre's Bundle_

  It was seven in the morning when Henry Gramont drove his car into Houma.

  In the wire which he had sent over Chacherre's signature he hadcommanded Dick Hearne to meet Gramont at about this time at a restaurantnear the court house. Putting his car at the curb, Gramont went into therestaurant and ordered a hasty breakfast. He had brought with him copiesof the morning papers, and was perusing the accounts of Bob Maillard'spitifully weak story regarding his father's murder, when a strangerstopped beside him.

  "Gramont?" said the other. "Thought it was you. Hearne's my name--I hadorders to meet you. What's up?"

  The other man dropped into the chair opposite Gramont, who put away hispapers. Hearne was a sleek individual of pasty complexion who evidentlyserved the gang in no better light than as a go-between and runner oferrands. That he suspected nothing was plain from his casual manner,although he had never seen Gramont previously.

  "Business," said Gramont, leaning back to let the waitress serve hisbreakfast. When she had departed, he attacked it hungrily. "You gotChacherre's wire about the stuff in his car? Was it burned?"

  "No. He countermanded it just as I was hirin' a car to go over toParadis," said Hearne. "What's stirrin', anyhow?"

  "Plenty. Memphis Izzy's coming down to-day. When'll he get in?"

  "He'll go direct to the other place, won't come here. Oh, I reckon he'llget there along about nine this morning. Why?"

  "We'll have to go over there to meet him," said Gramont. "I stopped inhere to pick you up. Hammond is still safe in jail?"

  "Sure." Hearne laughed evilly. "I don't guess he'll get out in a hurry,neither!"

  "Chacherre was pinched last night for the murder," said Gramont,watching the other.

  "The hell!" Hearne looked astonished, then relaxed and laughed again."Some fly cop will sure lose his buttons, then! They ain't got nothin'on him."

  "I heard they had plenty."

  "Don't worry." Hearne waved a hand grandiloquently. "The boss is solidwith the bunch up to Baton Rouge, and they'll take care of everybody. Soold Ben got pinched, huh? That's one joke, man!"

  Gramont's worst suspicions were confirmed by the attitude of Hearne, whoplainly considered that the entire gang had nothing to fear from thelaw. Chacherre's boasts were backed up solidly. It was obvious toGramont that the ramifications of the gang extended very high up indeed.

  "Better cut out the talk," he said, curtly, "until we get out of here."

  Hearne nodded and rolled a cigarette.

  When his hasty meal was finished Gramont paid at the counter and led theway outside. He motioned toward the car, and Hearne obediently climbedin, being evidently of so little account in the gang that he wasaccustomed to taking orders from everyone.

  Gramont headed out of town and took the Paradis road. Before he haddriven a mile, however, he halted the car, climbed out, and lifted oneside of the hood.

  "Give me those rags from the bottom of the car, Hearne," he said,briefly.

  The other obeyed. As Gramont made no move to come and get them, Hearnegot out of the car; then Gramont rose from the engine unexpectedly, andHearne looked into a pistol.

  "Hold out your hands behind you and turn around!" snapped Gramont. "Notalk!"

  Hearne sputtered an oath, but as the pistol jerked at him he obeyed thecommand. Gramont took the strips of cloth, which he had previouslyprepared, and bound the man's wrists.

  "These are better than handcuffs," he commented. "Too many slickindividuals can get rid of bracelets--but you'll have one man's job toget rid of these! Ah! a gun in your pocket, eh? Thanks."

  "What t'ell you doin'?" exclaimed the bewildered Hearne.

  "Placing you under arrest," said Gramont, cheerfully.

  "Here, where's your warrant? You ain't no dick----"

  Gramont cut short his protests with a long cloth which effectually boundhis lower jaw in place and precluded any further idea of talk.

  "You climb into that car, Hearne," he ordered, "and I'll attend to yourfeet next. That's the boy! Nothing like taking it calmly, Hearne. Youdidn't know that I was the fellow who pinched old Ben, did you? But Iam. And before night your whole crowd will be hooked up, from the bigboss down to you."

  Gramont tied Dick Hearne securely, hand and foot, and then lashed him toone of the top supports of the car. When he had finished, Hearne wasreasonably safe. He then climbed under the wheel again and proceeded onhis way. Hearne's lashings were inconspicuous to any one whom the carpassed.

  It was a little after eight in the morning when Gramont drove intoParadis. He noticed that two large automobiles were standing in front ofthe postoffice, and that about them were a group of men who eyed him andhis car with some interest. Paying no attention to these, he drove onthrough town without a halt.

  Sweeping out along the north road, he encountered no one. When at lengthhe reached the Ledanois farm he drove in toward the deserted house andparked the car among some trees, where it could not be seen from theroad.

  "You'll have some pleasant company before long, Dicky, my lad," heobserved, cheerfully. A last inspection showed that his prisoner wasquite secure. "In the meantime, sit and meditate upon your sins, which Itrust have been many and deep. Chacherre is up for murder, and he'strying to save his neck by blowing on the remainder of your gang. We maygive you a chance to do the same thing and corroborate his testimony.It's worth thinking over, isn't it?

  "Perhaps you imagine that you're safe from conviction. If so, takecomfort while you can--I'll chance that end of it! When Memphis Izzycomes along, I'll have a nice comfortable little conversation with him.Then we'll all join up and go back to the city together. You get theidea? Well, be good!"

  Leaving the car Gramont took his way toward the bank of the bayou andfollowed this in the direction of the adjoining property. He looked atthe water, a bitter smile upon his lips, and again made out the faintiridescent sheen of oil. When he came to the rivulet which gave birth tothe oil he paused. He remembered the excitement that had so shaken himupon the discovery of this supposed seepage two days previously--heremembered ironically the visions it had aroused in his brain.

  "Farewell, too sudden wealth!" he murmured. "Farewell, toil's end anddreams of luxury! I'm still a poor but honest workingman--but I stillthink that there's some real oil under this land. Well, we'll see aboutthat later on, perhaps. Our company is by no means busted up yet!"

  He passed on, wondering not a little at the deft skill of Jachin Fell inplanting that oil; the men next door had done the work, of course.Gramont did not attempt to delude himself with the idea that Fell hadacted selfishly. The whole affair had been handled with a cleversecrecy, only in order that Fell's oil company might buy the land fromLucie, and that Fell might use the resultant boom to make herfinancially secure.

  "He doesn't believe there's oil here," reflected Gramont, "and he'ssincere in the belief. Where Lucie is concerned, I think the man'sabsolutely unselfish. He'd do anything for her! And yet Jachin Fell isan enemy, a deadly enemy, of society! Hm--these criminals show somequeer streaks. You can't call a man like Fell wholly bad, not by a gooddeal; I'll almost regret sending him to the pen--if I do!"

  He went on to an opening in the bushes which, over the low rail fence,gave him a clear view of the Gumberts property. There he paused, quicklydrew back, and gained a point whence he could see without danger of hispresence being discovered. He settled into immobility and watched.

  That Memphis Izzy himself had not yet arrived, he was fairly certain.Near the barn were drawn up two flivvers, and sitting in chairs on thecottage veranda were three men who must have come in these cars. Gramonthad come provided with binoculars, and got these out. He was not long indiscovering that all three men on the veranda were strangers to him.They, no doubt, were men in the lottery game, waiting for Gumberts toarrive. Gramont turned his attention to the other buildings.

  Both the barn and shop were open, and
the buzzing thrum of machinerybore witness that the mechanics were hard at work upon the stolen cars.Gramont thought of Ben Chacherre, still tied and lashed to the chair inhis room, and wondered what was to be found under the rear seat of Ben'scar. He could see the car from where he lay.

  The minutes dragged interminably, and Gramont settled down to acomfortable position in the grass. Would Fell come? He hoped so, butstrongly doubted it. Fell appeared to be merely "the boss" and it wasGumberts who was actually managing the lottery swindle.

  Nine o'clock came and passed. A third flivver came roaring into theopening, and Gramont leaned forward intently. Three workers came to thedoor of the shop. A single man left the flivver and greeted them, thenwent on to the cottage and joined the other three on the veranda. He wasgreeted with no excitement. The house door remained closed. The newcomerlighted a cigarette and sat on the steps.

  "Evidently he's not Gumberts," thought Gramont. "Seven of them so far,eh? This is going to be a real job and no mistake."

  Almost on his thought, a high-powered and noiseless car came sweepingdown the road and he knew at once that Memphis Izzy had arrived. He knewit intuitively, even before he obtained a good glimpse of the broad,heavy figure, and the dominating features. Memphis Izzy was far fromhandsome, but he possessed character.

  "Where's the Goog?" As he left the car, which he had driven himself,Gumberts lifted his voice in a bull-like roar that carried clearly toGramont. "Where's Charlie the Goog?"

  The mechanics appeared hurriedly. One of them, no other than Gramont'sfriend of the adenoidal aspect, who seemed to own the mellifluous titleof Charlie the Goog, hastened to the side of Gumberts, and the lattergave him evident directions regarding some repair to the car. Then,turning, Memphis Izzy strode to the cottage. He nodded greetings to thefour men who awaited him, took a bunch of keys from his pocket, andopened the cottage door. All five vanished within.

  Gramont rose. A moment previously, fever had thrilled him; theexcitement of the manhunt had held him trembling. Now he was cool again,his fingers touching the pistol in his pocket, his eyes steady. Heglanced at his watch, and nodded.

  "It's time!" he murmured. "Let's hope there'll be no slip-up! All ready,Memphis Izzy? So am I. Let's go!"

  Unhurried and openly, he advanced, making his leisurely way toward thebarn and shop. Charlie the Goog, who was bent over the car of Gumberts,was first to discern his approach, and straightened up. Gramont wavedhis hand in greeting. Charlie the Goog turned his head and called hisbrethren, who came into sight, staring at Gramont.

  The latter realized that if he passed them the game was won. If theystopped him, he bade fair to lose everything.

  "Hello, boys!" he called, cheerily, as he drew near. "I came out on anerrand for the boss--got a message for Gumberts. Where is he? In thehouse?"

  The others nodded, plainly mistrusting him yet puzzled by his carelessmanner and his reference to Fell.

  "Sure," answered Charlie the Goog. "Go right in--he's in the big frontroom."

  "Thanks."

  Gramont continued his way, conscious that they were staring after him.If there was anything phony about him, they evidently considered thatMemphis Izzy would take care of the matter very ably.

  The steps of the cottage porch creaked protestingly as Gramont ascendedthem. Perhaps Memphis Izzy recognized an unaccustomed footstep; perhapsthat conversation outside had penetrated to him. Gramont entered thefront door into the hall, and as he did so, Gumberts opened the door onhis right and stood gazing at him--rather, glaring.

  "Who're you?" he demanded, roughly.

  "Came out with a message from Mr. Fell," responded Gramont at once."Brought some orders, I should say----"

  The sixth sense of Memphis Izzy, which had carried him uncaught into agrizzled age, must have flashed a warning to his crook's brain. In theman's eyes Gramont read a surge of suspicion, and knew that his bluffcould be worked no longer.

  "Here's his note," he said, and reached into his pocket.

  Gumberts' hand flashed down, but halted as Gramont's pistol covered him.

  "Back into that room, and do it quickly," said Gramont, steppingforward. "Quick!"

  Memphis Izzy obeyed. Gramont stood in the doorway, his eyes sweeping theroom and the men inside. Startled, all four of them had risen and werestaring at him. In his other hand he produced the automatic which he hadtaken from Dick Hearne.

  "The first word from any of you gentlemen," he declared, "will draw ashot. I'm doing all the talking here. Savvy?"

  They stood staring, paralyzed by this apparition. They had been sittingabout a table which was heaped with papers and with packages of money. Alarge safe in the wall stood open. Beside the table was a small mailsack, partially emptied of its contents; torn envelopes littered thefloor.

  That this was the headquarters of at least a section of the lottery gangGramont saw without need of explanation.

  "You're under arrest," said Gramont, quietly. "The game's up, Gumberts.Hands up, all of you! Dick Hearne has peached on the whole gang, andfrom the boss down you're all in for a term in stir. You with the derby!Take Gumberts' gun, and those of your companions, then your own; throw'em on the floor in the corner, and if you make the wrong kind of amove, heaven help you! Step lively, there!"

  One of the men who wore a derby on the back of his head obeyed thecommand. All five of the men facing Gramont realized that a single shoutwould call help from outside, but in the eyes of Gramont they read astrict attention to business. It was altogether too probable that oneman who dared arrest them alone would shoot to kill at the first falsemove--and not even Memphis Izzy himself opened his mouth.

  Each man there had a revolver or pistol, and one by one the weaponsclattered into the corner. Gumberts stood motionless, licking his thicklips, unuttered curses in his glaring eyes. And in that instant Gramontheard the porch steps creak, and caught a low, startled cry.

  "Hey, boss! They's a gang comin' on the run----"

  It was Charlie the Goog, bursting in upon them in wild haste. Gramontstepped into the room and turned slightly, covering with one of hisweapons the intruder, who stood aghast in the doorway as he comprehendedthe scene.

  No words passed. Staring at the five men, then at Gramont, the adenoidalmechanic gulped once--and like a flash acted. He ducked low, and firedfrom his pocket. Gramont fired at the same instant, and the heavybullet, catching Charlie the Goog squarely in the chest, hurled his bodyhalf across the room.

  With the shots Memphis Izzy flung himself forward in a headlong rush.That desperate shot of the little mechanic had broken Gramont's rightarm above the wrist; before he could fire a second time, with the weaponin his left hand, Gumberts had wrested the pistol aside and wasstruggling with him. The other four came into the melee full weight.

  Gramont went down under a crashing blow. Over him leaped Memphis Izzyand rushed into the doorway--then stopped with astounding abruptness andlifted his arms. After him the other four followed suit. Two men,panting a little, stood outside the door and covered them with shotguns.

  "Back up," they ordered, curtly. Memphis Izzy and his four friendsobeyed.

  "Tie 'em, boys," said Gramont, rising dizzily to his feet. "No, I'm nothurt--my arm's broken, I think, but let that wait. Got the onesoutside?"

  A stamping of feet filled the hall, and other men appeared there.

  "Got two of 'em, Gramont!" responded the leader. "The third slipped inhere--ah, there he is!"

  Poor Charlie the Goog lay dead on the floor--a touch of heroic tragedyin his last desperate action; the one great action of his life,possibly. He had realized that it meant doom yet he had done what hecould.

  "I think that's all," said Gramont. "We've sure made a killing,boys--and it's a good thing you jumped in to the minute! A second laterand they'd have done for me. Take care of that evidence, will you? Getthat mail sack and the letters particularly; if they've been workingtheir lottery outside the state, it'll be a Federal matter."

  Gumberts, who was being tied up with his
friends, uttered a hoarse cry.

  "Who are you guys? You can't do this without authority----"

  "Don't be silly, Memphis Izzy!" said Gramont, smiling a little, thentwitching to the pain of his arm. "These friends of mine are memberswith me of the American Legion, and they've come along at my request toput you crooks where you belong. As for authority, you can ask and gohang.

  "Here, boys, I've got to get out to that barn. Come along, some of you!We'll get my arm tied up later. Nobody hurt out here?"

  "Not a scrap, even," responded the leader, with a trace of disgust. "Allthree of those bums were outside, and we covered 'em as we came out ofthe brush. The one that got away did so by getting his friends betweenus and him. But you attended to him."

  "And he attended to me likewise," added Gramont, not without a wince ofpain.

  He led the way out to the barn, and, the others trooping in behind him,entered. He pointed out the car which had brought Chacherre herepreviously, and ordered the extra seat in back opened up.

  "I think there's a bundle inside," he said. "What's in it, I don'tknow----"

  "Here we are, cap."

  A bundle was produced, and opened. In it was found the aviator's costumewhich Gramont had worn as the Midnight Masquer, and which Chacherre hadstolen with the loot. Wrapped among the leathern garments was anautomatic pistol.

  Gramont stood aghast before this discovery, as realization of what itmeant broke full upon him.

  "Good lord!" he exclaimed, amazedly. "Boys--why, it must have been BenChacherre who killed Maillard! See if that pistol has been used----"

  The Midnight Masquer had fired two bullets into Maillard. Two cartridgeswere gone from this automatic.