The Burns Citizen from Burns, Kansas • 7

THE CITIZEN. BURNS, KANSAS named Jachin Fell, and I came out here on business To Gramont's astonishment the pistol was ldwered Instantly. It was well that he ceased speaking, for what he had Just said proved to be open to misconstruction, nnd If he had said any Tnore he have spoiled It "Yoil're in partnership with the boss!" came the astounding words. "Well, why In 1 didn't you say all that In the first place, Instead o' beefin' around? That's no way to butt Vji- 9 The Mardi Gras Mystery By H. BEDFORD-JONES Illustration by Irwin Myers Cairrifat by Doobledaj.

Pit ud Coapu In, and me thinking you was some Bakers Bake It For You no need to bake at home that the men had done their work well. The original engine number had been carefully ug out, and the place as carefully filled and -leyeled with metal. Iieslde.lt a new number had been stamped. A glance at the electrical equipment nround showed that these workers had every appliance with' which to 'urn out the most finished jobs. As he straightened up from the engine Gramont's eyes fell upon a typed sheet of paper affixed to the wall above the bench.

His gaze widened as he Inspected It by the falling light. Upon that paper was a list of cars. After each car was a series of numbers plainly comprising the original numbers of the engine, body, radiator and other component parts, followed by another series of new numbers to be Inserted. That sheet of paper showed brains, organizing ability, care and attention to the last detail! Here was the most carefully planned and thorough system of automobile thievery that Gramont had ever heard of. He stood motionless, knowing that this typed sheet of paper in Itself was damning evidence against the Whole gang of workers.

What was more to the point, that paper could be traced; the typewriting could be traced to the man higher up doubtless Memphis Izzy himself! These men ran in cars by the wholesale, probably from states adjacent to Louisiana. Here, at this secluded point on the bayou, they changed the cars completely about, In number, paint, style of body, and then probably got rid of the new product In Orleans. Gramont stood motionless. Surprise had tnken hold of him, and even a feeling of slight dismay. This was not at all what he had hoped to find there.

He had thought to come upon some traces of the lottery gnnie "Seen all you want, bo?" said a voice behind him. Gramont turned. He found himself gazing directly into automatic pistol over which glittered a pair of blazing eyes. The man was a stranger to him. The place had not been deserted, after all.

He was caught. "Who are you?" demanded Gramont, quietly. "Me?" The stranger was unsmiling, deadly. In those glittering eyes Gramont read the ferocity of an animal at bay. "I s'pose you would like to HERE'S your old-time favorite full-fruited rat' sin bread with at least eight tempting raisins to the slice already baked for you by-master bakers in your city.

Simply 'phone your grocer or a neighborhood bake shop and have a fresh loaf for lunch or dinner to delight your folks. We've arranged with bakers in almost every town and city to bake this full-fruited raisin bread. Made with big, plump, tender seeded raisins. The raisin flavor permeates the bread. You've never tasted finer food.

Order a loaf nof and count the raisins. Raisin bread is a rare combination of nutritious cereal and fruit both good and good for you. Serve at least twice weekly to get the benefits. Use Sun-Maid for home cooking of puddings, cakes, cookies, etc. You may be offered other brands that you know less well than Sun-Maids, but the kind you want is the kind you know is good.

Insist, therefore, on Sun-Maid brand. They cost more than ordinary raisins. Mail coupon fpr free book of tested "Sun-Maid Recipes." uick on tne jqd i uot anytning to prove that you ain't ijullln' something cute on me?" "Do you know Fell's writing?" asked Gramont, with difficulty forcing himself to meet the situation coherently. Jachin Fell the bossl "I know his all right." From his pocket Gramont produced a paper the memorandum or agreement which he had drawn up with Fell the previous afternoon, relating to the oil company. The other man took It and switched on an electric light bulb overhead.

In this glare he was revealed as a ratty little Individual with open mouth and teeth hanging out-r-an adenoidal type, and certainly a criminal type. It crossed the mind of Gramont that one blow would do the work but he stood motionless. No sudden game would help him here. The discovery that Fell was "the boss" paralyzed him completely. He had never dreamed of such a contingency.

Fell, of all men I Jachin Fell the "boss" of this establishment! Jachin Fell the map higher up the brains behind this criminal organization I- It a perfect thunderbolt to Gramont. Now he. understood' why Cliacherre was'lfi the employ of no arrest the man had been "possible Now lie perceived Charherre must, have told the truth about coming" here on business for Reaching farther back, he saw that Fell must have, received the loot of the Midnight Masquer, must have turned It over. Jo Lucie Ledanols Did she know? "All rigrjt, Mr. Gramont." The ratty little man '(u'rhed with evident "change of 'front.

"We ain't takin' no chances here, y'understand. Got quite a shir-mont of cars comin' In from Texas, nnd we're tryln' to get some o' these boats cleaned out to make room. Bring out any orders?" Gramont's brain worked fast. tty overcoming this guttersnipe he might have the whole place at his mercy but that was not what he wanted. He suddenly realized that he had other and more Important fish to fry In New Orknns.

Gumberts waa there. Fell was there. What he must do; demanded time, and his best play was to gain all the time possible, and to prevent this gang from suspecting him in any way. "Did you see Ben Chacherre?" he countered. "Uh-huh seen him Just after he come.

Gumberts will be out day after tomorrow, he said. The boss Is framin some sort of deal on a guy that he SUN-MAID RAISINS The Supreme Bread Raisin Your retailer should sell you Sun-Maid Raisins fpr not more than the following prices: CHAPTER XI 16 The Gangsters. Gramont left the covert and walked forward. He was thinking about that odd mention of Jachin Fell had Cha-cherre lied In saying he had come here on his master's business? Perhaps. The man had come In Fell's car.

and would not hesitate to He about using the car. For the moment Gramont put away the circumstance, but did not forget It. He walker! openly toward the Gum-berts buildings, thinking that he would have time for a good look around the place before dusk fell; he would then get off for Houma and attend to Hammond's defense. As for the place before him, he was convinced that it was abandoned. Had any one.

other than Chacherre and his two friends, been about the buildings, the late excitement would have brought out the fact. No one had appeared and the buildings seemed vacant. Gramont's Intent was simple and straightforward. In case he found, as he expected to find, any evidence of Illegal occupation about the place as the sheriff seemed to have discovered to his cost he would lay Chacherre and the other two men by the heels that night in Houma. He would then go on to New Orleans and have Gum-berts arrested, although he had no expectation that the master crook could be held, on the murder-accessory charge.

If this place were used for the lotteries, even, he was fairly certain that Memphis Izzy would have his own tracks covered. The men higher up always did. He walked straight In upon the bnrn. It loomed before him, closed, lurid in the level rays of the westering sun. The doors in front had boon only loosely swung together and Gramont found them unlocked.

He stood In the opening, and surprise gripped him. He was held motionless, gazing with astonished wonder at the sight confronting him. Directly before him was a small roadster, one which he remembered to have seen Jachin Fell using; In this car, doubtless, Hen Chacherre had driven from the city. He recalled the fact later, with poignant regret for a lost opportunity. But at the present Seeded (in IS ei.

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"ITiis the lhniptT disappeared from view?" "No," answered Miss Cayenne. "She's only partially eclipsed." Present Strength of Army. The total strength of the army within the continental limits of the United States at the present time is 97,000. of whom some are army nurses, clerks, cadets or members of special service, such as the quartermaster corps, medical corps and finance department. The charm of bathroom Is its spot-lessness.

the use of Red Cross Ball all cloths anil towels retain their whiteness until worn out. Advertisement. The pessimist sees an obstacle In every opportunity; the optimist sees an opportunity in every obstacle. wants laid away sotfie guy name o' Business as He Found It. "How do you find business these days?" "Same as-always, liy going out and looking for it." Everybody's.

N2w SSffljsgg "My fair face was my fortune once But ev'rybody knows That since that box of 'Faultless cam My fortune's in my ESC 4 63 Gives Old Capes Glow of New Putnam Fadeless Dyes dyes or tints as you wish tefiCai itiift Hammond. Chacherre Is running It. He riggers on gettin' Hammond on account of sorrfe tar that's beln' hunted up" Gramont laughed suddenly, for there was a grim humor about the thing. So Jachin Fell wanted to "get on poor Hammond! And Chacherre had seized the golden opportunity that presented Itself this afternoon Instead of "getting" Hammond for the theft of a car, Chacherre had coolly fastened murder rpen him! "lien Is one smart man I expect he thinks the gods are working for him," said Gramont, ihin'y. "So you don't know what happened loday, eh? Well, it's great news, but I've got no time to talk about It They'll tell you when they get back" "Where'd they go?" demanded the other.

"Houma. Now listen close! Chacherre did not know that I was In partnership with the boss, get me? I didn't want to tell qll the crowd in front of him. Between you and me, the boss isn't any too sure about Ben" "Say, I get you there broke in the other, sagely. "I tells him six months ago to watch out for that Creole guy!" "Exactly. You can tell the boys about me when they come back I don't suppose Ben will be with them.

Now, I've been looking over that place next door "Oh exclaimed the other, suddenly. "Sure The oss said that one of his friends would be down to "I'm the one or one of them," and Gramont chuckled as he reflected on the ludicrous aspects of the whole affair. "I'm going to nounia now, and then back to the city. My car's over next door. Mr.

Fell wanted me to warn vou to lay low on the lottery business. He's got a notion that some one's been talking." "You go tell the boss," retorted the other In an aggrieved tone, "to keep his eye on the guys that can talk. Who'd we talk to here? Besides, we're workin' our heads off on these here boats. Memphis Izzy is attending to the loUeiy lie's got the whole layout up to the house, and we ain't touching It. see? Tell boss all that" TO BE CONTINUED.) moment, he was lost In amazement at the great number of other cars presenting themselves to his view.

They were lined up as deep as the barn would hold them, crammed into every available foot of space; well over a dozen cars, he reckoned swiftly. What as more, all were cars of the highest class, with the exception of Fell's roadster. Directly before him were two which he was well aware must have cost close upon ten thousand, each. What did this mean? Certainly no one man or one group of men, in this back-country spot, could expect to use such au accumulation of expensive cars! Gramont glanced around, but found no trace of machinery In the barn. Remembering the motor that he had heard, he turned from the doorway in frowning perplexity, lie strode on toward the lcng shed which stood closer to the house.

At the end of this shed was a door, and when he tried It, Gramont fiund It unlocked. It swung open to his hand, and he stepped Inside. At first, he paused, confused by the vague objects around, for It was quite dark In here. A moment, and his eyes grew accustomed to the gloomier lighting. Details came to him: nil around were cars and fragments of cars, chassis and bodies in all stages of dismemberment.

Still more cars! lie slowly advanced to long bench that tan the length of the shop beneath the windows. A shop, indeed a shop, he quickly perceived, fitted with every tool and machine necessary to the most complete automobile repair establishment I Even an airbrush outlit, at one end, together with a drying compnrtment, spoke of repaint jobs. Comprehension was slowly dawning upon the mind of Gramont; a moment later It became certainty, when he came to a stop before an automobile engine lying on the bench. He found It to be the engine from Stutz the latest multi-valve type adopted by that make of car, and is particular bit of looked like new. Orrimm' irsperted it and he saw "Hurry Up! Turn Over the Name and Address." know that, huh? I guess you know enough right now to get all that's comin' to you, ho! Got any particular business here? spean op quick Ciramont was silent.

The other sneered at him, viciously. "Hurry up! Turn over the name and address, and Til notify the sur-vhin' relatives. Name, please?" "Henry Gramont," was the calm re; sponse. "Don't get hasty, my Didn't you see me here little while ago with Chacherre and the other boys?" "What's that?" The glittering eyes flamed up with usplcion and distrust. "Here with them? No, I didn't.

I been away fishing all afternoon. What the 1 you doing around this joint?" "Your best scheme," said Gramont, coldly, "is to change your style of tone, and to do it in a hurry! If you don't know whut's happened here this afternoon, don't ask me; you'll find out soon enough when the other boys get back. You'd better tell them I'm going to get in touch with Memphis Izzy the minute I get back to the city, and that the less talking they do "What the l's all this?" demanded the other again, but with a softening of accent. The moniker of Gum-berts had its effect, and seemed to shake the man instantly. Gramont smiled as he perceived that the game was won.

"I never heard of no Grnmont," went on the other, quickly. "What you doin' here?" "You're due ro learn a good many things, I imagine," said Gramont, carelessly. "As for me, I happened on the place largely by nccident. I happen I Vast stretches of undeveloped fertile agricultural land of the highest productiveness await the settler in Western Canada. The land possesses the same character of soil as that which has produced the high quality of cereals that have carried off the world's premier honors eo many times in the past ten years.

Native Grasses are Ricii and Abundant Cattle fatten upon them without any grain being fed. Limited capital on high-priced lands is not a success, neither can the tenant burdened witn mgn rents nope to succeed. ine place to overcome inese is in ycaicin wiuuo where land is cheap where a home may be made at low 1 cost, and where aatryinq, mxea jarmtng ana noes-raising give an assured profit. mm Land mav be purchased from the Railway Companies or from responsible land companies or from private owners. Frss homtssd of 160 acrsseachareto be had the more remote districts.

Mnlll( For iltaitrated literntors, map, dcacrlp-tion of farm opportunities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and urician Columbia, reduced railway F. H. HEWITT 2012 Main Street Kansas City, Mo. Autherliad Agent, Dapi. of Immi gration ana coioniimon, Dominion or canaaa to be In partnership with a man.