Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1912 — The Grand Babylon Hotel [ARTICLE]

The Grand Babylon Hotel

(Copyright The Frank A. Munsey Co.) —_o CHAPTER lit— (Continued.) At 8 A. M. Confronted by the revolver, Jules readily obeyed, yet with a depricatory gesture, as though he would not be responsible for this outrage against tbs decorum of hotel life. Jules unlocked the door. Racksole entered. The room was brilliantly lighted. “A visitor who insists on seeing yon, sir,” said Jtfles, and- fled. Mr. Reginald Dimraock, still in evening dress and smoking a cigaret, rose hurridly from a table. “Hello, my dear Mr. Racksole, this is an unexpected—ah—pleasure.” “Where is my daughter? This is IreT room." “Did I catch what you said, Mr. Racksole?” “I ventured to remark that this is Miss Racksole’s room.” “My good sir,” answered Dimmock, “you must be mad to dream of such a thing. Only my respect for your daughter prevents me from expelling, you forcibly for such an extraordinary suggestion.” A small spot half way down the bridge of the millionaire’s nose turned, suddenly white. i■ r “With your permission,” he said in a low, calm voice, “I will examine the dressing room and the bathroom.” “Just listen to me moment,” Dimmock urged in a milder tone. “I’ll listen to you afterward, my young friend,” said Racksole, and he proceeded to search the bathroom and the dressing-room, without any result whatever. “Lest my attitude might be open to misconstruction, Mr. Dimmock,” he went on, “I may as well tell you that I have the most perfect confidence in my daughter, who is as well able to take care of herself as any woman that I ever, met; but since you entered it there have been one or two rather mysterious occurrences in this hotel. That is all.” Feeling a draft of air on his shoulder, Racksole turned to the window. “For instance,” he added, “1 perceive that this window is broken, badly broken, and from the outside. Now how could that have occurred?” “If you will kindly hear reason,. Mr. Racksole,” said Dimmock, “I will explain things to you. I regarded your first question to me when you entered my room as being offensively put, but I now see that you had some justifleatidn.” .—- “I was passing along this corridor about 11 o’clock, when I found Miss Racksole in a difficulty with the hotel servants. Miss Racksole was retiring to rest in this room when a targe stone, which must have been thrown from the Embankment, broke the window, as you see. Apart from the discomfort of the broken window, she did not care to reihain in the room. She argued that where one stone had come another might follow. She therefore insisted •on her room being changed.” \ JJThe servants said that there was no other room available with a dressing room and bathroom attached, and your daughter made a point of these matters. I at once offered to exchange apartments with her. She did me the honor to accept my offer.” Theodore Racksole looked -at the young man for a few seconds in silence. There was a faint knock at the door. “Come"in,” said Racksole loudly. Some one pushed upon the door,: but remained standing on the mat. It was Nella’s maid, in a dressing gown. “Miss Racksole’s compliments and V thousand excuses, but a booft* of hers was left on the mantel shelf In this room. She cannot .sleep, and wishes to read.” “Mr. Dimmock, I tender my apologies,” said Racksole when the girl had gone away. “Pray, don’fc mention it,” said Dimmock suavely, and bowed him out. (To be continued