Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1912 — The Grand Babylon Hotel [ARTICLE]

The Grand Babylon Hotel

(Copyright The Frank A Munsey Co.) CHAPTER Yl—Continued. “None. Only I feel sort of lonesome I feel I want some one to lean up against in running this hotel.” “Father, if you have that feeling, you must be getting ill.” “Yes,” he sighed, “I admit it’s unusual with me. But perhaps you have not grasped the fact, Nella, that we’re in the middle of a rather queer business.” .-y- - ; ■: ■ “You mean about poor Mr. Dimmock?” “Partly him and partly other things. First of all, that Miss Spencer, or whatever her wretched name was, mysteriously disappears. Then there was the stone thrown into your room. “Then I caught that rascal Jules conspiring with Dimmock at 3 o'clock in the morning. Then your precious Prince Aribert arrives without any suite —which I believe is a most peculiar and wicked thing for a prince to do, and, moreover, I find my daughter on very intimate terms with the said prince; then young Dimmock goes and dies, .and there is to be an inquest; then Price Eugen and his-suite, who were expected here for dinner, fail to turn up at all.” “Prince Eugen has not come?” “He has not, and Uncle Aribert is in a deuce of a stew about him and telegraphing all over Europe. Altogether, things are working up pretty lively.” “Do you really think, dad, there Was anything between Jules and poor Mr. Dimmock?” ~"z:"3~zr"":r'rT

“Think! I know! I tell you I saw that scamp give Dimmock a wink last night at dinner that might have meant —well!” “So you caught that wink, did you, dad ” \ “Why? Did you?” “Of course, I was going to tell you about it.” The millionaire grunted. Look here, father,” Nella whispered suddenly, pointing to the balcony immediately below them. “Who’s that?” She indicated! a man with a bald patch on the back of his head who was propping himself up against the railing of the balcony and gazing calmly into the ballroom. “Well? Who is it?” “Isn’t it Jules?” “By the beard of the prophet, it is.” “Perhaps Mr. Jules IS the guest of Mrs. Sampson Levi.” “Guest or no guest, he goes out of this hotel, even if I have to throw him out myself.”

Theodore Racksole disappeared without another word, and Nella followed him. But when the millionaire arrived on the balcony floor he could see nothing of Jules, neither there nor in the ballroom itself. Saying no word aloud, but quietly whispering expletives, he searched everywhere in vdin, and then at last, by tortuous stairways and corridors, returned to his original post of BtE servation, that he might survey the place anew from that vantage ground. To his surprise he found a man in the dark (little room watching the scene of the ball as intently as he had been doing a few minutes before. Hearing footsteps the man turned with a start.

It was Jules. The two exchanged glances in the ball light for a second. “Good evening, Mr. Racksole,” said Jules calmly. “I must apologize for being here.”

“Force of habit, I suppose,” said Theodore dryly. “Just so, sir.” “I fancied I had forbidden yott to reenter this hotel?” “I thought your order applied only to my professional capacity. I am here tonight as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Levi.” "In your new role of man about town, eh?” "Exactly.” “But I don't allow men about town up here, my friend.”“For being here I have already apologized.”

‘Then, having apologized, yon had better depart; that Is my disinterested advice to you.” “Good night, sir.” “And I say, Mr. Jules, if- Mr. and Mrs. Levi, or any other Hebrews" or Christians, should again invite you to my hotel, you will oblige me by de« dining the iiudtation. You'll find that will be Hie rarest course for you." “Good night, sir.” •Before midnight struck, Theodore Racksole had ascertained that the Invitation list of Mr. and Mrs. Sampson Levi, though a somewhat lengthy one,contained no reference to any such person as Jules. He sat up very late. To be precise, be sat up all night. He was a who, by dint of training, could comfortably dispense with

sleep when he felt so inclined, or when circumstances made such a course advisable. He walked to and fro in his room, and cogitated as few people besides Theodore Racksole could cogitate. At 6 a. m. he took a stroll round the business part of his premises, and watched the supplies come in from Covent Garden, from Sttiithfleld, from Billingsgate and from -other strange places. He found the proceedings of the kitchen department quite interesting, and made mental notes of things that he would have altered.

At 7 a. m. he happened to be standing near the luggage lift, and witnessed the descent of vast quantities of luggage, and its disappearance into a van. * *

“Whose luggage is that?” he Inquired peremptorily. 'The luggage clerk, with an aggrieved expression, explained to film that it was the luggage of nobody in particular, that It belonged to defferent guests and was bound for various destinations; that it was, in fact, “expressed” luggage dispatched in advance, and that a similar quantity of it left the . hotel every morning about that hour. Theodore Racksole walked away, and breakfasted upon one cup of tea and halt a. si lea -of -toast —-—- At 10 o’clock he was informed that the inspector of police had arrived and desired to see him. --The inspector had cgme. to superintend the removal of the body of Reginald Dimmock to the mortuary adjoining the place of inquest, and a suitable vehicle waited at the back entrance of the hotel. The inspector had / also brought subpoenas for himself and Prince Aribert of Posen and the'Commissionaire to attend the Inquest “I thought Mr. Dimmock’s remains were- removed last night,” said Rack-

sole wearily. “No, sir. The fact is, the van was engaged for another job.” The inspector gave the least hint of a professional smile, and Racksole, disgusted, told him curtly to go and perforin his duties. In a few minutes a message came from the inspector requesting Mr. Racksole to be good enough to come to him on the. first floor.

Racksole went In the ante-chamber where the body of Reginald Dimmock had originally been placed were the inspector and Prince Aribert and two policemen. “Well?” said Racksole, after he and the prince bad exchanged bows. Then he saw a coffin laid across twcKChairs. "I see a coffin has been obtained,” ift remarked. “Quite right” He approached it “It’s ampty,” he remarked unthinkingly. -* “Just so,” said the inspector. "The body of the deceased has disappeared. And his serene highness Prinee Aribert informs me that though he has occupied a room Immediately opposite, mi the other side «f the corridor, he can throw no ligl)t on the affair.” 11 indeed I cannot!” said the prinbe. And though he spoke with sufficient calmness and dignity, you could see that he was deeply pained, even distressed. . i..... (To be Continued.)

Let your wonts bo known through our dgpntflsd column.

At the song recital, May 2, Master John McGahey will play the beautiful De Beriot Concerto. The boy prodigy is a masterful player. Referring to a recital given by him last year at his home town, Marlon, Ind., the papers bestowed this praise: “The young violinist, who is but twelve years old, covered himself with glory. His entire program was played from memory sn d _ the large audience applauded enthusiastically. He was assisted at the recital by Mr. Arthur Curran.” Master McGahey is bound to please the audience, for besides possessing good technique and perfect bowing, being especially strong In double stops; he shows exceptional musical talent and feeling. He renders even the most:diffletrit passages not only with ease and fluency, but at the same time with a wonderful modulation and fullness and roundness of tone. He may well issstSe»envy of violinists of twice his age. He will be heard at Rensselaer on the evening of May 2. ' (