Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 164, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1912 — Page 2

The Grand Babylon Hotels

Copyright by Frank A. Munaey Co. •ife".- ■'■.■■■. I—7 O CHAPTER XXX Felix Babylon’s Little Jake. -I’ve a great deal to tell you, Prince,” Racksole began, as soon as they were out of the room, “and also, as I said, something to show you. Will you come to my room? We will talk there first The whole hotel is hum- . »ai nwAlfnmftnt M “With pleasure,” said Aribert “Glad his highness Prince Eugen is recovering,” Racksole went on, urged by consideration of politeness. "Ah! As to that” — Aribert started. that later, Prince,” Racksole interim rupted him. “I want to tell you about last night, about my capture of Jules, and my examination of him this morning.” And he launched into a full account oT the whole thing, down to the least details. - - “You see,” he concluded, “our suspicions as to Bosnia were tolerably correct: But as regards Bosnia, the more I think about it, the surer I feel that nothing can be done to bring these criminal politicians to justice." “And as to Jules, what do you propose to do?” 7 '“Come this way,” said Racksole, and he led Aribert to another room. A sofa in the apartment was covered with a linen cloth. Racksole lifted the cloth—he could not deny himself a dramatic movement—and disclosed the body of a dead man. It was Jules, dead, but without a scratch or mark on him. “I have sent for the police—not a ~ street constable, but an official from Scotland Yard,” said Racksole. “How did this happen?” Aribert asked, amazed and startled. “I understood you to say that he was safely immured in the bedroom." “So he was,” Racksole replied. “I went up there this afternoon, chiefly to take him Borne food. The commissionaire was on guard at the door. He had heard no noise, nothing unusual. Yet when I entered the room Jules was gone.

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“He had by some means or other loosened his fastenings; he had then managed to take the door off the wardrobe. He had; moved the bed in front of the window, and, by pushing the wardrobe door three parts out of the window, and lodging the inside end of it under the rail at the head of the bed, he had provided himself with a sort of insecure platform outside the window. —“AR-tttr hßiltdwltlnrarTrraKHrihe least sound. He must then have got through the window and stood on the platform. With his fingers he would just be able to reach the outer edge of the wide cornice under the foot of the hotel. By main strength of arms he had swung himieff on to this cornice, and so gas to the roof proper. He would then have the run of the entire roof. At the side of the building facing Salisbury lane there is an iron fire escape which runs right down from the ridge of the roof into a little sunk yard level with the cellars. Jules must have thought that his escape was accomplished. —^ “But it unfortunately happened that one rung at the iron escape ladder had rusted rotten through being badly painted. It gave way, and Jules, not expecting anything of the kind, fell to the‘ground— about a hundred and fifty feet. “He fell on his back on hard asphalt; his spine is broken. Jules was always unlucky. I can’t help saying now, that, murderer though he was, he almost deserved to escape, as a reward for his cleverness and Ingenuity.” As Racksole ceased speaking he replaced the linen cloth with a gesture absent. When the grave had closed over the dark and tempestuous career of Tom Jackson, once the price of the Grand Babylon, and perhaps one of the greatest head waiters that London has ever known, there was little further trouble for the people whose adventures have been described in these pages. Miss Spencer was never heard of again. Possibly to this day she survives, a mystery to her fellow-creat-ures, in the pension of some cheap foreign boarding house. As for Rocco he certainly was heard of again. Several years after the events set down it came to the knowledge of Felix Babylon that the unrivaled Rocco had reached Buenos Ayres, and by

his culinary skill was thelre making the fortune of a splendid and new hotel. Babylon transmitted the information to Racksole, and Racksole might, had he chosen, have put the forees of the law in motion against him. But Racksole happened to coincide with Babylon's view that so-fine an artist should be left undisturbed. Cooks of tbs highest type are so rare tnat tae world can ill afford to lose them, even though they be grievous sinners. The one difficulty which Racksole experienced after the demise of Jules was the police.. > The police, very properly, wanted to know things. They desired to be informed what Racksole had been doing in the Dimmock affair between his first visit to Ostepd and his sending for them to take charge of Jules’ dead body. And Racksole was by no means inclined to tell them everything. The inquest upon Jules aroused some pother and about ninety and nine separate and distinct rumors. In the end,- however, a compromise was arrived at. Racksole’s first aim was to satisfy the inspector whose clue —which, by the way, was a false one—he had so curtly declined to follow up. That done, the rest needed only tact and patience. Lastly through the medium of the United States ambassador, he was able to bring certain soothing influences to bear upon the situation. One afternoon, a fortnight aftej - the recovery of the hereditary Prince of Posen, Aribert, who was still staying -at—the—Grand—Babylon,—expressed a wish to hold converse with the millionaire. Prince Eugen, accompanied by Hans and some court officials whom he had sent for, had departed with immense eclat, armed with the comfortable million, to arrange formally for his betrothal. Touching the million, Eugen had given satisfactory personal security, and the money was to be paid off in 15 years. “You wish to talk to me, Prince,” said Racksole to Aribert, when they were seated together in the former’s room. “I wish to tell you,” replied Aribert, “that it is my intention to renounce all my rights and titles as a royal prince of Posen, and to be known in' future as Count Hartz — a rank to which I am entitled through my mothed. Also that I have a private income of ten thousand pounds a year, and a

chateau and a town house in Posen. “Of my ancestry 1 need not dwell. It can be discovered in the historicjg records of the German Empire. I give you this Information because I am here to ask the hand of your daughter in marriage. I love her and I am vain enough to believe that she loves me. I have already asked her to be my wife and she has consented. We await your approval.” “You honor us. Prince,” said Racksole with a slight smile, “and in more ways than one. May I ask your reason for renouncing your princely title?” “Simply because the idea of a morganatic marriage would be as repugnant to me as it would be to yourself and to Nella.” “That is good. If you had been born in America, Prince, you would have been a thorough democrat.” The Prince laughed. “I don’t kpow about that,” he said. “Democracy is a big word.” “Perhaps we had better not discuss it. I suppose it has occurred to you that ten thousand pounds per annum, for a man in your position, is a somewhat small income. Nella is frightfully extravagant. I have known her to spend sixty thousand dollars in a single year and have nothing to show for it at the end. Why, she would ruin you in twelve months.” “Nella must reform her ways,” Aribert said. “If she is content to do so,” Racksole went on, “well and good! I consent.” “In her name and my own, I thank you,” said Aribert gravely. “And,” the millionaire- continued, “so that she .may: not have to reform too fiercely, I shall settle on her absolutely, with reversion to your children, if you have any, a lump sum of fifty million dollars —that is to say, ten million pounds—in sound, selected railway stock. I reckon that is about half my fortune. Nella and I have always shared equally.” “Aribert made no reply. The two men shook hands in silence, and then it happened that Nella entered the room. That night, after dinner, Racksole and his friend, Felix Babylon, were walking together on the terrace of the Grand Babylon Hotel. Each was a man of importance and of interest, and many people, wondered what subject it was that could hold them so deeply. The next morning the whole world knew. Felix had begun the conversation. “I suppose, Racksole," he said at length, “you aren’t getting tired of the Grand Babylon?” “Why do you ask?” “Because I am getting tired of doing without it. A thousand times since I sold it to you I have wished I could undo the bargain. I thought I should like to retire and live a life of ease. But I find I am not old enough for that yet. Will you sell?” “I might,” said Racksole. “I might 'be induced to sell. I am urgently needed in America, and I don’t mind admitting that I am getting a little homesick for Wall Street.” “What will you take, my friend?” asked Felix. “What I gave,” was the quick answor.—- —■— - ■■■ ~-Y “Eh! Felix exclaimed. “I sell you my hotel with Jules, with Rocco, with Miss Spencer. You go and lose all these three inestimable servants and then offer me the hotel without them at the same price! It is monsrous. The little man laughed heatily at his own wit. ■ * “Nevertheless,” he added, “we will not quarrel about the price. I accept your terms." And so was brought to a close the complex chain of events which had begun when Theodore Racksole ordered a steak and a bottle of bass at the table d’hote of the Grand Babylon Hotel. The End. Cheapest accident insurance—Dr Thomas’ Eclectic Oil. For burns, cuts, scalds and emergencies. All druggists sell it. 25c and 60c.

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Wasted Effort

“And,” Mrs. Bellflre added with a slightly acid touch, “you might be here on time, for a change.” Bellflre quailed, as a well trained husband should have done under the circumstances. For on the previous five evenings dinner had waited, cooled, collapsed into a sodden mess because of his nonarrival at the proper time. "I will be home tonight,” he assured his wife, “at 8 o’clock. I shall start in plenty of time to allow for distractions —and, anyhow, I don’t think. I should bp blamed because ah old friend sprung up out of the earth and talked a half hour, or for a slow watch or for a slow client! However, barring earthquakes and convulsions of nature, this evening will see me here when you expect me!” “t certainly hope so,” Mrs. Bellflre told him. “I am sure the cook will leave if it happens again!” Bellflre started that evening for the suburban express train, which left at 6:26. He was going to make a good job of it and arrive home with fifteen minutes to spare. It was bitter cold and the train so crowded that the best be could do was to wedge himself to dodging the rain of clnderß. Ordinarily it took the express train fifteen minutes to make the run. It had been traveling five minutes when it stumbled and then stopped. It Aid not resume its progress. Men began to fold their newspapers and scowl. Then they began to investigate. It seemed that the locomotive was frozen up! A roar of indignation arose from the passengers. Somebody scratched the frost from a window and announced that they were nearly opposite an intermediate station. Then a local train puffed in at that platform.

In the exodus which ensued Belllire found himself crushed off on the snow covered ground. He stood knee deep In a snowbank and blinked at the distant platform, the trainmen swinging warning lanterns and Ordering their escaping trainload back. Then he, too, began hopping over Intervening tracks. He might lose his life, but he had to be home at 6 o’clock. He dodged a through train, knocked down a fat man and joined the shivering crowd clustering about the wrong end of the local platform. The ascending spirals of frosted breath that went up from every Individual looked like dozens of little campfires. On the end of the platform the ever present busy person was giving orders. “Now, we’ve got to get the ladles up here!’’ he said. “This man and I’U give ’em a hand—-and you fellows down there get ’em started!’’ A riot ensued, punctuated by shrieks of, “Oh, It’s jo terribly high l” “Take WlUie first! Wll-l-ee! Stay away from the edge of that platform!” “Oh, I’ve dropped my bag!” “Why don’t they have steps here? I should think there would be steps!” BeUfire, being large, soon found that he was doing most of the heavy work. The process of boosting numberless women, each weighing twentyfive pounds of furs and other wraps above normal. Is exhausting. When BeUfire at last clambered up he was disheveled, puffing, Ump. He dragged himself to that level just In time to see the last of the crowd swing on the last platform of the local that had pnlfed In. > When he had become petrified to his knees another headlight loomed up—and dashed by without stopping. It was an express train temporarily out of its orbit because of BeUflre’s frozen train. By the time another appeared BeUfire was loe to his neck. Stiffly he stumbled on board and dropped himself against a door. He did net dare sit down because he was firmly convlnoed that if he did so he would splinter Into icicles. When he had thawed out enough to have human Intelligence BeUfire observed that the train was making no stops whatever. Just as this fact dawned upon him the lights of his own station appeared, blinked, vanished. He grabbed the conductor and protested raucously. , “Nope," said the conductor. “This aga|n till it gets to nowerdale at the end of the line.” V. Flow erd ale Is exactly twenty-one miles beyound BeUfire’s station. A ▼ell will be drawn over the comm union that BeUfire had with himself during the trip out, the dismal wait and the trip back on a local. The vary least and mildest thing that he eould imagine lira. BeUfire doing was dismantling the flat paoMay her trunk. At ten mlwltee past 8 BeUfire slunk Into his apartment The worst was aonfirmed, tor there were no lights. "tally." he began huskily, “listen while I explain, won’t you?” There was silence as he turned on a fight Then ha saw a peacUsd scrawl In the mirror. She had left him, he knew! Finally be summoned enougr courage to read his wlftfs message. Dear John,” It ran, “mother phoned Bor ue to come to dinner tonight Pome ifir* 1 thankruUy kl Then hTwentViftoflhe Chicago Daily News.

CANARY IS PLUMP AND HAPPY

y. ‘ Absent-Minded Y<oman Dlsoovers Why She Wanted Telephone Operator to Call Her. Absent-minded persons sorely try the patience of girls in the Nefr Rochelle telephone office. Not’ long ago a woman confessed hrself subject to extreme forgetfulness and requested the day operator on her exchange to ring her up every morning at nine o’clock. A week later she said: “Central, what was it I wanted you to call me for at nHW o'clock?" “I don’t know,” said the girl. "You didn’t tell me. You just sake! me to call at nine o’clock." “Too bad,” said the woman. “I know there was something I wanted to do every morning at nine o'clock, but I can't for the life of me think The nine o’clock calls continued, however, and several days later tho woman took central into her confidence again. "I have found out why I wanted to be called,” she said. “A friend had given me a oanary and I wanted to make sure of remembering to feed it. The poor little thing is nearly starved. Hereafter when you ring won’t you just say, ‘Feed the bird/ and I’ll 8® straight and do it?” Central promised, and the neglected canary is now a plump and contented bird.

WAS SOMETHING LIKE A RUN

Munchausen Tells About a Bit of Sprinting He Witnessed In Scotland. “Talkin' about runnln'/’ remarked Hon. Ananias Munchausen, “about the finest bit of sprintin’ I ever 7 saw wag up in Scotland the shootin’ season before last. I'd been out all day deershootin’, and had had moßt awful luck when I spied a whoppin’ great buck about eighteen hundred yards away. Takin’ a careful sight, I let fly. But, bless your soul, the Instant my bullet touched him, and before it had time to penetrate his hide, that beast was off like a flash! _ «I never saw two such evenly matched things as that deer and my bullet For over half a mile they sped on together, neither gainin’ on the other, the bullet just managin’ to keep in touch with the deer’s skin. At the end of a mile, however, the paoe began to tell on the deer, and he faltered just for a moment. 'Twas fatal. The bullet sped on, and the poor beast keeled over. He deserved his freedom If ever an anmal did. . He’d have got it,, too, if he could have stuck out for another twenty yards, for that’s about as far as my rifle carries.”

Six Years Building a Clock.

Twenty thousand minute pieces of wood entered into the construction of an elaborately ornamented Notre Dame cathedral clock made by James Calway of Skowhegan, Me. This clock, which is finely carved, stands seven feet and ten inches in height and took Mr. Calway six long years to complete. In the upper story six folding doors open every ten minutes and the apos- 1 ties appear marching in time to an air played by a large music box that Is governed by the clock, each one bowing before the Savior as they pass, except the fourth one (which represents Peter), who turns his back upon the Savior, and the devU comes out of the top of the clock and blows a trumpet in honor of Peter. The second story is in the form of a mansion with double doors In front which also open every ten minutes. Lazarus appears at the rich man’s door and on bended knees asks for charity, the dogs licking bis sores, and the rich man stands in the door swinging his arm as if ha were throwing crumbs from his table. All these movable figures are run by machinery connected with a time movement, so as to work on the minute. The bottom story Is a very elaborately deslgfled foundation of fine Inlaid work.—Scientific American.

Raising Cotton.

Brer since the United States blockaded the southern ports early in the Civil war European countries have been trying to raise ootton in their Asiatic and African possessions. In half a oentury they have not succeeded In doing enough to make any particular Impression upon the world’s cotton markets. The area of the Kile valley is very limited. Ootton at a short staple la raised in India, but only in a moderate amount, and the oulture shows little tendency to increase. Russia has long produced In her Asiatic possessions a moderate amount of cotton, and the little dispute over passports for American Jews Increased the desire of Russia to reduce Its imports from this country, to which end the minister of agriculture has Just visited oeatral Asia, but he has returned oonvinced that little can be done to increase ootton culture.

The Kentucky Cardinals.

• Redblrds, known technically as Bs» tuoky cardinals, were never known to be so plentiful as this spring and it Is no unusual thing to see gangs of 'tea to fifteen at one tins Heretofore they have been seen only in pairs, a male and a female The male is a ibeautiful bird of bright red, the female being as a more brownish tinge. ' ," >■ ■

Couldn't Escape.

Clinton —Did you get in without jyour wife hearing yon last night? ! Clublelgh—No; and I didn’t gat in trithout my hearing her, either.