The Washington times., 1911-08-24

I was firm. and so the affair came to
nothing"
The agreed price was satisfactory"
May ask what the price was?'
Are you buyer, Mr.. Racksole?
Are you a seller, MIR. Babylon?'
TT ~ am" said Babylon. on terms; ms
leasehold and the good will. But I sell
| only on the condition that the buyer
does not transfer the property to a lin
tied company az a higher figure"
BabyiUn % pSa Said pha the epeifEn !0@
haye your profits averaged during the
''Thirty-four thousand pounds per an
num-"
Il buy" said Theodore Racksole.
smiling contentedly. And we will, II
4 on tho spot" I
| "You come quickly to a resolution,
been considering This for long umsI
"On the contrary looked
at his watch-"I have been considering
| II for just six minutes.
| Felix Babylon bowed, as one thor
oughly accustomed to every eccentriclty
The beauty of being. well known"
tfonbe aSont premnary W e1planatOns
| You. Mr. Babylon. probably know all
about me. I knew a good deal about
you. We can take each other for grant
! ed without reference. Really. II Is as
simple to buy hotel or railroad as II
is to. buy watch. provided one is equal
| to the tranSa ctton.
Precisely" agreed Mr.. Babylon, smil-
ing. Shall we draw up the little infor-
NAL contract? There are details to be
thought Of. But II occurs to me that
you cannot have dined yet, and might
prefer to deal with minor questions aft
er dirner.
hay Nk in4I -
aire. with emphasis And IN that con-
nectiCn. will you do me a favor? VIII
you send for Mr.. Rocco?"
You wish to see him, naturally"
II DO" said the millionaire. and add
ed: About my dinner"
Rocco is a great man." murmured
Mr.. Babylon, as he touched the bell, Iz-
noring the last words.
My compliments to Mr. Rocco" he
said to the page who answered his sum-
mons. "and If 1t is quite convenient /
moment"
What do you give Rocco?" Racksole
inquired.
Two thousand year and the treat
ment of an ambassador"
I shall give him the treatment Of an
ambassador and three thousand"
You will be wise" said Felix Baby
lon.
At that moment Rocco came into the
room very softly-a man OF forty-thin,
with long, thin hands, and an inordin-
ately long. brown. silky nrustache.
Rocco" said Felix Babylon, "let me
Introduce Mr.. Theodore Racksole. Of
New York"
''sharmed," said Rocco. bowing. "Ze
-ze-vat you call 1t, millionaire?"
Exactly" Racksole put in, and con-
tinued quickly, Mr.. Rocco, l wish to
acquaint you before any other person
with the fact that / have purchased the
Grand Babylon Hotel. II you think well
to afford me the privilege of retaining
your services 1 shall be happy to offer
you a remuneration Of three thousand
year"
Tree. you said7"
"Sharmed."
And now. Mr.. Rocco, will you oblige
me very much by ordering a plain beef
steak and a bottle Of Bass to be served,
by Jules-I particularly desire Jules
at tatir No. II in the dining room in
ten min utes from now? And will you
morrow"
Mr.. Rocco gasped. bowed, muttered
something In French, and departed
Five minutes later the buyer and SELL
er Of the Grand Babylon Hotel had each
signed a curt document scribbled out
on the hotel note paper.
Felix Babylon asked no questions and
II was this heroic absence of curiosity,
Of surprise, on mis- part, that more than
anything else impressed Theodore Rack
sole.
How many hotel proprietors in the
world. RaCksole asked himself, would
have let that beefsteak and Bass go
by without a word or comment?
From what date do you wish the
purchase to take effect?" asked Baby
Ion.
oh" said Racksole lightly, ut
doesn't matter. Shall we say tonight?"
''As you will. 1 have long wished to
retire. And now that the moment has
come-and so dramatically am ready. |
shall return to Switzerland. One can
not spend much money there, but 1t is |
my native land. shall be the richest |
man in Switzerland"
A Continuation of This Story VIII |