The Washington times., 1911-09-17


81 ntely. "let me offer You another
cigar"
But 1 have not finished this
one"
That is lust why / wish to offer you
another one. A cigar such as yours,
my good friend, ought never to be
smoked within the precincts of the
Grand Babylon, not even by the pro-
prietor of the Grand Babylon, and es-
pecially when all tine guests are assem-
bled in the portico. The fumes of 1t
would ruin any hotel"
Theodore Racksole laughingly lighted
the Rothschild Havana which Babylon
gave him, and they entered the hotel
arm in arm.
But no sooner had they mounted the
steps than little Felix became the OBJ
jeCt of numberleSs greetings. 1t ap-
peared that he had been highly popu-
lar among his quOndam guests.
At last they reached the managerial
room, where Babylon was regaled on a
chicken and hacksole assisted him in
the consumption of a bottle of Held
sleek Monopole. Carte dor.
This chicken is almost perfectly
grilled," said Babylon at length. 1T
is credit to the house, but why, my
heaven did you quarrel with Rocco?'
Then you have heard?"
Heard! My dear friend. it was in
every newspaper On lIt NOHlll1cul.
Some journals prophesied that the
Grand Babylon would have to close its
doors within half a year, now that
Rocco had deserted it. But, of course,
. l knew better. l knew that you must
have had a good reason for allowing
Rocco TO depart and that you must
have made arrangements in advance for
a substitute
''As a matter of fact had not made
arrangements in advance" said Theo-
u E,,I1r NI.,,k
happily we have found in our second
sous chef an artist inferior only to
Rocco himself That, however, was
mere good fortune"
Surely" said Babylon. ut was in
discreet to trust to mere good fortune
In such serious natter"
II didn't trust to mere good fortune.
didn't trust to anything, except Rocco,
and he deceived me-"
But why did ;yoH quarrel with him?"
Il dldn't quarrel with him. I found
him enbalming a corpse in the state
bedroom one night
You what?" Babylon almost
screamed.
Il found him embalming a corpse in
the state bedroom" repeated Racksole
The two men gazed at each other, and
then Racksole replenished BabylOn's
glass.
sell uStp III all easy .NlldL anu lASh1-
ing a cigar.
And Racksole thereupcn rccounted to
him the whole of the Posen episode,
with every circuInstantial detail so far
as he knew ii.
It was a long ard complicated re-
cital and occupied about an hour. Dur
ing that time little Felix never spoke a
word. scarcely moved muscle, only
his sn?all eyes cleaned through the
blush haze of smoke. The clock on the
mantelpiece tinkled midnight.
''Time for whisky ard soda. said
Racksole, and got up as If to ring the
bell. but Babylon waved him back
You have told me that this Sampson
Levi had an audience Of Prince Eugen
today. but you hare not told me the re-
suit of that audience" he said.
Because | do not vet know it. Put
I shall doubtless learn tomorrow. In
Levi declined to produce Prince Eugen
required million. / have reason to be-
lieve that the money was lent else
where
c0relessly: 81 am not at all surprised
at that arrangement for spying through
the bathroom of the state apartments"
why are you not surprised?"
oh" said Babylon, lit is such an
obvious dodge, SO easy to carry out.
involve myself in these affairs. 1 knew
they existed: 1 somehow felt that they
existed. But 1 also felt that they lay
outside my sphere.
NY business was to provide board
and lodging of the most sumptuous kind
to those who didn't mind paying for 1t;
and l did my business. If anything else
went on In the hotel, under the rose,
long age determined to ignore it unless
II should happen to be brought before
my notice and it never was brought be-
fore my notice. However, I admit that
there is a certain pleasurable excitement
in this kind of affair, and doubtless you
have experienced that
az have" said Racksole simply, |
though 1 believe you are laughing at
me-"
"By no means" Babylon. replied |
Now what, If / may ask the question, |
IS going to be your next step?"
THAT is Just what l desire to know
myself" said RacEsole.