The Washington times., 1911-08-25

~ amusement.
II suppose you are fairly we
off," said Racksole in that easy
familiar style of his. as though the ide
had just occurred to him.
Besides what l shall receive frou
you, I have half a million invested"
Then you will be nearly a million
aire."
Felix Babylon nodded.
Il congratulate you, my dear sir,
said Racksole, in the tone OF a judg,
addressing a newly admitted barrister
Nine hundred Thousand pounds, eX
pressed in francs, will sound very nice
in Switzerland
'Of course TO you, Mr.. RaCksole, sucf
q sum would be poverty Now If on,
might guess at your own wealth."
Felix Babylon WAS initiating the 9th
er's freedom
II do not know, 10 five millions or so
What am WORTH said RackSole with
sincerity, his tone indicating that he
would have been glad 10 give the in.
formation were il in mis- power.
sole?'
Still have them. I am now holiday.
making in London with my daughter in
order TO get rid of them for a tune"
Is the purchase OF hotels Your no.
uon or relaxation, them"
Racksole shrugged his shoulders
1t Is change from railroads"
All my friend, ."ou little know what
you have bought"
oh, yes. l do" returned Racksolc.
Il have just bought the. first hotel in
the world"
That is true, that is true" Babylon
admitted, gazing meditatively at the an
tique Persian carpet. There is moth
Ing anywhere like my hotel But YOU
VIII regret the purchase, Mr.. RaCksoIe.
II Is no business OF mine, of course, but
! cannot help repeating that you Will
fegret the purchase"
Il never regret"
Then you will begin very soon
perhaps tonight
why do You say that?"
Because the Grand Babylon is the
Grand Babylon. You think because
you control railroad or an iron
works or line of steamers therefore
you can control anything. But no.
Not the Grand Babylon! There is
something about the Grand Babylon
He threw up his hands.
Servants rob you, of course"
or course. / suppose ! lose a hun
orea pounds a week in that way. But
1t Is not what l mean. 1t is the
tngulshed. he great ambassadors.
the great hnanciers. the great MOBILES
all the men that move the world. nut
W. under my roof London is the cen
ter OF everything, and my hotel-your
hotels the center of London. once
had King and a Dowager EmnrCsS
staying here at the same time. Inn
agine that
"A great honor. Mr. Babylon. But
wherein lies the difficulty"
Mr.. RaCksO,e." was the grim rer,ry
What has Le"ome of your snrcwdnels,
that Shrewdness which has made your
fortune so immense that even YOU can
tba. T0t calculate it? Do YOU not perceive
oI oTat lhe roof which habitudlly shelters
all the force, all the authority. of the
world must necessarily aIso shelter
hamelesS and numberIeSs plotters
sCneiners, evildoers. ana workers of mis-
orli me thing Is as clear as day
MT. RaCksOle, | never know by whom |
T! am surrounded. | never know what |
Is gong forward. Only sometimes 7 get |
nin,S, str gllmpSes of strange acts and !
strange secrets. You mentioned nv
servants, skilled, competent an soou
but what are they besides? For
amEthbfng ANY M / know. my fourth subchef
may pe an agent for. some European !
invaluable Miss Spencer NAV be in The
pa! OF court drcSsmakcr or Frank
lort banker. Even Rocco may be some
one else In addition to Rocco
That makes it all the more Interest.
remarked Theodore Racl,sole
What long time You have becn
.ether; said Nella. WREN he returned to
Well. you seek, I had 10 wait for N,
steak to cook 80
Did you have much trouble in get
ting my birthday troat?''
No trouble. but it didn't come quite
aS cheap 4 5 YOU said
What do you mean, father7'
hotel e''''e
Father. you always were a delicious
1areni' Shall YOU give me the hotel for
/ birthday present2"
No. l shall run it-as an amusement.
BY the way, who is that chair for?"
He noticed that third cover had been
aid at the table.
That is for particular friend Of
nine VINO came in about five lninutcS
IEo. OF course, told him he mast
hare our steak. He'll be here in a mo-
ntnt.''
May I respectfully inquire his
"Dimmock-Christian name, Reginald
Profession, English companion to Prince
Arihert of Posen. ! met him when I
vas in st. Petersburg with Cousin
lefty last fall. Oh. here he IS! Mr.
with the steak" t
Theodore Racksole found himself con- v
ronted by very young man. with deep I
lack eyes and a fresh, boyish express n
lon. They began to talk. Il
Jules approached with the steak. b
taCksole tried to catch the walters eye, b
ut could not. The dinner proceeded. 4
"Ch, father" cried Nclla, what a lot c
f mustard you have taken!'' h
"Have T." he said, and then he hap r
cned to glanCe into a mirror on his left V
and between two windows. Il
He saw the reflection of Jules, who
.ood behind lis chair, and he saw Jules
I've a slow, significant, ominous wink to
IT. Dimmock-Christian name, Regi-
aid. .
He examined ris mustard in silence. +
e thought that perhaps he had helped
mself rather plcnteouSly 20 mustard.