The Washington times., 1911-08-24
CHAPTER II.
How Racksole Obtained His Dinner.

NJ EEERTHELESS, there are men
N with a confirmed habit of get
ting their own way, even as
guests in an exclusive hotel;
and Theodore Racksole had long since
fallen into that useful praCtice-eXcept
when his only daughter, Helen, mother
less, but high-spirited girl, chose to
think that his way crossed hers; in
which case Theodore capitulated and fell
back.
But when Theodore and his daughter
happened to be going one and the same
heaven alone might help any obstacle
that was so ill-advised as to stand i'll
their path.
Jules, great and observant man though
projecting chins of both father and
daughter; otherwise It is possible he
would have reConsidered the question OF
the steak and Bass.
Theodore Racksole went direct to the
entrance hall of the hotel and entered
Miss Spencer's sanctum.
Il want to see Mr.. Babylon" he said,
without the delay of an instant"
Miss Spencer leisurely raised her flax
en- head.
Il am afraid" she began the usual
formula.
1t was part Of her daily duty to dis
courage guests who desired to see Mr..
Babylon.
mo. no." said Racksole quickly. 'T
don't want any I'm afraids.' This is
business. If you had been the ordinary
hotel clerk, l should have slipped a
couple of sovereigns into your hand
and the thing would have been done.
AS you are not, as you are obviously
above bribes, ] merely say to you'll
must see Mr.. Babylon at once on an
affair Of the utmost urgency. My name
is Racksole-Theodore Racksole''
"Of New York;" questioned a voice
at the door, with a slight foreign ac-
cent.
The millionaire turned sharply. and
saw a rather short, French looking
man, with a bald head, a gray beard, a
tcng and perfectly built frock coat, eve
glasses attached to minute silver
chain. and blue eyes that seemed to
have the transparent innocency of a
maids.
There is only one," said Theodore
Racksole succinctly.
You wish to see me7" the newcomer
suggested.
"At this moment / wish to see you
more than any one else In the world"
said Racksole. II am consumed and
burnt up with a desire to see you. Mr.
Babylon. ! only want a few minutes
quiet chat. 1 fancy 1 can settle my
business in that time"
with a gesture Mr.. Babylon invited
the millionaire down a side corridor, at
the enQ OF which was bdDylOn 3
private room. a miracle of Louis XIV
furniture and tapestry; like most un-
married men with large incomes, Mr..
Babylon has tastes of a highly ex-
pensive sort
The landlord and his guest sat down
opposite each other.
Theodore Racksole had met with the
usual millionaire's luck in this adven-
ture; for Mr.. Babylon made a practice |
OF not allowing himself to be inter-
viewed by his guests, however dis |
tinguished. however, wealthy. however |
pertinacious.
II he had not chanced to enter Miss |
Spencer's office at that precise moment, |
and II he had not been impressed in a |
somewhat peculiar way by the physi- |
ognomy of the millionaire, not all Mr.. |
Racksoles American energy and in |
genuity would have availed for con- |
fabulation with the owner Of the Grand |
Babylon Hotel that night
Theodore Racksole, however. was ig- |
norant that a mere accident had served |
him. He took all the credit to himself.
Il read in the New York papers some |
months ago." Theodore started, without |
even a clearing of the throat, that this
hotel Of yours, Mr.. Babylon, was to be /
sold to a limited company, but II ap-
pears that the sale was not carried
out"
''It was not" answered Mr. Babylon
frankly. And the reason was that the !
middlemen between the proposed conf
pary and myself wished to make a large
secret profit. and / declined to be
party to such profit. They were firm;