The Washington times., 1911-08-31
CHAPTER VIII.
The Baroness Arrival and Departure


The Baroness Arrival and Departure.
~ N the following morning. just
before lunch. lady, accom-
panied by a maid and a con-
siderable quantity of luggage,
arrived at the Grand Babylon Hotel.
She was a plump little old lady, with
white hair and an old-fashioned bonnet,
and she had a quaint simple smile Of
surprise at everything in general. New
ertheless, she gave the impression OF
belonging to some aristocracy, though
not the English aristocracy.
Her tone to her maid, whom she ad
dressed in broken English-the girl be-
ing apparently English-was distinctly
insolent, with the calm. unconscious in
science peculiar to certain type of
continental nobility.
The name on the lady's card ran
thus: Baroness Zerlinski." She de-
sired rooms on the third floor.
1t happened that Nella wast in the
bureau.
On the third floor. madamT' ques-
toned Nella in her best clerkIy man
ner.
Il did say on de third floor" said
the plump little old lady.
second floor"
Il wish to be high up, out Of de dust
and In de light" explained the bar
oness.
We have no suites on the third floor,
madam"
Never mind. no mattaire! Have you
not two rooms that communicated"
Nella consulted her books rather
Rwkwardly.
Numbers 122 and 123 communicate.
"Or is ii 12l and 1922" the little old
ladV = cd nd har
lip.
,a,d AZ b beg your Is,JRE JREardon-I should have
At that moment Nella regarded the
baroness correction of her figures as
curious chance, but aftcrward, when
the baroness had ascended In the lift,
the thing struck her as somewhat
strange
Perhaps the Baroness Zerlinsh had
stayed at the hotel before. For the
sake of convenience, an Index of guests
was kept and this index extended back
thirty years.
tain the name Of Zerlinski. Then II
was that Nella began to imagine what
mad swiftly crossed her mind when first
the baroness presented herself at the
ness were remotely familiar 10 her.
She thought, not that che had seen
the old ladys face before, but that she
had seen somewhere, some time, a face
OF a similar cast.
1t occurred to Nella to look at the
Almanach de Gotha'-that record of
all the mazes Of Continental blue blood;
but the "Almanach de Gotha" made no
reference to any barony of zerlinski.
Nella inquired where the baroness
meant to take lunch, and was informed
that table had been reserved for her
IN the dining-room. She at once decid-
ed to lunch there herself.
Seated in a corner half hidden by a
pillar, she could survey all the guests,
and watch each group as II entered or
left Presently the baroness appeared,
dressed In black, with tiny lace shawl,
despite the June warmth; very stately,
very quaint and gently smiling,
Nella observed her intently. The lady
ate heartily, working without haste and
without delay through the elaborate
menu of the luncheon.
Nella noticed that she had beautiful
white teeth. Then a remarkable thing
happened.
cream pun was served to the
baroness by way of sweets, and Nella
was astonished to see the little lady re-
move the top and with a spoon quietly
take something from the interior which
looked like piece of folded paper.
No one who had not been watching
with the eye of a lynx would have
noticed anything extraordinary in the
action; indeed, the chances were 999 to
LOCO that IT would pass unheeded.
But, unfortunately for the baroness, 1t
pened.
Nella jumped up and, walking over to
the baroness, said to her:
'1'm afraid that tart is not quite nice,
your lady ship
Thanks, 1t is delightful" replied the
baroness coldly. Her smile had van
ished. Who are you? 1 thought you
were de bureau clerk
My father is the owner Of this hotel.
] thought there was something In the
tart which ought not to have been
Neiie looked the baroness full in the
which a little cream had attached itself
lay under the edge Of plate.
No, thanks" The baroness smiled
her simple smile.
Nella departed. She had noticed one
trifling thing besides the paper-namely,
that the baroness could pronounce the
English 9Th" sound II she chose.
That afternoon, in her own room,
NeIla sat meditating at the window for
q long time, and then she suddenly
sprang up, her eyes Frightening.
"I know" she exclaimed, clapping her
hands; tits Miss Spencer disguised!
Why didn't think Of that before:
Her thoughts ran instantly to Prince
perhaps I can help him." she said
to herself, and gave little sigh.
She went down to the office and In
ouired whether the baroness had given
that some plan must be formulated.
She wanted to get hold Of Rocco, and
nut him on the rack. She knew now
that Rocco. the uneQualed' was also
Concerned in this mysterious AFFAIR.
"The Baroness Zerlinsh has left,
about a quarter Of an hour ago." said
the attendant.
"But she only arrived this morning"
THE baroness maid said that her
mistress mad received telegram and
must leave at once. The baroness paid
the bill and went away in four
wheeler"
Where to-"
1.-The trunks were labeled for Ostend.
Perhaps II was instinct, perhaps 1t
was the mere spirit Of adventure, but
that evening Nella was to be seen OF
all men on the steamer for Ostend which
leaves Dover at II p. m.
She had told no one Of her intentions,
not even her father, who was not In the
hotel when she departed she had scrib-
bled a brief note to him to expect her
back in day or two, and had posted
this at Dover.
The steamer was the Marie Henriette,
large and luxurious boat, whose state
rooms on deck vie with the glories OF
he L. I've . ,Nl-