The Washington times., 1911-09-05

day-the interview just de-
scribed had occurred in the
morning-Racksole was visit
ed by another idea. and he said to
himself that he ought to have thought
of it before.
The conversation with Mr.. Sampson
Levi had continued for a considerable
time and the two men had exchanged
various notions and agreed to meet
again, but the theory that Reginald
Dtmmock had probably been a traitor
to his family-a traitor whose re-
pentance had caused his deatn-ha6
not been thoroughly discussed; the
talk had tended rather to Continent
al politics, with a view to discovering
what princely family might have an
interest in the temporary disappear
ence of Prince Eugen.
Now, as Racksole considered in de-
tail the particular affair of Reginald
Dimmock, deceased. he was struck
by one point especially, to wit: Why
had Dimmock and Jules maneuvered
70 turn Nella Racksole out of room
III on that first night?
That they had so maneuvered. that
the broken window pane was not a
ly sure. He had felt perfectly sure all
along, but the significance of the
facts had not struck him.
1t was plain to him now that there
must be something of extraordinary
end peculiar Importance about room
No. Ill.
After lunch he wandered quietly up
stairs and looked at room No. III;
that is to say, he looked at the out
side of it; it happened to be occu-
pied, but the guest was leaving that
evening.
The thought crossed his mind that
there could be no object in gazing blank
ly at the outside of a room; yet he
Rnzad. then ha ndaraI p,,fr
again to the next floor, and in passing
along the corridor Of that floor he
stopped, and with an involuntary ges-
ture stamped his foot.
Great ScottI' he exclaimed. 1--WE
got hold of something-No. Ill is ex-
actly over the state apartments"
He went to the bureau and issued
instructions that No. Ill was not TO be
At the bureau they gave him Nella S
note, which ran thus:
Dear Papa: am going away for a
day or two on the trail Of clue. II
I'm not back in three days, begin TO in
Quire for me at Ostend. Till then leave
me alone. Your sagacious daughter..
These few words in Nella's large
scrawling hand, filled one side of the
paper At the bottom was a ''P. 7. O.
He turned over, and read the SEN
tence, underlined. 'P. S.-Keep an eye
on Rocco"
NOIu6I "Idl lile Hllle Is
up to?" Mr.. Racksole murmured as he
tore the letter into small fragments and
threw them into the waste-paper basket
Then. without any delay, he took the
lift down to the basement, with the OBJ
5ect of making a preliminary inspection
of Rocco in his lair.
He could scarce bring himself to be-
lieve that this suave and stately gen.
teman, this enthusiast of gastronomy.
was concerned in the Vaccinations of
Jules and otner rascals unknown.
Nevertheless, from habit. he obeyed
his daughter, giving her credit for a GER
tain amount of perspicuity and clever
ness.
The kitchens Of the Grand Babylon
Hotel are one of the wonders of Eu-
4 rope. Only three years before the events
now uHder narration. Felix Babylon had
had them newly installed with every
device and patent that the ingenuity OF
two continents could supply.
They covered nearly an acre of super
fcfal space. They were walled and
hoored from end to end with tiles and
marble. which made It possible to wash
them down every morning like the deck
of man-of-war.
Visitors were sometimes taken to see
the potato-2aring machine, the patent
pate drier, the Babylon spit "a con-
tlivance Of Felix Rabvlon.s OWN, the
silver grill. the system Of connected
stock pots, and other amazing phenom-
ena Of the department.
sometimes. IL they were fortunate,
they might also see the artist who
kculptured ices into forms of men and
beasts for table ornaments, or the first
napkin folder in London. or the man
who daily invented fresh designs for
pastry and blanc manages
Twelve chefs pursued their labors in
these kitchens, helped ny ninety assist
ant chefs and a further army of un-
considered menials. Over all these was
Rocco supreme and unapproachable.
oil - 1-Gg
Rocco had an apartment of his own,
wherein he thought out those manifi-
cent combinations. those marvellous
feats of succulcnce and originality,
which had given him his fame.
Visitors never caught a glimpse of
Rocco in the kitchens, though some
times, on a special night. he would
stroll nonchalantly through the dining
room. like the great man. he was, to re-
ceive the compliments of the hotel
h5bitues-people of insight, who recog-
nized his uniQueness
Theodore Racksole's sudden and un-
usual appearance in the kitchen caused
a little stir. He nodded tc son.e of the
chefs. hut said nothing to anyone. mere
ly wandering about amid the maze OF
copper utensils and white-capped work
ers.
At length he saw Rocco, surrounded
by several adIniring chefs.
Rocco was bending over q freshly
toasted partridge which lay on blue
dish. He plunged a long fork into the
back of the bird and raised 1t in the
air with his left hand
In his right he held a long, glittering
carving knife. He was giving one of
MS world-famous exhibitions of carving
In four swift, unerring, delicate, per-
tect strokes he cleanly severed the limbs
OF the partridge. II was a wondrous
achievement-how wondrous none but
the really skillful carver can properly
appreciate.
The chefs emitted a hum of applause,
and Rocco, long, lean, aud graceful re-
tired to his own apartment
Racksole followed him. Rocco sat in a
chair, one hand over his eyes. He had
not noticed Theodore Racksole.
what are you doing, Mr. Rocco?,
the millionaire asked, smiling
"Ah! exclaimed Rocco, starting ND
with an apology. Pardon? / was in
venting a new mayonnaise"
ssno Won invent these fhinur rvifhor,f