The Columbus journal., 1911-01-11

STEALING 4 Bath
Adventure Of a Trio Of EnQlish
Tourists In Germany.
4 PRINCE AND 4 PRIVATE TUE
HE Auteerasie Hishnsss Wss shame
fully lsnsssd and eneassdI and Hls
Luxurious esth Wee Slsamsfully Ap.
peepeiatsd and Abused.
Parker. Wilks and I had been doing
Germany on the cheap. and I dom,
know which Of ~ enjoyed It least.
Parker grumbled the most. but then
he always did, and. though Wnks and !
tried to look On the humorous side Of
things. We lost Aesh over It We bad
happened upon . heat wave and swal.
lowed . tremendous lot Of dust and
nies thrown In gratis. cheap though our
tariff was. But We couldn't swallow
the foreign titles that cropped up
around "a. We had too much British
pride for that And. - luck would
have II, at the last town Of our tour
We were quartered on the top door Of
q hotel where q German prince occu-
pied q suit Of rooms. In our opinion.
three English tourists were worth more
than thirty German princes. and We
dropped our boots on the floor at night
in the vain hope that he was under
meath. But, alas. his suit was ON the
dfst floor. and we never even caught q
glimpse Of him. though once we heard
his high pitched. arrogant. penetrating
voice and the oozy fulsome rejoinders
Of his valet both articulating q Ian
guage which Parker contemptuously
described ~ 1.-THE limit"
It was the last morning Of our stay.
Parker and I Ind gone back to the
hotel to pack our bags before departing
for the station. The weather was hot
ter and dustier than ever. and Wilks,
always energetic, had gone to the pub
lie bathing place on the river In search
Of q swim. I had q letter to write.
ana D~~Aro, ~ro r1ono<1 vns,v,xa thu hofo1
to kill time Presently he thrust his
face In at the door. 1t had lost its
familiar lowering look and wore .
bright and alert expression
II say" he CALCULATED mysteriously.
almost under his breath. I've just
found q bathroom in this blighted hole
bath full of tepid water. with Their
mometer in it-clean. warmed tow
els on the rail. and all that. What
shall I do?"
dor I replied. "Get into IT, man.
and let me know when you've finish
ed"
he wasn't long and came back look
Ing wonderfully young and clean. The
mail had just arrived and had spent
\ few minutes over my letters before
I also found the bathroom. following
his directions. It was without excep-
ton the best I have ever been In,
md, to my surprise. the big porcelain
bath was half full Of tepd water. and
/ set Of clean, newly warmed towels
hung ON the rail. took what the
Iods gave and asked no questions. but
| wanted more cold water and ex-
pefimented unsuccessfully with vari-
ms levers ON the wall As last hope
| attacked q cart wheel affair on the
loor and after . sti6 struggle man
lged to turn 1t. A food Of cold water
pushed in along one side Of the bath.
md It was all I could do to wrench
he wheel around and stop the dow.
Is I did 50 light came upon me in q
lash. This was the princes bath. pre-
JARED for him q second time BY his
valet. It was the glorious
certainty Of the fact that made me en-
oy that bath as I have never enjoyed
bath before or since. The cheap
English tourists were one up on his
creme hishness, after all Still. I
Omit, when I had finished Tubing
ost no time In getting back to the
oufth door again. I told Parker the
reat news, and we were just discuss
ag It with rapture when Wilks came
D. looking supremely detected for the
mt time on the tour.
The bathing place isn't Open" he
narled. had all the flag Of going
here for nothing. What dirty beg
ars they arer'
mot all Of them" I replied. "Don't
on worry, old chap" And I described |
} him the position Of the bathroom.
nd he was OF like q hare. During his |
bsence we thoughtfully packed our |
wn bags and his. In ten minutes he
fresh as q mountain daisy |
nd bubbling over with gratitude.
what sort Of bath did you eetY'
asked carelessly.
"A clinker." he cried. '.and It was
q put ready for me, clean towels
I'd everything. The only difRculty
ID was with the cold water wheel
Management on the floor"
1T was q bit stin," I agreed.
ut turned ON all right" said Wilks.
mt I couldn't turn It or"
what did you dor we asked to-
.ther.
II left It." he answered simply.
what time are We due at the sta
on?' said Parker.
Now" I replied. and We took our
% and went. |