The Washington times., 1911-08-26
CHAPTER III (Continued).
- ERHAPS there was, but a more
j intimate acquaintance with the
character OF Nella Racksole

would have been necessary in
order to predict what precise form that
romance would take.
Jules himself served the liquids, and
at 10 o'clock he brought another note.
Entreating a thousand pardons, Reg
inald Dimmock. after he had glanced at
the note, excused himself Oh the plea
OF urgent business for his serene mas
ter, uncle of the Grand Duke of Posen.
He asked II he might fetch Mr.. Rack
sole or escort Miss Racksole to her
father. But Miss Racksole said gayly
that she felt no need of an escort and
should go to bed.
She added that her father and her
self always endeavored to be indepen-
dent of each other.
Just then Theodore Racksole had
round his way once more into Mr. Baby
Ions private room.
Before arriving there, however, he
mad discovered that in some mysterious
manner the news of the change of pre-
prletorship had worked Its way down
mos
. The corridors hummed with IT, and
even underservants were to be seen dis
e0Ssing the thing just as though it
Have a cigar, Mr.. Racksole," said
the urbane Mr.. Babylon, and a mouth
lul OF the Oldest cognac IN ali Europe"
IN lew minutes these Two were talk
Ing eagerly, rapidly.
Felix Babylon was astonished at
Racksole's capacity for absorbing the
DETAILS OF hotel management, and as
Ior Racksole, he soon realized that
managers
II had never occurred to RacksoIe be-
iore that to manage a hotel, even n
large hotel, could be a specially inter
esting affair, or that it could make any
excessive demand upon the brains of
the manager; but he came to see that
he had underrated the possibilities OF
hotel. The business of the Grand Baby
lon was enormous.
1t took PaCksole, with all his genius
for organization, exactly half an hour
to master the details of the hotel laun-
dry work. And the laundry work was
hut one branch of activity amid scores,
and not very large one at that
Finally Felix Babylon, in a moment Of
absent -nlindedress, yawned.
Racksole looked at the gilt clock on
the high mantelpiece.
Great Scott" he exclaimed. It's 3
o'clock! Mr. Babylon. accept my apollo
gies for having kept you up to such an
absurd hour"
Il have not spent so pleasant an even
Ing for many years. You have let me
ride my hobby to my hearts content
il Is who should apologize"
RacksGle rose.
IL should like to ask you one ques-
tion," said Babylon. Haze you ever
bad anything tC do with hotels before? ?'
Never, SAID RaCkSOle.
Then you have missed your vocation.
You could have been the greatest of all
managers. You would have been greater
than myself, and l am unequaled,
though keep only one hotel and some
men have half a dozen; MI EoIS; RaSksole' 6.
Heaven knows he laughed. But
you iatter me, Mr.. Babylon"
II? Flatter2 You do not know me.
] fatter no one. except perhaps now
1l.vI NFNFr NEH HlfN
guest. In which case l give suitable in
structions as to the bill"
speaking of distinguished guests. l
am told that couple of German princes
are coming here tomorrow.
That is So
"Does one do anything? Does one
receive them formally-stand bowing
in the entrance hall or anything Oh
that sort?"
wishes. The modern hotel proprietor
Is not like an innkS5per OF the Md
die Ages, and even princes do not ex-
pect TO see him unless something
should happen to go wrong.
Grand Duke of Posen and Prince Ari-
Der have both honored me by staying
here before. 1 have never even set
eyes on them. You will find all ar
rangements have been made"
They talked a little longer, ana
then Racksole said good night
LET me see you to your room. The
lifts will be closed and the place Will
be deserted. AS for myself, ! sleep
here" and Mr.. Babylon pointed TO an
inner door.
"No, thanks" said Racksole. "Let
me explore my own hotel unaccom-
panied. I believe 1 can discover my
room"
sages Racksole was not so sure mat
he could discover his own room.
The number was 107, but he had for
gotten whether 1t was on the frst or
second floor. Travelling In lift, one
is unconscious of floors.
He passed several lift doorways, but
he could see no CLINT of staircase:
in all self-respecting hotels stalrcases
have gone out of fashion, and, thoug
hotel architects still continue to build
remote corners where their presence
is not likely to offend the eve of a
spoiled and cosmopolitan public.
The hotel seemed vast. uncanny, de-
serted An electric light glowed here
and there at long intervals.
On the thick carpets Racksole's thin
ly-shod feet made no sound, and he
wandered at ease to and fro, rather
amused. rather struck by the peculiar
sense of might and mystery which had
suddenly come over him.
He fancied he could hear a thousand
snores peacefully descending from the
upper realms.
At length he found a staircase. a very
dark and narrow one. and presently he
was on the first floor.
He soon discovered that the numbers
Of the rooms on this floor did not get
beyond 20. He encountered another
staircase and ascended 10 the second
floor.
BY the decoration of the walls he
recognized this floor as his proper home
and as he strolled through the long cor
ridor he whistled a low, meditativt
whistle Of satisfaction.
He thought he heard a step on the
transverse corridor, and instinctively ht
obliterated himself in a recess which
held service cabinet and chair
He did hear a step. Peeping cautious
perceived previously, that a piece Of
white ribbon had been tied around thu
handle of the door of one Of the bed
rooms.
Then a man came around the corner
Of the transverse corridor, and Rack
sole drew back. 1t was Jules-Jule.
with his hands in his pockets and 6
slouch hat over his eyes, but in othel
respects attired as usual.
Racksole at that instant, remembered
with a special vividness what Felix
Babylon had said to him at their first
Interview.
He wished he had brought his revol.
yer. He didn't know why he should
feel the desirability OF revolver in a
London hotel of the most untnIpeach'
able fair fame, but he did feel the desir.
ability of such an instrument of attack
and defense.
He nrtvately decided that If Jules wen
past his recess he would take him by