Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-04-12
PROLOGUE


as the conque:ors Of beaten nation,
the MANAGE. Of the Hotel Rationale
in,tBerne received a letter. Its con-
tents appeared to puzzle him som"-
What, for having read 1t twice he
rang the bell on his desk to summon
his secretary. Almost Immediately
the door opened, and young French
girl came into the room.
Monsieur; rang?'
''Haye we ever had staying In the
hotel a man called lie Comte de Guy?
He leaned back in his chair and
looked at her through his pince-nez.
The secretary thought for mo-
ment and then shook her head. mot
as far as L can remember" she said.
do we know anything about himl
Has. he ever fed here; Or taken q prI-
vate room"
"N'ot that I know Of"
The manager handed her the letter,
and waited in; silence until she had
read it.
TT seems Oh the face Of it a pecu-
liar request from an unknown man,"
he remarked as she laid 1t down. "A
dinner Of four covers; no expense to
be spared. Wines specified and If
not in hotel to be obtained. A private
room at half-past seven sharp. Guests
to ask for room x"
The secretary nodded in agreement.
ut; can hardly be a hoax" she re-
marked after a short silence.
Mo- The manager tapped his
teeth with his pen thoughtfully. "But
II by any chance 1t was, it would
prove an expensive one for us. 1
wish could think who this Comte de
Guy Is" I
He took Off his plnce-nez and laid
them on the desk in front Of him.
"Send the maitre d'hotel to me at
once"
Whatever may have been the man.
ayers omlsgivings, they were certainly
not shared BY the head waiter as he
left the office after receiving thts"tn-
structions. War and Short rations
had not been conducive to any partic-
ularly >. lucrative business in his
sphere; and the whole sound of the
proposed entertainment seemed to him
to contain considerable promise.
And so at about twenty minutes
past seven the maitre dhotel was
lowering around the hall-porter, the
manager was lowering round the
maitre dhotel, and the secretary was
lowering around both. At five-and-
twenty minutes past the first guest
arrived.
He was peculiar-looking man, In
big fur coat, reminding one ire
sistibly Of a Goldfish.
IT wish to be taken to Room Y"
The French secretary stiffened .invol-
UNFAIRLY as the maitre d'hotel stepped
obseuuiously forward. Cosmopolitan
as the hotel was, even now she could
never hear German spoken without an
inward shudder Of digust.
"A Boche," she murmured in disgust.
Almost Immediately afterward the
second and third members of the par
ty arrived. They did not come togetl-
or, and what seemed peculiar to the
manager was that they were evidently
strangers to one another.
The leading one-a tall gaunt man
with a ragged beard and q pair OF
piercing eyes-asked In nasal and by
no means an inaudible tone for Room
x. AS he spoke little fat man who
was standing just behind. him started
perceptibly, ard shot birdlike glance
at the speaker.
Then in execrable French he toe
asked for Room x.
"He's not French" said the secre'
tary exclteuly to the manager. THAT
last oile was another Boche."
The manager thoughtfully twirled
his pince-nez between his fingers.
1.-TWO Germans and an American
He looked little apprehensire. "Let
us hope the dinner will appease every
body. Otherwise"
But whatever fears he might have
entertained with regard to the furni
ture In Room x, they were not des
tined to be uttered. Even as he spoke
the door again swung open, and d mai
with q thick white scarf around HI:
neck, so pulled up as almost com
pletely to cover his fnce, came In. Al
that the manager could swear to a:
regards the newcomers appearance
was pair of deep-set, steel-gray eye!
which seemed to bore through him.
"You got my letter this morning?"
"hrsieur lie Comte de Guy?' Ths
manager bowed deferentially ant
rubbed his hands together. every
thing is ready, and three guests Rave
arrived"
Good. I will go to the room al
once"
As he followed his guide his eye:
swept rouni the lounge. Save for twc
or three elderly women Of doubtful
nationality, and man in the Amerl
can Red Cross, the place was desert
ed, and as he passed through the
giving doors he turned to the heat
waiter.
Business good?" he asked.