The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-06-25
PROLOGUE


+
In the month Of December, 1913,
and on the very day that a British
cavalry division marched into Cologne,
with flags flying and OaDds playing
as the cOnQuerors Of a beaten nation,
the manager Of the Hotel Rationale
in Berne received a letter. Its con-
tents appeared to puzzle hin some
what, for having read 1t twice he
rang the bell on his desk to summon
his secretary. Almost Immediately
the door opened, and a young Preach
girl came into the roO0.
Monsieur rangT
"Have we ever had staying IN the
hotel a man called lie COmte de 0uyr
He leaned back In his chair and
looked at her through his pince-Hez.
The secretary thought for a mo-
ment and then shook her head. "Not
as far as can remember" she said.
do we know anything about him?
Has he ever fed here, or taken a pri-
waite roOmT
mot that / know Of"
The manager handed her the letter,
and waited in silence until she had
read 1t.
at seems on the face Of 1t 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
cot in hotel to be obtained. A private
roem at half-past seven sharp. Guests
to ask for room X"
The secretary nodded In agreement.
at can hardly be a hoax" she re-
marked after a short silence.
NO" The manager tapped his
teeth With his pen thoughtfully. "But
If by any chance 1t was. 1t would
prove an expensive one for us. /
wish / could think who this Comte de
Guy IS"
He took of his pince-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 misgivings, they were certainly
not shared by the head waiter as he
left the Office after receiving his in
atructions. War and short rations
had not been conducive to any partic-
uIarly 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 d'hotel was
lowering around the hall-pOrter, the
manager was lowering round the
Inaitre d'hotel, and the secretary was
lowering around both. At five-and-
twenty minutes past the first guest
arrived.
He was q peculiar-looking man, in
q big fur coat. reminding one ire
sistibly Of a Goldfish.
Il wish to be taken to Room K"
The French secretary stifrened invol-
unfairly as the maitre d'hotel stepped
cbsequiously forward. Cosmopolitan |
M 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 togeth-
er. and what seemed peculiar to the
manager was that they were evidently |
strangers TO one another.
The reading one-a tall gaunt man |
with a ragged beard and pair of |
piercing eyes-asked In a nasal and by |
no means an inaudlbIe tone for Room
X. AS he spoke little fat man who |
was standing just behind him started
perceptibly, and shot a birdlike glance
at the speaker.
Then in execrable French he too
asked for Room X.
Hes not French" said the secre-
tary excitedIy to the manager. THAT
last one was another Boche."
The manager thoughtfully twirled /
his pince-nez between his fingers.
1.-TWO Germans and an American"
He looked a little apprehensive. 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 he uttered Even as he spoke
the door again swung open. and man
with a thick white scarf around his
neck. so pulled up as almost com
Iejetely 10 cover his face. came in. All
na3f the manager could swear to as
eratrds the newcomers appearance
sasf pair Of deep-sef. steel gray eyes
xhiAh seemed 70 bore throush him
YEN got my letter this morningy
slenr IL Cont py?- The