The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-10-20
PROLOGUE


with flags flying and bands playing
as the conquerors OF beaten nation,
the manager OF the Hotel Nationale
In Berne received q letter. Its con
tents appeared TO puzzle him some
what, for having read II twice ne
rang the bell on his desk 10 summon
his secretary. Almost Immediately
the door opened, and a young French
girl came into the room.
Monsieur rangr
Have we ever had staying In the
hotel a man called lie Comte de Guyf
He leaned back in his chair and
looked at her through his pincenez.
The secretary thought for mo-
ment and then shook her head. Not
as far as l can remember" she said.
DO we know anything about himf
Has he ever fed here. or taken pri-
vate roomf
mot that / know OF"
The manager handed her the letter.
and waited In silence until she had
read II.
"It seems on the face of IT a pecu-
liar request from an unknown man,
he remarked as she laid II down. "A
dinner OF four covers; no expense to
be spared. Wines specified and II
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.
at can hardly be a hoax she re-
marked after short silence.
NO" The manager tapped his
teeth with his pen thoughtfully. But
II by any chance II was II 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 az he
left the office after receiving his In
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
10 contain considerable promise.
And so at about twenty minutes
past seven the maitre d'hotel was
lowering around the hall-porter. the
4 Rnnnd tho
maitre d'hotel. and the secretary was
towering around both. Al dve-and-
twenty minutes past the first guest
He was a peculIarlooking man, In
big fur coat reminding one IRE
sistibly OF Goldfish.
II wish to be taken to Room x.
/ The French secretary stlffened invol-
UNFAIRLY as the maitre d'hOtel stepped
obsequlously 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
" arrived. They did not come togeth-
or, and what seemed peculiar to the
manager was that they we're evidently
strangers to one another.
The leading one-s tall gaunt man
with a ragged beard and a pair OF
i piercinQ eyes-asked In a nasal and BY
no means an inaudlble tone for Room
x. AS he spoke q little fat man who
was standing Just behind him started
perceptibly, and shot birdlike glance
/ at the speaker.
Then in execrable French be too
asked for Room X
Hes not French" said the secre-
tary excitedly to the manager. That
las, one was another Boche."
j The manager thoughtfully twiried
his pince-nez between his fingers.
two Germans and an American"
He looked a little apprehensive. Let
US hope the dinner VIII appease every
body Otherwise-
Bur whatever fears he might have
entertained with regard 10 the furni-
furp IN ROOM ~ thta NFiN hpA 49,
tine-d 10 be uttered Even as he spoke
the door again swung open, and man
with a thick white scarf around his
neck. 50 pulled up a. almost com
pIetely 20 cover his face, came In All
that the manager could swear 70 as
regards the newcomers appearance
was pair Of deep-set. sieel-gray eyes
which seemed % bore through him.
You got my letter this morningT
aArsleur IL Cotnte De GuyT' The
1 manager bowed deferentlaily and
rubbed his hands together. Every
thing Is ready. and three guests have
arrived
Good. vfl 90 to the room At
once
As be followed his guide his eyes
swept round the lounge. Save Tor two
or three elderly women q doubtful
nationality. and rnsn IN tho Amer
can Red Cros< the place vas desert
slrFa 80