Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-17

\ Hotci at. Wychnorr found il
- .aguuponJ upon her IN the
faithful d!SChogSa Vt her duttes
TO sit w three night oat Of The sis
which belong TO tn working Wcel
until clock in the .norn ing. ~
20 minutes after midnight the boa
came IN from the continent. ri f.
40 mlnu es after that the horel W.
busy The amount Of business Varied
Sometimes quite lot % people cam
into the hotel; sometimes only a few
entered, The whole thing dopende,
very largely on The sort OF c.oSs4n,:
that had been experienced. When tho
waters of the North Sea were in tract
able mood travellers, instead Of tarry.
ing at Wychport for what remained
of the night. preferred 10 go Stra CHI
on to London by the express, which
stood ready alongside the quay; IL
was, after all, only Commute run
But when the North Sea was in one
of its bad tempers-which We're some
what frequent-many folks were only
too glad to stagger into the hotel ami
seek the comfort of quiet room ana
we'll aired sheets as quickly as pos
Sible. Therefore, Beatrice in hers. and
several of her sister chambermaidS
in theirs, were on duty in the cCrri-
doris until business. big or little, was
definitely settled for the night
COrrltGr 4 NdS Il very quiet anu
retired one. 1t was a short annex,
running out of corroder &: it ought
really to have been corridor 81. There
were only six rooms in it-three on
either side. They We're numbered AZ,
SO and 81 on the right-hand side; AZ,
81 and SO on the left-hand side. AT
the end of the corridor was one of
those luxurious bathrooms for which
the Grand Harbour Hotel IS justly
to- In n,-,~i1 nr
between the doors of the various
apartments. We're several very COM
Portable deep backed, softly cushioned
touches. Corridor G. indeed, with Its
old engravingS of marine subjects.
was quite a lounge. From half-past
II every night. by which time the
regular inhabitants had retired, Bea-
trice used to rest herself on one OF
these couCheS under "A convenient
electric light and pass the time of
waiting for the incoming boat by read
ing novels. Beatrice 5 taste in nctlon
was. to say the least of It, peculiar.
For love stories she haC no liking
whatever. Problem novels she did
not understand. Adventure stories
she had a faint liking for. but the
adventures were never strong enough.
What Beatrice rejoiced in was the
full-blooded thoroughly sensational
detective story. beginning with first
class murder and ending up With the
arrest of the last person in the world
10 be suspected.
She was In the middle of n particu-
larlv exciting novel one midnight III
March when certain familiar SOUNDS
in the lower regions warned her that
the continental boat was in and that
some of it's passengers had com"
across to the hotel. She laid aside her
book and walked into corridor Is.
There was a lift entrance there, and
presently its ironwork lattice swung
open with a clatter and one of the
hotel porters emerged carrying snlt
cases and bags and followed by two
men, After her usual fashion, Bea-
trice made a quick but thorough in
spection of both. One was little,
somewhat stout gentleman, very much
wrapped up in a furrlined oVercoaI
and a shawl and decidedly foreign in
appearance; the other was a tall.
loose -limbed, good-looking man, Just
as English in manner ana style as
the other was un-English. Beatrice,
out Of her great experience, set NM
down as a military man. He gave heT
\ glance as the three approached and
she thought that he had humorous
and meaning eye.
"Fifty-three and f1fty-four.' said the
porter.
Beatrice turned, and, preceding the
little procession along corridor {.
threw open the doors OF opposite
rooms and switched on the electric
light. The porter hesitated, looking
at the two men.
well" said the tall man, with
laughing glance at his companion,
which vii, you have? Both look
alike, no doubt"
The foreign-looking person spread
mis- gloved hands.
"Oh, it is no matter" he said in
good English badly pronounced. AS
YOU say-alike. 1t is all the same
yes. You that this. But-you
come see me presently"
IAN right laughed the big man.
III see to 1t"
He turned into 81. The little man
went into So. And Beatrice went off
10 fetch hot water.
WHEN she returned few minutes
later both men We're in SO. They
had taken Off their coats and wraps
The tall man revealed himself in
smart gray tweed travelling suit of
unmistakable English cut. The little
man was in a frock coat with Silk
Iapels. He had a big cigar case in
tents. The tall man had an unopened
bottle of whisky on the dressing
table and was Just about to extract its
cork with a pocket corkScrew. He
turned to Beatrice with d whimsical.
illuminating smile.
Now, I'm sure you're the sort of
girl that would do anything for any
body" he said. $50 I'm sure you'll
be able to find couple of tumblers,
lemon and a ing
boiling water-and it'll be all the bet
ter If you find EN- quick"
Yes, sir" responded Beatrice. AT
once, sir
But outside Beatrice found inter-
ruption. The porter was up again
with another gentleman-to be put in
81. He, too. appeared TO be for
eigner-a dark-eyed, swarthy-skinned
man of 80 or so. Fortunately, he
wanted nothing whatever and was
quickly bestowed in his room, and
Beatrice went after the matters re-
uuired in SO. That did not take long.
Within a few minutes she was back
with her tray. The two man were
smoking cigars. The big one nodded
At her with approval
Good girl" he said. IN remem-
her you in the morning. And speak
ing of that, shall you be on duty in
the morning, and at what time if you
areo"
Yes. sir" answered Beatrice. six
thirty, sir"
Bring me some tea and two or
three biscuits as soon as ever you
rise" commanded the tall man. II
want to catch n train at seven
twenty Don't forget me. And this
,.entleman-' Ue turned TO the
foreigner ANY liking for the early
cup?" he asked with a laugh. IF so,