Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1902-09-20 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.  Mr Theodore Racksole, American millionaire, buys the Grand Babylon Hotel in order to gratify a freak of his daughtei Nella. No sooner has he done so than his troubles begin. The dismissal of the head waiter, Jules, whose insolence was really the cause of Racksole's purchase, is the signal for a series of mystericus doingewhich threaten to baffle even the power of gold. At dinner on the first evening a Mr Reginald Dimmock joins the party, having made Nella'e acquaintance abroad. Next day Nella is entertaining Prince Aribert, uncle of the Grand Duke of Posen, when Dimmock's dead body is brought in. Jules eoxitiiiue to haunt the hotel, though warned off the premises, and when the time oomes for the removal of Dimmock's body it has disappeared. Nella discovers that Prince Aribert is worried about something. He confides in her that his nephew, who was expected at the Grand Babylon, has mysteriously disappeared. Nella volunteers her help in solving the mystery, and in pursuance of a clue goes to Ostend. There she is kidnapped by Jules, and carried off in a yacht, but Prinoe Aribert arrives opportunely, and they return together to Ostend. Racksole, meanwhile, has been making observations of the behaviour of the chef, Rocco, whom he suspects of being in the plot against him. Happening to viit a particular suite ef I ()CMS in the hotel, situated just over the State apartments Racksole discovers a secret passage connecting the two floors. Ile desoends and sees Rocco in the act of embalming the corpse of ammock. Entering the :.-eom he receives an explanation from the chef, in which he states that be wilt give up the game, having disapproved of the methods adopted by his colleague, Jules, for some time past. By a simple trick, however, the chef gets clear away, and next day Racksole receives a summons from Neils to proceed to Ostend direct. Incidents of a strange character Ulcer, Prince Eugen is fount, and, after a sharp attack of brain fever, in which he is nursed by Nelda, her father and Prince Aribert, he is brought to the Grand Babylon, having given no clear account of the reason for his abduction. A loan the Prince had been negotiating with an English financier falls through becauae of his failure to keep an appointment. Racksole has an idea that Jules and his follow-conspirators should be brought to justice, and Ftill pursues the matter, without, however, calling in the aid of the police. He encounters Felix Babylon, and tells him the whole story, hearing from him that Jules is again in London. Apprehensive of a second attempt on Prince Eugen's life or liberty, the two men proceed to the wine-cellars to examine them, ancl while there d'isoover that Neils has also obtained access to the carefullyguarded vaults. She satisfactorily explains her eetranoe, and Babylon and herself remain to watch Juice a.t his murderous work of tampering with the wine intended for the Prince. Racksolo is just too late to effect his capture, so once again he outwits the millionaire. By Bailee)le's desire, in order to asoertain if Jules has accomplices in the hotel, the wine is allowed to appear at the Prince's table. He is prevented by Prince Aribert from drinking it, but in Spite of this falls back unconscious.