The Grand Babylon Hotel
By ARNOLD BENNETT.
^ CHAPTER I.
MiUianaire anil Waiter.
Jules, the celebrated head waiter
of the Grand Babylon, was bending
formally towards the alert, middle
aged man who had Just entered the
smoking-room and dropped into a bas
ke'-chair.
“Yes, sir?” repeated Jules, and
there was a shade of august disap
proval in his voice.
"Oh!” said the alert, middle-aged
man, looking up at length. "Bring
me an Angel Kiss.”
“Pardon, sir?”
“Bring me an Angel Kiss, and, be
giod enough to lose no time.” '
“If It’s an American drink, I fear
wo don't keep it, sir." The voice of
J ules fell icily distinct,
"I didn't suppose you did keep it,
but you can mix it, I guess, even in
this hotel."
“This isn't an American hotel,,sir.”
The alter, middle aged man sat up
straight. “Get a liquor glass," he
said half curtly, “pour into it equal
quantities of maraschino cream and
creme de monthe. Don’t stir it;
don't shake it. Bring it to me.”
“I will send the drink to^S'OU, sir,”
said Jules distantly.
A few minutes later Jules sat in
conclave with Miss Spencer, who had
charge of the bureau of the Grand
Babylon. Miss Spencer had been
bureau clerk almost since the Grand
Babylon had first raised its massive
chimneys in Eondnn. Her knowledge
for Bradshaw, of steamship services,
and the programs of theaters and
music-halls was unrivaled.
"Who's No. 107?" Jules nslted this
blackrobed lady.
Miss Spencer examined her ledgers.
"Mr. Theodore Racksole, New
York."
”1 thought he must me a New
-Yorker," said Jules, "Says he wants
■*Jln '-Angel Kiss'—maraschino and
cream, if you please. I'll see he
doesn't stop here too long.”
Miss Spencer smiled grimly. She
((’new. of course, and she knew that
Jules knew, that this Theodore Rack
cole must be the unique and only
Theodore Racksole. the third richest
man In the 1’nlted States, and there
fore probably In the world. Never
theless she ranged herself at onee
on the side of Jules. Jn the world
of hotels it was currently stated that,
t ext to the proprietor, there were
three gods at the Grand Babylon—
Jules, the head waiter; Miss Speneer.
and. most powerful of all, Rocco, the
lenowned chef.
The Grand Babylon, though it
never advertised itself, stood an easy
first among the hotels of Kurope—
first In expensiveness, first in ex
clusiveness. first in that mysterious
quality known as "style." It was the
only hotel in Rondon with a genuine
separate entrance for royal visitors
constantly in use. The Grand Baby
lon counted that day wasted on which
it did not entertain,, at the lowest, a
German prince or the Maharajah of
some Indian state. When Felix
Babylon—after whom the hotel was
christened—founded the hotel in 1869
lie had set liifnself to cater for royal
ty, and that was the secret of his
triumphant eminence.
If there waj one thing more than
another that amazed the Grand
Babylon—put Its back up, so to speak
—it was to be compared with, or to
lie mistaken for. an American hotel.
The Grand Babylon was resolutely
opposed to American methods of eat
ing. drinking and lodging—hut ’spe
cially American methods of drink
ing. The resentment of Jules, on be
lng requested to supply Mr. Theodore
Racksole with an Angel Kiss, will
therefore be appreciated.
*e "Anybody with Mr. Theodore
Racksole?" asked Jules, continuing
his conversation with Miss Spencer.
"Miss Racksole—she’s in No. 111."
"She's where?” he queried, with a
peculiar emphasis.
"No. 111. I couldn't help It. There
was no other room with a bath room
and dressing-room on that floor.”
"Why dtdn t you tell Mr. Theodore
Racksole and Miss Racksole that wo
were unable to accommodate them?"
"Because Babs was within hear
ing."
Only three people in the wide world
ever dreamt of applying to Mr. Felix
Babylon the plaful but mean ab
breviation—Babs: those three were
Jules, Miss Spencer and Rocco.
"You’d better see that Miss Rack
sole changes her room tonight," Jules
said after another pause, "l^eave it
sue; "I’ll fix it. Au ravoir!"
At 8 o'clock precisely dinner w’as
served in the immense salle a-mangcr.
At a small table near one of the
windows a young lady sat alone.
Her frock said Paris, but her face un
mistakable said New York. It was
a self-possessed and bewitching face,
the fac- of a woman thoroughly ac
customed to doing exactly what she
liked, when she liked, how she liked. I
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Nel
la." It was Mr. Racksole. Nella— j
her proper name was Helen—smiled ,
at her parent.
"You always are late, father.” she
said.
"Only on • holiday," he added.
' What is there to eat?”
"Nothing."
“Then let's have it. I'm hungry." j
"Say. father," she said with seem
ing irreverance, "had you forgotten j
Its my birthday tomorrow?"
“Have I ever forgotten your birth
day, O most costly daughter?"
"On the whole you've been a most
satisfactory dad," she answered i
sweetly, "and to reward you I'll be .
content tills year with the cheapest ■
birthday treat you ever gave me.!
h* Only I'll have It tonight."
"Well," he said, with the longsnf
fering patience, the readiness for any
surprise, of a parent whom Nella hao
thoroughly trained, "what is it?"
"It's this. Ret s have filleted steak
and a bottle of Bass for dinner to
night. I shall love it."
"But. my dear Nella,” he ex
claimed, "steak and beer at The
Grand Babylon! It's Impossible!"
i (oiin pleak ana Ran*. mips
Raclcsole set tier small white teeth.
Thero was a. gentle cough. Jules
stood over them. Theodore Rack
solo hesltuted one second and then
issued the order with a fine nir of
curelessnes: "Filleted steak for two,
and a bottle of Rasa.”
"It's not on the menu, sir," said
Jules.
"Never mind. Get It. JVe want
It."
"Very good, sir."
Jules walked to the service door
and merely affecting to look behind,
i a me immediately back again. "Mr.
Rocco's compliments, sir, and he re
girts to lie unable to serve steak and
J’aes tonight, sir."
"And who Is Mr. Rocco?"
"Mr. Rocco is our chef, sir." Jules
had the expression of a man who Is
asked to explain who Shakespeare
war.
The two men looked at each other.
It seemed lncrediblt* that Theodore
Rack sole, the ineffable Rneksole,
who owned a thousand miles of rail
way, several towns, and sixty votes
in Congress, should bn defied by u
waiter, or even by a whole hotel. Yet
so It was.
As for Nella knowing her father,
she foresaw Interesting events, and
( waited confidently for the steak. She
' did not feel hungry and she could
afford to wait,
"Excuse me n mUiment Nella." said
Theodore Rneksole quietly, "I shall
he bsek In about two seeonds." and
lie strode out of the sails a manger.
Hu out lu til* room recognized the i
millionaire for ho was unknown to
London, this being his first visit to
Europe for over twenty years. Had
anyone done su, and caught the ex
pression on his face, that man might
have trebled for an explosion which
should have blown tho entire Grand
Babylon into the Thames. Jules re
tired strategically to a corner.
Theodore Kacksole entered Miss
Spencer’s sanctum. "I want to see
Mr. Babylon’” he said, "without the
delay of an instant.”
“I am afraid"—she began the usu
al formula. It was part of her dally
duty to discourage guests who de
sired to see Mr. Babylon.
"No, no.” said Kacksole quickly,
"In don't want any ‘I'm afralds.'
This is business. My name is Kack
sole—Theodore Karksolo.”
"Of New York?” questioned a voice
at the door, with a slight foreign ac
cent.
The millionaire turned sharply, and
saw a rather short, French-looking
man, with a bald head, a gray beard.
"There is only one," said Theodore
Kacksole.
"You wish to see me?” the new
comer suggested.
“You are Mr. Felix Babylon?”
The mAh bowed.
“At tills moment I wish to see you
more than anyone else in the world.”
said Racksole. "I only want at few
minutes quiet chat. 1 fancy
I can settle my business in that
time.”
With a gesture Mr. Babylon in
vited the millionaire down a side cor
ridor, at the end of which was Mr.
Babylon's private room. The land
lord and his guest sat down opfio
site each other.
"I read in the New York papers
snmo months ago,” Theodore started,
without even a clearing of the
throat, "that this hotel of yours. Mr.
Babylon, was to be sold to a limited
company, but It appears that the
sale was not carried out.”
"It was not," answered Mr. Baby
lon frankly, "and the reason was
that the middle men wished to make
a large secret profit, and I declined
to be a party to such a profit.”
"May I ask what the price was?”
"Are you a buyer, Mr. Racksole?”
"Are you a seller, Mr. Babylon?”
"I am," said Babylon, “on terms.
The price was four hundred thousand
pounds, including the leasehold and
good-will.”
”1 will put one question to you.
Mr. Babylon.” said the millionaire.
“What have your profits averaged
during the last four years?”
"Thirty-four thousand pounds per
annum."
"I buy,” said Theodore Racksole,
smiling contentedly: "and we will, If
you please, exchange contract-letters
on the spot.”
"Precisely,” agreed Mr. Babylon,
smiling. "There are details to be
thought of. But It occurs to me that
you cannot have dined yet, and
might prefer to deni with minor ques
tions after dinner.”
"t have not dined," said the mil
lionaire, with emphasis, "and in that
connection will you do mo a favor?
Will you send for Mr. Rocco?"
"Rocco is a great man," murmured
Mr. Babylon as he touched the bell.
"My compliments to Mr. Rocco," he
said to the page who answered his
■•uinmftns, "and if it is quite con
venient I should be glad to see him
lint e for a moment."
"What do you give Rocco?” Rack
sole inquired.
"Two thousand pounds a year and
the treatment of an ambassador.”
"I shall give him the treatment of
an ambassador, and three thousand.”
"You will be wise,” said Felix
Babylon. ,
At that moment Rocco came into
the room, very softly—a man of for
ty. thin, with long, thin hands, and
an inordinately loDg brown silky
mustache.
"Rocco,” said Felix Babylon, “let
me introduce Mr. Theodore Racksole,
of New York."
"Sharmed,” said Rocco. bowing.
"Zc—zc vat you call it, millionaire?”
"Exactly.’* Racksole put in. and
continued quickly: "Mr. Rocco. I wish
to acquaint you before any other per
son with the fact that I have pur
chased the Grand Babylon hotel. If
you think well to afford me the
privilege of retaining your services I
shall be happy to offer you a re
muneration of three thousand a
year."
"Three, you said?"
"Three.”
"Sharmed.”
“And now-, Mr. Rocco, will you
oblige me very much by ordering a
plain beefsteak and a bottle of Bass
to be served by Jules—T particularly
desire Jules—at table No. 17 in the
dining-room in 10 minutes from now?
And will you do me the honor of
lunching with me tomorrow?"
Mr. Rocco gasped bowed, muttered
something in French and departed.
Five minutes later the buyer and
sell< r of the Grand Babylon hotel had
eac h signed a curt document, scrib
bled out on the hotel notepaper.
Felix Babylon asked no question, and
It was this heroic absence of curi
osity. of surprise on bis part, that
more than anything else impressed
Theodore Racksole.
(Continued in The Morning Rer.)
Five Sentenced to Jail
for Dry Law Violations
Five men who pleaded guilty yes
terday In federal court to liquor law
violations, thinking they would be let
off with fines, were sentenced to Jail
by Judge T. Blake Kennedy of Chey
enne, who is presiding here this
week.
Power, light and h»at are furnished
to several Titles In Italy from volca
noes.
ADVEBTHEMKNT.
Speaks Highly of
This Home Made
Cough Remedy
Say* It Acts With Unusual Speed—
Loosen* the Mucus—Relieves the
Irritation and Stops the Cough.
Costs Next to Nothing—for a
Big Supply.
Whenever anyone In my family catches
cold and begins to cough and sneeie,
and hawk and breathe heavy, it doesn't
take me many minutes to fix up a remedy
that will drive away ull »uch troubles in
double quick time.
It a no secret - anyone ran make a half
pint of the finest cough medicine In the
world for a trifling sunt.
(*et from any druggiat one ounce of
Purmint (double strength) to this add
a little granulated sugnr and enough water
to make one-half pint that’* all there is
to it.
Hut now you've got a real medicine
mind you the first spoonful you take acts
directly on the membrane of the throat
and nose, the tickling cease* «lmo*» in
stantly the inflammation begin* to disap
pear up comes th* stubborn mucu* tind
often in ‘.!4 hour* every trace of the
cough that frightened you Is gone.
It's really remarkable bow this home
mode remedy act* on the rnucu* mean*
bran® and that is one reasoft it is so help
ful to thousands of Catarrh sufferers.
Biirgess-Nash Cgmrmtc
“EVERYBODY’S STORE”
T@day9^ Ad¥ © ip t ii s @ m ©nut foip Satimipday9^ S©MmC
First Showing Men’s and Young Men’s
New Spring Suits
*30 to *60
Our buyer has just returned from New York,
bringing with him the first of the new spring
suits, each one a perfect garment from the view
point o/ style, material and tailoring.
Tweeds, checks and pencil stripes, perfect in
cut and tailoring, correct in the details that mark
them distinctly of the 1923 season.
The New “Foresome” Suit
This consists of a sports coat, vest, long
trousers and a pair of knickers. These are very
new and come in a variety of colors and materi
als. Sizes 34 to 44.
Saturday—Man’s Shop—Main Floor
Free Instruction on Golf
Every day, in our newly located Sporting
Goods Dept., Herman Weiner, assistant profes
sional at the Country Club, will give lessons
without charge. He is there the entire day.
Sporting Goods Department—Main Floor
A Special Purchase of Women’s
Undergarments at 95c
Nightgowns, envelope chemise, petticoats, vests, stepins,
bloomers, costume slips, camisoles, brassieres, bandeaux,
in regular and extra sizes. Made of
Crepe Dimity Batiste Voile
Radinette , Nainsook
in orchid, rose, jade, coral, nile, gold, pink, white; in plaid,
check, stripe, figured, floral, polka dot, tailored and trimmed
effects. Saturday only.
Saturday—Lingerie Shop—Second Floor
I
Three Great Groups
New Handkerchiefs
12»/2c
Women' White and Col
ored Linen Handker
chiefs—.Specially priced
lor Saturday's selling.
Gingham Sports Handker
chiefs—These armade
of imported gingham in
a variety of colors.
Tissue and Lawn Hand
kerchiefs in gay colors.
All are imported; there
are a number of designs
from which to choose.
Saturday—Handkerchief Shop—Main Floor
Sale of Men*s Lehigh
Sample Silk Hose
Fine quality silk hose from a leading manufacturer.
Samples of the famous Lehigh mills and every pair offered
at prices far below regular. Saturday, in two great groups—
At, Pair, 75c
A fine quality plain silk hose in
brown, black, white and gray. All
sizes represented.
3 pairs, $2.00
At, Pair, $1.15
Exceptional quality, full fash
ioned, fancy cloxed hose, valued at
$1.50 to 92.00. Special—
3 pair*, $3.00
Saturday — Men’s Shop—Main Floor
Men’s Mercerized
Lisle Hose
A fine mercerized lisle hose with
double heel and toe. Priced spe
cially for Saturday.
Pair, 35c—3 pairs, $1.00
Saturday—Man’a Shop Main Floor
Boys’ Two-Pant Suits
Up to $16.50 tfjsr QP All Sixes
Regular 6 to 17
Odd lots and broken sizes from our own fir*
stock—not a garment brought in for sale pur
poses.
Suits of tweed, cashmere, and others mndp in
Norfolk and plain belted styles. Most of them
with two pairs of fully lined knickers. Regularly
priced up to $16.50; now $7.95. I
i
Boys’ Novelty Suits
Sizes QC Worth Twicx
2 to 9 Years This Priea
All Wool or With Wash Women
Well made little suits in all-wool serge, rash
mere, flannels, tweed and combination velvet
pants and soisetto blouses. The styles are made
entirely of woolens, or are a combination of vel
vet pants and tan soiselte blouse. Most of them
have Windsor ties and rows of Viraid for finish
ishing. .Sizes 2 to 8 years.
Saturday—Boys' Shop—Third Floor
500 Pairs Women’s
Sample
Shoes
$2.80
Sizes 3* 2, 4, 4l 2 Only
Spring styles in pumps and oxfords—•
sample shoes, the values of which we
did not estimate, but marked each and
even7 pair at the ridiculously low price
of $2.80.
Sports, Street and Dress Styles of Pat
ent, Russian Kid, Gunmetal and Mu
buck Leathers—in tan. black, white.
Women who wear sizes 31 j, 4 and 41
will secure splendid values in straps,
ties, colonial effects and oxfords with
low and medium heels and welt soles.
Saturday—Shoe Shop—Mam Floor
Chiffon
Hose
For Spring
Sheer and clear and
perfect fitting. With
out a doubt the lowest
price at w hich you may
buy a hose so fine.
There arc all favored
shades and a special
price concession if you
buy three pairs.
Pair, $2 50
3 pairs, $7.00
Hosiery Shop—Main Floor
Women s Will Appreciate the Value of These
New Leather Bags
□ The wide range of styles and a variety of
leathers in this-group of bags afford a wonder
ful selection. Hags of vaehette, cobra, grain,
seal grain, fancy calf, walrus and pin seal.
Mostly in black and brown. Long handles,
large mirrors, outside tuck pockets, stationery
inside purses. Large and small sizes in swag- I
ger, pouch, envelope and square shapes.
Saturday — leather Good % Shop— Main Ho©r
Wear the Corset
Designed for Your Figure
Smartly groomed women givn
morn attention to the corsets they
wear than to any other article of
dress, for they realise the import
ance of correct corseting,
Self assured is the wearer of
Madame Rinner Corsets /
’or she has the confidence that only
•. perfectly corseted woman knows.
Spring modal* for every type
of figura are priced from
$5.00 to $16.00
.Saturday—Coraat Shop Main Flonr
Special
Kln.stic lop or me- d|na nA
ilium bust models 1111
of brocade op coutil. Ifw'vv
flui|Mi Nath Shop Second Floor
Sale of Parfait Ivory Toilet Articles
At 79c
Three pieces mani
cure sets, combs,
shoe horns, hat
brushes.
At $1.19
Powder boxes, hair
receivers, tray s,
frames, pincushion
and jewelry box,
buffers.
At $1.89
Mirrors.
Hair brushes.
Clothes brushes.
Three-Piece Sets Greatly Reduced
La To*ca pattern, roglllarlv
$13.50. $o<»r,
now . O
Claoique pattern and hand
decorated in 3-piece sol,
regularly $10.50, S*CJ>r»
now . ®
La Toic* pattern in rose and
gold, regularly $ 1
916.50, now.... JL Vr
l.oui* XVI pattern in white.
originally 97.05,
now.. . **
Hut g#»» N»»h Toil*l l»ooW» Snop Main floor
*
