The Grand Babylon Hotel
By ARNOLD BENNETT.
(To Be Contlnnrd Tomorrow.)
f PART ELEVEN.
(CHAPTER IX—Continued.)
Theodore Racksolo opined, with pe
eullar glee, that there ought to be
no extraordinary difficulty In getting
hold of Jules’ steani launch. There are
hundreds of men between St. Kather
ine's wharf and Blackwall who liter
Edl knows the Thames as the subur
ban householder knows his l>ack gar
den. By these experts of the Thames
the slightest unusual event on the
water is noticed and discussed—a
wherry cannot change hands but they
will guess shrewdly upon the price
paid and the intentions of the new
owner wPh regard to It. Racksole
went to the custom- house and asked
for a high offlc al whom he had en
tertained once In New York, and who
had met him In London on business
at Lloyd's. In the office of this great
man a long conversation took place.
Then the official touched a bell but
ton.
"Desire Mr. Hazell to speak to me,"
said the official to the boy who an
swered the summons.
?■-. Hazell entered.
"Mr. Hazell,” said the h'gh offi
cial, "is an examining officer. He
has a boat on the river and a couple
of men, and the right to board and
examine any craft whatever. What
Mr. Hazell and his crew don't know
about the Thames between here and
Gravesend Isn't knowledge. Now, Ha
f.ell," the high official continued, "Mr.
Racksole wants you to help in a little
private eXped tion on the river to
night. I sent for you because I think
iJ can rely on you to regard it as
[entirely unofficial and not to talk
nbout it?”
L "I think I grasp the situation,” said
Hr. Hazell. with a slight smile.
■Racksole ,ook 1 Iazc-11 to lunch and
^plained to him the object of the
expedition.
That night, just after dark, Theo
dore Racksole embarked wiih Hazell
in one of the black painted customs
wherries, manned by a crew of two
men. The oarsmen had Instructions
to drop slowly down to the Pool, as
the wide reach below the Tower is
called. These two men had not been
previously informed of the precise ob
ject of the expedition, but now that
they were safely afloat Hazell judged
it expedient to give them some no
tion of It. “We expect to come across
a rather suspicious steam launch.”
he said. “My friend here is very anx
ious to get a sight of her, and un
til he has seen t\r nothing definite
can be done.”
“What sort of a craft is she, sir?”
asked the stroke oar. a fat-faced man.
“I don't know," Racksole replied,
"but as near as I can judge, she's
about fiO feet in length and painted
Mack. Her screw seemed to move with
a rather irregular, lame sort of beat.”
Both watermen burst into a laugh.
"Oh.” said the fat rower. "I know
what you're after, sir—it's Jack Ever
ett's launch, commonly called ‘Squirm’
She's got a four bladed propeller, and
one blade Is broken off short."
"Ay. that's It, sure enough.” agreed
the man In the bows. "And If It’s her
you want. I seed her lying up against
Cherry Gardens pier this very morn
ms.
Hazell explained to tho millionaire
that the "Squirm" was one of the ,
most notorious craft on the river. It
apneared that when any one had a
nefarious or underhand scheme afoot
which necessitated river work. Ever
ett’s launch was always available for
a suitable monetary consideration.
By the time they reached Cherry
Gardens pier, a thin night fog had
swept over the river. As the customs
boat scraped down past the pier all
ilts occupants strained eyes for a
Mgl.mpse of the mysterious launch, but
nothing could be seen of it. The boat
continued to float idly down stream,
the men resting on their oars. Then
the;- narrowly escaped bumping a
lr "wf’an sailing vessel at an
chor with her stem pointing down
«.. .ni, i his ship they passed on the
port side. Just as they got clear of
her how sprit the fat man cried out
exe'tedly, "There’s her nose!" and he
put the boat about and began to pull
back against the tide. And surely the
missing "Squirm" was comfortably
anchored on the starboard quarter of
the Norwegian ship, hidden neatly be
tween the ship and the shore. The
men pulled very quietly alongside.
Hazell stepped to the low deck of
the launch. "Anyone aboard?" Hack
sole heard him cry out. and a wo
man's voice answered. “I’m a cus
toms examining officer and I want to
search the launch," Hazell shouted,
and disappeared into the little sa
loon amidships It seemed to th15 mil
lionaire that Hazell had been gone
hours, but at length he returned.
"Can't find anything." he said, aa he
jumped into the boat, and then pri
vately to Racksole: "There's a woman
on board. Looks as if she might eo
inclde with your description of Miss
Spencer.”
"Where’s ’• orf?” The man tn the
bows interrupted Hazell. Following
the direction of the man's finger,
both Hazell and Racksole saw a din
ghy siip away from the forefoot of
the Norwegian vessel and disappear
down stream Into the mist.
"It's Jules, I'll swear,” cried Rac!;
sole. "After him, men. Ten pounds
apiece it we overtake him.”
"Lav down to it now. boys!” said
Hazell and tho heavy customs boat
shot out In pursuit.
The boat was moving at a rapid
pace with the tide. Racksole looked
about him anxiously, but for a long
time he could see nothing but mist
and vague nautical forms. Then sud
denly he said, quietly enough: "We
are on the right road; I can nee him
^ihead We're gaining on him." In
^IPjther minute the dinghy was plain
ly1 visible, not 20 yards away, and
the sculler—sculling frantically now
—was unmistakably Jules. Gradually
they began to overtake the dinghy.
As they came up, band over fist, tho
dinghy’s nose swerved aside, and the
tiny craft passed flown a water lane
between two anchored mlneiul barges.
They went on, but it was an empty
dinghy which emerged from lictween
the: barges.
"E's all right." said the man in
the bows. "If it's 'im you want. ’<• s
on one o’ them barges, so you've
only got to step on and lake 'in?
orf."
"That's all.” said a voice out of
the depths of the nearest barge, nnd
it wax the voice of Jules, otherwise
known as Mr. Tom Jackson.
At the same moment a head ap ;
peared over the edge of the barge It
was Jules' face, "fa It Mr. Racksole
In that boat?” he Inquired calmly;
' because. If so, let Mr. Racksole step
up. Mr. Racksole has caught me, nnd
he can have me for the asking.
Here I am." He stood up and all the
occupants of the lioat could see thnt
ho held a short dagger. "Now. Mr.
Racksole, you've been after me for a
long time," ho continued; "here I
nm. Why don’t you step up?" And
Jules laughed. He was In the midst
of this laugh when he lurched sud
denly forward.
"Wliat'r' you doing of aboard my
l.arge? off you goes." It was a boy's
small shrill voice that sounded In
the night. A ragged boy’s small form
had appeared silently behind Julc-s,
end two small arms with a vicious
ahova precipitated him Into the water,
ife fell with a fine gurgl.ng*splash. It
was at once obvious that, swimming
jj/as not among Jules' accomplish
■^ ents. He floundered wildly and sank
When he reappeared lie was drugged
into the custom# boat. Rope was pro
duced, and In a minute or two the
man lay Ignomlnlously liourid In the
bottom of the boat. Before Racksole
patted company with I he customs
m*n that night Jules had lieen safely
^•Mdortad tout Um tiraiitl JJabyloo
hotel and spent the remainder or
the night bound hand and foot and
tied to the iron bed in the little room
he had once occupied as head waiter.
CHAPTER X.
•Jackson Confesses.
Early the next morning Racksole
called on Jules. "I want to have a
talk with you, Jackson.” he began.
“You may as well admit that you've
been fairly beaten in the game ami
act accordingly. I was determined to
heat you, by myself, without the po
lice. and I’ve done it.”
“You've done yourself," retorted
Jules. “You've gone against the law.
Who's going to tell the police now?”
Are you?”
"However," Racksole replied, “you
are here and my prisoner. Tou’te
committed a variegated assortment of
crin. and among them is murder.
You are due to be hung. It would
he perfectly easy for me to finish
you off, as you deserve, myself. I
shall only be carrying out justice,
and robbing the hangman of his fee.
Precisely as I brought you into the
hotel, I can take you out again. I
have a steam launch of my own.
Suppose 1 smuggle you on it, steam
out to sea, and then ask you to step
off into the ocean.”
“But you won't,” Jules murmured.
“No,” sa‘d Racksole, steadily, “I
won't—if you behave yourself this
morning. But I swear to you that if
you don't I will never rest until you
are dead, police or no police."
“I believe you mean it,” Jules ex
claimed. with an air of surprised in
terest. “What do you want to know?”
“Who or what is the origin of your
vendetta against the life of Prince
Eugen?”
“I had no vendetta against the life
of Prince Eugen,” said Jules, "at
least, not to begin with. I merely un
dertook. for a consideration, to see
that Prince Eugen did not have an in
terview with a certain Mr. Sampson
Levi in London before a certain date,
that was all. I had meant to deal with
Prince Eugen in this hotel, but I de
cided, when you came, to Intercept
him on the continent, and 1 dispatched
Miss Spencer with some instructions.
It happened that Just then that fool
Dimmock, who had been in the swim ,
with us, chose to prove refractory. |
The slightest hitch would have up
set everything, and 1 was obliged to
—to clear him off the scene. He want
ed to hack out—he had a bad attack
of conscience, and violent measures
were essential. I regret his untimely
decease, but he brought it on himself.
Well, everything was going serenely
wh<-n vnu and your daughter, appar
ently determined to meddle, turned up
among us at Ostend. Only 24 hours,
however, had to elapse before the date
which had been mentioned to me by
my employers. I kept poor little Eu
gen for the allotted time, and then
you managed to get hold of him. The
t rr'* ’ "d pissed, and. so far as I knew,
it didn’t matter a pin whether Prince
Eugen saw Mr. Sampson Levi or not.
But my employers were still uneasy.
It appears that they feared that even
at that date an Interview between
Prince Eugen and Mr Sampson Levi
rn'ght work harm to them So they
applied to me again. This time they
wanted Prince Eugen to be—er— fin
ished off entirely. They offered me
and Rocco high terms.”
“And who were Vour damnable
employers?”
“That, honestly, I do not know.
The agent we dealt with come via
Vienna from—er—Bosr. a My impres
sion was that the affair had some
bearing, direct or indirect, on the
propected marriage of the king of
Bosnia He is a young monarch,
acarcely out of political leading
strings. as It were, and doubtless
his ministers thought that they had
better arrange his marriage for him.
They tried last year and failed be
cause the princess whom they had
in mind hail cast sparkling eyes on an
other prince. That prince happened
to be Prince Eugen of Posen, The
ministers of the king of Bosnia knew
exactly the circumstances of Prince
Eugen. They knew that he could not
marry without liquidating Ills debts,
and they knew that he could only
I'eub'a'e h's debts through this Jew,
Sampson Levi. Unfortunately for me,
they ultimately wanted to make too
(•••re of Prince Eugen. They were
afraid lie might after all arrange his
marr'age without the aid of Mr.
Sampson Levi, and so—well, you
know the feet.”
* a a
■When, Immediately after the epi
node of ih" bottle of Romance-Contl
in the .state dining roorn, Prince
j Aribert and eld Hans found that.
: Prince Eugen had sunk in an un
I conscious heap over his chair, both
the former thought, at the first in
i -v i -at Ki'»pn must already have |
tasted the poisoned wine. But a mo
ment's reflect on showed that this
was not possible. If the hereditary
nrince of Posen was dying or dead.
i his condition was d-a to some other
"■'tency than the Rotnanee-Oonti. Ari
bert bent over him. and a powerful
odor from the man s lips at once dis
: closed the cause of the disaster; it
was the odor of laudanum. Indeed,
1 the smell cf that sinister drug seemed
now to float heavily over the whole
talde Across Aribert’s mind there
flashed then the true explanation.
Prince Kugen, taking advantage of
Ariliert’s attention being momentarily ‘
diverted, and, yielding to a sudden
impulse of despair, bad decided to
poison himself, and ha carried out i
] his Intention on the spot. The lauda
| num must have been already In his
I pocket, and this fact went to prove
j that tic- unfortunate prince had pre
Charles
Chaplin
In
“THE
PILGRIM”
and
DOUGLAS McLEAN
ta III
(STRAND-SUNDAY)
A Tale of the
Modern Daughters
of Eve
—Their Charms, Their
Loves, Their Pitfalls.
‘Adam’s Rib’
^k!TB. P« Millg Production^
viously contemplated such a proceed
ing. Aribert sent Hans for a doctor
and dispatched a messenger for Nella
Backsole. He lifted his nephew, shook
him, pinched him, flicked him cruel
ly. shouted at him. dragged him about,
but to no avail.
The door opened, and a man en
tered, who was obviously the doctor.
A few curt questions, and he had
crasped the, essentials of the case.
"Oblige me by ringing the bell, prince.
I shall want some hot water, and
an able bodied man and a nurse.
(Continued in The Morning Bee.)
Four Men Arrested in
Investigation of Robbery
Four men were arrested yesterday
afternoon for investigation in connec
tion with the holdup of the office of
the Merchants Express and Transfer
company, 602 South Fourteenth street,
last Friday.
They are John Babula, Chicago. 111.;
Edward Neary, 1303 Douglas street;
Harry Molander, 3204% Charles
street, and Frank EaBuy, Chicago.
Bob Nabs 14 More.
Fourteen men arrested Monday by
General Prohibition Agent Bob Samar
dick gave bond of $1,000 before United
Stales Commissioner Boehler yester
day.
Tax System Attacked
at Educational Meet
Cleveland, O., Feb. IT.—Tax. sys- |
terns were attacked toady by eeveral j
speaker* during general session* of ,
the department of superintendence of j
the National Education association
convention In discussions on progress
In solving school financial problems.
Pointing out. that wealthier com
munities spend the larger amount per
pupil whereas It often happens that
the poorer communities have the
highest tax rate, Dr. fjeorge D. Stray
er of Columbia university, said.
“If opportunity and burden are to
he equalized the state must levy a
tax upon the property or Incomes of
all the people, or In some other man
ner secure revenues by a system of
taxation which bears with equal
weight upon all.”
Professor Strayer also advocated
giving boards of education complete,
control of finances of the school
system, contending that It woujd
hr ng a larger tax rate, larger per
centage of the total municipal tax
rate devoted to schools and a larger
expenditure per pupil in average daily
attendance.
John II. Beveridge of Omaha, presl
dent of the department of superin
tendence, said a lack of definiteness
in the course of study wastes the
time of pupils and teachers, making
it difficult for the teacher to keep
the pupil mentally awake and morally
alert and give him the social contact
needed for citizenship.
Douglas County to Spend
$1,000,000 for Paving
Douglas cpunty will spend $1,000,
000 for raving during the coming
summer, the board of county super
visors decided yesterday after consid
eration of the paving program.
Coupled with the plans for the ex
penditure of money was consideration
of the sale of $1,000,000 worth of bonds
as part of the $3,000,000 paving pro
gram laid out three years ago.
Advertisement for bids will begin in
the near future, the board announced,
and work will be pushed a* rapidly as
possible. ,
Not a Fire.
After a record of 30 calls In 12
hours recently, the Omaha fire de
partment had a rest period Monday
night. No alarms were turned In be
tween 7:08 p. m. night and 9:10 a. m.,
a period of 13 hours and two minutes.
When Baby Complains.
‘‘THERE ARE MANY WAYS a baby has of expressing any pain or irregularity
* or digression from its normal condition of health and happiness. A short
sharp cry, a prolonged irritated cry. Restlessness, a constant turning of the head
or of the whole body, fretful. In these and other ways a baby tells you there is
something wrong. Most mothers know that a disordered stomach, or bowels that
do not act naturally are the cause of most of baby’s sufferings. A call for the doctor
is the first thought, but in the event of any delay there should be ready at hand
a safe remedy such as Fletcher’s Castoria.
Castoria has been used for baby’s ailments for over 30 years and has merited
the good will of the family physician in a measure not equaled by any other
baby’s medicine because of its harmlessness and the good results achieved.
And remember this: Castoria is essentially a baby’s remedy and not a cure
all for every member of the family. What might help you Is too often dangerous
when given to a babe.
!
Rsmct Oofy af Wrapf .
Children Cry For
fi1VYAWNolVxvWWSN.wwxwvwvxx^vw x
Let’s Think It Over.
There is sneh s thing as saying too tnnch on sny buhject, and
the “grand-stand” talker iooner or later becomes a bore. The truth
is always welcomed, and the truth reiterated and confirmed is
more than welcome—it reaches your innermost soul.
Fletcher’s Castoria is all its advertising has claimed for it.
Scrutinized by the microscope of public opinion and used for over
thirty years it stands without a peer in the hearts of thoughtful,
cautious, discerning Mothers. And once used, mother love—there is
no substitute for mother love—will scorn to try a “substitute” ar
a “just-as-good”.
Masquerading under many name® drugs that are injurious to
the tender babe have found their way into some households, but the
light of experience soon casts them out. Are they cast out before it
is too late?
MorutM Mtouio stao sooner mxr is Asovun cvonr nrrru of Firrcuers CAfTOM
GENUINE CASTORIA always
▼ MS CIMT 4UH COMPANY. NSW VfiMK CITY. /»
Last Time* Today
AGNES AYRES
—in—
“A Daughter of Luxury”
A Paramount Picturo
in Conjunction with
Big Time Vaudeville
“KING TUT”
Coming to the Empress
Theater Thursday in “The
Loves of Pharoah.” He was
a cruel king like most of his
successors, but he was also
a great lover. Do not let
this rare opportunity go by
without getting personally
acquainted.
One of the greatest pic
tures of all times.
No raise in prices.
AUTO
SHOW
AUDITORIUM
ALL THIS WEEK
Admission 50c
Includnig Tai
9:30a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
_
—
ULL WANT ADS UIUMU KfcSLLlS
12 HOURS
surcharged with
EXCITEMENT
SUSPENSE
MYSTERY
all happening in
“ONE
WONDERFUL1
NIGHT”
1 at (he
Next Saturday
, I 1
Mat inf c Daily. 2:l». Cvary Nl*ht, SilS
NOW PLAYING
-TE77 ntrr national Actar t '
MR. LOtt TELLEGEN
Proaanting Hit Own Oat-Act Play
“BLIND YOUTH”
Scaalan, Dan no Rroe.,1 Guy A Paarl
A v anion_ __T_Mafia?
\ iad Moorr A l-<*o Kendall
Allan Shaw < umminga A White
Topics of the flav Attaf • I ahlea
rathe New * |
WALTER C. KELLY
The Virginian Judge
MATINEES
UK lo BO*
riu* I
NIGHTS
Ik to *1 00
£ EEEGJ £
FRANK “The Flaming
MAYO Hour”
New Show Tomorrow j
NEIGHBORHOOD THEATERS
HAMILTON - . - 40tfc and Hamilton
TOM MIX
In “UP AND GOING”
VICTORIA .... 24th and Fart
ALL-STAR CAST
In "RED HOT ROMANCE”
GRAND .... ]4th and Btnnoy
ALL-STAR CAST
In "BROAD DAYLIGHT”
Buffalo Bill—Chaplar IS
A Worth-While
Six-Act Bill
Headed by the All-Girl Rerue
Fashion Plate
MINSTRELS
STARTING SATURDAY
The Fairinating Star of the
Greenwich Village Follies
Cecil
Cunningham
Motorist Hurt in Collision;
Reckless Driving Charged
V. F. Kuncl, 1244 South Thirteenth
street, was arrested yesterday on a
charge of reckless driving when his
car collided with a motorcycle delivery
wagon driven hy John Murphy, 6061
South Fortieth street. at Eighteenth
and Webster streets. Murphy '"a"
bruised about the face and leg?. H*
was taken to St. Catherine hospital.
Do You Know What It Was In
“The Miracle Man”
“ Humoresque”
“Over the Hill”
and “Dream Street”
That You Liked and
Made Them
Great Successes?
NO?
It Was Something That You Did Not
See On the Screen!
Here Is One That Has It
In a Different Way—
NOW PLAYING
Unusual Different
Fascinating
“JAVA HEAD"
LEATRICE JOY
JACQUELINE LOGAN
Raymond Hatton. Geo. Fawcett.
WHEN IN NEED Ot HELP
Tin
OMAHA BEE W ANT ADS.
Close Your Lips—
“THE MAN WHO
PLAYED GOD”
. Can Read Them!
OMAHA'S FUN CINTIR"
"*T' 4 N,TE T0D*',
p«.wa« PHiets
Pc', ..!» lor Aot» SKirw wm
“SLIDING" BILLY WATSON S
HILARIOUS JUBILEE
F*?t»r la IN F«» Tin* Aay Car *a D'tfUj
BEAUTY CHORUS OF JOY RIDERS
Aa* Mai. A Wk: T«»o Isdtvc C*r-us
LAST
TIMES
FW.
an
Las'
Tkrff
D»n
/
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• . ,
_ I
CLASS!
The 'ad that^goes straight to every corner of the 1owu
The Forum of the People
The “Want” Ad section of The Omaha Bee is a
forum of the people of Omaha.
The management of The Omaha Bee realized that
Omaha was in need of a newspaper where the
average layman could fill his wants at the lowest
possible cost, consequently our rates for “Want”
Ads—the people's wants—were lowered several
months ago.
That Oma hans appreciate this move is proven by the
fact that The Omaha Bee now carries a page of
legitimate “Want” Ads each day. They realize that
here they secure as good—if not better—results
than they do through any other Omaha newspaper
—and at less cost.
If you have not been taking advantage of the low
rates which The Omaha Bee “Want” Ad section
offers you, NOW is the time to come to this forum.
Telephone your next order to AT lantie 1000 and
secure better results at lesser cost.
Read and Use Omaha Bee “ Want ’ ’ Ads
the Bee-line to Results.
%e OmWka Morning
THE EVENING SEE