The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-12-03
CHAPTER xlx-contlnued.

The neat-waisted caller. with the
nrst slow motion he had used since
he came into the room, drew the slip
OF paper towards him again.
There followed another banker, a
ruddy-faced man whose heavy features
were utterly incapable of emotion; and
he sat at Allison's table in thick
1owled solidity.
There are about to begin interna.
tional movements OF the utmost i'm.
portance," Allison told him There
Is war scheduled for next month,
which is likely to embroil the whole
Of Europe"
The banking gentleman nodded his
head almost lmperceptIbly.
Mr.. Chisholm advised me that your
sources Of information are authentic"
he stated What you tell me is most
deplorable."
Quite" agreed Allison. 81 am in.
formed that the company you repre-
sent and manage has the practical d.
rection OF the entire banking system
OF Europe, with the exception OF one
country. Besides this, you have pow
erful interests. amounting very nearly
to monopoly, in Egypt. in India in
Australia, and In a dozen other guar.
tiers OF the globe"
You seem to be accurately in.
formed" admitted the banking gentle
man, studying interestedly the glow
ing Goals in Allison's fireplace.
III can show you how a certain at.
titude towards the international com.
plicRtions which are about to ensue
will be OF immense advantage to your
banking system, as well as to the in.
terests | represent, have no doubt
that we can come to a very definite
understanding"
The solidly jowled banking gentle
man studied the glowing Goals for two
minutes.
Il should be interested in learning
the exact Details" he finally suggest
ed.
Allison drew some sheets OF paper
from an tndexed file and spread them
before the tinancier 1t was largely a
matter Of credits in the beginning, ex.
tensions here, curtailments there, and
all on a scale SO gigantic that both
gentlemen went over every item with
the Imaginative minds OF poets. In
every line there was vista Of vast
empires, Of topping thrones. Of altered
boundaries. OF such an endless and
shifting panorama OF governmental
forces, that the minds of men less in.
ured to the contemplation Of CONNER.
cial and political revolutions misht
have grown tagged. On the third
page, the solid banking gentleman.
who had not made a nervous motion
since his grandfather was a how
looked up with a start
Why. this affects my own conn.
try!" he exclaimed. 1T Affects our
enormous shipping interests, our great
transportation lines. our commercial
qualifications In all parts OF the elobel
1t cripples US on the land and wipes
US tiOh buC oSa' ~ even dueCIB nv
own government"
quite true" admitted Allison
The banking gentleman drew a
long breath
What you predict may not come to
pass" he maintained. although the &C.
cret Information which had brought
him to Allison had prepared him to
take every statement seriously
u can show you proofs The war
which is to be started next month Is
only the Keystone of the political arch
OF the entire eastern hemisphere.
There are dozen. wars. each bigger
than the other. slated to follow II
needed, like the pressing OF a row OF
electric buttons. Knowing these
things as you shall. it is only a ques.
ton Of whether sou will be with me
on the crest, or In the hollow"
The caller moistened his lips, and
turned bis gaze finally from the glow
ing GOALS to Allison's face
"ShoW me everything you know"
~ demanded.
They sat toLesAer until morning. |
aud they tpaversed the world: and, |
~haA bAt visitor hSA EoAa. Allison