Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-10-20


neighbors TO the west"
That is history" replied the visitor
noncommittally. we are now at
peace"
Never peace" denied Allison.
There will never be friendship be-
tween phlegmatism and mercurialism.
You might rest for centuries with your
neighbors to the west. but rest is not
peace"
Excuse me. but what do you mean %
and the visitor stared stolidly.
an your affairs of mutual relation
ship with the land TO the west, there
are not less than dozen causes upon
which war could be started without
difficulty" went ON Allison. 'In fact.
you require perpetual diplomacy to
prevent war with that country"
The visitor locked his thick fn,,ers
quietly together and kept on stohdly
staring.
you are about to have a war" ALI
son advised him.
mo, II is not true" and the visitor
went so far. in his emphasis. as to I'M
lock his fingers and rest one hapd on
the back of the other.
Il think am a very fair prophet. 4"
said Allison easily 81 have made
money by my prophecy. / have more
money at my command at the present
time than any man In the world, than
any government; wealth beyond han
ding in mere currency II can only be
conveyed by means OF ;hecks. Let me
show how easy 1t is - write Them"
and, drawing a blank book to him. he
wrote a check, and signed his name.
and filled out the stub. and tore 1t out,
and handed 1t to the visitor for inspec-
ton. The visitor was properly pleased
with Allison's ease IN penmanship.
Il see," was the comment. and the
check was handed back He drew his
Straightforward derby towards him.
Il have made a mistake" said ALI
son. Il have left of a cipher" and
/ correcting this omission with new
check, he tore up the first one
81 see." commented the visitor and
put the second check in his pocket
That had required considerable out
lay, but when Allison was alone he
went over to his globe and made an
other long. red mark.
A neat-waisted man, with a goatee
/ of carefully selected hairs az a lux
uriant black mustache. calico on Ali
son. and laid down his hat and his
stick and his gloves, in a neat little
pile, with separate jerks. He ierked
out cigarette. he>jerked out a match,
and jerkily lit the former with the
latter.
Il am here" he said.
81 am able to give you some impor-
tant diplomatic news" Allison advised
him. Your country is about &c have
war with your ancient enemy to the
east 1t will be declared within q
month"
1T VIII be finished in a week. "
prophesied the neat-waisted caller, his
active eyes lighting with pleasure.
Possibly" admitted Allison. Il I'M
derstand that your country is not in
the best of financia, conditions to I'M
dertake a war. particularly with that
ancient enemy"
'The banking system OF my country
is patriotic" returned the caller Its
only important banks are controlled
under one system. ! am the head of
that system | am a patriot" and he
tapped himself upon the breast with
deep and sincere feeling.
How much revenue does yoar po-
sition yield you personality"
A shade of sadness crossed the
brow of the neat-waisted caller.
1T does not yield you this much. .
and Allison pushed toward him lit
tie slip of paper on which were in
scribed some figures.
The callers eyes widened as they
read the sum. He smiled He shrugged
his shoulders. He pushed back the
slip of paper
IF your banking system found IL
impossible to be patriotic, your gov
eminent would be compelled to raise
money through other means. II would
not withdraw from the war"
Never" and the neat-waister caller
once more touched himself on the
breast
1T would be compelled to negotiate
loan. II other governments, through
some understanding among their
bankers. found it difficult TO provide
this loan. your government would find
it necessary to release its ownership
or at least its control Of its most valu-
able commercial possession"
The caller who had followed Al
lison's progressive statement with in
terest. gave a quick little nod of his
head
THAT most valuable commercial
possession" went on Allison, is the
state railways. You were convinced by
my agent that there is a new and
powerful force in the world. or you
would not be here. Suppose ! point
out that it is possible to so cramp
your banking system that you could
not help your country, if you would;
suppose / show you that In the end.
your ancient enemy will lose his iden-
tity, while your country remains in
tact; suppose ! show you that the
course have proposed is the only
way open which viii save your coun-
try from annihilation2 What then?"
CTo BE CONTINUED
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