The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1916-01-06
CHAPTER XiX-Contlnued.

The neat-waisted caller, with the
first slow motion he had used since
he came into the room, drew the slip
OF paper towards him again.
There followed another banker.
ruddy-faced man whose heavy features
were utterly incapable of emotion; and
he sat at Allison's table in thick
jowled solidity.
There are about to begin interna-
tional movements of the utmost Inn
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 imperceptibly.
''Mr. Chisholm advised me that your
sources of information are authentic"
he stated. What you tell me is most
deplorable."
Quite" agreed Allison. IT 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 a monopoly, in Egypt, in India. in
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.
eff can show you how a certain at
titude towards the international COM
plications which are about to ensue
will be of immense advantage to your
banking system, as we'll 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.
SCI should be interested in learning
the exact Details" he finally suggest
ed.
Allison drew some sheets of paper
from an indexed file and spread them
before the f1nancier. 1t was largely
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 a 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 might
have grown tagged. On the third
mage the solid banking gentleman.
who had not made nervous motion
since his grandfather was a boy.
looked up with start.
"Why. this affects my own coun-
+rvi" he exclaimed. 1T affects our
enormous shipping interests. our great
transportation lines. our commercial
qualifications in all parts of the globe!
II cripples US on the land and wipes
us from the sea! 1t even affects my
own government!
"Ouite true" admitted Allison.
The banking gentleman drew a
long breath.
What you predict may not come to
pass" he maintained. although the Sc
cret information which had brought
him to Allison had prepared him to
take every statement seriously.
81 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 a dozen wars, each bigger
than the other. slated to follow II
needed, like the pressing of row OF
electric buttons. Knowing these
things as you shall. it is only a cues
ton of whether you will be with me
on the crest or in the hollow
The caller moistened his lips, and
turned his gaze finally from the glow
ing Goals to Allison's face
"Show me everything you know.
he demanded M
They sat together until morning.
and they traversed the world. ana.
when that visitor had gone Allison