The Holbrook news., 1921-08-12

tered not what form his greatness took there was money in greatness, big
 money. And money was their life.
 The count advanced first to the Am
 erican.
 marked in English, holding out his
 hand. "I am glad you managed to
 come"
 The American shook the proffered hand, while the two Germans looked at
 him with sudden interest AS the man at the head of the great American cot ton trust, worth more in millions than he could count, he was entitled to their respect. ..
 That's me. Count" returned the mil lionaire in his nasal twang. q am in terested to know to what I am indebt- ed for this invitation"
 All in good time, Mir. Hooking" smiled the host. q have hopes that the dinner will fill in that time satis- factorily"
 He turned to the taller of the two Germans, who without his coat seemed more like a codfish than ever.
 Herr Steinemann, is it not?" This ] time he spoke in German.
 The man whose interest in German coal was hardly less well known than HOcking's in cotton, bowed stiffly.
 And Herr Von Gratz?" The Count turned to the last member of the par ty and shook hands. Enough less well known than either of the other two in the realms of international finance, von Gratz's name in the steel trade of Gen. tral Europe was one to conjure with.
 Well, gentlemen" said the Count, before we sit down to dinner, I may perhaps be permitted to say a few words of introduction. The nations of the world have recently been en- gagged in a performance of unrivaled stupidity. As far as one can tell that performance is now over. The last thing I wish to do is to discuss the war-except in so far as it concerns our meeting here tonight. MT. Hook ing is an American, you two gentlemen are Germans. I"-the Count smiled slightly-"have no nationality. Or rather, shall I say, have every na- tionality. Completely cosmopolitan. Gentlemen, the war was waged by idiots, and when idiots get busy on large scale, it is time for clever men to step in. That is the raison d. etre for this little dinner I claim that we four men are sufficiently international to be able to disregard any stupid and petty feelings about this country and that country. and to regard the world outlook at the present moment from one point of view and one point of view only-our own"
 The gaunt American gave a hoarse chuckle.
 ''It will be my object after dinner" continued the Count, ito try and prove to you that we have common point of view. Until then-shall we merely concentrate on pious hope that the Hotel Rationale will not poison us with their food?"
 The next moment the head waiter opened the door, and the four men sat down to dine.
 It must be admitted that the average hostess, desirOus of making dinner a success, would have been filled with secret dismay at the general atmOs- phere in the room. The American, in accommodating his millions. had also accumulated digestion of such an ex- otic and tender character that dry rusks and Vichy water were the limit of his capacity.
 Herr Steinemann was of the common order of German, to whom food is sacred. He ate and drank enormously and evidently considered that nothing further was required of him.
 Von Gratz did his best to keep his end up. but as he was apparently in a chronic condition of fear that the gaunt American would assault him with violence, he cannot be said to have contributed much to the gaiety of | the meal.
 And so to the host muSt be given | the credit that the dinner was a sue cess. Without appearing to monOpo- lize the conversation he talked cease lessly and brilliantly. But to even the | most brilliant of conversationalistS the | strain of talking to a hypOchondriacal | American and two Germans-one | greedy and the other frightened-is | considerable; and the Count heaved an inward sigh of relief when the coffee | had been handed round and the door | closed behind the waiter. From now | on the topic was the topic of money the common bond of his three guests. And yet, as he carefully cut the end | of his cigar, and realized that the eyes of the other three were fixed on him expectantly, he knew that the hardest part of the evening was in front of him. Big financiers, in common with all other people, are fonder of having . money put into their pockets than of taking it out. And that was the very thing the Count proposed they should do-in large quantities.
 "Gentlemen." he remarked, when his cigar was going to his satisfaction, "we are all men of business. said before dinner that I considered we were sufficiently big to exclude any small arbitrary national distinctions from our minds. As men whose inter- ests are international, such things are beneath us. I wish now to slightly qualify that remark" He turned to the American on his right, who with eyes half closed was thoughtfully pick ing his teeth. "At this stage, I ad- dress myself particularly to you"
 Mr. HooI~