The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-06-25

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money. And money was their life.
The count advanced first to the Am
ericaD.
Mr.. Hooking, l believe" he re-
marked in English, holding out his
hand. u 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. II am in
terested to know to what l am indebt-
ed for this invitation"
"All in good time, Mr.. Hooking"
smiled the host. 81 have hopes that
the dinner will fill in that time salts
factOrily"
He turned to the taller Of the two
Germans. who without his coat seemed
more like a Goldfish than ever.
Herr Steinemann, is II notT 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 Won GratzT The Count
turned to the last member of the par
ty and shook hands. Though less well
known than either Of the other two In
the realms of international finance, Won
GRATIS name in the steel trade OF Gen.
trail Europe was one to conjure with.
well, gentlemen" said the Count,
before we sit down to dinner, / may
perhaps be permitted to say a few
words Of Introduction. The nations
Of the world have recently been en-
gagged In q performance of unrivaled
! stupidity. AS far as one can tell that
performance is now over. The last
thing l wish to do is to discuss the
war-except in so far as 1t concerns
our meeting here tonight. Mr.. Hook
ing is an American, you two gentlemen
are Germans. P-the Count smiled
slightly-"have no nationality. Or
rather, shall I say, have every ma
tionality. Completely cosmopolitan. q.
Gentlemen, the war was waged by
idiots. and when idiots get busy on a
large scale, 1t is time for clever men to
step in. That is the raison d.
etre for this little dinner l
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.
at will be my object after dinner"
continued the Count, ito try and prove
to you that we have a common point
Of view. Until then-shalI we merely
concentrate on a 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.
1t must be admitted that the average
hostess, DESTROYS of making a dinner q
success, would have been filed with
secret dlsmay at the general atmos-
phere In the room. The American, In
accommodating his millions, had also
accumulated a digestion Of such an ex-
otto 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.
Won 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-
lie the conversation he talked cease
most brilliant of conversationalists the
strain of talking to hypoehondriacal
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, !
1--WE are all men Of business. l said |
before dinner that 1 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. ! wish now to slightly |
qualify that remark" He turned to |
the American on his right, who with |
owes half cloSed WAS thOuphtfuIIv pialy