The Lamar register., 1921-05-18

the fire watching him. Each one OF
them. as he watched the host. realized
that he WAS IN the presence u great
man. II WAS enough: great mon 90
not send fool Invitations 10 dinner 10
men Of international repute. II mat
tered not what form his greatness took
there was money In greatness. Dig
money. And money was their lie.
The count advanced first TO the Am-
erican.
Mr.. Hooking. 1 believe" he re-
marked In English, holding out MS
hand II am glad you managed 10
come
The American shook the pronsrso
hand. while the rwO Germans looked AZ
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 NIL
lionAire In his nasal twang. i am M
tsrestsd to know TO what / am indsot
ed for this Invitation"
"An in good time. Mr. Hooking"
smiled the host. Il have hopes that
the dinner will NIL in that time salts
factorily."
He turned 10 the taller OF the TWO
Germans. who without his coat seemed
more like d goldfish than ever.
Herr Steinemann, Is II notT This
time he spoke In German.
in al q ! a
coal was hardly less well known than
Hocking's in cotton, bowed stiffly.
'And Herr Won Gratz;' The Count
turned to the last member OF the par
~ 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 Cen.
tral Europe was one 10 conjure with
We'll, gentlemen said the Count,
before we sit down 10 dinner, l may
perhaps be permitted TO say u few
words OF Introduction. The nations
OF the world have recently been en-
gagged In d performance Of unrivaled
stupidity. As far Hs one can tell that
performance Is now over. The last
thing wish to do is 10 discuss the
war-except In so far as II concerns
our meeting here tonight. Mr.. Hook
ing Is an American. you two gentlemen
are Germans. I'-the Count smiled
siightly-"hsve no nationality. Or
rather, shall I say. l have every na-
tionalify. Completely cosmopolitan. E.
Gentlemen. the war was wsged BY
idiots. and when idiots get busy On .
large scale. IL ls time for clever men to
step In That Is the rnlson d.
etre for this little dinner e.. 1
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 q hOarse
chuckle.
at will be my object after dinner"
continued the Count. TO try and prove
to you that we have a common point
II view. Until then-shall VIZ merely
concentrate on a plous hope that the
Hotel Rationale viii not poison Us
with their food?"
The next moment the head waiter
opened rhe door. and the four men sat
down TO dine.
II must be admitted that the average
hostess. desirous OF making dinner
success. would have been filled 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-
otic and tender character that dry
rusks and yichy water were the limit
OF his capacity.
Herr Steinemann was Of the common
order of German. to whom food 10
sacred. He ate and drank enormously
and evidently considered that nothine
further was required Of him.
Won 0ratz did his best 10 keep bis
end up, but as he was apparently In q
chronic condition OF fear that the
gaunt American would assault him
with violence, he cannot be said to
have contributed much TO the gaisty Of
the meal.
And so to the host must be given
the credit that the dinner was sue
cess. Without appearing TO monopo-
lizs the conversation he talked cease
lessly and brilliantly. But TO even the