American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1921-03-26


ne was striking. He had short dark
nearo' ond In L.ohle his ace was aoui.
"ne a'io 81. The eyes, which had |
~ impressed .ne manager, seemed |
now TO be cold grey-blue; the thick
brown hair. flecked slightly with grey.
was brushed back from a broad fore
mead. To even the most superficial oh.
server the glver of the feast was a
uion OF power; man capable of form.
ing instant decisions and Of CARRYING
them through.
And If so much was obvious 70 tho
superficial observer. II was more than
obvious to the three men who stood BY
the IRE watching him. Each one of
them, as he watched the host, realized
that he was In the presence OF a great
man. 1t was enough: great men do
not send fool invitations TO dinner 10
men of international repute. 1t mat.
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.
Mr.. Hooking, | believe" he re-
marked In English, holding out his
hand. II am glad you managed to
come"
The American shook the profrered
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. 10 was entitled to
their respect &C..
THAT'S me, Count" returned the mil.
lionaire In his nasal twang. II am In.
terested TO know 10 what l am indebt-
ed for this invitation"
AL, IN good time, Mr.. Hooking"
smiled the host. II have hopes that
the dinner will I'LL in that time salts.
factorily."
He turned to the taller OF the two
Germans, who without his coat seemed
more like Goldfish than ever.
Herr Steinemann, IN II notY This
time he spoke In German.
The man whose interest In German
coal was hardly less well known than
bookings In cotton. bowed stiffly.
"And Herr Won Gratzi" The Count
turned TO the last member of the par
ty and shook hands. Though less well
known than either VI the other two In
| the realms OF international finance, Won
GRATIS name In the steel trade OF Cen.
trail Europe was one to cOnjure with.
| well, gentlemen" said the Count,
before we sit down 10 dinner, l may
| perhaps he permitted to say few
words NJ Introduction. The nations
of the world have recently been en-
| gagged In performance Of unrivRled
stupidity. As far as one can tell that
| performance IL now over. The last
thing wish 10 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. THE Count smiled
slightly--"have no nationality. Or
rather, shall | say, I have every na-
tionality. Completely cosmopolitan.
| Gentlemen the war was waged by
idiots. and when idiots get busy on
large scale. II Is time for clever men ia
step In. That II the raison d.
etre for this little dinner
claim that we four men are sufficiently
international 10 he able to disregard
any stupid aud petty feelings about
this country and that country. and Ia
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.
ut will he 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 Il pious hope that the
Hotel National. will not poison W.
with their food7"
The next moment the head waiter
opened the door, and the four men sal
down 10 dine.
| II must be admitted that tile average
hostess. DESTROYS of making dinner
success. would have been filled VIII
| setTet uiNtiiNN Ut wv eN''''' 1870
phere IN the room. The American, II
accommodating his millions, had als'
accumulated digestion OF such an ex
otto and tender character that DIR!
rusks and vicly water were the ilmi
OF his capacity.
Herr Stelnemann was OF the common
order OF German, to whom FOOD u
sncred. He ate and drank enormousl!
and evidently considered that nothinl
further was required OF him.
Won Gratz did his best TO keep al
end up. but as he was apparently IN
chronic condition Of fear that tn
gaunt American would assault hin
with violence. he cannot he said u
have contributed much 10 the gallery o
the meal.
And so to the host must be give
the credit that the dinner was sue
cess. without appearing to mohopo
lie the conversation he talked cease
lessly and brilliantly. But to even IN
. most brilliant OF conyersatlonalists IN
strain OF talking to hypochondriac"
| American and two Germans-oh