Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-04-12

known than either Of the other two In
the realms of international finance, Won
GRATIS name in the steel trade Of Gen.
tral Europe was one to cGnjure with.
swell, 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 unrlvaled
stupidity. AS fur Us one can tell that
performance Is now over. The last
thing + wish to do Is to discuss the
wa wa r::44exeept. IN. SO far as it concerns
our meeting here tonight: MIR. Hook
iiig IS an American, Hd,f two gentlemen
are Germans. ,r';-zthe' Count smiled
/ slightly-"have:s sno:: nationality. Or
rather shall I say, lave every ma
ttbnallty: Completely cosmopolitan. {.
Gentlemen, the war was waged by
idiots, and when idiots get busy on a
large scale, It is time for clever men to
step in. That Is. the raison d.
etre for this little dinner =. /
claim that>we four men are sufficiently
international to be able to disregard
any stupid and petty feeling: 1hout
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 guunt American gave a hoarse
chuckle.
"It will be my object after dinner"
continued the Count, "to try and prove
to you that we have common point
of view. Until then-shall we merely
concentrate on a pious hope that the
Hotel Rationale will not poison US
with their food?"
The next moment the head walter
opened the door, and the four men sat
down to dine.
It must be admitted that the average
hostess deslrous Of making dinner a
success, would have been filed with
secret dlsmay at the general atmos-
ohere in the room. The American, in
sccumulating 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 Stelnemann 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 akeep 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 sue
cess. Without appearing to monopo-
lie the conversation he talked cease
lessly and brilliantly. But to even the
most brilliant of conversationalists the
strain Of talking to q hypochondriaca.
American and two Germans-one
greedy and the other frlghtened-ls
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
expectahtly, 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. said
before dinner that considered we
we're 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 nd,
dress myself particularly to you"
"Go right ahead" drawled Mr.. Hook,
ing.
"I do not wish to touch on the war
or its result; but though the Central
Powers have been beaten by America
and France and England, think can
speak for you two gentlemen"-he
bowed to the two Germans-"when
say that it is neither France nor Amer
lea with whom they desire another
round. England Is Germany's main
enemy; she always has been, she al
ways will be. I have reason to be-
iiere, Mr.. Hooking, that you personally
do not love the Engllsh?"
"I guess don't see what my private
feelings have to do with 1t. But II its
of any interest to the company you are
correct in your belief"
"Good." The Count nodded his head
as II satisfied. "I take 1t then that you
would not be averse to seeing England
down and out"