The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-06-25

five minutes exactly"
With q bow the man left the room,
and the door closed.
During that five minutes. gentle
men, I propose to introduce myself to
you, and you to one another. The
business which I wish to discuss we
will postpone, with your permission,
till after the coffee, when we shall be
undisturbed."
In silence the three guests waited
until he unwOund the thick white muf-
fer; then, with undisguised curiosity,
they studied their host. In appearance
he was striking. He had short dark
beard. and in profile his face was aqui-
line and stern. The eyes, which had
so impressed the manager, seemed
now to be a cold grey-blue; the thick
brown hair, flecked slightly with grey,
was brushed back from a broad fore
head. To even the most superficial OBJ
server the giver of the feast was
man of power; man capable OF form
ing instant decisions and Of carrying
themAhrough.
And II so much was obvious to the
superficial observer, it was more than
obvious to the three men who stood by
the fire watching him. Each one OF
them. as he watched the host. realized
that he was in the presence of great
man. 1t was enough: great men do
not send fool invitations to dinner to
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
| ericaD.
"Mr. Hooking, I believe" he re-
marked In English, holding out his
hand. II 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. Il am In
terested to know to what am indebt'
ed for this invitation"
"All in good time. Mr.. Hooking.
smiled the host. II have hopes thai
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 it not?' This
time he spoke in German.
The man whose interest in German
coal was hardly less well known thar
Hocking's in cotton, bowed stiffly.
"And Herr Won Gratz?' The Coun
turned to the last member of the par
ty and shook hands. Though less wei
known than either Of the other two IL
the realms of international finance, Vol
GRATIS name in the steel trade of Cen
trail Europe was one to conjure with.
"Well, gentlemen" said the Count
"before we sit down to dinner, l ma
perhaps be permitted to say a fey
words of introduction. The nation
of the world have recently been en-
gagged in performance OF unriyale
stupidity. AS far as one can tell tina
performance is now over. The las
thing l wish to do is to discuss tn
war-except in so far as 1t concern
our meeting here tonight. Mr.. Hocl
ing is an American, you two gentleme
are Germans. T'-the Count smile
slightly-'have no nationality. U
rather, shall I say, have every ne
tionality. Completely cosmopolitan.
Gentlemen, the war was waged b
idiots, and when idiots get busy on
large scale, it is time for clever men
step in. That is the raison
etre for this little dinner
claim that we four men are sufficient
international to be able to disregar
any stupid and petty feelings aDol
this country and that country. and
regard the world outlook at the presel
moment from one point of view ar
one point Of view only-Our own"
The gaunt American gave a hoar'
chuckle.
ut will be my object after dinner
| continued the Count, ito try and prov
70 you that we have common poi
q view. Until tken-shall we mere
concentrate on q pious hope that Il
J Hotel Rationale will not poison
with their food?"
The next moment the head wait
opened the door, and the four men s.
down to dine,
It must be admitted that the averal
hostess, DESTROYS of making dinner
d success, would have been filled wi
r, secret dismay at the general atmt
v phere in the room. The American,
s accommodating his millions. had al
accumulated a digestion of such an
e otto and tender character that d
e rusks and Vichy water were the lin
OF his capacity.
If Herr Steinemann was OF the comm
,e order Of German, to whom food
N sacred. He ate and drank enormous
Is and evidently considered that nothi
|e further was required Of him.
', Won Gratz did his best to keep !
s. end up, but as he was apparently in
1 A1x~4