The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-05-26

"The war vas the act Of a fool,
snarled Herr S~teinemann. "In a few
years more Of peace, we should have
beaten those swine. &. . :"
And nOw-they have beaten you.
The Count smiled slightly. Let u!
admit that the war was the act Of 6
fool, If you like, but as men Of bust
ness we can only deal with the result
... The result, gentlemen, as II
concerns US. Both you gentlemen are
sufficiently patriotic to resent the pres
ence OF that army at Cologne, | have
no doubt. And you, Mr.. Hooking, have
no love on personal grounds for the
English. But | am not propos-
ing to appeal to financiers Of your rep
utation on such grounds as those to
support my scheme. 1t Is
enough that your personal predilec-
tons run with and not against what
am about to put before you-the de-
feat Of England a defeat more
utter and complete than If she had lost
the war. ~
His voice sank q little, and instinct
lively his three listeners drew closer.
Don't think / am proposing this
through motives OF revenge merely. We
are business men, and revenge is only
worth our while if it pays. This will
1ply. There is "a force in England
which, if it can be harnesSed and led
properly, will result in millions coming
TO you. ... 1t is present now in
every natiOn-fettered, inarticulate,
un-co-ordinated. 1t is partly the
result OF the war-the war that the
idiots have waged. Harness
that force, gentlemen, coordinate it,
and use it for your own ends. .
That is my proposal. Not only will
you humble that cursed country to the
dirt, but you will taste Of power such
as few men have tasted before. ="
The Count stood up, his eyes blazing.
And II will do 1t for you"
He resumed his seat, and his left
hand, slipping off the table, beat a
tattoo on his knee.
This is our opportunity-the oppor-
tunity OF clever men. | have not got
the money necessary: you have" .
He leaned forward in his chair, and
glanced at the intent faces of his au-
dienCe. Then he began to speak. . .
Ten minutes later he pushed back
his chair.
There Is my proposal, gentlemen,
In a nutshell. Unforeseen develop
ments will doubtless occur; | have
spent my life overcoming the unexpect-
ed. What IS your answer"
He rose and stood with his back
to them by the fire, and for several
minutes no one spoke. Each man was
busy with his own thoughts, and
showed it in his own particular way.
Comte de Guy stared unConcernedly at
the fire, as if Indifferent to the result
of their thoughts. In his attitude at
that moment he gave a true expression
10 his attitude on life. Accustomed
to play with great stakes, he had just
dealt the cards for the most gigantic
gamble of his life. . What matter
to the three men, who were looking at
the hands he had given them. hat only
a master criminal could have con
ceived such a game? The only ques-
ton which occupied their minds was
whether he could carry it through.
And on that point they had only their
judgment of his personality to rely on.
Suddenly the American removed the
toOthpiCk from his mouth and
stretched out his legs.
There is Il question which occurs to
me, Count, before | make up my mind
on the matter. Are you disposed to be
a little more communicative about
yourself? If we agree to come in on
this hand, it's going to cost big money.
The handling of that money is with
you. Wal-whO are your"
Won Gratz nodded his head in agree
ment. Steinemann raised his eyes to
the Counts face as he turned and
faced them. 80.
"A very fair question, gentlemen,
and yet n which l regret l am unable
to answer / would not insult your in
telligence by giving you the fictitious
address ola fictitious Count. Enough
that | am a man whose livelihood lies
in other peoples pockets. AS you say,
Mr.. Hooking, it is going to cost big