Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-16
.e20 Reward.
TIC o compliant Pianer Player.

L
This he stuck up On the music rack, and
though the inscription glared at the freQuent-
ers OF the room until mldnlght,it failed TO draw
any musician from his shell.
SO the merry making went On; the huarIty
grew apace Men danced and sang TO the music
OF the squeaky fiddle and wornout guitar, as
the jolly crowd within tried TO drown the howl
Ing OF the storm without. Suddenly they be-
came aware OF the presence OF wh1tehatre1
man crCuchtng near the fireplace Hts gar
snow, and he had half-starved, half-crazed
expression. He held his thin, trembling hands
toward the fire, and the light Of the blazing
wood made them almost transparent.
He looked about him once In a while as IL In
search or something, and his presence Cast such
chill over the place that G radually the sound
or IeVelry was husheu. and 1t seemed that this
wall or the storm had brought In With him all
ire gloom ard cold Of the warning elements.
Goekln, mixing up cup OF hot egg-nogg, ad-
Vanced and remarked eheerfully:
mere, stranger, brace up. This Is the real
stun."
The man drained the cup, smacked his lips
and seemed more at home.
Been prospecting, Ell? Out In the noun
tains-caught IN the storm? Lively night,
th1s.r
Pretty bad" sid the man.
"Must feel ijI city dry 2"
The man looked at his streaming, clothes and
laughed. as IL Gosktn'5 remark was q sarcasm.
How long ouL?"
-Four days"
Hungry"
The nan rose up. and walking over to the
lunch counter. fell 10 work upon roast bear de-
IouIlng II Ike any Wild animal would have
Gone. AS meat and drink and warmth began
TO penetrate The stranger he seemed TO expand
and sraighten up. His features lost Tnelr
palior. and ne grew more and more Content
with the Idea that he was not In the grave. IA
he underwent these changes the people about
him got merry and Happier, and threW Off the
temporary feeling o. depression which he had
laid upon them.
Presently his eye fell upon the piano.
Where's the player"
"Neyer had any" said Goskln blushing at
the confession.
a. used to play when was young"
Goskin almost tainted at the admission.
stranger, DO tackle Ii, and give VS. tune!
Nary man In this camp ever had the nerve 10
wreStle with that music boX.r His EulSe beat
faster, for he feared that the man would re-
iuSe.
:" Ill do the best can" he said.
There was no stool, but selling candle box,
| he threw 1t up and seated himself before the
Instrument. It only required few seconds Tor
| hush to come over the room.
That old coon is going to give the thing a
The sight Of man at the plano was some
| thing so unusual that even the farO-dealer,
| who was about TO take In q fifty dollar bet on
| the tray, paused and did not reach for the
glasses at their lips: Conversati5n appeared TO
| nave peen struck with a sort Of paralysis, and
carGs were no longer shuf1ed.
1 the OLD man brushed back his long, white
LOCKS, looked up to the ceiling, half closed his
eyes, and In mystic sort OF reverie passed his
nngers over the Keys. BE touched but single
note. yet the sound thrilled the room. 1t was
his chords together the music laid its spell
upon every ear and heart He felt his way
along the Keys. like man treading uncertain
crossed. and presently bent TO his work IKE a
| master. The instrument was not In exact
] tune, but the ears Of his audience, through long