The morning call., 1892-03-31
PLUNKRTT'S PIANIST.
PROLOGUE.


stream, rising in the mountain side, thou
sands of feet above the level Of the sea,
desaends and plunges with a dull sullen
roar. into deep, yawning chasm, over
preciplce many hundred feet in height. A
few yards above this precipice a sharp,
Jagged rock projects from the water-ony
few inches. however-and upon this rock
stands the weakened. tottering form of
man. Bis hands are bound behind his back.
and around his neck is tied rope, the other
end being tied 10 the limb of tree project
ing over the stream. The rope is taut, and
the swaying of the limb often causes the
poor wretch to gasp, gurgle, and almost lose
his footing. For As hours he has stood
there, the sport of every wind. Faint with
hunger, consumed by burning thirst, he
shrieks aloud for food and water. His foot
slips from the rock, and II is only by exer-
ton the most strenuous that he RECEIVERS his
balance and saves himself from Strangula-
tion. He raves, he curses, be begs for
mercy; ne cries aloud TO the heavens for
help, and from far up the mountain side. its
diabolism intensified by distance. floating
down upon the cool night breeze, comes a
mocklDg laugh. "Ha, ha. ba!'
Ten years ago, while travelling through
the Western States and Territories of
America, | visited a little mining camp Just
south Of Tombstone, ARR spent week
there, and during my stay l made it point
10 spend few hours each evening in
'Plunkett's place." a combined saloon,
dance and gambling house.
did not go there either to dance, drink
or gamble, for / never indulge in this class
of amusement; neither did go to listen to
the little aforementioned Frenchman play
upon the violin, nor the dark-yisaged
'greaser" play upon his guitar, although /
performers. No, it was none of these, but
the attraction which drew me ththsr as
regular as the evening came was Plum
ketrs pianist"
have heard many good performers play
upon the piano-Josef Hoffman and 9TH
ers-but never in my life have l heard,
either before or since. anything like such
wonderful, grand, sOul-stirriDg music as
that little pale-faced eight-yeaT-Old girl in
Piunketts saloon, in the little mining camp
Of SaledO. could draw foith at touch and
seemingly without effort.
OF course finding Sucn phenomenon in
such place was great surprise TO me. and
naturally desired to learn the particulars
as to bow the girl came TO be there.
4 grizzly bearded old miner-a relic of
'49-whO had prOspected In every State and
Territory and almost every gulch ana Tavine
west Of the Racky Mountains, told me the
story. Bill Burch was his name.
will give the story as near as it was told
to NE as possible. only giving if in my own
language. The substance is as follows:
little more than year before [ visited
the camp. Piunkett, while in San Francisco
on business, bought piano. and ordered il
to be shipped to the camp. When il arrived
there it created a sensation. Many of the
miners had never seen piano, and 1t was
as good as a circus to them; while others
who had been familiar with the instrument
years before had almost forgotten what they
looked like, and had lost all resemblance Of
what they sounded like. But after they got
it set np and in shape, they found that they
were in as bad a fix as ever as regards
having music was concerned, for there was
not q man In the camp who could play on
the piano.
So matters went on for month. No one
could be found who would attempt to play
on the piano, and Plunkett was Ia despair.
He was like the man who drew the elephant
at the l0ttery-he had the prize, but knew
not what TO do with 1t.
Time rolled on, and Christmas eve ar
rived. There was little skift of snow on
the ground, and it was very Geld for that
southern country. where it seldom SHOWS.
Planketts place was decorated with sprigs
Of mountain pine. and presented smart
appearance. The piano was given the place
of honor at the head OF the room, and on
each side of ii, the roots implanted ia saw
dust spittoon- boxes, were two large ever
green's while above the instrument, extend
ing from one tree TO the other, was piece
OF red calico, on which, in large letters,
characteristic OF the landlord, were the
words: christmas, 1861
But Piunketps cup of happiness was not
full to overlooking. Something was lacking
u make of the occasion a complete success,
and this something was pianist On this
evening, OF all evenings, the instrument
ought TO be made to ring out joy0usly. and
as Plum keIt reflected that the prospects for
It's ringing out were not good he became
melancholy. However, In the hope that
some modest musician might be tempted,
dragged forth from his tortoise-shell of re-
serve, SO to speak, by a money considera-
tion, Plunkett hunted up big piece of
cardboard. and scrawled upon it in char
coal:
"Wanted-A Crack Peanner Player.
Twenty-Five Dollars Reward"
This be stuck up on the piano and
aDxiOusly awaited results.
But has waiting was in vain. Nine, ten,
eleven O'CLOCK rolled around aud dancing
being kept up to the music of the French
mans violin and the greaser's guitar, and
still no one came to earn and claim the re-
ward.
Plunkett was disguised. "Durn seech
country fur Christian to hev to live in any
wayf' he muttered, wrathfully. "Thar's
no more music in any o them thar cusses
than thar is in-hello! who in thunder are
you?" and Plunkett stopped short as he
noticed the scantily dressed, shiyerlng
figure OF girl about or years old,
crouching over the fire in the big fireplace.
The lace OF the little stranger was white
and wan. the hands held over the fire were
almost transparent. they were so thin, and
the great brown eyes which looked CD so
pleadingiy at the big landlord went straight
TO Plunketts heart. But it was the voice
that knocked hun out il was so soft and
low, so sweet, SO sorrowful and so pleading
Plunkett had not heard a voice like that
since he could remember, and he wanted to
do something to show his sympathy for the
stranger.
1T, T
asked. "Cold. air We? Hev leetle suthin'
Ter warm up yer innards, will YEP" and
without waiting Tor an answer PIunkett
FASTENED behind the bar and mixed a hot
lemonade, putting few drops Of fine Cali
fornia brandy in to make it still more warm
Ing. This the girl drank, and Immediately
she seemed to brighten up She glanced
about the room curiOusly, occasionally
however, giving the door leading from the
saloon quick, apparently apprshensve
look, as ii she were expecting some one
whom she feared and did not wish to see.
"Whar ye frum, little one?" asked Plum
kett.
Frisco" was the reply; and then with
out giving the landlord time to ask another
question she nodded her head toward the
piano and said, "Nhere is the player"
Hainft got none" said Plunkett. THAR
ain't blamed crlttar 10 this hyar hull camp
as knows beans bout peanner. We lust
hev TO let it stand thar, an nary sound has
bbai Cbcl DtoH Jci Acu Uubtu tlldi IUar lnSlru-
meDt yet-come all the way from Frisco.
too. an cost q thousand dollars" and the
landlord sighed.
Say" be continued, eagerly, a sudden
thought striking him, '.mebbe you kin play
on the blamed thing?" and be leaned for
ward and fairly held his breath while wait
ing the girls answer.
lcan play little" began the girl, only
to be interrupted by PluDkett. who caught
her in bis arms and fairly Rugged her in his
delight at the thought that at last player
had been found and his hearts desire could
be gratied
Plunkett's hug was very much like that