Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-27
THE OMAHA DAILY Bee SUNDAY, DECEMBER o. 1896

at rest. the long slim fingers playing imag-
mary keys or chords. inaudible outside OF
his own musical imagination,
When the already suspicious policeman
az the entrance Of the court saw the mu-
sician come out. clawing the empty air with
the two forenngors Of either hand crooked
like talons, a fearful frown on his brow,
and an ominous muttering in his throat,
the ofncor said to himself:
There goes a HanarChist II there ever was
one" no; knowing that the poor little man
was merely pulling the stops Of mythical
organ. immense In size AMI heavenly in tone.
The police always looked askancc az Lougly
when he moved into a new locality, until
they learned that he was the organist at St
Martyr in- the East.
one night shortly after he took the back
room two flights up at No. Langy came
down the common stairway, and paused in
amaze at the landing opposite BrauntS door
He heard some one within slowly and fear
fully numbering Ctopins Funeral March,
part first. The sound made him WrithC, ana
he crouched by the door his fingers mechan.
ically drumming against the panel. represS-
ing with difficulty a desire to cry OUT against
the proclamation Of a harmony that seemed
sacred to him. The drone stopped sud
denly, and next instant the door was jerkod
open causing the amazed listener to stumble
into the room. where, as 1t seemed to him,
a giant pounced down, clutched his shout
durs and flung him IN heap on the toor
by the opposite wall. Then kicking the
door shut the giant with fists clenched
ond face distorted with rage, lowered over
the PROSTATE man.
you miserable. sneaking scouudrelN
cried Braunt. so that's why you took
room with the Scmminses-tn ferret ana
spy en- me. I've seen you crawling up
these stairs. afraid to look any honest man
IN the face. Because l took no strike pay
Gibbons wants to know how live, does he?
I'm up to his tricks. You're Gibbons spy,
and he has sent you to live with that other
sneak Sclnmins Scimmins himself was
afraid for he knows already the weight OF
my hand Now" continued Braunt, rolling
up his sleeves, "Tll serve you as | did
Sclmmins. I'll throw you over the ban's-
, ters and YOU can report that to Gibbons,
and tell him to come himself next time
and I'll break every bone in his body.
Jessie clunE TO hcr father, bcsglns him him IN
tears not to hurt the poor man. braunt
shool, her off, but not unkiudly
"Sit thee down. jessie. lHSs, and dor
wolYit me. I'll but drop the bag o bones on
the stairs and serve htm right for sneak.
Langly, encouraged by his ANTAGONISTS
change OF tone in speaking to the girl, ven
turcd to falter forth:
81 assure you sir"
Don't sir me, you hound" cried Braunt
turning 1erCely upon him, "and don't dare
to deny you are one OF GIBBONS spies /
caught you at It.. remember.
"Il deny nothing If 1t displeascs you; but
| never heard OF Gibbons in my life, and I'm
only a roor organ,st. | stopped at the door
on hearing the harmoniunl For no other
reason. | assure you. | know | oughtnt to
Rave done it, and | suppose | am sneak
III never do it again, never If you VIII eN-
cuse me this time
There was something so abject in the mu-
sician manner that BrauEts resentment was
increased rather than diminished by the ap-
I peal lie had big mans contempt for any
thing small and CVinging.
"Oh. you're an organiSt, are YOU Likely
/ story! Organists don't live in Garden Court
/ But Wen see, wCll see. Get up
! Langley gathered himself together and rose
ursteadily to his loet Every movement he
made augmented the others SuS piciOn.
! Now" said Braunt, with the definite air
Of a man who has his opponent in corner,
sit down at the harmonium and play.
You're an OrEanist, remember
/ YES" protested Langly, but don't know
! that l can play on that instrument at all
/ | play church organ"
/ "An organs an organ, whether II is In
! church or out. If you can play the one you
/ can plav the other"
! The young man hesitated and was nearly
| lost Rraun.'s fingers itched to get at him,
! ana probably only the presence OF the girl
restrained him Ear.
Have YOU any musiC?' asked Llngly.
mo; we haven't. She plays by ear"
''Will you allow me to go up stairs and
! bring some sheet music?"
/ This was little too transparent
Now by Cod" cried Braunt, bringing
his fist down on the table. stand there
! chat.ering another minute and I'll break thy
neck down tho stair Sit thee down. Jessie
an don't interfere The man plays or he
doesn't. ! kn5w he Yves liar. an he quakes
because its to he proven. Now. coward,
the organ or the s:airs-make thy choice
quickly"
The driven musician reluctantly took the
chair before the instrument. He had played
on the harmonium in his early days and