The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-11-21
A PIANO THAT
LAUGHED
BY CLAUDIA MAY FERRiN.

10 ONE could play upon it-tha,
~ Is, no one whose nerves were
very sensitive or whose horrors OF
the uncanny or the inexplicibie were
an the ascendency. A magnifcen,
piece OF workmanship il was, to be
sure, famous since completion for its
sweet tone and its wide compass OF
expression. Yet it stood there in
Mr.. Briggs parlor ready to indulge in
hooking laughter at whatsoever
should dare to seek its music.
The laughter in itself was sufficient
10 unnerve even the most courageous
scoffer at the possibilities of ghost
dom. 1t was harsh, grating "Ho,
ma hai'--such as merrymaling
bedlam will give vent TO. and with as
little occasion for utterance. The
longer anyone played the louder the
laughter became, ;:ntil even the bold
est would clasp his hands to his ears
and arise in nervous haste. Another
strange thing was that IL did not be-
gin until the performer touched the
note g, continuing until he ceased
playing, whether that note was sound
ed again or not. II stopped as soon
az the last echo died away, which
caused more than one TO gaze back
ct the instrument in shame-faced con-
fusion.
what shall we do with it?" said
Mrs. Briggs, helplessly. after . final
effort to play upon il without needing
its ridicule.
Sell it," replied her husband,
promptly.
No, no, mol" she cried. Father
made me promise upon my knees
that I'd never part with it. Besides.
who'd want it? / must have a piano
that ! can play upon, for l cannot
live without music"
well, then, III send an expert to
examine it-what say you?"
Send him, of course. But what
good can he do? The laughter was
not heard until after father died.
and you know that the letter G was
his initial-G for Gottlieb."
1T is strange coincidence, to be
sure. But q may also stand for
Gretna," said the practical Mr.. Briggs.
Lets see what the pianomaker will
discover before we worry further.
Then if he cannot remedy the trouble |
I'll get you new one"
The next day the expert came, talk
ing apart the beautiful instrument |
and infinitely inspecting every detail
in its makeup. 10 their dismay he
discovered nothing out Of the or
binary, informing them instead that |
1T was the best made instrument he /
had ever examined. His efforts proved
a failure, obviously; for as soon as
he had put il together again it stood
ready to emit that blood-curdling
laughter in the face of any and every
performer.
The instrument was made in Ger
many by the father Of the cultured
Mrs. Briggs. Gottlicb vandofen had
been one of the leading manufac-
turers of pianos in Berlin. also own
ing large manufacturing interests in
Paris and London. lie was reputed
rs fabulously wealthy. yet at his
death the entire bulk Of his fortune
did not exceed 100000 in American
This was divided between his
daughter, Mrs. Briggs. and his son,
Karl Vandofen. a sense of disap-
pointment was experienced by the
former, though she tried to persuade
herself that she had known SO lit
lie about her fathers business az
Iairs that perhaps she had ovcrcs- |
timated his financial worth.
The son was absent in Australia and ,
Is neighborisg islands when the ,
'ather was attacked with his final (
illness, failing to receive the letter I
,earing the news of his approaching
lemisc. Three months previously
he had gone thither, led by his row.
ng disposition and the desire to see
hat part Of the world. The two had
lad q lengthy conversation pre- {
ious to Karl's departure. but Gretna
lad not learned the purport Of IT, |
leither did she let il concern her
cry much. She knew that her father
nd brother were upon the best Of G
erms. y
Two months after Gottlieb vandof- I
ms death his daughter Gretna was &
married. TO Augustus Briggs, IN =