The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-11-30
X x
A PIANO THAT LAUGHED.
BY CLAUDIA MAY FERRIN.
II X X X sil<sKsEsIy

Germ her very much. She knew that
her father and brother were upon the
best of terms
Two months after Gottlieb Vando-
feD's death his daughter Gretna was
married to Augustus Briggs, an Ameri-
can professor who had gone to Ger
many to study the language. This
seemingly hasty marriage was but in
accordance with the fathers request,
for he knew that his daughters inter-
ests would be safe in the hands of
that gentleman. AS soon as the busl-
ness could be adjusted, the happy pair
sailed for America, expecting Karl
to reappear upon the scene at any
day to take charge Of affairs there at
Berlin
But he did not come, and, unknown
TO them was anxiously awaiting word
from the beloved Fatherland. Finally,
he wrote his sister letter OF inquiry
as TO her silence, which reached her
few days after her arrival in America.
Three months more passed. and at the
time of the final struggle with the mys-
FERROUS piano Mrs. Briggs was daily
expecting another missive from her
wandering brother
The letter failed to come, but the
brother arrived In its stead. Sun
burned, weary and heartily satisfied
to refrain thereafter from his long.
aimless journeys, he appeared at her
door one morning, to be welcomed as
none but sister can welcome.
Explanations over he began to
glance casually about the room, and
Immediately his eyes fell upon the
new piano.
Whats this for?" he qucricd.
"Where's fathers piano?"
TITS haunted" replied Mrs. Briggs,
| with subdued voice
Haunted? Tut, tutr' And without
further comment he seated himself at
the familiar old instrument at the OPP
posite side of the room. Eagerly he
struck the central note f, then list
| ened intently. Next the note L, and
listened again. Lastly the note CT;
and as the laughter began its weird
reverberations he turned to his sister
with o smile OF triumph.
Haunted, is itT' he cried, exult-
| antly. ''No, no, Gretna. That's just
what | was hoping for Come, sit
down. and I'll tell you all about it,"
Leading her to a divan near by, he
seated himself beside her. and began
to explain carefully the hitherto un-
fathomable mystery.
when was about to leave on this
| last trip, you remember, father called
me to him and we had long CONVEX
sation. That morning he told me for
| the first time the exact amount of his
fortune-about 100000 in American
money-and gave me working knowl-
| edge of his three establishments He
had long been thinking of selling his
| interest In the factories at Paris and
London. but was not yet ready to close
| negotiations. Whenever he did so, that
would necessitate the handling of large
| sums Of money. and he was then ut
a loss to know just which city
whether London, Paris, or Berlin
TO deposit the bulk of his fortune in.
| He expressed the fear If such should
be the case he knew that you could
not manage affairs, as you had never
handled money except TO spend 1t.
read his thoughts and offered TO give
up my trip, but he would not consent
| TO that. Instead, he exacted promise
from ME that when l should return
this time would remain at home and
! devote myself IN business
Well when he had explained every
thing SO thoroughly that knew just
what was depending upon me- he then
| told me that he was afraid TO leave his
fortune all in one bank, and that he
intended to divide it into two sums.
The smaller amount he would leave in
the bank with which our family has
always done business; the other-and
now comes the great secret of the
piano.