Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-03-02
a MUSICIANS
THEFT
oeososoeosoeeo soeososoeoi

OOeOVSV~O~
Professor Smythe, an impoverish-
ed musician, was on his way to play
in the orchestra at the Globe thea
ter when the door of residence he
was passing opened and a man IN
evening dress rushed out and, seiz-
ing the professor, begged him to
come in. Smythe told his necessity
of earning his evenings wages.
81 will pay you twice as much,
and you will have nothing to do but
make yourself agreeable. 1t will be
a great accommodation, and | shall
never forget it. can see by your
appearance that you are a gentle"
man. Consider me a friend and ac-
cept my offer" =,
but what service is required OF
me-" asked the professor, who had
vague idea that grand piano had
suddenly gone wrong.
"Whv, you see, ! am giving din
ner to some friends. 1t is all on
the table, and we have just discoy-
cred that there are thirteen of us.
That would never do at all. Now,
If YOU will dine with us, you shall
be well paid for your services, and
| dare say you will be in time for
YOUR flute solo at the theater, as
YOU can be excused when you de-
sire. You will come? Thanks"
The professor followed his host
in a state of absolute subsection, as
if he might have been hypnotized,
but the fact was that the poor man
had not broken his fast since morn
ing, and the delicious aroma of the
dinner coming through the open
door proved irresistible. He gave his
name in whisper and was handed
over to a servant, who took him up
stairs into a guest chamber, helped
him remove his shabby overcoat
and whisked off his best suit with a
silver handled brush, taking Its
threadbare CLINT for dust. 1t was
we'll he was engaged to play; other
wise he would not have been IN
evening dress. He was beginning
to enjoy the little comedy in which
he was himself an actor.
There was no introduction. Hi'
host motioned him to a seat be-
tween the maiden lady and severe
matron who turned her silken bach
on him to talk to her neighbor OF
the other side. The professor'i
pride did not once assert itself. III
was masquerading; that was all.
But fate had not done with Pro
, lessor Smythe.
The consomme had dash o
champagne in it, and new life wa
r infused into the veins of this pro
, fessional diner out The fish ant
: game and pate that followed wer
> all triumphs Of the culinary art, ant
/, the hungry man cloyed the edge o
4 his appetite, not by the bare imag
: nation of feast, but by the feas
c itself. 1t was no feast of the Bar
e needle either, for the vlands wer
actual, and the wine was not pre-
t tense, but delightful vintage
o served in cut glass goblets. Tn
: poor professor felt like saying t
: his neighbor, "Pinch me- for
Q was like dream or an illusion ratf
K er than a reality.
But the striking of the clock re
minded him that he had been ther
an hour, and as he had broken til
c spell of the unlucky thirteen he vcl
9 tured to excuse himself and ros
stiilly from his place and bowe
himself out of the room.
He was followed by a servan
who handed him an envelope wit
II the compliments of the gentlema
with whom he had just dined. Nc
% for worlds would he have opened !
&c though it was unsealed, before II
man, but he accepted it gracious
:. and went upstairs TO get his IN
Is and overcoat unattended,
L A number of handsomely appoin
cd chambers were on the upper haI
and the professor glanced into ea'
:, US he passed on his way to the IA
u ticular guest chamber where he h;
left his belongings. Perhaps
~ was a trihe overcome by sherry al
, other beverages, but he thought IL
Dr. room had been darkened and that
was right. He stood a moment
+. the doorway and looked cautious
in, peering about at the luxury, b
u at the same time noting that n W
not the dressing room for which
IL