The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-27
Our Daily Sport Story

as the unkempt figure staggered over to the fireplace and stretched ont a l pair of thin, shaking hands to the cneery blaze. The crowd stood still ana stared drunkenly. And then Bill Ahdrews, quickest man with a gun in the community over which he donnI- mated, woke up. He hurriedly poured | out glass of brandy.
 Here. stranger. take this: it's the real goods" he said extending the sIass 10 the waif of. the storm. The man emptied the cup at one gulp Bad | night, this Caught in the drift7n 1 Yes; been out two days" ..': Must be hungryg" ::. f with that. Bill led the stranger over | 10 side table, on which some roast oeer meat gave forth an appetizinr UJos' S,itt me man set to work on the food l wltn the ravishness of vulture Al Ie9gth he had his fill. and, seating him. set at the lire. he gazed noodiiy into | the glowing coals. Now the mai, had chance to size up the newcomer. He | was a man far past middle age, albeit m ms deep-set eyes some of the fire intellectual features. small soft hands moving hair and the fine texture of l ms clothing. Strange he was. tr,Ielv for such time and place! 1 presently the stranger raised his mead and looked about him. His gaze l fell upon the violin. which the Mexi- | can had discarded for a snug corner. where he lay cur1ed in drunken slum. Der. strange light came into the old mans eyes, and. turning to the faro boss. he said, feebly:
 l Friend. two days ago became sep- arated from my companions who were taking me to place somewhere in the mountains for my health, as last re- 1 sort. I am in the last stages of dread disease. I fear cannot last much | longer"
 Here he was interrupted by a violent | fit of coughing, which shook his frail l body as the quicksand duivers at the incoming of the tide. When he recov- | cred, he went on:
 Let me have the violin. I was a great player once. I must play once more before the final curtain is runs | down."
 He threw a wistful glance across at I the violin.
 Brace up. stranger: you're good for a few more vet" spoke up Andrews, cheerily. handing him the instrument.
 The crowd. sobered bv the old mans presence waited wonderingly.
 He drained another glass of brandy, and then. as a dead, oppressive hush fell over the room. fitted the violin to across the strings. It was just single chord. yet the sound thrilled the room Swiftly, with the consummate skill of a master he touched the strings, feel ing for his key. At last he found fl. Sweet splashes of music gushed from the violin; now low and faint. now swelling wandering, wavering. While the listeners leaned forward spell | bound, with eyes fastened on the frail figure as it bent and sway.I in time with the most beautiful music they had ever heard the singing of the vio- lin changed
 He had his Improvisation now. He bent to his work like a master. The instrument was a crude one, but these men were not critics. The music of violin arose like gentle soughing of the summer breeze through the whis- pering leaves of the tall pines. now yearning and pleading. and again low soul. How it thrilled the hearts of those toilers of the hills! But the artist was not done yet. The exquisite strains of Mendelssohn's Concerto welled from the seemingly magic in- strument The men knew not what il was, nor cared. They only knew that it awakened old memories vividly and softened their hardened hearts.
 As the musician drew from the vio- lin the wondrous melody. his counten- ance changed. His face was like hewu marble, with two holes in which a pail of great eyes burned with the light ecstasy. The figures around the baI wavered and dissolved into a dense blur of vapor. and in the blur. across the body of his violin. the player saw as in a dream. q great circle of blaz, Ing lights, tier upon tier of spellbcund