Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-12-09
CHAPTER V,-Continued.


Mr.. Van Torp was fond Of music,
quite apart from his admiration for
the greatest living lyric soprano, and
since it was his fancy to go to Bay
reuth in the hope of seeing her, he
meant to hear Wagner's masterpiece,
and supposed that there would not be
any difficulty about such a simple mat
ter, nor about obtaining the sort OF
rooms he was accustomed to, in the
sort of hotel he expected to finG
where so many rich people went every
other year Any one 0:O has been
to the holy place Of the Wagnerians
can imagine his surprise when, after
infinite difficulty, he found himself,
his belongings and his man deposited
in one small attic room of a Bavarian
tanners house, with one feather bed,
one basin and one towel for furniture.
'Stemp,' said Mr., Van Torp, this
is a heather town"
Yes, sir"
81 suppose I'm thought close about
money" continued the millionaire,
thinking aloud, but I call S. day
dear for this room, don't your"
Yes, sir, I do indeed! I call it
downright robbery That's what l call
it. sir"
well, / suppose they call it bust
ness here, and quite a good business,
too. But Id like to buy the whole
thing and show em how to run it.
They'd make more in the end"
Yes, sir. l hope you will, sir. Beg
pardon, sir, but do you think it would
cost great deal?'
They'd ask great deal, anyway,
answered the millionaire thoughtfully.
"Stemp, suppose you get me out some
things and then take a look around,
while I try to get a wash in that-that
tea-service there"
Mr.. Van Torp eyed the eXiguous
basin and jug with some curiosity
and much contempt. Stemp, impressive
and correct under all circumstances,
unstrapped a valise, laid out on the
bed what his master might need, and
inquired if he wished anything else.
There isn't anything else an
swered Mr.. Van Torp, g;oomily.
when shall / come back, sir?'
In % minutes There isn't half
an hours wash in that soup-plate,
anyway"
He eyed the wretched basin with a
glance that might almost have
cracked it. When his man had gone,
he proceeded to his toilet, such as it
was, and solaced himself by softly
whistling as much of the Good Fri
day" music as he remembered, little
dreaming what it was, or that his per-
Torrance was followed with nervous
and almost feverish interest by the
occupant Of the next room in the at
tic, a poor musician who had saved
and scraped for years to sit at the
musical feast during three days.
'E sharp" cried an agonized voice
on the other side of the closed door,
in a strong German accent. Il know
it is Z sharp, [ know it,"
Mr. Van Torp stopped whistling at
once, lowered his razor, and turned a
mask of soapsuds in the direction
whence the sound came.
DO you mean me?" he inquired in
q displeased tone.
Il mean who whistles the Good Fri
day music" answered the voice. q
tell you, know it is E sharp in that
place. I have the score. I shall show
jyou if you believe not"
He's mad" observed Mr.. Van
Torp, beginning to shave again. Are
you lunatic?" he asked, pausing aft
er a moment Whats the matter
with you, anyhow"
Shall l? Well, now, that's funny
sort of a rule for hotel, isn't it?''
4 go complain of you" retorted the
other, and Mr.. Van Torp heard q door
opened and shut again.
In a Jew minutes he had done al
that the conditions would permit il
the way of making himself present
able. and just as he left the room he
was met by Stemp, the % minutes be
ing just over.
Il am a musician, I tell you, l an
a pianist"
Its the same thing" said Mr. Val
Torp. working carefully on his uppel
lip. under his right nostril.
Il shall tell you that you are bar
barian!" retorted the voice.
We'll, that doesn't hurt" answered
Mr.. Van Torp.
He heard a snort of scorn on thu
other side and there was silence
again. But before long, as he go
away from his upper lip with tn
razor, he unconsciousIy began to whis
tie again. and he must have made tn
same mistake as before, for he wa
interrupted by a deep groan of pail
from the next room.
mot feeling very well?" he inquire
in tone of dry jocularity. "Stomacl
ucset?'' . =