Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-06

Of "Parsifal" to himself and liked the
sound of them; for he had natural
ear and a good memory, and had
whistled remarkably well when he
was boy.
The truth about this seemingly i'm
possible circumstance was really very
simple. In what he called his cow
punching days, he had been for six
months in company with two young
men who used to whistle softly to-
gether by. the hour beside the camp
fire, and none Of the other boys" had
ever heard the strange tunes they
seemed to like best, but Van Torp
had caught and remembered many
fragments, almost unconsciously, and
he whistled them to himself because
they gave him sensation which no
real music" ever did. Extraordinary
natures, like his, are often endowed
with unnoticed gifts and tastes quite
unlike those of most people. No one
knew anything about the young men
who whistled Wagner; the Lost
Legion" hides many secrets, and the
two were not popular with the rest,
though they knew their business and
did their work fairly well. One of
them was afterwards said to have
been killed in a shooting ARRAY and
the other had disappeared about the
same time, no one knew how, or
cared. though Mr.. Van Torp thought
he had recognized him once many
years later. They were neither Amer
leans nor Englishmen, though they
both spoke English we'll, and never
were heard to use any other language.
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 1lnd
where 80 many rich people went every
other year. Any one VINO 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 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"
II suppose I'm thought close about
money" continued the millionaire,
thinking aloud, but call IS day
dear for this room. don't your
Yes. sir, do indeed! call it
downright robbery. That's what call
It, sir"
well, I suppose they call it bust
ness here, and quite a good business,
too. But I'd like to buy the whole
thing and show 'em how to run it..
They'd make more in the end"
Yes, sir. 1 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 look around,
while try to get wash in that-that
tea-service there"
Mr.. Van Torp eyed the exiguous
basin and jug with some curiosity
and much contempt. Stemp, impassive
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, gloomily.
when shall come back, sir?"
I'm Is 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 1t. When his man had gone,
he proceeded to his toilet, such as it
was, and solaced himself by softly
whfstling 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, 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. 81 know
it is q sharp! I 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
a displeased tone.
Il mean who whistles the Good Fri.
day music" answered the voice. "I
tell you. I know 1t is E sharp in that
place. I have the score. I shall show
you II you believe not"
Hes mad" observed Mr.. Van
Torp, beginning to shave again. care
you lunatic?" he asked, pausine aft.
er a moment. What's the matter
with you, anyhow"
Il am musician. l tell you! am
pianist!"
Its the same thing" said Mr.. Van
Torp, working carefully on his upper
lip, under his right nostril.
I shall tell you that you are bar
barian!" retorted the voice.
Well. that doesn't hurt" answered
Mr.. Van Torp.
He heard a snort Of scorn on tho
other side and there was silence
again. But before long, as he got
away from his upper lip with the
razor he uncOn scio,,c,x nn.,, uIa.