The Tupelo journal., 1910-02-11
CHAPTER N.-Continued.

p Ell V.-Conttnueu.
Mr., Van Torp was fond of music
quite apart from his admiration fol
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 oil
rooms he was accustomed to, in the
sort of hotel he expected to hnd
where so many rich people went every
other year. Any one VINO has beer
to the holy place of the Wagnerians
a imagine his surprise when, after
infinite difficulty, he found himself,
his belongings and his mar deposited
in one small attic of a Bayarian
tanners house, with one feather-bed
one basin and one towel for furniture.
"Stemp," said Mr., Van Torp, this
is a heather town"
Eyes, sir"
81 suppose I'm thought close about
money! continued the millionaire,
thinking aloud, "but | call IS a day
dear for this room, don't you?"
Yes, sir, l do indeed! I call it
downright robbery. That's what | call
it. sir"
We'll, | 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. l hope you will, sir. Beg
pardon, sir, but do you think it would
cost a great deal?"
They'd ask a 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, 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, gioomily.
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
1t is E 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
a displeased tone.
Il mea who whistles the Good Fri
day music" answered the voice. Il
tell you, / know it is E sharp in that
place. have the score. shall show
you if you believe not"
He's mad" observed Mr.. Van
Torp, beginning to shave again. Are
you a lunatic?" he asked, pausing aft
er a moment. Whats the matter
with you, anyhow"
Shall l? Well. now, that's a funny
sort of a rule for a hotel, isn't it?"
Il go complain of you," retorted the
other, and Mr.. Van Torp heard a door
opened and shut again.
In a few minutes he had done all
that the conditions would permit in
the way of making himself present
able, and just as he left the room he
was me by Stemp, the 25 minutes be-
ing just over.
Il am a musician, l tell you! l am
a pianist"
Its the same thing said Mr.. Van
Torp, working carefully On. his upper
lip, under his right nostril.
Il shall tell you that you are a bar
barian." retorted the voice.
We'll, that doesn't hurt" answered
Mr.. Van Torp.
He heard a snort of scorn on the
other side and there was silence
again. But before long. as he got
away from his upper lip with the
razor, he unconsciousry began to whis-
tie again, and he must have made the
same mistake as before, for he was
interrupted by a deep groan Of pain
from the next Q
Not feeling very well?" he inquired
in a one Of dry jocularIty. stomach
upset?"