The Washington times., 1912-05-05

turning around. Certainly. But you
are quite sure you cannot play by ear?
Not one tune? How strange!'
He vanished through the red hang
ings. Fifteen seconds must have passed;
then l suddenly found myself regretting
that Holstein did not play by ear. l
should have liked to hear him play by
ear, In fact, l should have liked to go
to the piano myself and play by ear. /
discovered-without any surprise at the
time-that, after all, l was really fond
Of music-passionately fond OF music.
At the same time Holstein, who was
sitting on the revolving plano stool, be-
came uneasy. He scratched his head,
and his little pig eyes blinked wonder
ingly. Then he wheeled around, and the
man who had sworn half minute be-
fore that he could not play a tune by
ear was striking the keys of the piano
like a master.
sat there. too thunderstruck to
think. Out Of the corner of my eye
saw Bellatr with a glass Of brandy in his
| hand and cynical, triumphant smile
| on his face.
Holstein paid no attention. On he
thundered, and the music was like the
marching past of a grand army. At in
| tervals l caught a glimpse of the Ger
| mans face. 1t was transformed. All
| the coarseness seemed to have vanished
from 1t, and save for the drops OF sweat
| which stood on his brow his expression
| was that of devotee lost in the
cleaning OF his religion.
AS for me, my condition, unnoticed at
| the moment, is a marvel to me now. I
| loved the music. My hair seemed to rise
| at the dramatic power OF IT.: my spine
crept, my whole being cried out to min
| gle with II, roll with It. lave in 1t, and
listen to 1t forveer and ever. 1t seemed
to be part of me-my heart-my soul
= something in me. l seemed to know,
before 1t came. what the next note, the
next chord. the next movement, would
be. Then there came discordant crash
] and the music StODDed.
"Gettys! Gettys!' l heard Bellairs
voice crying. This is triumph! Get
tvs! Gettys!'
I suddenly awoke, dazed and Mortified
| My dislike of music rushed back upon
me, as the hatred of liquor will sting
the debauche at dawn.
At the same time there came a dis
cordant ripple of piano keys and a thud
Holstein had fallen from the stool and
lay face downward on the carpet. Bel
lair rushed to his side.
! Tut he Chirruped. THE mans
dead of heart failure"
The room spun before my eyes for d
moment. Then l rushed out to tho
Landing and upstairs to S,o5E nv an1 room
and rushing downstairs again.
On the middle floor. with the light ot
the Red Room flooding his person. stool
Bellair. He was pale. but calm.
which lid not recognize as my own.
lie bowed and stepped oside.
every well. lie said, quietly. 1T wa!
an accident. l can RELY on you, Gettys
Put 1t is well that you should not b'
involved. Let me know where l car
find YOU"
Mrs. Anselm opened the, door to lie
me out into the pelting rain. Her facC
nHd the sane stern look of duty. self
sacrifice and condemnation.
"Good-by, Mrs. Anselm." l managed
to saw.
"GGod-by, sir" she replied. coldly
As / rushed down the steps to th'
payment l thought | heard a hYst""
ical voice cry above the hiss OF tn
| storm:
And God keep, YOU. sir"
| sent for my things next dav and OK
rcdited my departure for the West In
dies.
| never saw Marcus Bellair again. no
have ever had any desire to see him.
Continuation of This story Wi
Be Found In Tomorrow
IaHue Of The TlmeR.