Putnam patriot., 1913-09-05

waves of hair. were more noticeable than ever as she sat there, controlling the exquisite harmonies. Even Mrs. Blackwell stopped fanHi== and hooked; interested. Then she whispered to Mrs. Bowman: "A very sweet young girl. That's pretty piece she's play ing" Mrs. Blackwell was sweet and commonplace and old-fashioned.
 Mrs. Parker Bowman sat up with a pink glow in her cheeks and a light in her eyes. She began to plan how she might keep this acquisition and ex. ploit her among her friends. It was her delight to bring out new features in her entertainments.
 'swe shall simply keep you playing until you drop from weariness," she announced eestatieally. when the last wailing. sobbing. soothing chord had died away; and the other ladies mur- mured. How delightfull" and whis- pered their approval
 The girl smiled and rippled into a Chopin Valse. under cover of which those who cared to could talk in low tones. Afterwards the musician dashed into the brilliant movement of Beet hoven Sonata.
 It was just as she was beginning Ru- binstein's exquisite tone portrait. Kamennoi-ostrow, that the gentlemen came in.
 Tryon Dunham had had his much de- sired talk with the famous judge. but it had not been about law.
 They had been drawn together bv mutual consent, each discovering that the other was watching the young stranger as she left the dining room.
 She is charming" said the old man, smiling into the face of the younger. ''ls she an intimate friend?"
 II hope so" stammered Dunham. That is. I should like to have her consider me so."
 "Ah!' said the old man, looking deep into the others eyes with a kindly smile, as if he were recalling pleas ant experiences of his own. You are a fortunate fellow. l hope you may 1 succeed in making her think so. Do you know, she interests me more than most young women. and in some way l cannot disconnect her with an oc- currence which happened in my office this afternoon"
 The young man showed a deep inter- est in the matter, and the judge told the story again, this time more in de- tail.
 They drew a little apart from the rest of the men. The host who had been warned by his wife to give young Dunham an opportunity to talk with the judge saw that her plans were succeeding admirably.
 When the music began in the other room the judge paused a moment to listen, and then went on with his story
 There Is a freight elevator just op- posite that left door of my office. and i somehow l cannot but think it had something to do with the girls disap- 1 pearance, although the door was closed and the elevator was down on as I can find out"
 The young man asked eager ques- tions, feeling in his heart that the story might in some way explain the mystery of the young woman in the other room.
 Suppose you stop in the office to- morrow said the judge. Perhaps you'll get glimpse of her. and then bear me out in the statement that she's like your friend. By the way, ] who is making such exquisite music? Suppose we go and investigate. MT. l Bowman. will you excuse us if we fol- 1 low the ladies? We are anxious to l hear the music at closer range"
 The other men rose and followed. The girl did not pause or look up as they came in. but played on. while the company listened with the most rapt and wondering look. She was ] playing with an empressement which i could not fail to command attention. i Tryon Durham, standing just behind the judge, was transfixed with amaze ment. That this delicate girl could | bring forth such an entrancing volume | of sound from the instrument was a l great surprise. That she was so ex- l quisite an artist filled him with kind 
 though she belonged to him. At last she played Liszt's brilliant Hungarian Rhapsody. her slender hands taking the tremendous chords 1 and octave runs with a precision and rapidity that seemed inspired. The final crash came in a shower of liquid | jewels of sound, and then she turned to look al him, her one friend in that company of strangers.
 He could see that she had been play i ing under a heavy strain. Her face ! looked weary and flushed. and her eyes were brilliant with feyerish excite ment. Those eyes seemed to be plead l ing with him now to set her free from 1 the kindly scrutiny of these good hearted, curious strangers. They gath cred about her in delight, pouring their questions and praises upon her. "T1 VTT