The Holly chieftain., 1914-07-17
cHAPTERJl.-continued-

We shall simply keep you playing
until you drop from weariness." she
announced ecstatically. when the last
wailing. sobbing. soothing chord had
died away; and the other ladies' mur.
INJURED, How delightful" 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 a Beet.
hoven Sonata.
1t was Just as she was beginning Ru-
bnstein's exquisite tone portrait,
Kamernoi-Ostrow. that the gentlemen
came in.
Tryon Durham had had his much de-
sired talk with the famous Judge. but
1t had not been about law.
They had been drawn together by
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 Durham.
THAT is. l should like to have her
consider me So"
"Ah!" said the old man, looking deep
into the others eyes with kindly
smile. as If he were recalling pleas
ant experiences of his own. You are
fortunate fellow. I hope you may
succeed In making her think SO. Do
hn Int -,
most young women. and in some way
i cannot disconnect her with an oc-
currence which happened In my office
this afternoon"
The young man showed deep inter
est in the matter. and the Judge told
the story again. this time more in de-
tail
They drew little apart from the
rest of the men. The host, who had
been warned by his wife to give
young Durham 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 moment to
listen, and then went on with his
story.
There is freight elevator Just op-
posite that left door of my office. and
somehow l cannot but think it had
something to do with the girls disap-
pearance. although the door was
closed and the elevator was down on
the cellar floor all the time, as nearly
as | can find out"
The young man asked eager ques-
tons, 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
youll get glimpse of her, and then
pear 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. Mr.,
Bowman. will you excuse us II we fol-
low the ladies'? We are anxious to
hear the music at closer range"
The other men rose and followed.
Inc girl did not pause or look up
as they came in. but played on, while
the company listened with the most
''iN looh. SuS was
playing with an empressement which
Would not fall to command attention.
Tryon Dunham. standing Just behind
the judge. was transfixed with amaze
ment. That this delicate girl could
bring forth such an enhancing volume
Hf sound from the instrument was a
great surprise. That she was SO ex.
quisite an artist filed him with kind
OF intoxicating elation-it was as
though she belonged to him.
At last she played Liszts brilliant
. Hungarian Rhapsody. her slender
hands taking the tremendous chords
and octave runs with a precision and
rapidly that seemed inspired. The
fnal crash came in shower OF liouid
Jewels OF sound. and then she turned
to look at him. her one friend in that
company OF strangers.
He could see that she had been play
fns under a heavy strain. Her face
looked weary and flushed, and her ewes
were brilliant with feyerish excite.
ment Those eyes seemed to be plead
ing with him now to set her free from
the kindly scrutiny of these good.
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