Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-07
The Daily
Short Story
THE BELL PLANO.
BY Ottilia F. Pfeiffer.

Which means give up thinking
and live only to eat and Sleep"
submitted Ellis Warren disconso-
lately.
That's about it. You viii have
to change if you continue to poster
your brain with inventions. OF
course something easy, idle, enter
tanning, a pleasure instead of q
task, is all right.
So Ellis Warren went down to
Litheon, pretty countryside ham
let, and found just the place that
suited him-a rough, but comfort
able summer bungalow with a spa
ciOus porch, trout stream at the
door, the grand old mountains back
of it
One day on a jaunt he passed
| through the county seat and was
attracted by a sale going on at the
instigations of the local hotelkeep-
er. A stranded company had be-
come delinquent and boniface was
realizing on their effects at auction.
The odds and ends of trumpery did
not greatly attract Warren until a
string of musical bells was offered.
! They comprised the outfit of some
unfortunate artist, their clear, ring
ing tones pleased him and he bid
them in.
Just the thing" he unused with
satisfaction. Il see my way clear
to enjoy some inventive occupation
for week or two, building a bell
piano"
The broad porch was transform
ed into a workshop. Warren's
knack as an inventive genius stood
him in good stead. He constructed
frame, supplied it with broad
wooden keys, connected them with
spring wires to the bells fastened
against his homemade sounding
board and had an experimental
concert all to himself.
The result was most pleasing.
Not only were the bells superior
in timber, and resonance, but
there was a mellow echo to their
vibrations that pierced the sur
rounding woodland and died away
in the most exquisite melody.
One afternoon Warren awoke in
the hammock just in the humor to
put on a tune at his bell piano.
Seated before it he struck out 4
simple pretty dance tune. Half
way through with it he turned at
the sound of merry childish voices.
CHANGING over to a nearby clearing
he made out half a dozen little fig
ures dancing in time with the mu-
sic. They wore garlands of flow
ers and nearby was their chaperon,
a lovely young girl of about eigh-
teen. She waved her hand in
rhythmn with the music and smiled
indulgently upon her little brood,
evidently on picnic lark. In the
hazy, ambient air the picture of
grace and beauty seemed almost
unreal to Warren. He ceased play
ing. Two audacious little ones
came running up to the porch.
"Oh, dear, mister!" pleaded one
of them, please don't stop the
beautiful music" and after resum-
ing at the bell piano and pausing
later, Warren found that the entire
group, the young lady included, had
come directly up to the porch. Her
expressive face showed genuine |
pleasure as she said:
How can we thank you for this |
unexpected treat, and what beauti- |
full harmonies your strange instru-
ment produces"
Warren invited his welcome Wis |
itors to the screened porch. Tho /
companionship put him |
on his mettle There were lemons
and ice on hand, an unopened box
OF chocolates, and soon he had his |
juvenile friends in high delight, |
while he conversed with Miss Ava /
Dallas.
How I would like dear Harold .
to hear your wonderful musical
she spoke longingly. He
is my brother, a cripple, and loves |
music. | think he could learn to
play your bell piano, with its broad
keys and simple scale. Which re-
suited in Warren insisting that
Harold be brought upon the scene
the next day. All the gloom OF [
helpless illness left the Swallowed
face of the afflicted lad as he heard
the wonderful piano. He acted like
a new being when, after an hours
effort, he was able to pick out quite
a perfect tune.
Then Warren became regular
visitor at the handsome country
and one day he made
Harold frantic with delight as he
had the bell piano conveyed to the
cripple's home. you see, an in
ventor tires of his toy once his
work is DONE" he insisted, and
you enjoy it so much. Take it as
4 welcome gift"
ooh, Mr.. Warren!" spoke Ava,
him near the river one
lay, you don't know what you
have done to brighten the life of
Harold. There was a war meeting
1t the village last evening, and
papa arranged to have the bell
piano and Harold taken there. And
Harold played all the patriotic
,unes, and just thrilled the audi
snce, and he is so proud and happy
% think that, helpless as he is, he
an go about the country and stir
Up sentiment for liberty"
"Ahai Sinking instructions, are
rou" challenged Doctor Burt,
Meeting Warren on q city street
ar a little after that
"Oh, three months have made a
lew man of mel" declared bronzed,
glowing-faced Warren. I'm
n town to arrange for my mar
'iage. Doctor, you put me up
against health, happiness and
ovely wife with your glorious pre-
and Ava expects to thank
'ou when you come to our we'd
ling"