The Washington times., 1920-03-13

SdiiSo a eSAAeS
mean anything to Leon. but
- the word pay was eloquent.
Evidently his playing had been ap-
preciated.
other men and women crowded
about him. looking at him with
curiosity, and asking dozens Of
questions all at the Same time
Mrs. Van de venter answered most
Of them.
HIS ears were flooded with ex-
elamations of wonderful" "a gift
Of the gods" mo education" poor
people," ''how do you account for
it?" and similar expressions.
At tho end Of it all Leon was
sent home again in the cream
eolored car with a ffty-dollar bill
and a note to his parents inclosed
in an envelope which smelled Of
heliotrope.
Leon noted the pleasant odor
and concluded that it contained
good news
He was deposited a. his front
door with little ceremony and much
haste. His father and mother came
down to meet him, after a long
evening spent in speculation and
building Of more castles.
Mrs. Kantor nearly smothered
him with kisses, and all the way
through tho shop and to the stairs
piled him with questions he could
have no hope of answering. His
one idea was sleep: he handed over
the fifty-dollar bill and the letter
and proceeded to strip of his
Abrahm fondled the bill as
though 1t were a living thing OF
extreme delicacy, while his wife
opened the envelope. Leon was al
ready in bed. For once in her life
his mother wanted him to stay
awake She sat on the edge OF the
cot and held his hand under her
arm.
was 1t grandT' she begged.
ct wanta go to sleep, ma
She slipped her arm out and let
him have his way. rising with the
letter, followed by the eyes of her
husband. 1t might have been writ
ten in Greek or Chinese. Mrs. Kan
tor shook her head.
.Tzzy will spell it out for us in
the morning" she said.
Mr.. Kantor nodded. The art Of
counting was so far his only lit
erary attainment.
A Difficult Task.
The letter was beyond the bud
ding powers Of Icy, and Mr.. Kan
tor carried it hopefully to the
friendly shop of Solomon Ginsberg.
That gentleman deciphered it with
difficulty, while Abrahm listened.
Its purport as translated to Sarah
BODIED well for the house Of Kantor.
Mrs. Van de Venter. battered by
Icons ability, as foreshadowed by
herself. had the pleasure Of an
nouncing that a friend who liked
TO encourage talent, but who didn't
care to have his name known,
would pay for lessons for the
young prodigy-whatever that
meant-and Mrs. Van de Venter
undertook to make all the arrange
ments.
She signifed her intention of
running down to Allen street soon
to talk with Icons mother, and
thanked the young performer for
having made such a creditable
showing.
She was as good as her word.
Before month had passed Leon
was taking lessons of the best in
structor in New York at the ex-
pense OF his benefactor. The
teacher charged what he pleased
and took whom he pleased. His
acceptance OF the boy was a tri-
umph in itself.
After he had heard him play, he
nodded approval
HE will be a big man, yes?~
asked Sarah.
III nc works maybe" said the
other, who had seen prodigies be-
fore.
The Kantors impressed upon
Leon the need OF work, but Leon
because he would rather play than
eat. did not need urging.
When he had reached the age OF
seventeen Leon Kantor was famous
from one end Of the country to the
other, but Allen street knew his
family no more. His childhood
dream OF the apple blossoms had
long Deen Feahty' NJ 'Wonty no
was able to provide Handsomely for
his brothers and his sister Esther
and the boy man whose mind was
the mind OF a baby.
Abrahm went about in constant
fear something would happen to
this genius with the magic fingers
to stop tho flow OF gold that was
making them so comfortable.
The Gall 81 Europe.
The days OF the brass shop seem
ed lost In an unbelievable past. This
msn who had never known moro
than a single crowded room was
now Able to sit At tho breakfast