The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-09-17
a CHARMING studio, in the Lat

- in quarter of Paris, sheltered
Three Musketeers of the
Brush" Talbot Wynne, or Taffy, a
big, fair, blue-eyed young Yorkshire
man, who had been soldier, but was
at last following his wish to be an art
list; then Sandy McAllister, or the
Laird as his friends called him, in
tended by his parents for a solicitor,
but who was in Paris painting Torea-
doris and singing French ballads, with
decided Scotch accent.
1.-THE third he was Little Billie" or
William Bagot, pleasing young Eng
lishman from London. To live and
work in Paris had been Billie's dream,
and at last it was reality, he and his
two friends having taken the studio
together. He often looked at these
friends and wondered If anyone, liv-
ing or dead, ever had two such glori-
GUS chums His absolute belief in all
they said and did touched them ex-
ceedingly, and they in, turn loved him
for his affectfonate disposition and
lively ways; and recognizing his
quickness, keenness and delicacy in all
matters Of form and color, they had
also great admiration for him.
On showery April day the three
friends were in the studio, each occu-
pied to his taste, Taffy vigorously
swinging a pair of Indian clubs, the
Laird sitting before his easel painting,
and Billie kneeling on the broad divan
before the great studio window was
gazing out over the roofs of Paris
specializing upon the future of himself
and his friends.
These speculations were rudely in
terrupted by a loud knocking at the
uoor and two men entered first a tall,
pony Individual of any age between
thlrty and forty-f1ve, of Jewish aspect,
"eil-teatured, but sinister. He had
Dold, brilliant black eyes, with long,
neaVy lids. He went by the name of
SVengaii, spoke fluent French, but
with German accent. His companion
was little, swarthy young man, pos
Sloly gypsy; under his arm he car
rled a fiddle and bow.
SVengali at once suggested that they
nave some music and, seating himself
ut the piano, ran his fingers up and
down the keys with the easy power of
a master. Then he fell to playing
Chopin's Impromptu in A fiat so
beautifully that Little Billie's heart
was nigh to bursting with emotion and
uehght He never forgot that I'M
promptu, which he was destined to
near again one day in very strange
circumstances.
Then the two, Svengali and his COM
pan1on Gecko, made music together so
uiVinety, indeed, that even Taffy and
the Laird were almost as wild in their
enthusiasm as Billie, but with an en-
'husiasm too deep for words.
suddenly there came another inter-
rupuon, loud knuckle-rapping at the
outer door, and voice of great vol
ulhe' that might belong to any sex, or
even an angel, uttered the British
1nlkman's yodel, milk below" and
oetore anyone could say "entrez,"
se nSure appeared framed IN the
gloom of the antechamber; the figure
VI a very till and fully developed
soung girl, clad in the gray overcoat OF
a French infantry soldier; below this
uere showed short striped pettieoat,
"uu beneath 1t were visible her bare
"nite ankles, the toes losing them
serves in a huge pair of mems list
slippers.
Whiie not strictly beautiful, the girl
n, nau great charm; she was really much
Ae a healthy young English boy.
S,oslng the door behind her she said,
mSttully: "Ye're all e nglish, now,
steht yer heard the music and
Mooght I'd just come in for a bit and
pass the time of day; you don't mind2