Evening star., 1922-01-15

CAY. he almost had me choked DIP.
~ Even Barry was staring sober At
him. AS for Madame Roster, she
made no bones about wipinG away
F, the tears.
"Ah, my poor friend. how unjust is
! fate" says she. But stop! Attended,
moi, signor To US you must play.
Quick! Your violin, your music. Now
we shall hear it."
"Sure, sure. echoes Inez and Mrs.
| Lindgren.
+; So. after little more urging. Bar
doni goes to his room and brings out
his old violin.
"A Raditzi. true, genuine" says he.
patting the instrument. Il bring eet
on the steamer, with little else. And
now, the duet from the first act"
I'm no judge Of such things. but it
sounded like the real thing to me. It's
catchy sort of piece, and the old boy
played it with lot Of zip and -four
ishes. Anyway. l was impressed. So
were the others. They applauded
wildly. All but Barry. He was smil-
ing knowingly when I nudged him.
Then he whispered something behind
his hand.
| "Eh?" says l.
"From .Rigoletto, says he. Got his
nerve with him, hasn't he"
You don't mean." says I, that the
old boy is putting something over
on us?"
Absolutely" says Barry.
OF course, we didn't give him away.
He was having too good time, and
so were the others. Inez was posi-
lively beaming. So was Madame Ro-
sier. She toasted Signor Bardoni in
the last of the wine and made little
speech assuring him that some day
his genius would be discovered and
that once more he would be rich and
famous So the party ended late and
was voted a great success.
Needing a little fresh air, told
Barry to wait until I slipped on a
coat and hat and I'd walk a few
| blocks with him. We had stopped
| in the lower hallway while Barry
! lighted a cigarette. when he heard
footsteps behind us. It was Bardoni.
Excuse" says he, "but Il could
not sleep until had spoken again"
"Yes?" says Barry.
'aThat which I played" went on
Bardoni. ''You knew, eh?"
Couldn't help it," says Barry. TITS
an old favorite of mine"
III am shamed," says Bardont,
"to tell such lies to frien's who have
| been SO kind. But eet-eet was the
wine. Feet get in my head. and make
me think I have compose great opera.
Yes. before I have said I was big man
back in Milano. Me. who only played
in cheap wine rooms. All, 1t was
| wrong to do"
| And all that about the Malatesta,
and getting out Of jail and escaping
on the steamer" says Barry. WAS
that fiction, too?"
ssN1oT everything" says BardonL
IN ..Me, I was friend to the Malates-
tas. have to run away. But the great
opera-I don't write him, never. Just
make him up in my mind. Feet was
that wine which was warm. Yes. You
| must forgive"
"That's the easiest thing do" says
Barry. IF I'd had as much Of that
chateau stu as you got away with
might have told a few fairy tales
| myself"
! sAnd you. Mees Dodge" says Bar.
/, doni. turning to me. you will not
tell your SO kind sister. eh?"
'Never a word" says /. This is
the first real unselfsh evening Ines
has had in a year, and I wouldn't
spoil it for farm. Good night Sig
nor. guess we've all enjoyed your
| birthday"
And with that the old boy climbed
back upstairs.
"Rummy old scout, eh?" says Barry.
81 know" says I. IAN italian. too.
But quite as human as II he'd been
born in Minnesota, or Utica, N. 7. I'm
glad we gave him such q good time.
too. almost wish I'd thought Of 1t
myself"
ro..-,s..s soo0 tr~ a>,uu Fnr,a