Evening star., 1922-04-23
Y Y ALLACE RAMSEY frown-
M ingiy studied an engraved
" card which had just been


, card which had just been
| delivered at his door:
Mr.. Haywood Achison requests the
pleasure of the company of Mr.. Wal
lace Ramsey on Tuesday evening.
January IS, at o'clock. Music"
I'm Ramsey's mind the invitation
aroused puzzled conjecture and more
than little suspicion. The invita-
tions, all the world knew, had
been out several days. This was not
an ordinary party. but musical
event, the first of two evenings
which Achison was giving to sig
nalise the initial appearance in this
country of the great Norwegian
violinist. Erland. Consequently. Achi-
aon must have been besieged with
requests for cards, and yet he, RAM
sey. the most unlikely person in the
world to be. so favored. was included
among the guests for the premiere.
1t was Achison's silken way Of
Daring him to be present. and Ram
sey was temperamentally incapable
of not taking him up. So with
frightened lips he wrote his accept
ance, wondering the while what new
move Achison was planning in the
battle of wits that went on between
them. He never doubted Achisen's
purpose effectually TO silence the ad-
versary who, like a hound of destiny,
was forever swapping at his heels.
and, on his own part. Ramsey's de-
termination to show Achison to the
world as an astute and accomplished
crook was as sternly ineNorable.
Moreover, the deadlock situation
between these two had recently be-
come complicated by the infusion of
q new element-a woman.
Rose Edgewater had drifted into
the lives of Achison and Ramsey as
lightly as thistledown. and had es-
tablfshed herself with permanence
not usually associated with anything
SO ethereal. Achison posed as & sort
of guardian to her. The invalid aunt
with whom she lived was client of
his, and, at time when their for
tunes were at an extremely low ebb.
he had come to the rescue and by
his legal ingenuity had recovered for
them a sum of money which enabled
them to live in comfort. He had also
been the first to recognize the girls
unusual musical gifts. She was
violinist, and be had given her in
valuable advice and had aided her in
securing the best instruction.
Ramsey. ON his side. adopted no
pose. He had fallen deeply in love
with Rose Edgewater. and he made
no secret of it.
Thus the affair stood on the night
Of Achison's party.
"A Gibson. standing just inside the
wide entrance to the ballroom.
satisfied all the requirements CT a
celebrity. He was the famous law
yer, the patron of the arts. the fas-
tidious bon vivant. all merged for
the moment into the gracious and
graceful host extending = delightful
welcome to his guests.
Behind him, at tho end of the room.
a platform had been erected 1t was
covered with a Persian rug and had
nothing else on it but u tall ma
hoSany cabinet for sheet-musie. In
front of the platform and few feet
away from it was q concert piano, at
which an accompanist was already
sitting.
As Ramsey paused to take the
hand which Achison held out to him
and murmured a word or two of con-
ventional greeting. a musical critic
who stood near called out to him:
Hello, Ramsey! Ill bet you're
going to ask Achison il he can put
you on to the trail of that Strad
you're hunting for" He chuckled, as
if at a good joke. "Save your breath,
my boy. Our friend hero was nat
! urally one of the first persons l went
rest, he says there's practically no
such thing out of close captivity"
Fascinating pursuit, gathering
rare musical Instruments" Achison'
commented blandly. "Are You col
lecting generally. Ramsey, or do you
specialize only in violins?"
There was q faint emphasis on the
. made Ramsey aware that the lawyer
was satisfied that the violin was
sought as a present for Rose Edge
water.
oh, he's modest. Just a single
Ssrad is all he's set his heart on"
The critic was still chuckling. Amy
little thing like the roc's egg or the
fountain of eternal youth doesn't tn
tsrest him at all-does it. old dsar?"
Ramsey turned sharply away. with
10 muttered: SILLY ass"
Still scowling, he made his way
down through the chairs. looking
right and left for Rose. And his face
quickly cleared. for almost at once he
saw her. Who could miss her. indeed?
She was like rare and fragile vase
surrounded by earthenware-a star of
youth and loveliness, he thought. with
an unwonted fight OF fancy, among
all these serious thinkers.
There was a vacant chair beside
hers, and he made haste to take it.
asking perfunctorily If it belonged to
any one.
ITS Mr.. Achison's' abe said. but he
won't want it until every one has ar
rived"
I'm praying they'll all be late. then.
rsn me,"-he turned to her-"isn't
the fact that a rank outsider in music
like myself has received one Of these
priceless Invitations due entirely to
YOU: The others. I know. were sent
ant nsa rJy a week before I rot mine.