Evening star., 1922-04-23

follow up the old things history"
Ramsey. after a visit to the bank.
took a taxi to the address which
Pardus had furnished him.
The store" proved to be a dank.
black little hole on one of the sordid
streets of the lower East Side. con-
tanning a rather scanty stock Of for
eign crockery, embroideries. tarnished
metal ornaments and. similar junk OF
various descriptions.
Pardus rushed out of the door to
meet him. His grin widened to its
utmost expansion when Ramsey
counted out the fresh, cracking bank
notes into his grtmy; clutching fin-
gers But had Wallace been less alb
sorbed he could hardly have failed to
notice . covert. satiric gleam which
crept into the little mans eyes when
the transaction was closed.
You are one of the fortunate of
the earth. MI Ramsey" There was
a note of underlying mockery in his
voice. you are the owner of \
Stradivari."
Ramsey was consumed with An
eaxer anxiety to deliver the violin
to the person for whom 1t was In
tended. He dragged himself away
from the shopkeepsr's conGratula-
tiens and. stopping his taxi 1t tho
arst public telephone booth, called
up Rose Edgewater.
Adopting as casual tone as be
could manage. he asked her il she
would be at homo that afternoon: 1t
was then almost l o'clock. Learning
that she would be in. he then ven-
to see her alone; there was a matter
on which he particularly wanted her
opinion.
I'm fattered," she answered; mo
one ever thinks my opinion worth
having. You must tell me all about
it over a cup of tea. and 1 will see
that every one else Is vigorously
barred out"
A little before he was at her doer,
the violin in long box under his
arm, and a moment later he was
holding her hand.
'It looks like a summer garden in
here" he said, glancing about at the
quantity. of flowers in the charming
room.
Eyes: Mr. Achison sent q whole con-
servatory here this morning. Stm-
with glance at the box which he had
laid on the piano-"there is always
room for more flowers.
"oh, don't try to put mo at my ease.'
he laughed. There are no flowers in
that box"
."Thsn, what is it?.'
~wait and see.'' he returned as he be-
xan to unite the strings. II told you I
wanted your opinion on somstaing,
didn't I,''
BY this time her curiosity was
aroused. "Your fingers are all thumbs" ;"
she said impatiently. Here, let me
open it," =
He waved her away, prolenSing his
task for the delight Of tantaaia1nG her.
but at last lifted off the lid OF the box
and drew out the metaa-hound case
within.
"why. it is q violin" she exclaimed!
then leaping to swift eoneluaoh:
.sYou have bsen learning to play and
never told me?"
"Not +. I couldn't play note, if my
life depended on it; neither do want
to learn. It Is enough, II you will let
me listen to you now and then" He
held out the violin to her. '"Try 1t,
won't you?" =. "a.
CHE took it up slowly. revereaty,
- her fingers caressinE It; she knew
from the very thrum Of the strings as
she tuned it that this. was no ordinary
violin. Then as she began to play,
trenor raal over her whole body. She
stopped and hooked at him with lam
bent Hight in her eyes.
"oh,, she breathed, where did you
every ind anything hike thts."
Il found It for YOU. I've heen locking
and lookin. for one worthy Of you; and
than this one came 20 ma practically
out Of, the clouds. It Is an hcnsst-to-
soodness Stradivarius; really 1t is.,'.