Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-08-31

The Bass Viol
Players
BY AID SCHUSTER
c009.g9S0oc00ecco9c09ssS
(CopyrignIO'

(CopyrigntD
uTIiEY'RE always queer, the bass
viol players, but old Bascomh
is BIZ the queerest I've ever seem
The cUrnet was talking TO the llute
and it was the bass viol who was the
subject.
"He's the sort who tells nobody his
business and all the time you could
see he Is having one fearful time
Why, the man never buys new clothes
aud is wasting away. don't believe
he has enough to eat and nobody ever
saw him spend cent. What do you
suppose he can be doing with the
money!
VI don't know" said the Ilute, but
I'm going to offer him loan. Bias
comb is not exactly chummy sort
never saying a word, but he's brave
one"
When the offer was made Bascomb
smiled
"Thank you. | appreciate your mo
tive, but | don't need money" The
way he smiled, the flute coniided later
showed lie was not telling the truth.
The seedlness of the bass ylol
threatened his position. The orches
ira tried to give Bascomb hint in
time and II was said the drums helped
him brush up his suit to look more
presentable. Bascomb grew thinner
and whittier and II looked as II the
end was near.
THE boss will spot him out as
has-been, and It will be finale for
Bascomb. Wonder what he will dor
ITS time we did something the
drums spoke earnestly. Did you no
tlce last night he slipped for the first
time In his playing. The mans weak,
too weak TO stand up under the strain.
Boys we must go to him, make him
help us, or see him tossed out when
he seems to need money SO badly"
So they went, an lnforma' commit
tee of embarrassed musician bent on
helping the bass viOl out of his trou-
bles. Bascomb was touched They
saw him tremble and the tears start
TO his eyes and, for moment, II ap-
peared he would break down. The
old man drew himelf erect and smiled.
"rhe offer, your friendship, II Is
priceless. | have seemed unappreci-
alive and distaQt, but-well, II is my
way. Believe me, | thank you, but,
well, the ordeal Is over | am resign
ing tomorrow" Another bass viOl ap-
peared in the orchestra pit, and old
Bascom was all but forgotten One
night in the restaurant where they
met after the show, the drums took
the floor.
"DO you know who | met today?
Well, BascOmbl didn't know him ut
first because he was dressed like a
swell and walking with a beautiful
young girl. stared and stared, SO
hard, guess, the girl noticed me and
called his attention. Then BascOmb
smiled, took my hand and introduced
me 10 his daughter.
"'llere Is former friend of mine,
Lily, he said, 'One Of a company OF
very good friends Then they we're
gone What do you suppose 1t
mcans''
~ know" 1t was the flute who
spoke, 81 know, and have been keep
ing II to myself because, well,
thought lie might not like II talked
about You see | saw them and [
know the man, the man who married
his daughter, the Lily you met. List
rn, boys, If you would know what sort
of bnss vlOl we had"
"BascOmb was sending that girl to
college. He had job, good one In
an uptown Office and was putting the
girl through school in style. Then
they showed him out because he was
getting old, Did he take the girl out
Of SCHOOL, He came here, played In
the orchestra, starved himself, and
Kept the money going TO her, and all
the time she never knew he had lost
his job The man lived on crackers
and milk to put the girl through col
lege"
The orchestra was silent.
"And nOw?" some one spoke up,
NOW he seems prosperous"
"Yes, the girl married. and married
man who knows how to appreciate
man Ike our BascOnb. Happened
to be rich man and one who could
give his fatherIn.law n position. I'm
saying, now, bass vlOls are apt to be
queer but you can never tell what's
going ON inside fhpm