Evening star., 1939-11-12

turned to josef.
There it is, Wilhelm" Josef said
anxiously. placing the violin in his
hands What do you think of lt:'
Boennig turned the violin over
slowly in his long fingers. His hawk
like eyes moved deliberately over the
surface as if to find crack in the wood
or damage to the VarnlSh. but his
fingers caressed the bold. sweeping
lines of the beautiful scroll and Lucia
heard him murmur something about
"a knife in the hands of a master
craftsman" Her excitement was as
great as Josef's, who burst forth with.
Speak. Wilhelm! What is it?'
Well" he said in maddenlngly
measured tones, its SO dirty | can
hardly see it, But" - he paused again,
holding it at one angle. then another,
calculating. estimating, comparing ITS
proportions with some unseen model
''it is, without doubt. a Guarnerius.' -
Wheel shouted Josef Lucia felt
herself enveloped in bear hug and
swung off her feet.
Not so fast, Josef" he cautioned.
you know just because an lnstru-
ment lss old and by fine maker, 1t
does not always make for value.
have shown you, myself. in this very
shop, Stradvarl, Guarncrl, and Amatl
that wouldn't glf you nickel apiece
for. Cracked and broken they were,
with no voice left, and the varnish -
that glorious Italian varnlsh - all
gone When the varnlsh lss gone, don't
ever bring it to Wilhelm Boennig"'
Lucia saw Josef's triumph vanish.
He grabbed Boennig. tapped the sur
face OF his violin hysterlcally, "4ou
think this is not the original varnish"
Boennig shrugged, moved slowly to
his desk to pick up bottle of xylene.
He wet small cloth with it and began
cleaning tiny spot on the top table.
Instantly that spot shone like pool
OF molten gold. Boennig gave low
chuckle of satisfaction.
mo other varnish like it-you see!'
He held it up for them to catch its
light 1T has depth - it is par. of the
violin BY golly. it is the violin! was
afraid 1t was damaged" He turned,
and Lucia caught flash of guarded
CUNNING IN the old ewes
Look, Josef" he said, If you want
to sell this violin III give you ten
thousand dollars" He made wide ges-
ture with his hands. Maybe am too
generous, but want you should have
the best price. because like you"
What did tell you, Lucia? Now
we can be married."
But. Mr. Boennlg." put in Lucia
quickly, 'one of our concert artists
recently paid forty thousand dollars
for a Guarnerlus"'
Newspaper talk" he snorted. "You
see - he Indicated the open safe
where rank on rank of valuable viollns
visibly reposed -" got too many vlo-
Inns. but always want to help Josef -
ever since he first came up to Philly -
little boy to study music"
"A little boy" repeated Lucia to
herself. "Why. that S ltr' She looked at
Josef as if seeing him for the first time.
"He would let Boennig cheat him."
Again, like her own father. he had
never grown up.
Josef flushed and happy, wrapped
his violin in a piece of silk, "I'll bring
1t back" He snapped the lid shut
Bring it back" Lucia and Booming
spoke together in their amazement.
Nov, josef" wheedled Boennig,
why don't you leave it in my safe?
You shouldn't carry it around SO care
less
Yes" said Lucia, leave it here
until you decide what you want to do. y
81 can't leave it. | promised Papa
I'd send it back after the appraisal,
because he promised Uncle Heinrich
he could play it at social. I'll bring it
in Monday and collect the money"