Show PLAY FIDDLE 2 PLAY 88 by thayer waldo 0 toy by mcclure no shaper service I 1 stood by the bed gazing athe DI the down pillows at 1110 old face upon lla maestro estro he be said slowly you do not know what you are doing this would rob your life of all joy A gentle smile played across the others features shadowy and waxen in the dim candlelight lulal my friend came the answer my life itself Is not tar far from the finale too long iong have I 1 struggled foolishly against oblivion the name of pietro Is without meaning today amon among this alien people my great wish now Is to spend the few years that are left me in ID peace and comfort at milan there Is but one way to make that possible ile he paused dl DI irano sank down upon the beds edge silent allent and shortly the other continued for twenty years lulal I 1 knew the joys of creation of acclaim and reward kings heard my playing the instruments I 1 fashioned were sought by great artists and pupils came to rao me from many cities now nil all that Is gone land and forgotten I 1 cm am an old man and in need why should I 1 complain it if I 1 roust must exchange one possession that Is dear to me for case and security in the evening of my days dl DI gestured helplessly but it Is so much more than that Is 1 he be cried this that has been treasured through twelve generations in your family with what can you hope to replace the happiness it has brought you 1 I have considered that tha too my friend replied calmly do not forget that these old hands once made violins as well the finest s of these I 1 still have bave the one which you called 1 11 I superba sup erbo fashioned after the stradivarius the soft smile came again as he added that shall comfort me luidl why a new bridge and B D string tor for 14 it and I 1 shall never know I 1 am not still fingering the otherl other 1 behind the old mans words dl DI sensed the hidden anguish the anticipation of great and irreparable loss lie he knew the other instrument marvelous replica though it was could never deplace the a in gl GI heart how gladly he mused would he give to this man who had taught him knowledge and beauty and wisdom in malc twice the sum the violin would bring 1 and yeti yet how hopeless to offer any aid beyond the service now asked of him abruptly he rose paced the tiny room once and halted again beside the bed there Is no alternative then he asked you are determined that I 1 shall find a purchaser moved a hand blue as watered milk in a slight gesture of deprecation re 1 I do not wish to trouble you ile he said bald if you should know 0 of f some one dl DI cut him off eap exp expostulating 9 my dear Ma maestro estrol 1 at least please spare me that to speak of trouble I 1 A shrug of distaste completed the thought there Is a man of whom I 1 know he went on willing and able to pay well for such an instrument but he be Is no musician only a pretentious trickster a fabulous salaried fiddler of clap strap tunes for the radio it the old man winced visibly then sighed a little and you he said might perhaps have spared me that although I 1 may not choose it would have been pleasant to fancy that some one worthy of again DI broke in now contrite Fori forgive lve me he cried 11 1 I should not have spoken but I 1 thought possibly to dissuade you at last I 1 see that I 1 was both foolish and unkind forget what I 1 have hava said perhaps after all I 1 am only prejudiced was once more serene it does not matter my friend he replied but tell me ine when could you see this man 1 I will go to him at once tonight at his studio said the other 1 I cannot thank you properly responded the maestro with quiet simplicity city and added you will find the violin upon the cabinet in the other room where I 1 keep all that la Is left me rising dl DI spoke gently very well good night old friend I 1 shall return in the morning the white hair waved upon the pillow as inclined hla his head without speaking dl DI went out closing the door bolding aside asid the black and silver draperies the servant said mister moreno will see gee you now di tucked the violin case beneath an arm and went past him into the studio at its tar far end a young man in a bizarre dressing gown turned from the windows and came forward dell deliberately ber youre mister dl DI I 1 believe he said tt it was not a question the tone was drawling with gitil a fringe of insolence dl DI bowed slightly yes he replied signor moreno I 1 have something which I 1 believe will interest you the other took a cigarette from a pocket case cam lit it and dropped on a blue leather divan well lets hear about it be ba said finally but you can drop the signor signer this italy im an american dl DI pranos francs smile was brief and bleak As you rou wish he replied placing the case upon the floor beside achain a chair he sat down 1 I have heard he continued that you are interested tn in purchasing a violin moreno regarded him through half shut lids a moment and answered perhaps it depends if it was just a strad I 1 wanted not hard bard to find the one I 1 buys got to be good dl DI fought for patience and an even tone 1 I understand that of course he said bald this he motioned downward happens to be such a one it Is owned by an old friend my teacher and a countryman of of mine ile he la Is aged in bitterest poverty and must part with it I 1 can assure you it Is an exquisite instrument no mere museum piece but a thing of glorious tone and perfect workmanship one of the real gems the other waved a languid hand impatiently come come dl DI he objected 1 I really dont need other mena opinions about a violin you know let me see it and play it ill tell you whether its grade A or not wordlessly dl DI stooped for the case and handed it across indifference in every movement moreno flipped open the lid and took out the instrument and then all carelessness was suddenly gone from his manner ills eyes gleamed as light struck softly from the smooth arid and mellow varnish his fingers caressed the beautifully barred back the scroll of delicate grace at last he be took up the bow and rose a new hint of verve in hla his bearing swiftly he tuned then with a flourish head bead tilted back he ran through a florid measure of introduction and launched launched into Il erberts gypsy love loe song the mans playing teemed with theatrics slurs double doable stops interpolated runs yet no mi could mar those strains incomparably rich and sweet for five minutes moreno subjected the instrument to every trick he knew yet always that good flood of pure melody poured forth unbroken the last faint whisper died away lie he put down the violin slowly and looked at dl striving for a casual expression ril buy bux lt it he said if the price Is right twelve thousand was the answer the instinct to haggle rose in moreno sought utterance and was submerged sider ged by his desire lie ile moved hla his shoulders and turned away toward a desk ill write you a check he said thank you dl replied adding to pietro Gi please moreno was playing again as dl DI went toward the doorway a a lidid crooning tremolo ot of play fiddle play ile he paused as the other turned back you may not have noticed said dl DI pran 0 but the bridge the bridge and the E string will need replacing soon the maestro signor signer intended to take tak e care of that but hewell it wont be necessary now |