the fifth string-第10部分

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to　the　stage…door　of　the　Academy；　she

appeared　more　fascinating　than　ever　before。



She　was　sitting　in　his　dressing…room

waiting　for　him　when　he　arrived。　He

had　aged　years　in　a　day。　His　step　was

uncertain；　his　eyes　were　sunken　and　his

hand　trembled。　His　face　brightened　as

she　arose；　and　Mildred　met　him　in　the

center　of　the　room。　He　lifted　her　hand

and　pressed　a　kiss　upon　it。



‘‘Angelo；　dear；''　she　said　in　repentant　tone；

‘‘I　am　sorry　I　pained　you　this　afternoon；

but　I　am　jealous；　so　jealous　of　you。''



‘‘Jealous？''　he　said　smilingly；　‘‘there

is　no　need　of　jealousy　in　our　lives；　we

love　each　other　truly　and　only。''



‘‘That　is　just　what　I　think；　we　will

never　doubt　each　other　again；　will　we？''



‘‘Never！''　he　said　solemnly。



He　had　placed　his　violin　case　on　the

table　in　the　room。　She　went　to　it　and

tapped　the　top　playfully；　then　suddenly

said：　‘‘I　am　going　to　look　at　your　violin；

Angelo；''　and　before　he　could　interfere；

she　had　taken　the　silken　coverlet　off　and

was　examining　the　instrument　closely。

‘‘Sure　enough；　it　has　five　strings；　the

middle　one　stands　higher　than　the　rest

and　is　of　glossy　blackness。　Uncle　Sanders

was　right；　it　is　a　woman's　hair！



‘‘Why　is　that　string　made　of　hair？''

she　asked；　controlling　her　emotion。



‘‘Only　a　fancy；''　he　said；　feigning

indifference。



‘‘Though　you　would　not　remove　it　at　my　wish

this　afternoon；　Angelo；　I　know　you　will　not

refuse　to　play　on　it　for　me　now。''



He　raised　his　hands　in　supplication。

‘‘Mildred！　Mildred！　Stop！　do　not　ask　it！''



‘‘You　refuse　after　I　have　come

repentant；　and　confessing　my　doubts　and

fears？　Uncle　Sanders　said　you　would

not　play　upon　it　for　me；　he　told　me　it

was　wrapped　with　a　woman's　hair；　the

hair　of　the　woman　you　love。''



‘‘I　swear　to　you；　Mildred；　that　I　love　but　you！''



‘‘Love　me？　Bah！　And　another　woman's

tresses　sacred　to　you？　Another

woman's　pledge　sacred　to　you？　I　asked

you　to　remove　the　string；　you　refused。

I　ask　you　now　to　play　upon　it；　you　re…

fuse；''　and　she　paced　the　room　like　a

caged　tigress。



‘‘I　will　watch　to…night　when　you

play；''　she　flashed。　‘‘If　you　do　not　use

that　string　we　part　forever。''



He　stood　before　her　and　attempted　to

take　her　hand；　she　repulsed　him　savagely。



Sadly　then　he　asked：　‘‘And　if　I　do

play　upon　it？''



‘‘I　am　yours　foreveryours　through

lifethrough　eternity；''　she　cried

passionately。



The　call…boy　announced　Diotti's　turn；

the　violinist　led　Mildred　to　a　seat　at　the

entrance　of　the　stage。　His　appearance

was　the　signal　for　prolonged　and　enthusiastic

greeting　from　the　enormous　audience

present。　He　clearly　was　the　idol

of　the　metropolis。



The　lights　were　lowered；　a　single

calcium　playing　with　its　soft　and　silvery

rays　upon　his　face　and　shoulders。　The

expectant　audience　scarcely　breathed　as

he　began　his　theme。　It　was　pitypity

molded　into　a　concord　of　beautiful

sounds；　and　when　he　began　the　second

movement　it　was　but　a　continuation　of

the　first；　his　fingers　sought　but　one

string；　that　of　pity。　Again　he　played；

and　once　more　pity　stole　from　the　violin。



When　he　left　the　stage　Mildred　rushed

So　him。　‘‘You　did　not　touch　that　string；

you　refuse　my　wish？''　and　the　sounds

of　mighty　applause　without　drowned　his

pleading　voice。



‘‘I　told　you　if　you　refused　me　I　was

lost　to　you　forever！　Do　you　understand？''



Diotti　returned　slowly　to　the　center　of

the　stage　and　remained　motionless　until

the　audience　subsided。　Facing　Mildred；

whose　color　was　heightened　by　the　in…

tensity　of　her　emotion；　he　began　softly

to　play。　His　fingers　sought　the　string

of　Death。　The　audience　listened　with

breathless　interest。　The　composition

was　weirdly　and　strangely　fascinating。



The　player　told　with　wondrous　power

of　despair；of　hope；　of　faith；　sunshine

crept　into　the　hearts　of　all　as　he　pictured

the　promise　of　an　eternal　day；　higher

and　higher；　softer　and　softer　grew　the

theme　until　it　echoed　as　if　it　were　afar　in

the　realms　of　light　and　floating　o'er　the

waves　of　a　golden　sea。



Suddenly　the　audience　was　startled　by

the　snapping　of　a　string；　the　violin　and

bow　dropped　from　the　nerveless　hands　of

the　player。　He　fell　helpless　to　the　stage。



Mildred　rushed　to　him；　crying；

‘‘Angelo；　Angelo；　what　is　it？　What　has

happened？''　Bending　over　him　she

gently　raised　his　head　and　showered　un…

restrained　kisses　upon　his　lips；

oblivious　of　all　save　her　lover。



‘‘Speak！　Speak！''　she　implored。



A　faint　smile　illumined　his　face；　he

gazed　with　ineffable　tenderness　into　her

weeping　eyes；　then　slowly　closed　his　own

as　if　in　slumber。







The　Conspirators



Arriving　opposite　the　Franklin

house；　Tom　Foley　took　position　in　a

near…by　alley；　where　he　could　keep　close

watch　on　the　front　gate。　After　hours　of

nervous　waiting；　little　Lillian　Franklin

came　out；　and　Tom's　heart　gave　a　jump。

She　was　alone；　and　began　to　roll　a　hoop；

which　her　friend　Sandy　had　given　her

that　morning。　Down　the　street　she

tripped；　all　smiles　and　happiness。



Tom　watched　her　until　she　had　turned

a　corner；　then　he　rushed　up　the　alley

to　intercept　her。　When　he　emerged　into

the　street；　he　saw　her　resting　on　a　rustic

bench；　and　hastened　to　join　her。　As　he

came　up；　he　was　greeted　with：



‘‘Why；　Tom；　I　thought　you　went　fishing

with　Gil；　and　papa；　and　Sandy；　and

the　rest。''



‘‘No；　Lily。　I　felt　so　bad　'bout　my

dad　being　arrested　yest'day　I　couldn't　git

up　no　courage　to　go；''　answered　the　boy

with　simulated　contrition。　What　d'yer

say？　let's　s'prise　Gil；　and　go　down　to

the　landin'　an'　meet　him　when　he　comes

in　from　fishin'；''　suggested　Foley；　knowing

the　intense　love　she　had　for　her　brother。



‘‘That'll　be　lovely；　won't　it？　And

Gil　will　be　so　glad　if　I　come。''



Lillian　whipped　the　hoop　rapidly；　and

Tom　kept　pace　with　her。



‘‘Gil　will　be　surprised；　sure　enough；

when　he　sees　me　coming；　won't　he？''



‘‘Yes；　he'll　be　s'prised；　you　bet！''　said

the　boy；　taking　a　firmer　hold　of　her　hand。



The　night　was　fast　approaching　and

Foley　was　leading　the　child　through

unfrequented　alleys　and　streets。



‘‘But　maybe　Gil　won't　come　back

this　way；　and　it's　getting　awful　dark。''



‘‘Oh；　he'll　come　back　this　way；　all　right。''



They　were　now　on　the　shore　of　the

river；　dark　and　desolate　in　its　winter

dress。　The　restless　splash　of　the　water

sent　icy　sprays　over　the　child；　and；

clinging　still　closer　to　her　treacherous

companion；　she　stopped　him　for　a　second

and　begged　him　to　return。



‘‘Don't　be　afear'd；　nuthin's　goin'　ter

happen　to　yer；''　he　said；　jerking　her

savagely；　and　almost　breaking　into　a　run

at　the　same　time。



‘‘Oh；　Tom；　please　let's　go　back；''

supplicated　the　child。



They　were　now　at　the　old　wharf。　He

gave　a　low　whistle；　and；　without　waiting

for　an　answer；　pulled　the　helpless　child

through　the　entrance。　Then；　groping　his

way　over　the　slimy　stones　and　through

the　oozing　mud；　he　dragged　the　affrighted

little　one　after　him；　to　the　mouth　of　the

cave；　and　called：



‘‘Dad；　I'm　here。''



‘‘Come　right　in；''　answered　a　voice。



‘‘I've　got　her；　an'　I　got　her　easy　as

dirt；''　said　the　son；　pushing　the　terrified

child　into　the　cave；　and　then　roughly

into　the　arms　of　his　father。



‘‘Don't　yell；　yer　brat！''　said　the　older；

clasping　his　hand　over　mouth；　and　drawing

her　brutally　toward　him。　‘‘Shut

up；　or　I'll　kill　yer。''



Foley　now　called　Hildey；　who　was；

asleep　in　the　corner；　and　said；　‘‘Cul；

we've　got　to　git　out　er　this　place　jest　as

quick　as　possible。　It's　too　near　the

city；　an'　if　we're　tracked　here　we'll　stand

no　more　chance　than　a　snowball　on

Beelzebub's　gridiron。''



‘‘What's　yer　lay；　Dennis？''　questioned　Hildey。



‘‘Move　up　the　river；''　was　the　reply。

‘‘I　knows　jest　the　place　where　we　wouldn't

be　found　in　a　thousand　years。''



‘‘When　d'yer　want　to　start？''　asked　Tom。



In　ten　minutes　the　abductors；　with

the　stolen　child；　were　slowly　winding

their　way　along　the　deserted　beach。



It　was　now　very　dark。　No　stars

were　shining；　and　it　had　become　bitterly

cold。　Suddenly　voices　were　heard；　and

the　abductors　stopped　to　listen。　They

were　in　a　ravine　near　the　magazine

landing；　not　more　than　fifty　feet　from　the

spot　where　the　Lillian　was　launched。

Foley；　Tom；　and　Hildey　crouched　low；

and　drew　the　little　girl　closer。



The　steady　dip　of　oars　was　heard　up

stream；　and　the　voices　grew　plainer。

Out　of　the　mingled　sounds　was　heard；



‘‘I　agrees　with　Sandy；　he's　the　dirtiest

coward　as　ever　went　unhung。''



Lillian　started；　for　she　recognized　the

voice　of　the　Jedge；　who　with　Colonel　Franklin；

Sandy；　Dink；　Leander　and　Gilbert；

were　returning　from　a　sail　up　the　river



Foley　became　frightened；　and　bending

over；　hissed　into　the　child's　ear：



‘‘Remember　what　I　tol'　yer：　if　yer

utter　a　sound；　I'll　kill　yer。''



The　sailing　party　meantime　had　reached

the　landing　and　stepped　ashore。　Sandy

and　the　other　three　boys　lowered　the　sail；

rolled　and　carried　it　into　the　boat…house。

The　whole　party　then；　marching　three

abreast；　with　steady　step；　went　up　the

graveled　walk　of　the　old　magazine　road；

singing　in　unison：

　　　‘‘HepHep

　　　Shoot　that　ni**er　if　he　don't　keep　step。

　　　HepHep

　　　Shoot　that　ni**er　if　he　don't　keep　step。''



While　its　cadence　was　continued　by

Colonel　Franklin　and　the　Jedge；　the　four

boys；　in　marching　rhythm；　sang　out

cheerily　into　the　crisp　cold　night：





‘‘When　other　lips　and　other　hearts；

　　Their　tales　of　love　shall　tell；

In　accents　whose　excess　imparts

　　The　power　they　feel　so　well。

There　may；　perhaps；　in　such　a　scene；

　　Some　recollection　be；

Of　days　that　have　as　happy　been；

　　And　you'll　remember　me。''





The　three　scoundrels　listened；　as　the

voices　rose　and　fell　on　the　air。　The