-bass player in Lusthaus's grand orchestra of
forty pieces. This organization had been hired to render the dance
music for the fifteenth annual ball of Harmony Lodge, 142, I.O.M.A.,
and the chairman of the entertainment committee had been influenced in
his selection by the preponderating number of the orchestra's members
over other competing bands.

Now, to the inexperienced ear twenty-five players will emit nearly as
much noise as forty, and in view of this circumstance Professor
Lusthaus was accustomed to hire twenty-five bona-fide members of the
musical union, while the remaining fifteen pieces were what are
technically known as sleepers. That is to say, Professor Lusthaus
provided them with instruments and they were directed to go through the
motions without making any sound.

Milton, for instance, was instructed how to manipulate the fingerboard
of his ponderous instrument, but he was enjoined to draw his bow across
the metal base of the music-stand and to avoid the strings upon peril
of his job. During the opening two-step Milton's behaviour was
exemplary. He watched the antics of the other _contra basso_ and
duplicated them so faithfully as to call for a commendatory nod from
the Professor at the conclusion of the number.

His undoing began with the second dance, which was a waltz. As _contra
basso_ performer he stood with his fellow-artist at the rear of the
platform facing the dancing floor, and no sooner had Professor
Lusthaus's baton directed the first few measures than Milton's
imitation grew spiritless. He had espied a little girl in white with
eyes that flashed her enjoyment of the dreamy rhythm. Her cheeks glowed
and her lips were parted, while her tiny gloved hand rested like a
flower on the shoulder of her partner. They waltzed half-time, as the
vernacular has it, and to Milton it seemed like the apotheosis of the
dance. He gazed wide-eyed at the fascinating scene and was only brought
to himself when the drummer poked him in the ribs with the butt end of
the drumstick. For the remainder of the waltz he performed discreetly
on the music-stand and his fingers chased themselves up and down the
strings with lifelike rapidity.

"Hey, youse," Professor Lusthaus hissed after he had laid down his
baton, "what yer trying to do? Queer the whole thing? Hey?"

"I thought I--now--seen a friend of mine," Milton said lamely.

"Oh, yer did, did yer?" Professor Lusthaus retorted. "Well, when you
play with this he