chance to
spark her," and he chewed his quid with an increased vigor, suggestive
of how he would like to serve his rival.

CHAPTER XLI

EIN WUNDERBARES FRAULEIN

Fritz Geisling, who for many years had lived in two rooms, second floor,
No. 10 Amity Place, was short, fat, and bald. Each morning he arose at
seven, went out to an adjoining cafe where German cookery was served
"twenty-one meals for three dollars," as stated on its bill of fare, and
returned to his domicile, glancing at the small sign, "Violin Lessons,"
placed above the upper bell, and mounting the two flights of stairs,
awaited in his office, sitting room and parlor combined, the few pupils
who came his way. At noon he absorbed another of the "twenty-one for
three dollar" productions of culinary art, washed down with a stein of
foaming beer, and then, if it were matinee day at the Alhambra Temple of
Vaudeville, betook himself thither, where he played second violin. Each
evening, from the opening in September until closing time in June, he
was at his post, sawing away like the machine he was and as devoid of
sentiment. When he escaped the Alhambra, it was to join his cronies in a
convenient saloon where pinocle, beer, and choice Teutonic gossip
relieved the monotony of his existence. Year in and year out he was the
same phlegmatic, good-natured Dutchman, and lived the same unvarying and
emotionless existence. Of the great Rockhaven stock scheme he had never
heard, and would not have understood it if he had. Of "the street" and
its multiplicity of deals where "to do" the other fellow and not let him
"do" you was the golden rule, he was equally innocent--a drop in the
throbbing artery of human existence.

And then, one winter morning, Fritz returned to his lair to find
awaiting him a strangely clad man and a young half-scared girl.

"I'm told ye gin lessons on the fiddle," said the man, "an' if ye do,
I've come to engage ye fer this ere gal."

Fritz bowed low, conscious that a pair of magnificent eyes were watching
him.

"It vash mine broveshion," he answered, "und von tollar each ish de
brice. Ish de lady to be de pupils?"

"She's the one," came the answer; "an' I want ye to teach her all the
frills, 'n' yer money's ready an' waitin' any time."

"Ish she von peginner?" came from Fritz.

"Wal, sorter, 'n' sorter not," replied the man; "my name's Hutton, an'
this ere's my niece, Miss Hutton, an' I've larnt her to saw just a
leetle to start