Books › Blue Book v018 n04 [1914-02], 1914 › scan 198
Scan 198
Blue Book v018 n04 [1914-02], 1914
40 lines. Read by computer on 17 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1me! I didn’t realize you were trying to play a flute. Is that the best you can do?"
3"I guess if I can stand your violin, you’ll have to stand this," said Artie, and turned from the window.
5From the next house came a frightful series of wails and groans.
7"That’s the way your playing sounds," called the girl. "If I couldn’t play any better than that I should expect the neighbors to kick; but when I feed ’em classy stuff for nothing—a regular education in musical taste, I give ’em—I don’t think they have any particular howl coming. Of course, if you really are trying to learn—"
9Artie didn’t catch the rest of it, for she was withdrawing from the window and her voice died away as she went.
11Artie, seated on the edge of his bed, felt his face flushing. Also pride of craft was calling to him. He lifted the flute and wet his lips. Then he played "Kil-larney"—played it very well, considering his recent lack of practice.
13Lily McNamara came to her window again.
15"Why, you can play when you want to, can’t you?" she said. "I’m glad of that. Maybe you’d like to come over and try some duets with me. I’ve got some peaches for flute and violin. It would be good for us both. Besides, if you really can play, there’s going to be a chance for a flutist in the orchestra next week. The one that’s there now is leaving next Monday. Bring your flute over here and we’ll see how well you can play. If you’re any good at all I think I can get you that chance."
17Carney, the latter part of that week, thought he’d like to see how things were going. Therefore, one morning when he came from work at the foundry, instead of going to his sister’s, he went back to his own house. It was eight o’clock when he got there. Generally at eight o’clock the violin began; but this morning no sound of it broke the stillness. Plainly Artie’s flute had done the trick.
19Suddenly Schubert’s "Serenade" came drifting from the McNamara place. A violin began it, softly, wailingly, just as Carney had heard that violin begin it many times. Then a flute joined in. Carney rushed upstairs. From his own front windows he had an excellent view of the McNamaras’ upstairs front room. There by the window, seated close together before a music rack, were Lily McNamara and Artie Concannon; and the way Schubert’s "Serenade" was coming out was enough to wake a whole cemetery!
21Occasionally Lily stopped her playing to count the time aloud for Artie. Occasionally she made him go over some illy-executed passage again.
23"You’re coming on," Carney heard her say once. "I wont be afraid to speak for that job for you. You can fill it all right. And then, if we keep on practicing here together every morning we’ll get something better than a place in a movie-house orchestra, both of us. Now, let’s make it good and loud this time."
25Carney paced up and down the room until he saw Artie come out the McNamaras’ gate. That was at half-past eleven. He tore down the stairs and pounced on the younger man.
27"Say, lookee here, didn’t I get that flute outer hock for you?" he demanded.
29"Sure," said Artie.
31"And what did I stiperlate—hey? What did I say you was to do when you got it again?" Carney bawled.
33"You said I was to practice every time Lily McNamara did. Well, aint I?" Artie asked. "Please don’t bother me Mr. Carney. I’m in a hurry just now. She’s goin’ to practice some hard stuff this afternoon before it’s time to go to the show, and of course I’m goin’ to practice with her like I promised you I’d do."
35He shook off Carney’s hand and stalked into his own gate. Carney stood staring after him for a moment. Then he turned and hurried away.
37Ten minutes later he was sitting by the desk of Harry Coe, of Vernon & Coe, who handled most of the real estate in that particular suburb.
39"Say," Carney was saying, "that house that I’ve got paid for all except the last few installments—I want to sell it. Yep, just what I paid for it’ll do. And I want to rent another somewhere in a quiet neighborhood—one that you can guarantee is quiet, where a man can get a few hours’ sleep in the daytime."
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