Books › Blue Book v057 n02 [1933-06], 1933 › scan 11
Scan 11
Blue Book v057 n02 [1933-06], 1933
56 lines. Read by computer on 18 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1massive old furniture, the mellow grand piano. He relaxed, felt comfortable, almost at home.
3In a moment a tall, sparely-built man of middle years, clad in dressing-gown, appeared. His strong, high-boned face, framed under a great mane of white hair, was immediately illuminated by a charming, friendly smile.
5"Ah, Mr. Benson," he said, in a rich, grave voice. "I am Daniel Tyler."
7Nat admired the thin, high-bridged nose, the finely-chiseled features, the patrician quality of the man's whole bearing as he advanced toward him across the room, hand outstretched. He gave an odd impression of both delicacy and power, an impression strengthened when Nat grasped his hand, a smooth, almost soft hand, flexible, with incredibly long, tapering fingers, and then felt its firm, strong clasp.
9"I'm glad to see you," Tyler said warmly. "It was good of you to come at this hour. Please sit down."
11Nat sank back into the great chair and returned Tyler's appraising glance with a smile. The man coughed deprecatingly.
13"Forgive the—scrutiny," he said. "But this is—a very delicate case, you see. And I—"
15"I understand," said Nat quietly. "Now, hadn't you better tell me just what this 'delicate case' is?"
17Tyler looked at him steadily, thoughtfully, for a moment.
19"It is the case of my—daughter," he said.
21"A mental case?" Nat asked sympathetically.
23"No, no," said Tyler quickly. "That is—don't think that she is at all deficient, mentally. On the contrary—"
25He paused, and Nat raised puzzled eyebrows but said nothing.
27"It's—well, it is a mental case, of course, to a certain extent," Tyler went on. "What I mean is, my daughter is not at all unbalanced. You understand?"
29Nat did not, but he nodded gravely.
31"I want you to make—certain observations," Tyler said. "To do that, you will have to live here in the house with us. . . . And it is important that my daughter does not know why you are here. Is—is that satisfactory to you?"
33"Yes," said Nat. "But it may take some arranging."
35"I'll take care of that," said Tyler. "Let me see: Let us say that you are the son of an old friend. Your father's name was Nat too, eh? Let us say that he was a college friend. You are here looking for work—my guest. You will be on intimate terms with the family, of course. It will be perfectly natural for you to stay as long as necessary. Nobody can find a job nowadays."
37"That sounds practicable enough," said Nat.
39"I will explain briefly—" Tyler began. Then he stopped, turning his head, as if listening. From somewhere in the house there came the sound of music, the music of a violin. It was faint but indescribably beautiful, haunting.
41TYLER stood quite still, as if frozen, staring upward, toward the sound of the music. Then, abruptly, in the middle of a bar, the music ceased. Tyler turned swiftly toward Nat, his face drawn.
43"Come!" he said. "Come!"
45Then he strode from the room, Nat close at his heels. His long legs took the stairs, two steps at a time. Nat followed. Down the hall Tyler went, half-running now, Nat keeping pace just behind him. Before a door at the extreme end of the hall the man halted, raised his hand as if to knock.
47Then he brought it down slowly, placed it on the knob and quietly opened the door. It was quite dark inside, and still. Tyler fumbled for the light-switch; there was a click, and the lights came on. In the middle of the floor, facing them, a girl in negligee stood rigidly, a violin at her shoulder. The fingers of her left hand were on the strings; the bow drooped at her side in the other hand. Enormous dark eyes stared out of an alabaster face, a face filled with unutterable terror.
49"Ruth!" Tyler cried huskily. "Ruth! What is it?"
51The great eyes closed; the girl swayed toward Tyler. He took her in his arms, held her closely. She buried her face against his sleeve. She seemed incredibly small and fragile beside his tall figure. She trembled in his arms, drew herself closer to him.
53"Ruth," he repeated, but very gently now. "What is it, dear?"
55With one hand he tilted her face up toward his, smoothed back the long dark hair. She did not open her eyes. Again he repeated: "What is it, dear?" She opened her dark eyes slowly. To Nat, motionless in the doorway, they seemed
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