Books › Blue Book v057 n02 [1933-06], 1933 › scan 13
Scan 13
Blue Book v057 n02 [1933-06], 1933
72 lines. Read by computer on 18 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1rubbing one side of his face with one of his lean hands. Then he took a chair, facing Nat.
3"She is sleeping now," Tyler said.
5Nat nodded, said nothing. The man stole a curious look at him.
7"That was what I wanted you to observe," he said slowly. Then he shook his head. "But it—it was incomplete. What—what did you make of it?"
9"Nothing," said Nat frankly. "Except that she seemed badly frightened."
11"She was frightened," said Tyler. "She was terrified."
13"What of?" said Nat.
15"I wish you'd tell me," said Tyler.
17"But haven't you any idea—"
19Tyler shook his head.
21"I don't know," he said. "I hoped she would know, so that you could see—see the thing at work. But something happened. In a way I was relieved. . . . But it will come again. And I want you to be on hand when it does."
23Nat nodded. "Perhaps you'd better explain," he said.
25"I—I'll try to tell you something about her," said Tyler. "She is a remarkable musician, as perhaps you noticed, even though she played only a few bars."
27"Yes," said Nat. "It was—superb."
29Tyler nodded and went on: "She's what they call a prodigy, I believe, has been since she was a child. Odious word, prodigy. But she has shown a remarkable talent for the violin from childhood."
31"I'm surprised that she isn't a very famous violinist," said Nat.
33"She has never played publicly," said Tyler. "She's too delicate for that sort of thing. She's led a very quiet, sheltered life. Her mother died when she was born. She has always been blind. When her talent became evident, I gave up my practise, took her to Europe, where she studied under the greatest teachers. Most of them think it's a crime I won't permit her to do concert work."
35"I think I can understand your feelings about that," said Nat. "One thing puzzles me. A blind violinist—does she play entirely by ear?"
37"Not exactly," said Tyler. "She has a remarkable ear, can play anything she has heard. But she has a very complete musical library in Braille—and an almost incredible memory. She can read the music—then remember every note."
39"That is extraordinary," Nat murmured.
41"She's an extraordinary person," said Tyler.
43"I can see that," said Nat. "Now, about this fear—"
45Tyler hesitated.
47"Dr. Karasc," he said, "feels that you should—start from scratch, as it were."
49"He wants me to observe this thing at work?" said Nat. "I know; that is one of the tenets of his credo. To investigate every phenomenon at first hand, to take nothing from hearsay. Very well. I'll do my best, Mr. Tyler."
51"No one can do more than that," said Tyler with a faint smile.
53"One thing only," said Nat. "This—this fright—it has something to do with her playing the violin?"
55"It has," said Tyler. "That is, it always comes when she is playing—and always at night."
57Nat rose.
59"I'd better be going now," he said. "I'll report in the morning."
61"Oh," said Tyler. "But you must remain tonight!"
63He routed out Raines, the old butler, who had gone to bed, and Raines showed Nat Benson to a large room on the top floor, about midway between the rooms of Tyler and the girl. He fetched him tan silk pajamas, slippers, a brocade dressing-gown, a cellophane-wrapped toothbrush, dental cream and shaving materials.
65Nat lay awake for a long time, going over the case in his mind. He kept listening, wondering if the music would begin again—and then stop. He was hoping that it would, so that he could see, more definitely, its effect upon the girl. But he heard no sound, and after a time he dropped off and slept.
67WINTER sunshine streaming through a window wakened him. He rose, stretched, breathed deeply of the brisk morning air. Then he bathed, shaved and dressed leisurely, finding, somewhat to his surprise, that socks and linen, new and of his correct size, had been laid out for him while he slept.
69This mystery was explained when Raines, the butler, arrived to ask him to come downstairs. He had simply come in early in the morning, noted the sizes, and gone out and purchased the necessary things. Now he told Nat Mr. Tyler and Miss Ruth were awaiting him.
71Nat found them in the living-room, Tyler and the girl of the violin. She looked perfectly fresh, unmarked by
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