MR. SMEETH GETS HIS RISE 2Q1

is their man only they don't know it, or won't admit it.
What do you say?"

Mr. Smeeth observed very cautiously that he had no
doubt there was a lot to be said for that point of viewr.
When the interval came and he went out to smoke a
pipe, he took care to keep moving so that the fierce man,
who appeared to be on the prowl, did not find him.

The concert was much better after tiie interval. It
began with a longish thing in which a piano played
about one half, and most of the orchestra, for some of
them never touched their imtiuments, played the other
half. A little dark chap played the piano and there could
be no doubt about it, he could play the piano. Terrum,
ter-rwm, terrum, temirn, trum, trum, trrrrr, the
orchestra would go, and the little chap would lean back,
looking idly at the conductor. But the second the
orchestra stopped he would hurl himself at the piano
and crash out his own Terrum, ter-rwm, terrum, terrum,
trum trum trrr. Sometimes the violins would play very
sadly and softly, and the piano would join in, scattering
silver showers of notes or perhaps wandering up and
down a ladder of quiet chords, and then Mr. Smeeth
would feel himself very quiet and happy and sad all at
the same time. In the end, they had a pell-mell race,
and the piano shouted to the orchestra and then went
scampering away, and the orchestra thundered at the
piano and went charging after it, and they went up hill
and down dale, shouting and thundering, scampering
and charging, until one big bang, during which the little
chap seemed to be almost sitting on the piano and the
conductor appeared to be holding the whole orchestra
up in his two arms, brought it to an end. This time Mr.
Smeeth clapped furiously, and so did the fierce man,