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the village of Hinsdale。 The case was a peculiar one for many reasons。
First； because of the boyHinsdale supposed it knew boys； but it felt
inclined to change its mind after seeing this one。 Second； because of the
circumstances。 The boy and his father had entered the town like tramps；
yet Higgins； who talked freely of his having given the pair a 〃lift〃 on that
very evening； did not hesitate to declare that he did not believe them to be
ordinary tramps at all。
As there had been little found in the dead man's pockets； save the two
notes； and as nobody could be found who wanted the violins； there seemed
to be nothing to do but to turn the body over to the town for burial。
Nothing was said of this to David； indeed； as little as possible was said to
David about anything after that morning when Higgins had given him his
father's letter。 At that time the men had made one more effort to 〃get track
of SOMETHING；〃 as Higgins had despairingly put it。 But the boy's
answers to their questions were anything but satisfying； anything but
helpful； and were often most disconcerting。 The boy was； in fact； regarded
by most of the men； after that morning； as being 〃a little off〃； and was
hence let severely alone。
Who the man was the town authorities certainly did not know； neither
could they apparently find out。 His name； as written by himself； was
unreadable。 His notes told nothing； his son could tell little moreof
consequence。 A report； to be sure； did come from the village； far up the
mountain； that such a man and boy had lived in a hut that was almost
inaccessible； but even this did not help solve the mystery。
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David was left at the Holly farmhouse； though Simeon Holly mentally
declared that he should lose no time in looking about for some one to take
the boy away。
On that first day Higgins； picking up the reins preparatory to driving
from the yard； had said； with a nod of his head toward David： 〃Well；
how about it； Holly？ Shall we leave him here till we find somebody that
wants him？〃
〃Why； yyes； I suppose so；〃 hesitated Simeon Holly； with uncordial
accent。
But his wife； hovering in the background； hastened forward at once。
〃Oh； yes； yes； indeed；〃 she urged。 〃I'm sure hehe won't be a mite of
trouble； Simeon。〃
〃Perhaps not；〃 conceded Simeon Holly darkly。 〃Neither； it is safe to
say； will he be anything elseworth anything。〃
〃That's it exactly；〃 spoke up Streeter； from his seat in the wagon。 〃If I
thought he'd be worth his salt； now； I'd take him myself； butwell； look at
him this minute；〃 he finished； with a disdainful shrug。
David； on the lowest step； was very evidently not hearing a word of
what was being said。 With his sensitive face illumined； he was again
poring over his father's letter。
Something in the sudden quiet cut through his absorption as the noisy
hum of voices had not been able to do； and he raised his head。 His eyes
were starlike。
〃I'm so glad father told me what to do；〃 he breathed。 〃It'll be easier
now。〃
Receiving no answer from the somewhat awkwardly silent men； he
went on； as if in explanation：
〃You know he's waiting for mein the far country； I mean。 He said he
was。 And when you've got somebody waiting； you don't mind staying
behind yourself for a little while。 Besides； I've GOT to stay to find out
about the beautiful world； you know； so I can tell him； when _I_ go。 That's
the way I used to do back home on the mountain； you see；tell him about
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JUST DAVID
things。 Lots of days we'd go to walk； then； when we got home； he'd have
me tell him； with my violin； what I'd seen。 And now he says I'm to stay
here。〃
〃Here！〃 It was the quick； stern voice of Simeon Holly。
〃Yes；〃 nodded David earnestly； 〃to learn about the beautiful world。
Don't you remember？ And he said I was not to want to go back to my
mountains； that I would not need to； anyway； because the mountains； and
the sky； and the birds and squirrels and brooks are really in my violin； you
know。 And〃 But with an angry frown Simeon Holly stalked away；
motioning Larson to follow him； and with a merry glance and a low
chuckle Higgins turned his horse about and drove from the yard。 A
moment later David found himself alone with Mrs。 Holly； who was
looking at him with wistful； though slightly fearful eyes。
〃Did you have all the breakfast you wanted？〃 she asked timidly；
resorting； as she had resorted the night before； to the everyday things of
her world in the hope that they might make this strange little boy seem less
wild； and more nearly human。
〃Oh； yes； thank you。〃 David's eyes had strayed back to the note in his
hand。 Suddenly he looked up； a new something in his eyes。 〃What is it to
be aa tramp？〃 he asked。 〃Those men said daddy and I were tramps。〃
〃A tramp？ Oherwhy； just aa tramp；〃 stammered Mrs。 Holly。 〃But
never mind that； David。 II wouldn't think any more about it。〃
〃But what is a tramp？〃 persisted David； a smouldering fire beginning
to show in his eyes。 〃Because if they meant THIEVES〃
〃No； no； David；〃 interrupted Mrs。 Holly soothingly。 〃They never
meant thieves at all。〃
〃Then； what is it to be a tramp？〃
〃Why； it's just toto tramp；〃 explained Mrs。 Holly desperately；〃walk
along the road from one town to another； andand not live in a house at
all。〃
〃Oh！〃 David's face cleared。 〃That's all right； then。 I'd love to be a
tramp； and so'd father。 And we were tramps； sometimes； too； 'cause lots of
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times； in the summer； we didn't stay in the cabin hardly anyjust lived out
of doors all day and all night。 Why； I never knew really what the pine trees
were saying till I heard them at night； lying under them。 You know what I
mean。 You've heard them； haven't you？〃
〃At night？ Pine trees？〃 stammered Mrs。 Holly helplessly。
〃Yes。 Oh； haven't you ever heard them at night？〃 cried the boy； in his
voice a very genuine