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teasing pain in his side had increased until now it was a torture。 He had
forgotten that the way to the valley was so long； he had not realized how
nearly spent was his strength before he even started down the trail。
Throbbing through his brain was the question； what if； after all； he could
notbut even to himself he would not say the words。 At noon they
paused for luncheon； and at night they camped where the chattering brook
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had stopped to rest in a still； black pool。 The next morning the man and the
boy picked up the trail again； but without the bag。 Under some leaves in a
little hollow； the man had hidden the bag； and had then said； as if
casually：
〃I believe； after all； I won't carry this along。 There's nothing in it that
we really need； you know； now that I've taken out the luncheon box； and
by night we'll be down in the valley。〃
〃Of course！〃 laughed David。 〃We don't need that。〃 And he laughed
again； for pure joy。 Little use had David for bags or baggage！
They were more than halfway down the mountain now； and soon they
reached a grass…grown road； little traveled； but yet a road。 Still later they
came to where four ways crossed； and two of them bore the marks of
many wheels。 By sundown the little brook at their side murmured softly of
quiet fields and meadows； and David knew that the valley was reached。
David was not laughing now。 He was watching his father with startled
eyes。 David had not known what anxiety was。 He was finding out now
though he but vaguely realized that something was not right。 For some
time his father had said but little； and that little had been in a voice that
was thick and unnatural…sounding。 He was walking fast； yet David noticed
that every step seemed an effort； and that every breath came in short gasps。
His eyes were very bright； and were fixedly bent on the road ahead； as if
even the haste he was making was not haste enough。 Twice David spoke to
him； but he did not answer； and the boy could only trudge along on his
weary little feet and sigh for the dear home on the mountain…top which
they had left behind them the morning before。
They met few fellow travelers； and those they did meet paid scant
attention to the man and the boy carrying the violins。 As it chanced； there
was no one in sight when the man； walking in the grass at the side of the
road； stumbled and fell heavily to the ground。
David sprang quickly forward。
〃Father； what is it？ WHAT IS IT？〃
There was no answer。
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JUST DAVID
〃Daddy； why don't you speak to me？ See； it's David！〃
With a painful effort the man roused himself and sat up。 For a moment
he gazed dully into the boy's face； then a half…forgotten something seemed
to stir him into feverish action。 With shaking fingers he handed David his
watch and a small ivory miniature。 Then he searched his pockets until on
the ground before him lay a shining pile of gold…piecesto David there
seemed to be a hundred of them。
〃Take themhide themkeep them。 David； until youneed them；〃
panted the man。 〃Then gogo on。 I can't。〃
〃Alone？ Without you？〃 demurred the boy； aghast。 〃Why； father； I
couldn't！ I don't know the way。 Besides； I'd rather stay with you；〃 he added
soothingly； as he slipped the watch and the miniature into his pocket； 〃then
we can both go。〃 And he dropped himself down at his father's side。
The man shook his head feebly； and pointed again to the gold…pieces。
〃Take them； David；hide them；〃 he chattered with pale lips。
Almost impatiently the boy began picking up the money and tucking it
into his pockets。
〃But； father； I'm not going without you；〃 he declared stoutly； as the last
bit of gold slipped out of sight； and a horse and wagon rattled around the
turn of the road above。
The driver of the horse glanced disapprovingly at the man and the boy
by the roadside； but he did not stop。 After he had passed； the boy turned
again to his father。 The man was fumbling once more in his pockets。 This
time from his coat he produced a pencil and a small notebook from which
he tore a page； and began to write； laboriously； painfully。
David sighed and looked about him。 He was tired and hungry； and he
did not understand things at all。 Something very wrong； very terrible； must
be the matter with his father。 Here it was almost dark； yet they had no
place to go； no supper to eat； while far； far up on the mountain…side was
their own dear home sad and lonely without them。 Up there； too； the sun
still shone； doubtless；at least there were the rose…glow and the Silver
Lake to look at； while down here there was nothing； nothing but gray
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shadows； a long dreary road； and a straggling house or two in sight。 From
above； the valley might look to be a fairyland of loveliness； but in reality it
was nothing but a dismal waste of gloom； decided David。
David's father had torn a second page from his book and was
beginning another note； when the boy suddenly jumped to his feet。 One of
the straggling houses was near the road where they sat； and its presence
had given David an idea。 With swift steps he hurried to the front door and
knocked upon it。 In answer a tall； unsmiling woman appeared； and said；
〃Well？〃
David removed his cap as his father had taught him to do when one of
the mountain women spoke to him。
〃Good evening； lady； I'm David；〃 he began frankly。 〃My father is so
tired he fell down back there； and we should like very much to stay with
you all night； if you don't mind。〃
The woman in the doorway stared。 For a moment she was dumb with
amazement。 Her eyes swept the plain； rather rough garments of the boy；
then sought the half…recumbent figure of the man by the roadside。 Her chin
came up angrily。
〃Oh； would you； indeed！ Well； upon my word！〃 she scouted。 〃Humph！
We don't accommodate tramps； little boy。〃 And she shut the door hard。
It was David's turn to stare。 Just what a tramp might be； he did not
know； but never before had a request of his been so angrily refused。 He
knew that。 A fierce something rose within hima fierce new something
that sent the swift red to