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once half a dozen pieces rolled out upon the floor。 For a moment the boy
looked as if he were going to let them remain where they were。 But the
next minute； with an impatient gesture； he had picked them up and thrust
them deep into one of his pockets； silencing their jingling with his
handkerchief。
Once dressed； David picked up his violin and stepped softly into the
hall。 At first no sound reached his ears； then from the kitchen below came
the clatter of brisk feet and the rattle of tins and crockery。 Tightening his
clasp on the violin； David slipped quietly down the back stairs and out to
the yard。 It was only a few seconds then before he was hurrying through
the open doorway of the barn and up the narrow stairway to the loft above。
At the top； however； he came to a sharp pause； with a low cry。 The
next moment he turned to see a kindly…faced man looking up at him from
the foot of the stairs。
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JUST DAVID
〃Oh； sir； pleaseplease； where is he？ What have you done with him？〃
appealed the boy； almost plunging headlong down the stairs in his haste to
reach the bottom。
Into the man's weather…beaten face came a look of sincere but
awkward sympathy。
〃Oh； hullo； sonny！ So you're the boy； are ye？〃 he began diffidently。
〃Yes； yes； I'm David。 But where is he my father； you know？ I mean
thethe part hehe left behind him？〃 choked the boy。 〃The part likethe
ice…coat？〃
The man stared。 Then； involuntarily； he began to back away。
〃Well； ye see； II〃
〃But； maybe you don't know；〃 interrupted David feverishly。 〃You
aren't the man I saw last night。 Who are you？ Where is hethe other one；
please？〃
〃No； II wa'n't herethat is； not at the first；〃 spoke up the man quickly；
still unconsciously backing away。 〃MeI'm only Larson； Perry Larson； ye
know。 'T was Mr。 Holly you see last nighthim that I works for。〃
〃Then； where is Mr。 Holly； please？〃 faltered the boy； hurrying toward
the barn door。 〃Maybe he would knowabout father。 Oh； there he is！〃 And
David ran out of the barn and across the yard to the kitchen porch。
It was an unhappy ten minutes that David spent then。 Besides Mr。
Holly； there were Mrs。 Holly； and the man； Perry Larson。 And they all
talked。 But little of what they said could David understand。 To none of his
questions could he obtain an answer that satisfied。
Neither； on his part； could he seem to reply to their questions in a way
that pleased them。
They went in to breakfast then； Mr。 and Mrs。 Holly； and the man； Perry
Larson。 They asked David to goat least； Mrs。 Holly asked him。 But
David shook his head and said 〃No； no； thank you very much； I'd rather
not； if you pleasenot now。〃 Then he dropped himself down on the steps
to think。 As if he could EATwith that great choking lump in his throat
that refused to be swallowed！
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JUST DAVID
David was thoroughly dazed； frightened； and dismayed。 He knew now
that never again in this world would he see his dear father； or hear him
speak。 This much had been made very clear to him during the last ten
minutes。 Why this should be so； or what his father would want him to do；
he could not seem to find out。 Not until now had he realized at all what
this going away of his father was to mean to him。 And he told himself
frantically that he could not have it so。 HE COULD NOT HAVE IT SO！
But even as he said the words； he knew that it was soirrevocably so。
David began then to long for his mountain home。 There at least he
would have his dear forest all about him； with the birds and the squirrels
and the friendly little brooks。 There he would have his Silver Lake to look
at； too； and all of them would speak to him of his father。 He believed；
indeed； that up there it would almost seem as if his father were really with
him。 And； anyway； if his father ever should come back； it would be there
that he would be sure to seek himup there in the little mountain home so
dear to them both。 Back to the cabin he would go now； then。 Yes； indeed
he would！
With a low word and a passionately intent expression； David got to his
feet； picked up his violin； and hurried； firm…footed； down the driveway and
out upon the main highway； turning in the direction from whence he had
come with his father the night before。
The Hollys had just finished breakfast when Higgins； the coroner；
drove into the yard accompanied by William Streeter； the town's most
prominent farmer；and the most miserly one； if report was to be credited。
〃Well； could you get anything out of the boy？ 〃 demanded Higgins；
without ceremony； as Simeon Holly and Larson appeared on the kitchen
porch。
〃Very little。 Really nothing of importance；〃 answered Simeon Holly。
〃Where is he now？〃
〃Why； he was here on the steps a few minutes ago。〃 Simeon Holly
looked about him a bit impatiently。
〃Well； I want to see him。 I've got a letter for him。〃
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JUST DAVID
〃A letter！〃 exclaimed Simeon Holly and Larson in amazed unison。
〃Yes。 Found it in his father's pocket；〃 nodded the coroner； with all the
tantalizing brevity of a man who knows he has a choice morsel of
information that is eagerly awaited。 〃It's addressed to 'My boy David；' so I
calculated we'd better give it to him first without reading it； seeing it's his。
After he reads it； though； I want to see it。 I want to see if what it says is
any nearer being horse…sense than the other one is。〃
〃The other one！〃 exclaimed the amazed chorus again。
〃Oh； yes； there's another one；〃 spoke up William Streeter tersely。 〃And
I've read it all but the scrawl at the end。 There couldn't anybody read
that！〃 Higgins laughed。
〃Well； I'm free to confess 't is a stickerthat name；〃 he admitted。〃 And
it's the name we want； of course； to tell us who they aresince it seems the
boy don't know； from what you said last night。 I was in hopes； by this
morning； you'd have found out more from him。〃
Simeon Holly shook his head。
〃'T was impossible。〃
〃Gosh！ I should say 't was；〃 cut in Perry Larson； with emphasis。 〃An'
queer ain't no name for it。 One minute he'd be talkin' good common se