按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
money！ Don't ye see？ Anything that's money。〃
〃Would g…gold do it？〃 David's voice was very faint now。
〃Sure！gold； or silver； or greenbacks； oror a check； if it had the
dough behind it。〃
David did not appear to hear the last。 With an oddly strained look he
129
… Page 130…
JUST DAVID
had hung upon the man's first words； but at the end of the sentence he only
murmured； 〃Oh； thank you；〃 and turned away。 He was walking slowly
now toward the house。 His head was bowed。 His step lagged。
〃Now； ain't that jest like that chap；〃 muttered the man； 〃ter slink off
like that as if he was a whipped cur。 I'll bet two cents an' a doughnut； too；
that in five minutes he'll be what he calls 'playin' it' on that 'ere fiddle o'
his。 An' I'll be derned； too； if I ain't curious ter see what he WILL make of
it。 It strikes me this ought ter fetch somethin' first cousin to a dirge！〃
On the porch steps David paused a breathless instant。 From the kitchen
came the sound of Mrs。 Holly's sobs and of a stern voice praying。 With a
shudder and a little choking cry the boy turned then and crept softly
upstairs to his room。
He played； too； as Perry Larson had wagered。 But it was not the
tragedy of the closed bank； nor the honor of the threatened farm…selling
that fell from his violin。 It was； instead； the swan song of a little pile of
goldgold which lay now in a chimney cupboard； but which was soon to
be placed at the feet of the mourning man and woman downstairs。 And in
the song was the sob of a boy who sees his house of dreams burn to ashes；
who sees his wonderful life and work out in the wide world turn to endless
days of weed…pulling and dirt…digging in a narrow valley。 There was in the
song； too； something of the struggle； the fierce yea and nay of the conflict。
But； at the end； there was the wild burst of exaltation of renunciation； so
that the man in the barn door below fairly sprang to his feet with an
angry：
〃Gosh！ if he hain't turned the thing into a jigdurn him！ Don't he know
more'n that at such a time as this？〃
Later； a very little later； the shadowy figure of the boy stood before
him。
〃I've been thinking；〃 stammered David； 〃that maybe Icould help；
about that money； you know。〃
〃Now； look a…here； boy；〃 exploded Perry； in open exasperation； 〃as I
said in the first place； this ain't in your class。 'T ain't no pink cloud sailin'
130
… Page 131…
JUST DAVID
in the sky； nor a bluebird singin' in a blackb'rry bush。 An' you might 'play
it'as you call ittill doomsday； an' 't wouldn't do no goodthough I'm
free ter confess that your playin' of them 'ere other things sounds real pert
an' chirky at times； but 't won't do no good here。〃
David stepped forward； bringing his small； anxious face full into the
moonlight。
〃But 't was the money； Perry； I meant about； the money；〃 he explained。
〃They were good to me and wanted me when there wasn't any one else
that did； and now I'd like to do something for them。 There aren't so
MANY pieces； and they aren't silver。 There's only one hundred and six of
them； I counted。 But maybe they 'd help some。 Itit would be astart。〃
His voice broke over the once beloved word； then went on with renewed
strength。 〃There； see！ Would these do？〃 And with both hands he held up to
view his cap sagging under its weight of gold。
Perry Larson's jaw fell open。 His eyes bulged。 Dazedly he reached out
and touched with trembling fingers the heap of shining disks that seemed
in the mellow light like little earth…born children of the moon itself。 The
next instant he recoiled sharply。
〃Great snakes； boy； where'd you git that money？〃 he demanded。
〃Of father。 He went to the far country； you know。〃
Perry Larson snorted angrily。
〃See here； boy； for once； if ye can； talk horse…sense！ Surely； even YOU
don't expect me ter believe that he's sent you that money fromfrom
where he's gone to！〃
〃Oh； no。 He left it。〃
〃Left it！ Why； boy； you know better！ There wa'n't a centhardly
found on him。〃
〃He gave it to me beforeby the roadside。〃
〃Gave it to you！ Where in the name of goodness has it been since？〃
〃In the little cupboard in my room； behind the books。〃
〃Great snakes！〃 muttered Perry Larson； reaching out his hand and
gingerly picking up one of the gold…pieces。
131
… Page 132…
JUST DAVID
David eyed him anxiously。
〃Won't theydo？〃 he faltered。 〃There aren't a thousand； there's only a
hundred and six； but〃
〃Do！〃 cut in the man； excitedly。 He had been examining the gold…piece
at close range。 〃Do！ Well； I reckon they'll do。 By Jiminy！and ter think
you've had this up yer sleeve all this time！ Well； I'll believe anythin' of yer
nowanythin'！ You can't stump me with nuthin'！ Come on。〃 And he
hurriedly led the way toward the house。
〃But they weren't up my sleeve；〃 corrected David； as he tried to keep
up with the long strides of the man。 〃I SAID they were in the cupboard in
my room。〃
There was no answer。 Larson had reached the porch steps； and had
paused there hesitatingly。 From the kitchen still came the sound of sobs。
Aside from that there was silence。 The boy； however； did not hesitate。 He
went straight up the steps and through the open kitchen door。 At the table
sat the man and the woman； their eyes covered with their hands。
With a swift overturning of his cap； David dumped his burden onto the
table； and stepped back respectfully。
〃If you please； sir； would thishelp any？〃 he asked。
At the jingle of the coins Simeon Holly and his wife lifted their heads
abruptly。 A half…uttered sob died on the woman's lips。 A quick cry came
from the man's。 He reached forth an eager hand and had almost clutched
the gold when a sudden change came to his face。 With a stern ejaculation
he drew back。
〃Boy； where did that money come from？〃 he challenged。
David sighed in a discouraged way。 It seemed that； always； the
showing of this gold mean't questioningeternal questioning。
〃Surely；〃 continued Simeon Holly； 〃you did not〃 With the boy's frank
gaze upturned to his； the man could not finish his sentence。
Before David could answer came the voice of Perry Larson from the
kitchen doorway。
〃No； sir； he didn't； Mr。 Holly； an' it's all straight； I'm thinkin'though
132
… Page 133…
JUST DAVID
I'm free ter confess it does sound nutty。 His dad give it to him。〃
〃Hisfather！ But wherewhere has it been ever since？〃
〃In the chimney cupboard in his room； he says； sir。〃
Simeon Holly turned in frowning amazement。
〃David； what does this mean？ Why have you kept this gold in a place
like that？〃
〃Why； there wasn't anything else to do wiih it；〃 answered the boy
perplexedly。 〃I hadn't any use for it； you know； and father said to keep it
till I needed it。〃
〃 'Hadn't any use for it'！〃 blustered Larson from the doorway。 〃Jiminy！
Now； ain't that jest like that boy？〃
But David hurried on with his explanation。
〃We never used to use themfather and Iexcept to buy things to eat
and wear； and down here YOU give me those； you know。〃
〃Gorry！〃 interjected Perry Larson。 〃Do you reckon； boy； that Mr。 Holly
himself was give them things he gives ter you？〃
The boy turned sharply； a startled question in his eyes。
〃What do you mean？ Do you mean that〃 His face changed suddenly。
His cheeks turned a shamed red。 〃Why； he didhe did have to buy them；
of course； just as father did。 And I never even thought of it before！ Then；
it's yours； anywayit belongs to you；〃 he argued； turning to Farmer Holly；
and shoving the gold nearer to his hands。 〃There isn't enough； maybebut
't will help！〃
〃They're ten…dollar gold pieces； sir；〃 spoke up Larson importantly； 〃an'
there's a hundred an' six of them。 That's jest one thousand an' sixty dollars；
as I make it。〃
Simeon Holly； self…controlled man that he was； almost leaped from his
chair。
〃One thousand and sixty dollars！〃 he gasped。 Then； to Dav