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answered； frankly； simply：
〃Father says that I'm one little instrument in the great Orchestra of Life；
and that I must see to it that I'm always in tune； and don't drag or hit false
notes。〃
〃My land！〃 breathed the woman； dropping back in her chair； her eyes
fixed on the boy。 Then； with an effort； she got to her feet。 〃Come； you
must go to bed；〃 she stammered。 〃I'm sure bed isis the best place you。 I
think I can find whatwhat you need；〃 she finished feebly。
In a snug little room over the kitchen some minutes later； David found
himself at last alone。 The room； though it had once belonged to a boy of
his own age； looked very strange to David。 On the floor was a rag…carpet
rug； the first he had ever seen。 On the walls were a fishing…rod； a toy
shotgun； and a case full of bugs and moths； each little body impaled on a
pin； to David's shuddering horror。 The bed had four tall posts at the
corners； and a very puffy top that filled David with wonder as to how he
was to reach it； or stay there if he did gain it。 Across a chair lay a boy's
long yellow…white nightshirt that the kind lady had left； after hurriedly
wiping her eyes with the edge of its hem。 In all the circle of the candlelight
there was just one familiar object to David's homesick eyesthe long
black violin case which he had brought in himself； and which held his
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JUST DAVID
beloved violin。
With his back carefully turned toward the impaled bugs and moths on
the wall； David undressed himself and slipped into the yellow…white
nightshirt； which he sniffed at gratefully； so like pine woods was the
perfume that hung about its folds。 Then he blew out the candle and groped
his way to the one window the little room contained。
The moon still shone； but little could be seen through the thick green
branches of the tree outside。 From the yard below came the sound of
wheels； and of men's excited voices。 There came also the twinkle of
lanterns borne by hurrying hands； and the tramp of shuffling feet。 In the
window David shivered。 There were no wide sweep of mountain； hill； and
valley； no Silver Lake； no restful hush； no daddy；no beautiful Things that
Were。 There was only the dreary； hollow mockery of the Things they had
Become。
Long minutes later； David； with the violin in his arms； lay down upon
the rug； and； for the first time since babyhood； sobbed himself to sleep
but it was a sleep that brought no rest； for in it he dreamed that he was a
big； white…winged moth pinned with a star to an ink…black sky。
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JUST DAVID
CHAPTER IV
TWO LETTERS
In the early gray dawn David awoke。 His first sensation was the
physical numbness and stiffness that came from his hard bed on the floor。
〃Why； daddy；〃 he began； pulling himself half…erect； 〃I slept all night
on〃 He stopped suddenly； brushing his eyes with the backs of his hands。
〃Why； daddy； where〃 Then full consciousness came to him。
With a low cry he sprang to his feet and ran to the window。 Through
the trees he could see the sunrise glow of the eastern sky。 Down in the
yard no one was in sight； but the barn door was open； and； with a quick
indrawing of his breath； David turned back into the room and began to
thrust himself into his clothing。
The gold in his sagging pockets clinked and jingled musically； and
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 tow