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Higgins gave a slow shake of his head。
〃Maybeif there was a market for 'em。 But who'd buy 'em？ There ain't
a soul in town plays but Jack Gurnsey； and he's got one。 Besides； he's sick；
and got all he can do to buy bread and butter for him and his sister without
taking in more fiddles； I guess。 HE wouldn't buy 'em。〃
〃Hmm； maybe not； maybe not；〃 grunted Streeter。 〃An'； as you say；
he's the only one that's got any use for 'em here； an' like enough they ain't
worth much； anyway。 So I guess 't is up to the town all right。〃
〃Yes； butif yer'll take it from me；〃interrupted Larson；〃you'll be
wise if ye keep still before the boy。 It's no use ASKIN' him anythin'。 We've
proved that fast enough。 An' if he once turns 'round an' begins ter ask YOU
questions； yer done for！〃
〃I guess you're right；〃 nodded Higgins； with a quizzical smile。 〃And as
long as questioning CAN'T do any good； why； we'll just keep whist before
the boy。 Meanwhile I wish the little rascal would hurry up and get here。 I
want to see the inside of that letter to HIM。 I'm relying on that being some
help to unsnarl this tangle of telling who they are。〃
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〃Well； he's started；〃 reiterated Mrs。 Holly； as she turned back into the
house； 〃so I guess he'll get here if you wait long enough。〃
〃Oh； yes； he'll get here if we wait long enough；〃 echoed Simeon Holly
again； crustily。
The two men in the wagon settled themselves more comfortably in
their seats； and Perry Larson； after a half…uneasy； half…apologetic glance at
his employer； dropped himself onto the bottom step。 Simeon Holly had
already sat down stiffly in one of the porch chairs。 Simeon Holly never
〃dropped himself〃 anywhere。 Indeed； according to Perry Larson； if there
were a hard way to do a thing； Simeon Holly found itand did it。 The fact
that； this morning； he had allowed； and was still allowing； the sacred
routine of the day's work to be thus interrupted； for nothing more
important than the expected arrival of a strolling urchin； was something
Larson would not have believed had he not seen it。 Even now he was
conscious once or twice of an involuntary desire to rub his eyes to make
sure they were not deceiving him。
Impatient as the waiting men were for the arrival of David； they were
yet almost surprised； so soon did he appear； running up the driveway。
〃Oh； where is it； please？〃 he panted。 〃They said you had a letter for me
from daddy！〃
〃You're right； sonny； we have。 And here it is；〃 answered Higgins
promptly； holding out the folded paper。
Plainly eager as he was； David did not open the note till he had first
carefully set down the case holding his violin； then he devoured it with
eager eyes。
As he read； the four men watched his face。 They saw first the quick
tears that had to be blinked away。 Then they saw the radiant glow that
grew and deepened until the whole boyish face was aflame with the
splendor of it。 They saw the shining wonder of his eyes； too； as he looked
up from the letter。
〃And daddy wrote this to me from the far country？〃 he breathed。
Simeon Holly scowled。 Larson choked over a stifled chuckle。 William
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Streeter stared and shrugged his shoulders； but Higgins flushed a dull red。
〃No； sonny；〃 he stammered。 〃We found it on theerI mean； iter
your father left it in his pocket for you；〃 finished the man； a little
explosively。
A swift shadow crossed the boy's face。
〃Oh； I hoped I'd heard〃 he began。 Then suddenly he stopped； his face
once more alight。 〃But it's 'most the same as if he wrote it from there； isn't
it？ He left it for me； and he told me what to do。〃
〃What's that； what's that？〃 cried Higgins； instantly alert。 〃DID he tell
you what to do？ Then； let's have it； so WE'LL know。 You will let us read it；
won't you； boy？〃
〃Why； yyes；〃 stammered David； holding it out politely； but with
evident reluctance。
〃Thank you；〃 nodded Higgins； as he reached for the note。
David's letter was very different from the other one。 It was longer； but
it did not help much； though it was easily read。 In his letter； in spite of the
wavering lines； each word was formed with a care that told of a father's
thought for the young eyes that would read it。 It was written on two of the
notebook's leaves； and at the end came the single word 〃Daddy。〃
David； my boy ＇read Higgins aloud＇； in the far country I am waiting
for you。 Do not grieve； for that will grieve me。 I shall not return； but some
day you will come to me； your violin at your chin； and the bow drawn
across the strings to greet me。 See that it tells me of the beautiful world
you have leftfor it is a beautiful world； David； never forget that。 And if
sometime you are tempted to think it is not a beautiful world； just
remember that you yourself can make it beautiful if you will。
You are among new faces； surrounded by things and people that are
strange to you。 Some of them you will not understand； some of them you
may not like。 But do not fear； David； and do not plead to go back to the
hills。 Remember this； my boy；in your violin lie all the things you long
for。 You have only to play； and the broad skies of your mountain home will
be over you； and the dear friends and comrades of your mountain forests
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will be about you。
DADDY。
〃Gorry！ that's worse than the other；〃 groaned Higgins； when he had
finished the note。 〃There's actually nothing in it！ Wouldn't you thinkif a
man wrote anything at such a timethat he'd 'a' wrote something that had
some sense to itsomething that one could get hold of； and find out who
the boy is？〃
There was no answering this。 The assembled men could only grunt and
nod in agreement； which； after all； was no real help。
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CHAPTER V
DISCORDS
The dead man found in Farmer Holly's barn created a decided stir in
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 farmho