sensation was the physical numbness and stif

ght on-" He stopped suddenly, brushing his eyes with the backs of h

ow of the eastern sky. Down in the yard no one was in sight; but the barn door was open, and, with a quic

a moment the boy looked as if he were going to let them remain where they were. But the next minute, with an impatient ge

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

low cry. The next moment he turned to see a kindly-f

one with him?" appealed the boy, almost plunging head

ten face came a look of si

you're the boy, are ye

you know? I mean the-the part he-he left behind h

n, involuntarily, h

ye se

everishly. "You aren't the man I saw last night.

kly, still unconsciously backing away. "Me-I'm only Larson, Perry Lars

the barn door. "Maybe he would know-about father. Oh, there he is!"

Holly, and the man, Perry Larson. And they all talked. But little of what they said co

seem to reply to their questi

d him. But David shook his head and said "No, no, thank you very much; I'd rather not, if you please-not now." Then he dropped

m 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

long for his mountai

m 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 ba

p his violin, and hurried, firm-footed, down the driveway and out upon the main highw

ve into the yard accompanied by William Streeter, the town's most pro

demanded Higgins, without ceremony, as Simeon

othing of importance,"

is he

few minutes ago." Simeon Holly lo

see him. I've got

Simeon Holly and Lar

rmation 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, seein

exclaimed the ama

er tersely. "And I've read it-all but the scrawl at the

e want, of course, to tell us who they are-since it seems the boy don't know, from what

lly shook

s impo

birds an' squirrels an' babbling brooks. He sure is dippy! Listen. He actually don't seem ter know the diff'rence between himself an' his fiddle. We was tryin' ter find out this mornin' what he could do, an' what

ok them last night away up on the Fairbanks road by the Taylor place, and I gave 'em a lift. I particularly noticed what a decent sort they we

ond letter you mention

ddly, and reache

read the letter," he said, as he

t gingerly an

he outside the superscription "To whom it may concern." The handwriting was peculiar, ir

must give David back to the worl

t leave my task for others to complete. Deal gently with him. He knows

awls and flourishes that conveyed no sort

pted Higgins

lly shook

it. It certainly is a

ou read

N

dozen others that's seen it. But where's

unteered Larson. "He mu

shed, the kitchen bedroom, nor anywhere else that Larson looked; and the man was just com

s just telephoned that her sister Mollie has just telephoned H

Higgins. "Why, that's a

ying forward. "Doggone the little rascal! He mus

id Mollie said she found him crying at the crossroads, because he didn't know which way to take. He said he was going ba

now?" deman

time getting him to eat. And she wants to know what to do with him. That's

ll, tell her to tel

his father could find him if he should ever want him. Mr. Higgins, we-we CAN'T let him go off like that. Why, the child

er won't fetch him? He seems to think the world and all of his daddy. Here," he directed, turning to Mrs. Holly, "you tell my wife to tell-better yet, yo

ulder, as she hurried into the house. In an unbel

y, Mollie said. He even left part of his breakfast, he w

Simeon Holly grimly. "But that isn't tellin

sted Higgins soothingly. "Anyhow, even if it doesn't, I'm not worryi

money on the bod

e boy's letter doesn't tell us where any of their fol

d one, too. Wouldn't they bring anything?"

a slow shak

t Jack Gurnsey; and he's got one. Besides, he's sick, and got all he can do to buy bread and

s the only one that's got any use for 'em here; an' like enough they

ep still before the boy. It's no use ASKIN' him anythin'. We've proved that fast e

we'll just keep whist before the boy. Meanwhile I wish the little rascal would hurry up and get here. I want to see

as she turned back into the house; "so I gu

we wait long enough," echoed

Holly never "dropped himself" anywhere. Indeed, according to Perry Larson, if there were a hard way to do a thing, Simeon Holly found it-and 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 inter

val of David, they were yet almost surprised,

e panted. "They said you had

here it is," answered Higgins pro

e till he had first carefully set down the case hol

ay. Then they saw the radiant glow that grew and deepened until the whole boyish face was aflame wi

to me from the far c

led chuckle. William Streeter stared and shrugg

-I mean, it-er-your father left it in his pocket

ow crossed t

ace once more alight. "But it's 'most the same as if he wrote it f

ert. "DID he tell you what to do? Then, let's have it,

d, holding it out politely,

d Higgins, as he r

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

o 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 left-for it is a beautiful wor

. 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 o

DD

lly nothing in it! Wouldn't you think-if a man wrote anything at such a time-that he'd 'a' wrote som

ed men could only grunt and nod in agree