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had given David an idea。 With swift steps he hurried to the front door and
knocked upon it。 In answer a tall； unsmiling woman appeared； and said；
〃Well？〃
David removed his cap as his father had taught him to do when one of
the mountain women spoke to him。
〃Good evening； lady； I'm David；〃 he began frankly。 〃My father is so
tired he fell down back there； and we should like very much to stay with
you all night； if you don't mind。〃
The woman in the doorway stared。 For a moment she was dumb with
amazement。 Her eyes swept the plain； rather rough garments of the boy；
then sought the half…recumbent figure of the man by the roadside。 Her chin
came up angrily。
〃Oh； would you； indeed！ Well； upon my word！〃 she scouted。 〃Humph！
We don't accommodate tramps； little boy。〃 And she shut the door hard。
It was David's turn to stare。 Just what a tramp might be； he did not
know； but never before had a request of his been so angrily refused。 He
knew that。 A fierce something rose within hima fierce new something
that sent the swift red to his neck and brow。 He raised a determined hand
to the doorknobhe had something to say to that woman！when the door
suddenly opened again from the inside。
〃See here； boy；〃 began the woman； looking out at him a little less
unkindly； 〃if you're hungry I'll give you some milk and bread。 Go around
to the back porch and I'll get it for you。〃 And she shut the door again。
David's hand dropped to his side。 The red still stayed on his face and
neck； however； and that fierce new something within him bade him refuse
to take food from this woman。。。。 But there was his fatherhis poor father；
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who was so tired； and there was his own stomach clamoring to be fed。 No；
he could not refuse。 And with slow steps and hanging head David went
around the corner of the house to the rear。
As the half…loaf of bread and the pail of milk were placed in his hands；
David remembered suddenly that in the village store on the mountain； his
father paid money for his food。 David was glad； now； that he had those
gold…pieces in his pocket； for he could pay money。 Instantly his head came
up。 Once more erect with self…respect； he shifted his burdens to one hand
and thrust the other into his pocket。 A moment later he presented on his
outstretched palm a shining disk of gold。
〃Will you take this； to pay； please； for the bread and milk？〃 he asked
proudly。
The woman began to shake her head； but； as her eyes fell on the
money； she started； and bent closer to examine it。 The next instant she
jerked herself upright with an angry exclamation。
〃It's gold！ A ten…dollar gold…piece！ So you're a thief； too； are you； as
well as a tramp？ Humph！ Well； I guess you don't need this then；〃 she
finished sharply； snatching the bread and the pail of milk from the boy's
hand。
The next moment David stood alone on the doorstep； with the sound of
a quickly thrown bolt in his ears。
A thief！ David knew little of thieves； but he knew what they were。
Only a month before a man had tried to steal the violins from the cabin；
and he was a thief； the milk…boy said。 David flushed now again； angrily； as
he faced the closed door。 But he did not tarry。 He turned and ran to his
father。
〃Father； come away； quick！ You must come away；〃 he choked。
So urgent was the boy's voice that almost unconsciously the sick man
got to his feet。 With shaking hands he thrust the notes he had been writing
into his pocket。 The little book； from which he had torn the leaves for this
purpose； had already dropped unheeded into the grass at his feet。
〃Yes； son； yes； we'll go；〃 muttered the man。 〃I feel better now。 I can
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walk。〃
And he did walk； though very slowly； ten； a dozen； twenty steps。 From
behind came the sound of wheels that stopped close beside them。
〃Hullo； there！ Going to the village？〃 called a voice。
〃Yes； sir。〃 David's answer was unhesitating。 Where 〃the village〃 was；
he did not know； he knew only that it must be somewhere away from the
woman who had called him a thief。 And that was all he cared to know。
〃I'm going 'most there myself。 Want a lift？〃 asked the man； still kindly。
〃Yes； sir。 Thank you！〃 cried the boy joyfully。 And together they aided
his father to climb into the roomy wagon…body。
There were few words said。 The man at the reins drove rapidly； and
paid little attention to anything but his horses。 The sick man dozed and
rested。 The boy sat； wistful…eyed and silent； watching the trees and houses
flit by。 The sun had long ago set； but it was not dark； for the moon was
round and bright； and the sky was cloudless。 Where the road forked
sharply the man drew his horses to a stop。
〃Well； I'm sorry； but I guess I'll have to drop you here； friends。 I turn
off to the right； but 't ain't more 'n a quarter of a mile for you； now〃 he
finished cheerily； pointing with his whip to a cluster of twinkling lights。
〃Thank you； sir； thank you；〃 breathed David gratefully； steadying his
father's steps。 〃You've helped us lots。 Thank you！〃
In David's heart was a wild desire to lay at his good man's feet all of
his shining gold…pieces as payment for this timely aid。 But caution held
him back： it seemed that only in stores did money pay； outside it branded
one as a thief！
Alone with his father； David faced once more his problem。 Where
should they go for the night？ Plainly his father could not walk far。 He had
begun to talk again； too；low； half…finished sentences that David could not
understand； and that vaguely troubled him。 There was a house near by； and
several others down the road toward the village； but David had had all the
experience he wanted that night with strange houses； and strange women。
There was a barn； a big one； which was nearest of all； and it was toward
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this barn that David finally turned his father's steps。
〃We'll go there； daddy； if we can get in；〃 he proposed softly。 〃And
we'll stay all night and rest。〃
CHAPTER III
THE VALLEY
The long twilight of the June day had changed into a night that was
scarcely darker； so bright was the moonlight。 Seen from the house； the
barn and the low buildings beyond loomed shadowy and unreal； yet very
beautiful。 On the side porch of the house sat Simeon Holly and his wife；
content to rest mind and body only because a full day's work lay well done
behind them。
It was just as Simeon rose to his feet to go indoors that a long note
from a violin reached their ears。
〃Simeon！〃 cried the woman。 〃What was that？〃
The man did not answer。 His eyes were fixed on the barn。
〃Simeon； it's a fiddle！〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Holly； as a second tone
quivered on the air 〃And it's in our barn！〃
Simeon's jaw set。 With a stern ejaculation he crossed the porch and
entered the kitchen。
In another minute he had returned； a lighted lantern in his hand。
〃Simeon； ddon't go；〃 begged the woman； tremulously。 〃Youyou
don't know what's there。〃
〃Fiddles are not played without hands； Ellen；〃 retorted the man
severely。 〃Would you have me go to bed and leave a half…drunken；
ungodly minstrel fellow in possession of our barn？ To…night； on my way
home； I passed a pretty pair of them lying by the roadsidea man and a
boy with two violins。 They're the culprits； likely；though how they got
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this far； I don't see。 Do you think I want to leave my barn to tramps like
them？〃
〃Nno； I suppose not；〃 faltered the woman； as she rose tremblingly to
her feet； and followed her husband's shadow across the yard。
Once inside the barn Simeon Holly and his wife paused involuntarily。
The music was all about them now； filling the air with runs and trills and
rollicking bits of melod