f December. But this was an
exceptional case, and one in which all were keenly interested.

"I hear he is stark crazy," Mrs. Munson was saying to a neighbour,
Peter McQueen, "and that he has a funny notion in his head."

"Should say so," McQueen replied. "Any man who has lived as he has for
months must be pretty well off his base. Why, he didn't have a scrap
of food in the house when he was found by Jim Trask one morning the
last of April. Jim has been keeping him ever since."

"Isn't he able to work?" Mrs. Munson inquired.

"Seems not. I guess he's a scholar or something like that, and did
some book-keeping in the city until he drifted this way. He must have
had a little money to live as long as he has. He's always been a
mystery to me."

"And to everybody else, I guess."

"Yes, so it appears. But it's a great pity that we've got to be
burdened with the likes of him. Our taxes are heavy enough now without
having to take care of this strange pauper. We've got too many on our
hands already for our good."

"But do you know anything about that queer notion of his, Pete?" Mrs.
Munson asked.

"Ho, ho, I've heard about it, and I guess it's true all right. He's in
love with Break Neck Falls, and makes regular trips there every day,
and sometimes at night. Jim followed him once, and saw him standing
upon that high rock right by the falls. He kept waving his hands and
shouting to the water, though Jim could not make out what he was
saying. He has some writing on a piece of paper which he keeps very
close. He has told, though, that his plan will do wonderful things for
the city and the whole surrounding country. He once said that we don't
know what a valuable thing we have right in our midst. I guess we've
lived here longer than he has, and should know a thing or two. It is
not necessary for a half-cracked old man to come and tell us of our
possessions. But, say, here he is now, coming along in Jim Trask's
farm waggon."

As the team drew near, all eyes were turned in its direction, for the
first glimpse of "Crazy David," as he was generally called. There was
no difficulty about seeing him for he was sitting by Jim's side on the
rough board seat. He looked much older and careworn than the night he
had awakened from his dream, and found his wood-box, cupboard, and
pocket-book empty. He had sat huddled on the seat for most of the way
up the road, but when near the store he lifted his eyes and fixed t