ould at least give it to him, and let him go away now to
that beautiful music he was to hear, and to those kind people who were
always to understand what he said when he played.

"Of course," ventured Perry Larson diffidently, "I ain't professin' ter
know any great shakes about the hand of the Lord, Mr. Holly, but it do
strike me that this 'ere gold comes mighty near bein'
proverdential--fur you."

Simeon Holly fell back in his seat. His eyes clung to the gold, but his
lips set into rigid lines.

"That money is the boy's, Larson. It isn't mine," he said.

"He's give it to ye."

Simeon Holly shook his head.

"David is nothing but a child, Perry. He doesn't realize at all what he
is doing, nor how valuable his gift is."

"I know, sir, but you DID take him in, when there wouldn't nobody else
do it," argued Larson. "An', anyhow, couldn't you make a kind of an I O
U of it, even if he is a kid? Then, some day you could pay him back.
Meanwhile you'd be a-keepin' him, an' a-schoolin' him; an' that's
somethin'."

"I know, I know," nodded Simeon Holly thoughtfully, his eyes going from
the gold to David's face. Then, aloud, yet as if to himself, he
breathed: "Boy, boy, who was your father? How came he by all that
gold--and he--a tramp!"

David drew himself suddenly erect. His eyes flashed.

"I don't know, sir. But I do know this: he didn't STEAL it!"

Across the table Mrs. Holly drew a quick breath, but she did not
speak--save with her pleading eyes. Mrs. Holly seldom spoke--save with
her eyes--when her husband was solving a knotty problem. She was
dumfounded now that he should listen so patiently to the man,
Larson,--though she was not more surprised than was Larson himself. For
both of them, however, there came at this moment a still greater
surprise. Simeon Holly leaned forward suddenly, the stern lines quite
gone from his lips, and his face working with emotion as he drew David
toward him.

"You're a good son, boy,--a good loyal son; and--and I wish you were
mine! I believe you. He didn't steal it, and I won't steal it, either.
But I will use it, since you are so good as to offer it. But it shall
be a loan, David, and some day, God helping me, you shall have it back.
Meanwhile, you're my boy, David,--my boy!"

"Oh, thank you, sir," rejoiced David. "And, really, you know, being
wanted like that is better than the start would be, isn't it?"

"Better than--what?"

David shifted his position. He had not meant t