e do?" And with both
hands he held up to view his cap sagging under its weight of gold.

Perry Larson's jaw fell open. His eyes bulged. Dazedly he reached out
and touched with trembling fingers the heap of shining disks that
seemed in the mellow light like little earth-born children of the moon
itself. The next instant he recoiled sharply.

"Great snakes, boy, where'd you git that money?" he demanded.

"Of father. He went to the far country, you know."

Perry Larson snorted angrily.

"See here, boy, for once, if ye can, talk horse-sense! Surely, even YOU
don't expect me ter believe that he's sent you that money from--from
where he's gone to!"

"Oh, no. He left it."

"Left it! Why, boy, you know better! There wa'n't a cent--hardly--found
on him."

"He gave it to me before--by the roadside."

"Gave it to you! Where in the name of goodness has it been since?"

"In the little cupboard in my room, behind the books."

"Great snakes!" muttered Perry Larson, reaching out his hand and
gingerly picking up one of the gold-pieces.

David eyed him anxiously.

"Won't they--do?" he faltered. "There aren't a thousand; there's only a
hundred and six; but--"

"Do!" cut in the man, excitedly. He had been examining the gold-piece
at close range. "Do! Well, I reckon they'll do. By Jiminy!--and ter
think you've had this up yer sleeve all this time! Well, I'll believe
anythin' of yer now--anythin'! You can't stump me with nuthin'! Come
on." And he hurriedly led the way toward the house.

"But they weren't up my sleeve," corrected David, as he tried to keep
up with the long strides of the man. "I SAID they were in the cupboard
in my room."

There was no answer. Larson had reached the porch steps, and had paused
there hesitatingly. From the kitchen still came the sound of sobs.
Aside from that there was silence. The boy, however, did not hesitate.
He went straight up the steps and through the open kitchen door. At the
table sat the man and the woman, their eyes covered with their hands.

With a swift overturning of his cap, David dumped his burden onto the
table, and stepped back respectfully.

"If you please, sir, would this--help any?" he asked.

At the jingle of the coins Simeon Holly and his wife lifted their heads
abruptly. A half-uttered sob died on the woman's lips. A quick cry came
from the man's. He reached forth an eager hand and had almost clutched
the gold when a sudden change came to his face. With a stern