Joe is old Peleg Glaspell's grandson." John Holly threw up both his hands.
"A Stradivarius--to old Peleg's grandson! Oh, ye gods!" he muttered.
"Well, I'll be--" He did not finish his sentence.

At another word from Simeon Holly, David had begun to play.
From his seat by the stove Simeon Holly watched his son's face--and smiled.

He saw amazement, unbelief, and delight struggle for the mastery; but before the playing had ceased, he was summoned by Perry Larson to the kitchen on a matter of business.

So it was into the kitchen that John Holly burst a little later, eyes and cheek aflame.
"Father, where in Heaven's name DID you get that boy ?" he demanded.
"Who taught him to play like that?
I've been trying to find out from him, but I'd defy Sherlock Holmes himself to make head or tail of the sort of lingo he talks, about mountain homes and the Orchestra of Life! Father, what DOES it mean ?" Obediently Simeon Holly told the story then, more fully than he had told it before.

He brought forward the letter, too, with its mysterious signature.
"Perhaps you can make it out, son," he laughed.