Clint's first glimpse of Penny came one afternoon.

The door of Number 13 was open as Clint returned to his room after football practice and lugubrious sounds issued forth.

It was very near the supper hour and Penny's room was lighted only by the rays of the sinking sun.

Against the window Clint saw him in silhouette, his hair wildly ruffled, his violin under his chin, his bow scraping slowly back and forth as he leaned near-sightedly over the sheet of music spread on the rack before him.
The strains that issued from the instrument were awful, but there was something fine in the player's absorption and obvious content, and what had started out as a laugh of amusement changed to a sympathetic smile as Clint tiptoed on to his own door.
The sorrow of Penny's young life was that, although he had made innumerable attempts, he could not succeed in the formation of a school orchestra.

There was a Glee Club and a Musical Society, the latter composed of performers on the mandolin, banjo and guitar, but no one would take any interest in Penny's project.