DISCORDS The dead man found in Farmer Holly's barn created a decided stir in the village of Hinsdale.

The case was a peculiar one for many reasons.
First, because of the boy--Hinsdale supposed it knew boys, but it felt inclined to change its mind after seeing this one.

Second, because of the circumstances.

The boy and his father had entered the town like tramps, yet Higgins, who talked freely of his having given the pair a "lift" on that very evening, did not hesitate to declare that he did not believe them to be ordinary tramps at all.
As there had been little found in the dead man's pockets, save the two notes, and as nobody could be found who wanted the violins, there seemed to be nothing to do but to turn the body over to the town for burial.

Nothing was said of this to David; indeed, as little as possible was said to David about anything after that morning when Higgins had given him his father's letter.