sy
and avoid the poor farm. And even the paupers will wake up and go to
work in my town! Work will be in the air. I'm going to send a wagon
after those paupers. Britt is no sort of a man to be allowed pets; he'll
let 'em starve."

"Undoubtedly," agreed the Squire. "I'll say, further, Frank, that when
the Prophet started off last evening, blowing his trump to sound the
signal for the migration, Britt stood and saw him go--and never guessed
what it meant."

"I heard that horn--I wondered."

"He's a good blower," stated Colonel Wincott. "He blew all the props out
from under the man Britt. Solidly grounded on texts, Elias is! Vaniman,
a brand-new scheme needs a resourceful operator." He patted the top of
his head. "Pardon me for flattering myself. I invented the system and
the Prophet played it."

Then Colonel Wincott leaned back, stuck his thumbs into the armholes of
his vest, and rocked on the hind legs of the chair. "I played a hunch,"
he went on. "I was going through Scollay Square in Boston one evening
and I heard a street evangelist holding forth. He was preaching on the
subject, 'Bondage.' Sin he called Pharaoh. And he was hammering the
hearers with texts from Exodus. The idea hit me. I hung up beside the
curb till he was through preaching, then I invited him to take a ride
with me in my car. And a wise old bird I found him to be! No hypocrite!
Doing his best to help his fellow-men, but always hep! Never out of a
city till I pulled him up here. Likes the country now. Going to be the
regular preacher in my new town. No more robe-and-umbrella business,
of course. That was my idea. I'm inclined to be a little circusy in
my notions. He stood for it. The scheme helped him to put over what he
couldn't have got away with by ordinary means."

Vaniman remembered those flashes of worldly wisdom in the Prophet, and
was enlightened. His countenance revealed his thoughts.

"Had you guessing?" demanded the colonel. "Nothing like starting folks
to guessing. Keeps up the interest. One by one Elias snipped the cords
that bound the folks to the soil of this place. Did a fine job. They're
going to thrive after they are transplanted. Even Squire Hexter is going
to bring up the rear guard, after he has finished here with the loose
ends of the law needed in the case."

"It's to be a clean sweep, Frank," the Squire affirmed. "Even Usial
and his press; the new town will be in his legislative class." Then
he looked long at Colonel W