gossip going the rounds."

"We'll have the money out of here in a short time, Vaniman, as I have
told you. That broker says that foreign money is going lower yet--and
seeing that we've taken all this trouble to get the hard cash ready for
the deal, we may as well make the clean-up as big as we can."

"Don't you think we'd better hire a couple of good men with rifles and
put 'em in the bank nights, sir?"

President Britt declared with scorn that the expense was not necessary,
that putting guards in the bank would only start more talk, and that
it also would be essential to hire old Ike Jones to sit in front of
the vault and play all night on his trombone to keep awake any two
men picked from Egypt. While Britt was expressing his opinion of
inefficiency and expense, the Prophet was furnishing this obbligato
outside, "'He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he
shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.'"

Vaniman closed the door on Britt's objurgations.

The young man did not find it necessary to prevail upon the Prophet to
give over his discourse. As soon as the emissary appeared Elias folded
his ample umbrella, tucked it under his arm, gave Vaniman a friendly
greeting, and winked at him. The twilight dimmed the seamed face and
the young man wondered whether he had been mistaken about the sly
suggestiveness of that wink.

"Joseph, how doth Pharaoh rest on his throne? Doth he sit easy?"

Always in their brief but good-natured interviews the evangelist called
the young man "Joseph." Elias took Vaniman's arm and walked along with
him.

"I'm afraid, Prophet Elias, that you'll provoke Mr. Britt too far. Take
my advice. Keep away from him for a time."

"'There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yeah, four which
I know not: the way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon
a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man
with a maid,'" said the Prophet, placidly. "Furthermore, 'The proud have
digged pits for me.' Joseph, the pitfalls encompass thee."

Vaniman refrained from making a reply; the Prophet was displaying an
embarrassing amount of sapience as to conditions.

In front of Usial Britt's cot they halted and the eccentric leaned close
to Vaniman's ear. "Joseph, my son, keep thine eye peeled." He released
the cashier's arm and strode to the door of Usial's house.

Vaniman, delaying his departure, noted that the door did not give way
when the