, had blown over. A "freighter" had repaired his brake block
with a portion of the marker, so no one except the grave digger was sure
where the Major lay.

Jasper Toomey at this period of his career was engaged in the real
estate business. About ninety per cent of Prouty's residences were
listed with him. In the beginning, while taking descriptions of the
properties and making a confidential note of the lowest possible sums
which would be accepted, he was busy and optimistic. But, this
completed, business subsided suddenly. His few inquiries for properties
came from buyers who had no cash available. The breath he expended in
"working up deals" which came to nothing when the critical point was
reached would have floated a balloon.

Toomey had no office, but conducted his affairs in winter from the chair
by the radiator in the southwest corner of the Prouty House. In summer,
he moved to the northeast corner of the veranda. To borrow five dollars
nowadays was a distinct achievement, and his sallow face had taken on
the habitual expression of a hungry wolf waiting for strays and
weaklings. Mrs. Toomey still anticipated the day when "Jap would get
into something."

As much worse as was Sunday than Monday, just so much worse was winter
than summer in Prouty. Winter meant more coal, warmer clothes,
high-priced food, and a period of hibernating until it was over. So it
was in a kind of panic that Prouty suddenly realized that fall had come
and another winter would soon be upon them. Thus, in a mood of
desperation, the officers of the Boosters Club sent out notice of an
important meeting to its members. It was urged most earnestly that each
should come prepared to offer a new suggestion for the improvement of
financial conditions in Prouty. The fact that the need was thus publicly
admitted evidenced the urgency of the situation.

It seemed as though every plan that human ingenuity could devise had
been already discussed, and shelved for the very excellent reason that
there never was any capital with which to give the projects a try-out.
While the members subscribed with glad and openhanded generosity, to
collect the subscriptions was another matter.

Heretofore suggestions had come sporadically; now it was believed that
as the concentrated wills of powerful minds are alleged to have moved
inanimate objects, somewhat in the same fashion concerted effort on the
part of the Boosters Club might result in something tangible.