heard about it when I was over to the shire town. A city lawyer
showed up the other day and deposited cash bonds and got out a writ,
and got Elias out, too, and the case has been appealed. Looks like the
Prophet has footed it back here again. But I suppose you can arrest him
on that other case of trespass."

Britt did not show especial alacrity in starting anything else in the
case of the new arrival in town. He sat down. "Who was the lawyer? Who
sent him?"

"Guess he didn't say. Let the money do the talking for him. And money
can talk! Now, as I was saying, to get back to our regular business,
it's up to you to name the ones that Dowd will tackle. Say, where are
you going?"

Britt was on his feet and moving rapidly. "Somewhere to do some thinking
away from that carpet-loom, shuttle-tongued, infernal mouth of yours!"

Mr. Harnden, astonished and much hurt, watched the usurer till he
tramped into Britt Block.

But Mr. Harnden had too much important business of his own on his mind
to use time in wondering how a Prophet had managed to get out of jail.

CHAPTER XXI

BLOOD OUT OF TURNIPS

In the past Mr. Harnden had regularly referred to Egypt as a good
jumping-off place; he emphasized the jest by pointing to the ledge
outcroppings which indicated that the landscape would not sag under the
weight of the most energetic jumper. Then away he would go!

His detractors said that he was in the habit of coming home when affairs
were in such a bad way with him that he could not stay anywhere else.

His wife and daughter had never admitted anything of the sort, even to
each other. They affectionately welcomed Mr. Harnden when he came; after
he had stoked the fires of his faith, and they had darned his socks and
mended his shirts, they gave him the accustomed encouraging and loving
Godspeed when he went away again under a full head of optimism. They
always agreed with him, on each going-away, that this was surely the
time when Opportunity was waiting outside.

But for many weeks Opportunity had seemed to be camping with Mr. Harnden
right in his own home town. He was brisk, radiant, and apparently
prosperous.

Therefore, when he announced in the bosom of his family that he proposed
to go away for a time, his wife and daughter were frankly astonished.

It was directly after breakfast on the morning following Mr. Harnden's
return from the shire town.

He did not display his usual jocose manner when he referred to Egy