"How can we sleep with your dam coughing?" they cried. "Why don't you
invest in a second-hand coffin?"
Feared that the women whom he served would complain that the poison of
his sickness was tainting them and that he would be sent away, Joseph
increased his pilferings; where he had stolen a shilling he now stole
two shillings; and when he got five pounds above the sum he needed, he
heaved a deep sigh and said: "Thank you for your favor, God bach. I will
now go home to heal myself."
Madlen took the money to Essec, coming back heavy with grief.
"Hoo-hoo," she whined, "the ninety has bought only the land. Selling the
houses is Essec."
"Wrong there is," said Joseph. "Probe deeply we must."
From their puzzlings Madlen said: "What will you do?"
"Go and charge swindler Moriah."
"Meddle not with him. Strong he is with the Lord."
"Teach him will I to pocket my honest wealth."
Because of his weakness, Joseph did not go to Moriah; to-day he said: "I
will to-morrow," and to-morrow he said: "Certain enough I'll go
to-morrow."
In the twilight of an afternoon he and Madlen sat down, gazing about,
and speaking scantily; and the same thought was with each of them, and
this was the thought: "A tearful prayer will remove the Big Man from His
judgment, but nothing will remove Essec from his purpose.
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