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So then Dad settled down to talk business with Paul. Dad wanted some one
to occupy this ranch, and Paul said he had thought it over, and would do
it if they could make a fair arrangement. Dad asked how he could get
along, and Paul said he had saved up three hundred dollars from his
wages, and he would get a few goats, and put in some beans this spring,
and some strawberries that would bring an income next year; he would pay
Dad one-half whatever he got for the crops. They had an argument over
that, for Dad thought he ought to pay Paul to act as caretaker, but Paul
said he wouldn’t take it on that basis, he would insist on going shares,
in the regular way they rented land in these parts. And when Mr. Ross
came on hunting or fishing trips, Paul of course would move out into the
tent. But Dad said no, he was planning to build himself a shack, a
better place than this, and Paul might help the carpenter and earn wages
if he wanted to. Paul said he could do the building himself, if Dad said
so—everything but hanging the doors and windows; a fellow learned to do
about all the jobs there were on a ranch. And Dad asked if Ruth would
stay with Paul, and Paul said he would settle here in the house, and go
easy, and Ruth would come to see him, until gradually their father got
used to the idea. It wouldn’t be possible to keep Paul and Ruth
apart—especially now since Eli was away from home nearly all the time.
So Dad asked about Eli, and the development of the Third Revelation.
Only three or four days after Eli had made his announcement in the
Paradise Church, there had come a deputation from the church at
Roseville, saying that they had heard the fame of Eli’s miracles, and
would he come and preach to them. And Eli preached, and the “signs” were
manifested, and so the new prophet grew bolder. Now he was being driven
about the country in somebody’s costly limousine, and in the back part
of the car was a stack of the crutches of people who had been “healen.”
These crutches would be set up in sight of each new congregation, and
nearly always they were added to; and there fell over the head of the
prophet a shower of silver dollars and half dollars, and coins, wrapped
in banknotes, Eli had now given himself a title; he was the Messenger of
the Second Coming, and the hour of Christ’s return to earth was to be
made known through him. Sometimes whole congregations would be swept off
their feet and converted to the True Word; or again, some would be
converted, and there would be a split, and a new church in that place.
“How do you suppose he works it?” Dad asked.
“He really does cure people,” said Paul; “there are some about here you
can talk to. I’ve been reading a book on suggestion; it seems that kind
of thing has been going on for thousands of years.”
“Does he send any money home to his folks?” Dad asked.
And Paul smiled, rather grimly. “The money is sacred,” he said; “it
belongs to the Holy Spirit, and Eli is His treasurer.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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