Page:The Gentle Grafter (1908).djvu/54

 brains? It is my belief that the manna that the Israelites lived on for forty years in the wilderness was only a figurative word for farmers; and they keep up the practice to this day. And now,’ says Andy, ‘I am going to test my theory “Once a farmer, always a come-on,” in spite of the veneering and the orifices that a spurious civilization has brought to him.’

“‘You’ll fail, same as I did,’ says I. ‘This one’s shook off the shackles of the sheep-fold. He’s entrenched behind the advantages of electricity, education, literature and intelligence.’

“‘I’ll try,’ said Andy. ‘There are certain Laws of Nature that Free Rural Delivery can’t overcome.’

“Andy fumbles around awhile in the closet and comes out dressed in a suit with brown and yellow checks as big as your hand. His vest is red with blue dots, and he wears a high silk hat. I noticed he’d soaked his sandy mustache in a kind of blue ink.

“‘Great Barnums?’ says I. ‘You’re a ringer for a circus thimblerig man.’

“‘Right,’ says Andy. ‘Is the buggy outside? Wait here till I come back. I won’t be long.’

“Two hours afterward Andy steps in the room and lays a wad of money on the table.

“‘Right hundred and sixty dollars,’ said he. ‘Let 42