If it had been booked for only a month away, I could have sold it short; but, as matters stood, I couldn't seem to cipher out any way to make it do me any good, so I gave up trying.

Next, Clarence found that old Merlin was making himself busy on the sly among those people.

He was spreading a report that I was a humbug, and that the reason I didn't accommodate the people with a miracle was because I couldn't.

I saw that I must do something.

I presently thought out a plan.
By my authority as executive I threw Merlin into prison--the same cell I had occupied myself.