“Hold on,” said Jud, “now, we've studied this thing all out for you. You're a Mormon—the only one of us that is a Mormon—openly.”
They all laughed.
“Openly—” he went on—“you've j'ined the Mormon church here up in the mountains.”
“But we don't practise polygamy—now”—said Joe.
“That's only on account of the Grand Jury and the law—not yo' religion. You see—you'll marry an' go to Utah—but—es the kids come you'll sen' 'em all down here to the mills—every one a kinder livin' coupon. All any man's got to do in this country to git rich is to marry enough wives.”
“Can I do that—do the marryin' in Utah an' keep sendin' the—the chilluns down to the mill?” His eyes glittered.
“Sart'inly”—said Jud—“sure!”
“Then there's Miss Carewe”—he went on—“you haf'ter cal'clate on feedin' several wives in one, with her. But say eleven mo' by her. That's thirty-seven mo'.”
Joe jumped up.
“Is she willin'?”