Speculations on the Theme of Mysterious Departures

I initially suspected, perhaps, some sort of elderly suicide club (morbid depression at Edwards' failure to take Oklahoma?). But this doesn't quite scan.

Hm. All textile mill workers. All phone lines cut.

There's something there.

There's also something to the suggested presence of a Confidence Man or Men, soliciting from the porchfront.

Were I Chief VanHoy, I'd get me an employment roster from the local telco, plus a log of calls to/from these addresses ...