n acquaintance."

"I guess she's able to let me know her own mind. We took to each other
like ducks to a patch o' wild rice. I'm too old to be dangerous an'
young enough to know what's good for me."

Mrs. MacGregor ignored her brother's remark. She turned to Elijah.

"How does the change from sedate New England to this new life affect
you, Elijah?"

"Not at all, personally, Mrs. MacGregor. I'm just the same 'Lige you
used to know."

Uncle Sid broke in.

"Perhaps not your innards, but your outards ain't the same. You ain't
goin' around here barefoot, with two kinds o' cloth in your pants."

Mrs. MacGregor's eyes were wandering from Helen to Elijah. She was
comparing the evidences of sight gathered from personal inspection, with
those of hearsay, the result of her indirect inquiries among the hotel
guests, as to Elijah's standing in Ysleta. At length she arose, holding
out her hand to Elijah.

"I shall hope to renew our old acquaintance. It is a great pleasure to
find one's estimates of an old friend more than exceeded."

Elijah took Mrs. MacGregor's hand. In spite of his bewilderment over
their implied intimacy in the past, he felt a glow of pride that she
felt it worth her while to expand the mustard seed of their former
acquaintance into a luxuriant growth. He gave the limp hand a warm
pressure.

"Let me do anything I can for your pleasure, Mrs. MacGregor. I am always
at your service."

Mrs. MacGregor bowed formally to Helen.

"We shall meet again, I hope. You are stopping here?"

"Yes." Helen could hardly bring herself to this curt response. She felt
more like slapping.

It did not escape Mrs. MacGregor, who was following Uncle Sid from the
room, that Helen had begun to move as well, and that she was checked by
an almost imperceptible gesture from Elijah.

"What about tomorrow, Helen?" he asked.

"You mean the Pacific bank?"

"Yes. It's not our secret now. Every one knows that the run will begin
when the bank opens."

"There's only one thing to be done. You must be the first in line."

Elijah took a few quick turns then came to a sudden halt before Helen.

"That's impossible. The line's a mile long now." He laughed uneasily
over the exaggeration.

"Then we are out of it, after all."

Elijah hesitated.

"Not necessarily."

Helen leaped to the point of Elijah's meaning.

"You can't do that. You mustn't!"

"Why not? It's our money."

"You know why not." Helen spoke sharply.

"Mellin