sed and turned his
eyes to Mrs. MacGregor. She knew what he would say, but she preferred to
let him speak.

"Well?"

"They would do by this as they have done by Ysleta."

Mrs. MacGregor laughed.

"Why don't you take them then?"

"Is it my duty? That is the question that is troubling me. I haven't the
money to buy them even at their present rates. If I had, my way would be
open."

"Why not have faith that the way will open in the future as it has in
the past?"

Elijah drew himself together.

"I am going to tell you the whole thing, then you can judge me as you
will." He told of the fifty thousand dollars, his disposition of it, the
fact that the pass-book of the company showed a balance unpaid of fifty
thousand dollars, his provisional deal with Pico. He hesitated as he
closed the recital, then after a moment he concluded. "This deal with
Pico must be decided at once. Has the way opened?"

Mrs. MacGregor had grasped every point. When Elijah ceased speaking her
answer was ready.

"There are emergencies in life so fraught with grave possibilities that
every law of man, I might almost say of God, must be thrust aside. Every
one who does great things, must at times do doubtful ones. That is, they
are doubtful to eyes unable to penetrate the future."

Elijah waited to make sure that Mrs. MacGregor had finished. She had
purposely avoided a direct answer. This did not suit him. His eyes shone
hard as steel through his half-closed lids.

"Am I justified in using that fifty thousand?"

Mrs. MacGregor's lips set.

"In my opinion you are."

Elijah's question had not surprised her; but she inwardly resented it.
Her plan had been to deal out generalities, leaving her own skirts free.
She realized that he had gained all that he wanted from her and had
given her nothing.

"There is another matter that has troubled me for a long time, Mrs.
MacGregor. I have tried to shut my eyes to it, but I cannot. I can see
great things to be done and I can help others to see, but there are
times when I need help; when I long for human sympathy, intelligent
sympathy that can see what I see, that can have faith in my work,--" he
paused.

Mrs. MacGregor was watching him narrowly, every sense alert.

"The intelligent sympathy which a wife may give, but which Amy cannot?"
It was a daring forecast. Mrs. MacGregor held her breath in spite of
herself.

Elijah's face grew drawn and white. This was the first time that, either
to him