tration was a public recognition of the fact that Elijah had
dealings with Mellin and on a large scale. There was no use in
requesting that the transaction be kept in obscurity. The object of
registration was publicity, and publicity was not confined to those
concerned in knowing; the books were open to inspection by the busiest
gossip as well as by the most earnest business man.

For the first time in his life, Elijah was learning the bitter lesson,
that even divine guidance does not release the guided from
responsibility for his actions. There was bitterness in his heart, the
feeling that he had been betrayed.

Ysleta lived on sensations, and it was a dainty morsel, when the news of
Elijah's connection with Mellin became known. Yet it had no malice
toward Elijah, it simply welcomed him as one of themselves and this was
what cut. He could no longer conceal from himself that he had fallen.

The news of course reached Uncle Sid and Winston. Winston was shocked,
yet after the first effects had passed away, he recognized the fact,
that after all, he was not surprised. Absorbed in his field duties, he
had put from him for the time his feeling that Elijah was not wholly to
be trusted, that for all his vaunted beliefs, he yet lacked the subtle
sense of honor that would keep him true to himself and to his fellows.
Winston did not know, nor did Uncle Sid, of the darker stain that was on
Elijah's soul.

"Perhaps it ain't as bad as it looks," the old seaman remarked when he
had broken the news to Winston.

"Perhaps not," Winston replied, "but I have been in pretty close touch
with Elijah since he has been in California, and I know he's sailed
close to the wind, mighty close," he added decisively.

Uncle Sid looked thoughtful.

"Where'd he get money to start with?"

Winston waited a long time before replying. He was turning over in his
mind the best thing to be done. He felt that he could trust the old man.

"You remember the Pacific failure?"

"I reckon I do, young man. I have cause to. I lost fifteen dollars and
sixty-five cents in that failure."

Winston smiled at Uncle Sid's earnestness.

"The Las Cruces lost more than that. An even fifty thousand. At least
our books show that."

Uncle Sid started. He looked at Winston with wide-open eyes, every line
of his wrinkled face drawn tense.

"I declare, Ralph, if I ever thought the Lord would lead 'Lige quite so
far as that!"

"I guess, Uncle Sid, that you and I th