's been no especial reason for my making a fool o' myself
before."

Mrs. MacGregor, still looking into her brother's eyes, thought rapidly.
Her regret that Uncle Sid had not spoken before was sincere. She would
accept now if she could. She thought of accepting Uncle Sid's offer and
then trying to free herself; but if she should fail, she knew that Uncle
Sid would not hesitate to cut her off instantly, and without mercy. She
was convinced that there was no way out of it. Elijah would fight
against it, Mellin would oppose everything before he would let go his
hold. More sincerely than she had ever regretted anything in her life,
she regretted her inability to accept her brother's offer. There was
only one way open--to go on. Her calm, cynical smile was more
exasperating than her stare.

"Alice will be down from San Francisco in about two weeks. I want you to
take care of her while I am East."

Uncle Sid was answered. He thrust his sister from him so violently, that
she staggered to regain her balance, but the calm, insolent smile never
left her face.

"I'll take care of her. I'll take care o' her, an' you too, an' that
servant o' the Lord."

Uncle Sid stamped from the room. Mrs. MacGregor summoned a messenger
from the office. He was instructed to secure a ticket that evening for
the overland express. Then she resumed her preparations for departure.
She had arranged all details with Elijah. The Palm Wells company had
been fully organized, its officers chosen. To Mrs. MacGregor was
entrusted the task of raising the necessary funds--for what? Both Mrs.
MacGregor and Elijah had avoided these details.

Mrs. MacGregor was promptly on hand for the overland express, and it was
with a great and growing sense of satisfaction and importance that she
settled herself in her sleeper. Her journey to the East was not so
pleasant as she had anticipated; but her hand was turned to her
voluntary task, and she could not now go back if she would. She put
aside disagreeable impossibilities and gave her thoughts to her future,
the raising of money to further her schemes and Elijah's.

Uncle Sid had at once divined that his sister's first field of
operations would be their native town and Elijah's. He accordingly took
prompt measures to block her plans. He at once wrote to his banker, an
old and trusted friend, giving him an outline of the situation and
advising him against co-operation with Mrs. MacGregor. The keen business
acumen whic