Part 24 (1/2)

”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 think alike about the Almighty's share in this transaction. If this isn't the devil's work, I don't know the gentleman.”

Uncle Sid made no immediate reply. A little later they entered the Las Cruces office. Helen looked up as the door opened. A frank cordial smile illumined her face as she recognized her callers.

”h.e.l.lo, Ralph! It's about time you came in. If you'd waited much longer, I'd have asked for a letter of introduction.” She turned to Uncle Sid with the same cordial smile. ”Well Captain, I see you aren't dry-docked yet.”

”No. My seams ain't started yet. What water there is in these parts is just as wet as any.”

”Oh we've got plenty of water here and we're going to have more.”

”Yes, I guess you have, such as 'tis. Good enough for old-fas.h.i.+oned sailin' craft. But when folks ain't satisfied with goin' as fast as G.o.d's wind blows 'em, an' they put in engines an' boilers, the dum water's liable to eat holes in their boilers an' blow 'em up.” He looked around the room curiously. ”There's a power o' steam escapin' around here. Where's 'Lige? Look's as if 'Lige had got a hole eat in his boilers, an' me an' Ralph's come in to see if we can help patch 'em up.”

Helen noted the keen, old eyes and the humorous wrinkles that for all their humor were yet hard.

”He hasn't been in this morning; I expect him every moment.”

Uncle Sid turned to Winston.

”It's your watch, Ralph. You take the wheel.”

Winston felt rea.s.sured to a certain extent, by Helen's perfectly natural manner. There were the same frank eyes, the same friendly smile that he knew so well. Did she know all that they wished to know or was she as ignorant as they of all but public gossip? He was going to find out.

”I suppose you know, Helen,” he began soberly, ”that there are some pretty ugly rumors about Elijah flying around Ysleta?”

”Yes, I do know.” Helen's face grew hard.

”How much truth is there in them?”

Helen met Winston's piercing look squarely.

”I don't know any more than you know.” There was no apparent hesitation in her manner, but her thoughts were busy antic.i.p.ating what was to come.

Ralph made an impatient gesture.

”We can talk till doomsday, Helen, and you can answer and tell us nothing, if you choose. You know we are not gossips, and you know that we are Elijah's friends.”

”Why didn't you say that to start with?” Helen flashed back. ”You began asking me questions and I answered your questions truthfully.”

Uncle Sid noted the strained situation.

”She's laid you broadside on there, Ralph; that gun is out o' action.

You'll have to limber up another battery.”

Winston and Helen both turned to Uncle Sid; then, smiling, their eyes met and the threatened storm pa.s.sed by.

”Just what is it, Ralph?”