"I deeply regret the necessity of all this, Mrs. MacGregor, but there is no other way except before an open court." Winston briefly but clearly set forth the status of the Palm Wells company. He assured Mrs. MacGregor that Mellin had been effectually and forever silenced, and in confirmation of his words, showed Mellin's note, from which her name and Elijah's had been torn. "Now I am going to ask you to sign these papers; this done, the last obstacle will be removed from your brother's path." "Suppose I refuse?" Winston's face set. "I advise you not to." Mrs. MacGregor held out her hand for the papers. She affixed her name where Winston indicated. "What next?" Uncle Sid answered. "There's nothin' more to keep you in California. Just go, an' when you want money within reason, let me know." Mrs. MacGregor rose and turned to the door that led to her room. Winston was before her and held the door ajar, closing it behind her; then he faced Uncle Sid. The old man approached him and laid a clumsy but affectionate hand on his shoulder. "I ain't worth a cuss at quotin' scripture, but it strikes me that it ain't every one who's yappin' 'Lord, Lord,' as gets into heaven. Now you go below an' tomorrow we'll lay alongside o' Seymour." CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Winston was at his post when the great "Overland Express" rolled into the station at Ysleta, with clanging bell and coughing air-pump and dazzled sunbeams dancing from its varnish. Winston was an engineer and he was not impervious to a stimulating thrill at the exhibition of power and progress of which the train was a type, from the ponderous, six-wheeled locomotive, to the last car of the shining train that it dragged. This thrill did not interfere with business and he had imperative, pressing business on hand. His quick eye singled out the man for whom he was waiting and almost as quickly he was by his side. "Good morning, Mr. Seymour." Without any haste, Seymour's grip was in his hand, and with no conscious volition on his part, Seymour was threading his way at Winston's side through the throng of disembarking passengers, those waiting for incoming friends, curious loafers, and rattling express trucks. "Have you had breakfast?" Winston hardly paused, as they left the station and came out upon the gravelly, palm-fringed walk. "Yes, and a good one too. The dining service has improved. Couldn't do much better in New York." "That's a good deal for a New Yorker to say. It's worth money to the road; at least, it would be if they got hold of it." "What's the program for today?" Mr. Seymour dropped pleasantries. "If you're not tired, we'll go to the office at once. They are expecting us." "Will Mr. Berl be there?" "No. Not today." "Hasn't he been notified." "No." "Why?" Seymour asked sternly. "This, and much more, will come out at the meeting."