"Yes, I guess you have, such as 'tis. Good enough for old-fashioned sailin' craft. But when folks ain't satisfied with goin' as fast as God'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 reassured 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 anticipating 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 passed by. "Just what is it, Ralph?" "We want to know the whole business, Helen, so far as you know." Uncle Sid again broke in. "When a bell rattles, we want to know whether its cracked, or whether there's just something on it that can be got off." "I don't think Elijah's cracked, Uncle Sid." She grew very sober as she turned once more to Winston. "The rumor that Mellin holds Elijah's note for one hundred thousand dollars, that the note is secured by a mortgage on the Palm Wells tract, is true. These facts are recorded. I have seen the records. Further than that, I know nothing." "Ur-r-rh!" grunted Uncle Sid, whose thoughts suddenly reverted to Eunice MacGregor. "I guess I know the tree to smoke that coon out of." Helen shot an intelligent glance at Uncle Sid, her lips parted, then she thought better of her impulse and remained silent. Winston again turned to Helen. "I shall have to ask you another direct question, Helen. Did the company get their deposit from the Pacific?"