e me, Helen. There is something troubling
you, and seriously, too--"

"Suppose there is, may I not keep my troubles to myself if I choose?"
She tried to speak firmly and finally.

Winston continued with no resentment and with no vacillation.

"If you are troubled about any affairs of the company, I ought to know;
you should not keep it from me. If it is personal, I have no intention
of forcing your confidence. I only want to ask you one thing. Don't you
believe that I am your sincere friend?"

Helen strove to conceal her agitation. She longed with all her heart to
meet half way the open loyalty that was offered her. She longed to show
him that she appreciated it, but--how could she be frank with him
without disloyalty to Elijah? Elijah had forfeited her respect, but was
he wholly to blame? He had absolved her from the obligations of
friendship, but there were other obligations that she could not put
aside. Together they had assumed business responsibilities, together
they must meet them. She longed for Winston's advice, assistance, but
how could she accept either without baring the secret shame that was
festering in her heart? Strive as she would, she could not wholly
control her voice.

"You have always been my friend, Ralph. Please try to believe that I
appreciate it. You can't know what it means to me and I can't tell you.
Won't you trust me a little longer?" She tried to steady the deep black
eyes that she raised to him.

Winston caught the hand that trembled on the matted needles.

"Always, Helen, always."

She gently withdrew her hand, rising to go.

"Thank you. You may not know what you are promising." There was a
pathetic smile hovering over the trembling lips. "Let's stop where we
are."

"No." Winston was standing beside her. "I know more than you think I do,
Helen. Elijah Berl is a thief. You know it and I know it. He has
involved you, in appearance at least. You are too honest, too loyal to
leave him as he deserves to be left."

Helen rose to Elijah's defense.

"Not intentionally a thief, Ralph."

Winston's eyes flamed with indignation.

"He isn't an open, manly thief who steals and stands up to his act. He
is a sneak who steals and unloads his punishment on others."

Winston's words smote hard. In no essential did they differ from those
she had spoken to Elijah.

Winston waited for a moment, watching Helen's face.

"I know what you mean. He took the money from Mellin and appropriated it