n't be any less appreciated for that."

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

After leaving the Rio Vista, Winston went directly to the office of the
Las Cruces company. In spite of the fact that he knew his hope was
beyond reason, he could not repress a thrill of excitement as he opened
the door and entered the inner office. His first glance was toward
Helen. Elijah's desk was closed and his chair vacant as he felt sure it
would be. It was his first meeting with Helen since she had left him on
the mountain. He shrank from the formal attitude which their official
relations compelled him to assume and to which he knew Helen would
strictly hold him. Yet there were no obstacles to the exchange of
assurances which might flash between their meeting eyes. This was all he
asked for, all he could hope for at present.

"Has Elijah been in this morning?" He looked at Helen as he spoke.

"No, Ralph. I hardly think that you expected he would be." Helen's eyes
softened for a moment as they met Winston's, then they grew formal, but
it was enough.

"No, I didn't. I only hoped that he might be. Have you any idea what he
is up to?" Winston's tone was cynical.

Helen's face flushed painfully.

"You--" she began; then she paused. After all, Elijah was to blame.
Winston's course had been as straight as the course of an arrow.

"I am a whited sepulcher. That is what you wanted to say, isn't it,
Helen?"

"What makes you think so?"

"Because it's just what I am. I have been too hard on Elijah."

"I wish you had said something like this before--before it was too
late."

"Too late?" he repeated. "What do you mean? Have you heard anything?"
His face was anxious.

"No, I haven't. I only know that Elijah is thoroughly convinced that you
have turned against him. That, and other troubles--Ralph, no man can
stand the strain that he is under for long."

"You know Elijah as well as I do, perhaps better." Winston was
profoundly agitated. "I would hunt him out and drag him home at once, if
it were not for one thing."

"And that is?" Helen waited for Winston to continue. She knew that his
words were a spoken thought, rather than addressed directly to her.

"So long as Seymour remains away, no one can speak with assurance.
Elijah knows that. He needs to feel firm ground under his feet. No one
can put it there now." He paused a moment, then continued. "I'll do my
best to straighten it out for him."

A messenger entered the office and handed a