"Well?"
"They would do by this as they have done by Ysleta."
Mrs. MacGregor laughed.
"Why don't you take them then?"
"Is it my duty? That is the question that is troubling me. I haven't the money to buy them even at their present rates. If I had, my way would be open."
"Why not have faith that the way will open in the future as it has in the past?"
Elijah drew himself together.
"I am going to tell you the whole thing, then you can judge me as you will." He told of the fifty thousand dollars, his disposition of it, the fact that the pass-book of the company showed a balance unpaid of fifty thousand dollars, his provisional deal with Pico. He hesitated as he closed the recital, then after a moment he concluded. "This deal with Pico must be decided at once. Has the way opened?"
Mrs. MacGregor had grasped every point. When Elijah ceased speaking her answer was ready.
"There are emergencies in life so fraught with grave possibilities that every law of man, I might almost say of God, must be thrust aside. Every one who does great things, must at times do doubtful ones. That is, they are doubtful to eyes unable to penetrate the future."