From his office, Gorham returned to his home before leaving for Washington. It was from Riley's hand, as he entered, that he received the telegram from his Denver attorneys, announcing that the lawyer, Jennings, was already on his way East, bringing with him absolute evidence that the divorce papers had been properly served on Buckner. Strengthened for the ordeal before him by the removal of this burden, he sought Eleanor; but she met him in the hallway before he reached her room.
"Robert," she said, impulsively, after looking for a moment searchingly into his face—"something has happened, and the light in your eyes tells me that all is well. You have decided not to take that awful step."
"All is well, dear heart," he repeated, handing her the telegram; "but it would not be so except that the 'awful step' has already been taken."
"Then there is no doubt regarding the divorce?" she cried, joyfully, after reading the telegram.
"There never has been," he replied, as he pressed her to him.
"May I tell the children?" she asked, happily, a moment later, and Alice and Allen responded quickly.
The Consolidated Companies was forgotten in the joy of the new knowledge, and it was Allen who first made reference to it.
"Are you really going to put things through as you said, Mr. Gorham?"
"The die is cast, my boy; I leave for Washington to-night."
"Then monopolies are doomed?"