It was a week later. Alexina was changing her dress. Maria had asked a number of her girlhood friends in for luncheon, and they were to exchange reminiscences in the old house over a table laden as of yore with the massive Ballinger silver, English cutglass, and French china. Alexina was about to take refuge with Janet Maynard.
Her door opened unceremoniously and Gora entered.
Alexina caught her breath as she saw her sister-in-law's eyes. They looked like polar seas in a tropical storm.
"Why, Gora, dear," she said lightly. "I thought you were on an important case."
"Man died last night. I have just been to see Mortimer. When I got his note--just three lines--saying that he had received a cheque from Utica and deposited it to my account I knew at once--as soon as I had time to think--th
