“Yes.”

“A gift from you?”

“Yes.”

“What did you swear?”

“The same thing.”

“What did the judge do?”

“Ruled that because I was engaged in a highly venturesome business, with periods when money came in quickly, followed by long periods when there was no income, that I not only had a right, but that it was my duty, to provide for my family, and that the intent with which I had made this particular transfer was to safeguard my wife from want.”

Belder grinned. “It was a nice decision.”

Bertha didn’t grin. “How much?” she asked.

“Twenty thousand dollars plus interest and—”