The following day a representative of the insurance company called upon the O’Briens to hand Sana a check for the ten thousand dollars insurance on de Rochelle’s life, of which Sana was the beneficiary.
Sana looked at the check with a feeling of disgust, and finally passed it back to the man saying, “I don’t want his money.”
“But it is not his money,” came the answer, “It is the insurance company’s money.”
“Well, I don’t want it anyway.”
“But what shall I say at the office?”
“Tell them I shall let them know in a few days. Perhaps I shall donate it to some charity.”
At this display of pride, the agent muttered something about her being an exception, and at a signal from Mrs. O’Brien, who noticed that Sana was becoming nervous, he left the room.
CHAPTER III
THE MOON-SHINERS
SANA was confined to a sick-bed for several weeks, at the home of Mrs. O’Brien, following the visit to the morgue. The tragedy had well nigh shattered her nerves and only the most careful attention on the part of her host and Dr. White prevented a serious breakdown. But none could be more considerate than they, and though slowly and through periods of great suffering, Sana regained her strength.
When at last she was able to be up and about in the open air, Mrs. O’Brien prevailed upon her to accept her invitation to go with the O’Brien family to their bungalow in the Catskills. New York was sweltering. It was late in August and at times the thermometer would show one hundred in the shade.