He places RUTH in a chair—which JAMES has dragged forward.
COKESON. [With sherry] Here! It's good strong sherry. [They try to force the sherry between her lips.]
There is the sound of feet, and they stop to listen.
The outer door is reopened—WISTER and SWEEDLE are seen carrying some burden.
JAMES. [Hurrying forward] What is it?
They lay the burden doom in the outer office, out of sight, and all but RUTH cluster round it, speaking in hushed voices.
WISTER. He jumped—neck's broken.
WALTER. Good God!
WISTER. He must have been mad to think he could give me the slip like that. And what was it—just a few months!
WALTER. [Bitterly] Was that all?