Wasn’t there no heirs?” he asked.
Only this boy.”
“And if this boy was alive, would the estate be his?”
The lady paused, meanwhile fixing her eyes steadily upon the man before her. Then she approached him and placed her jeweled hand on his arm.
Rudolph Rugg,” she said, “do you want to be comfortable for life?”
“Yes, ma’am, that’s exactly what I do want.”
“It will come to you now if you say the word,” she said.
I’ll say it quick enough. Tell me what you want.”
“You talk like a sensible man. But first tell me, is the boy living?”
“He is alive and well.”