The road glared white in the late afternoon sun.  On either side stretched miles of carefully cultivated fields, the country drowsed, the air hot, but sweet with magnolia, lilac and apple blossoms.  Miss Burch had obviously determined that when she retired from the world of men she would make a thorough job of it and expose herself to no temptation to return—­eight miles from the nearest railroad.  Just beyond the elms they slowed up alongside a white picket fence enclosing an old-fashioned garden whence came to Mr. Tutt the busy murmur of bees.  Then they came to a gate that opened upon a red-tiled, box-bordered, moss-grown walk, leading to a small white house with blue and white striped awnings.  A green and gold lizard poked its head out of the hedge and eyed Mr. Tutt rather with curiosity than hostility.

“Does Miss Sadie Burch live here?” asked Mr. Tutt of the lizard.

“Yes!” answered a cheerful female voice from the veranda.  “Won’t you come up on the piazza?”

The voice was not the kind of voice Mr. Tutt had imagined as belonging to Sadie Burch.  But neither was the lady on the piazza that kind of lady.  In the shadow of the awning in a comfortable rocking chair sat a white-haired, kindly-faced woman, knitting a baby jacket.  She looked up at him with a friendly smile.

“I’m Miss Burch,” she said.  “I suppose you’re that lawyer I wrote to?  Won’t you come up and sit down?”

“Thanks,” he replied, drawing nearer with an answering smile.  “I can only stay a few moments and I’ve been sitting in the motor most of the day.  I might as well come to the point at once.  You have doubtless heard of the death of Mr. Payson Clifford, Senior?”

Miss Burch laid down the baby-jacket and her lips quivered.  Then the tears welled in her faded blue eyes and she fumbled hastily in her bosom for her handkerchief.

“You must excuse me!” she said in a choked voice. “—­Yes, I read about it.  He was the best friend I had in the world,—­except my brother John.  The kindest, truest friend that ever lived!”

She looked out across the little garden and wiped her eyes again.

Mr. Tutt sat down upon the moss-covered door-step beside her.

“I always thought he was a good man,” he returned quietly.  “He was an old client of mine—­although I didn’t know him very well.”

“I owe this house to him,” continued Miss Burch tenderly.  “If it hadn’t been for Mr. Clifford I don’t know what would have become of me.  Now that John is dead and I’m all alone in the world this little place—­with the flowers and the bees—­is all I’ve got.”

They were silent for several moments.  Then Mr. Tutt said: 

“No, it isn’t all.  Mr. Clifford left a letter with his will in which he instructed his son to pay you twenty-five thousand dollars.  I’m here to give it to you.”

A puzzled look came over her face, and then she smiled again and shook her head.