is."

"I suppose," said Julia Esterbrook, "that she has a lot of
money."

"I wonder if she has," said Mrs. John Bates.

The others stared at her. "What makes you think she hasn't?"
Mrs. Glynn inquired, sharply.

"Nothing," said Mrs. Bates, and closed her thin lips. She would
say no more, but the others had suspicions, because her husband,
John Bates, was a wealthy business man.

"I can't believe she has lost her money," said Mrs. Glynn. "She
wouldn't have been such a fool as to do what she has if she
hadn't money."

"What has she done?" asked Mrs. Bates, eagerly.

"What has she done?" asked Abby, and Mrs. Lee looked up
inquiringly.

The faces of Mrs. Glynn, her daughter, and her sister became
important, full of sly and triumphant knowledge.

"Haven't you heard?" asked Mrs. Glynn.

"Yes, haven't you?" asked Ethel.