She understood that quite a fortune might be made in fruit, and it would be a diverting interest for her old age.

Possibly she might encourage a favorite nephew to come out and help her run it.
Ruyler, who had been absorbed in his own affairs and hated the sight of any woman during business hours, had felt like telling her that if she wanted to sink her money in a ranch, that was as good a way to get rid of it as any, but had merely nodded and left the elevator.

He was not the man to give any one unasked advice and be snubbed for his pains.
If "Jim" was her husband and had "croaked" some two years since, what more natural than that she had been obliged to come to California and settle his estate?
Lawton and Cross would keep her secret, as California lawyers, with or without blackmail, had kept many others; perhaps she was an old friend of Lawton's.

He had been a "bird" in his time.
Undoubtedly this was the solution.

Otherwise she never would have risked the return to San Francisco, even with her changed appearance.
III It was time to dismiss speculation and proceed to action.