It made no allusion to any former stage of the affair; from its tone Ida might have killed herself only the day before.

It seemed hardly more than a notice that some enterprising reporter, burrowing in the records at the City Hall, had unearthed and brought to light with the idea that it might be of possible interest to a few readers of the paper.

But there was his name staring back at him from out the gray blur of the type, like some reflection of himself seen in a mirror.

Insignificant as the paragraph was, it seemed to Vandover as though it was the only item in the whole paper.

One might as well have trumpeted his crime through the streets.
"But twenty-five thousand dollars!" exclaimed Vandover, terrified.
"Where will _I_ find twenty-five thousand dollars ?" And at once he fell to wondering as to whether or no in default of payment he could be sent to the penitentiary.