So on his head, the white blossom of the almond tree trembled; and one noon in March the stage bore to this broken, shaking old man a letter from Kansas City that ran the sword of fear into his heart and almost stopped it forever.

It ran:-- "Dear General: I have just learned from talking with a banker here that an inspector is headed our way.

He probably will arrive the day after this reaches you.

Something must be done about that tax check of yours.

The inspector should not find it in the drawer again.