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Snip snip the scissors cut steadily through the crisp cotton goods. "Yes, indeed, you've got that!" the District Nurse said with loving tenderness. She did not look up from her work; at that minute she did not want to see the small, stunted figure sewing tiny sleeves for Dinney's baby. It was a beautiful morning, and Gloria and the cat were occupying the broad piazza.
What she saw of honesty and truth in Dinney's face so satisfied the girl that her hands fell from the thin shoulders, and she in turn drew a long breath as though she had found at last something she had long been seeking. Then she looked down at Dinney. "I am going to tell you, Dinney, just why I am wanting to find out.
Sal repeated slowly. "Yes, where mother is, Sal. Shall I take a message to your mother for you?" "Tell her I ain't been beat once not nary." Pleasant Street was still "Treeless Street," to Gloria's regret. And they passed the same dreary succession of tenements. The same old little children played in the street. But at Dinney's House Gloria's eyes shone. "Oh, Uncle Em!
But if not heads, I suppose they might have hearts, and the hearts might ache, the way mine does every time I think of those houses and Straps and Dinney and Hunkie and the girl with eyes like mine. Yes, I'll tell you. I mean to tear down some of those houses Dinney's, at any rate. Now, go outdoors and laugh!
If you will find out and promise not to tell anyone else, and will come to me with the name, then I will give you a five-dollar gold piece." Dinney's breath was fairly taken away. He stood there on the sidewalk stock still, looking into the face of the girl before him. At last he said in an awed voice: "Honest?" "Honest," answered Gloria. The boy drew a long breath. Five dollars!
You will be too busy to answer. Maybe you won't even have time to read it! I found out about one of your sick persons that same day Dinney's mother. He seemed almost proud that she had consumption, the poor little boy! He had the baby with him. I never saw such a perfectly dreadful street. The idea of calling it Pleasant Street!
Of course, I'll take you with me. I'll do more than introduce you to my assistant Rose. No, I'll not describe her to you. I will wait and let you see her for yourself. Well, Dinney's mother is very sick. I could not bear to leave her. What do you think she said to me the last thing? 'I'll wait' just those two words when waiting will be so cruelly hard.
I have never asked who owned any of the 'Pleasant Street' property I did not seem to want to know. But I'll find out if you really wish me to. "With love, The District Nurse found Dinney's mother was "waiting" when she at last reached her. But her release came soon. With a smile she left them, and Dinney, seeing it, surprised the Nurse by a look of gladness.
It would cost a good deal to buy even one of them, I am afraid. Let me tell you I'll count up as nearly as I can remember how many rents there are just in Dinney's house; that is five stories high the basement is the first one. "Fourteen rents. Some of the rents are just one room or two rooms, you see. Fourteen families pay for living in that house.
The answer to this second letter was not as long as the first letter from the District Nurse. It bore evidence of hurry. "Dear Gloria: I am getting ready to go back this afternoon no, my vacation isn't done, but Dinney's poor mother is. She can't wait any longer. I shall be there to-night. "About the houses my dear, oh, my dear! It will surprise you to know that those houses are very valuable.
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