ria should have
everything explained to her at the start. It wasn't businesslike. When
she comes into full control of things herself, it will be different. I
am afraid Richards is not quite the man to have charge of things down
there. I have given him his own way too much. But one has to with
Richards. He's a good collector."

"But the stair-rail, dear," interposed his wife. "Stair-railings should
be secure, above all things."

"Yes, Richards ought to have seen that everything was safe. I cannot
understand a glaring negligence like that. He's always given me the
impression that things were kept very fairly shipshape." Having said
this, Mr. McAndrew rose and began pacing the veranda.

"Richards said it was a poor, half-witted creature," he murmured, as
though thinking aloud.

"But, dear," interposed his wife, "half-witted creatures can be killed!"

Aunt Em's thoughts seemed to be keeping pace with those of the man
marching up and down the piazza floor.

"Oh, she won't die. That sort o' folks don't," her husband answered.

And at that moment Gloria was standing in Rose's room in No. 80,
listening to the dying away of the footsteps of the angry mother of
Sal, the woman vowing vengeance on the one who could leave a house to
tumble down over people's heads. And in with the angry tones were the
protesting ones of the District Nurse.

A few moments later Rose's door opened, and the District Nurse, flushed
and worried, entered.

"Sal's mother has been drinking, and she's wild over the accident," she
said in tones as steady as she could make them. But Gloria saw that she
was strangely wrought up.

"Drink or no drink," said Gloria, with a bridling of her head. "I should
think a mother had cause to be worked up over an accident like that." A
look of hauteur was on the young girl's face. "That such things can be,
and no note taken of them, is a disgrace to the century."

The nurse's face paled, as she looked into Gloria's eyes.

"Don't, Gloria, don't!" she said pleadingly. "It is pitiful enough.
Don't--" she stopped.

"And may not one even utter a protest against the existence of such a
thing?" said Gloria. "Well, I shall go to the hospital and see Sal. I
can at least do that."

"It can hardly do any good," said the nurse in a discouraged tone. "But
if you really wish to go, Gloria, I will go with you."

"Very well," said Gloria, "we will go just as soon as we get rested
after luncheon."

At the corner near Glo