ut it is for somebody else you want
it, I'll be bound."

"Oh, no, sir! it is really for me," declared Ruth. "I'd like quite some
money."

"What for, may I ask?"

"Of course, sir. I've come to consult you about it. You see, it's the
tenants."

"Those Meadow Street people!" exclaimed the lawyer. "Your Uncle Peter
made money out of them; and his father did before him. But my books will
show little profit from those houses at the end of this year--of that I
am sure."

"But, if we have made so much out of the houses in the past, shouldn't
we spend some of the profit on the tenants _now_?" asked Ruth earnestly.

"You are the most practical _im_practical person I ever met," declared
Mr. Howbridge, laughing rather ruefully.

Ruth did not just understand that; but she was much in earnest and she
put before the lawyer the circumstances of some of the tenants of the
old houses on Meadow Street, as she had heard them from Mrs. Kranz and
Maria Maroni.

She did not forget the Goronofskys, despite Tess' story of Sadie's bank
in which she was saving her Christmas money; but she did not mention
this last to the lawyer.

Ruth wanted of the lawyer details of all the families on the estate's
books. She wished to know the earning capacity of each family, how they
lived, the number of children in each, and their ages and sex.

"You see, Mr. Howbridge, a part of our living--and it is a good
living--comes from these people. We girls should know more about them.
And I am anxious to do something for them this Christmas--especially for
the little children."

"Well, I suppose I shall give in to you; but my better judgment cries
out against it, Miss Ruth," declared the lawyer. "You see Perkins--my
clerk. He collects the rents and knows all the tenants. I believe he
knows when each man gets paid, how much he gets, and all about it. And,
of course, as you say, you'll want some money."

"Yes, sir. This is for all of us--all four of us Corner House girls.
Agnes, and Tess, and Dot, are just as anxious to help these people as I
am. I am sure, Mr. Howbridge, whatever else you may do with money of the
estate, _this_ expense will never be questioned by any of us."

From Mrs. Kranz and Perkins, Ruth obtained the information that she
wished. The Corner House girls knew they could do no great thing; but
for the purchase of small presents that children would appreciate, the
twenty-five dollars Ruth got from Mr. Perkins, would go a long way.