“It takes all I kin earn to buy him his medicine, and a bit for the two of us to eat. I can’t save the rent. The landlord has pasted a notice on the door.”

“Where’s Lulu?” asked Joe.

“She left home when she was seventeen. I ain’t seen her since.”

“Well, you can’t blame her.”

“I ain’t blamin’ her.”

“Was she good-lookin’?”

“Yes. . . . God help her!” murmured the woman.

“Oh, fudge!” said Joe. “. . . Where’s the boys?”

“On the streets. They come home sometimes. I feeds them—if I has it.”

“What do you want of me?”