“Oh, I only wondered what you’d ask for if you had one to rub.”
“Gorry—I wish’t I had!”
“Well, what would you?” persisted Joe, his face alight.
“What would I? Well, I’ll tell ye. I’d buy the big house on the hill——”
“What—Barrington’s?” interrupted Joe.
“Gee whiz, no! I mean the empty one that Rotalick lived in; an’ I’d make it over into a hospital, an’ I’d add to it as I was able.”
“A hospital? Why, there is one.”
“Yes, I know—the company’s; but the boys always have ter quit there long ’fore they’re able. They can’t work, an’ if they laze ’round home it takes furever to git well—what with the noise an’ the children an’ all. They crawl down here to the store, an’ my heart jest aches fur ’em, they’re so peaked-lookin’. I’d have it all fixed up with trees an’ posies an’ places ter set, ye know, where they could take some comfort while they was gittin’ well.”
A moisture came into Joe’s eyes.
“But how about yourself?” he asked. “You haven’t rubbed out anything for yourself, Jim.”