Part 7 (1/2)
”Here,” he said, pulling a roll of bills from his pocket. ”I'll bet you I'll catch him. How much do you want to bet?”
Undesirous of offering any added inducements toward his own capture, Jimmy backed away both literally and figuratively from Alfred's proposition.
”What's the use of getting so excited?” he asked.
Mistaking Jimmy's unwillingness to bet for a disinclination to take advantage of a friend's reckless mood, Alfred resented the implied insult to his astuteness.
”You think I can't catch him?” he exclaimed. ”Let's see the colour of your money,” he demanded.
But before Jimmy could comply, an unexpected voice broke into the argument and brought them both round with a start.
CHAPTER VII
”Good Heavens,” exclaimed Aggie, who had entered the room while Alfred was talking his loudest. ”What a racket!”
Her eyes fell upon Jimmy who was teetering about uneasily just behind Alfred. She stared at him in amazement. Was it possible that Jimmy, the methodical, had left his office at this hour of the morning, and for what?
Avoiding the question in Aggie's eyes, Jimmy pretended to be searching for his pocket handkerchief--but always with the vision of Aggie in her new Fall gown and her large ”picture” hat at his elbow. Never before had she appeared so beautiful to him, so desirable--suppose he should lose her? Life spread before him as a dreary waste. He tried to look up at her; he could not. He feared she would read his guilt in his eyes. ”What guilt?” he asked himself. There was no longer any denying the fact--a secret had sprung up between them.
Annoyed at receiving no greeting, Aggie continued in a rather hurt voice:
”Aren't you two going to speak to me?”
Alfred swallowed hard in an effort to regain his composure.
”Good-morning,” he said curtly.
Fully convinced of a disagreement between the two old friends, Aggie addressed herself in a reproachful tone to Jimmy.
”My dear,” she said, ”what are you doing here this time of day?”
Jimmy felt Alfred's steely eyes upon him. ”Why!” he stammered. ”Why, I just came over to--bring your message.”
”My message?” repeated Aggie in perplexity. ”What message?”
Alfred's eyebrows drew themselves sharply together.
Jimmy had told so many lies this morning that another more or less could not matter; moreover, this was not a time to hesitate.
”Why, the message you sent to Zoie,” he answered boldly.
”But I sent no message to Zoie,” said Aggie.
”What!” thundered Alfred, so loud that Aggie's fingers involuntarily went to her ears. She was more and more puzzled by the odd behaviour of the two.
”I mean yesterday's message,” corrected Jimmy. And he a.s.sumed an aggrieved air toward Aggie.
”You villain,” exclaimed Aggie. ”I told you to 'phone her yesterday morning from the office.”
”Yes, I know,” agreed Jimmy placidly, ”but I forgot it and I just came over to explain.” Alfred's fixed stare was relaxing and at last Jimmy could breathe.