Part 15 (2/2)
Aggie was becoming exasperated by Zoie's endless questions. ”I told you,” she explained wearily, ”that the wire won't be delivered until to-morrow morning, it will take Alfred eight hours to get here, and there may not be a train just that minute.”
”Eight long hours,” sighed Zoie dismally. And Aggie looked at her reproachfully, forgetting that it is always the last hour that is hardest to bear. Zoie resumed her sewing resignedly. Aggie was meditating whether she should read her young friend a lecture on the value of patience, when the telephone began to ring violently.
Zoie looked up from her sewing with a frown. ”You answer it, will you, Aggie?” she said. ”I can't let go this thread.”
”h.e.l.lo,” called Aggie sweetly over the 'phone; then she added in surprise, ”Is this you, Jimmy dear?” Apparently it was; and as Zoie watched Aggie's face, with its increasing distress she surmised that Jimmy's message was anything but ”dear.”
”Good heavens!” cried Aggie over the telephone, ”that's awful!”
”Isn't Alfred coming?” was the first question that burst from Zoie's lips.
Aggie motioned to Zoie to be quiet. ”TO-NIGHT!” she exclaimed.
”To-night!” echoed Zoie joyfully; and without waiting for more details and with no thought beyond the moment, she flew to her dressing table and began arranging her hair, powdering her face, perfuming her lips, and making herself particularly alluring for the prodigal husband's return.
Now the far-sighted Aggie was experiencing less pleasant sensations at the phone. ”A special?” she was saying to Jimmy. ”When did Alfred GET the message?” There was a slight pause. Then she asked irritably, ”Well, didn't you mark it 'NIGHT message'?” From the expression on Aggie's face it was evident that he had not done so. ”But, Jimmy,” protested Aggie, ”this is dreadful! We haven't any baby!” Then calling to him to wait a minute, and leaving the receiver dangling, she crossed the room to Zoie, who was now thoroughly engrossed in the making of a fresh toilet.
”Zoie!” she exclaimed excitedly, ”Jimmy made a mistake.”
”Of course he'd do THAT,” answered Zoie carelessly.
”But you don't understand,” persisted Aggie. ”They sent the 'NIGHT message' TO-DAY. Alfred's coming on a special. He'll be here tonight.”
”Thank goodness for that!” cried Zoie, and the next instant she was waltzing gaily about the room.
”That's all very well,” answered Aggie, as she followed Zoie with anxious eyes, ”but WHERE'S YOUR BABY?”
”Good heavens!” cried Zoie, and for the first time she became conscious of their predicament. She gazed at Aggie in consternation. ”I forgot all about it,” she said, and then asked with growing anxiety, ”What can we DO?”
”Do?” echoed Aggie, scarcely knowing herself what answer to make, ”we've got to GET it--TO-NIGHT. That's all!”
”But,” protested Zoie, ”how CAN we get it when the mother hasn't signed the papers yet?”
”Jimmy will have to arrange that with the Superintendent of the Home,”
answered Aggie with decision, and she turned toward the 'phone to instruct Jimmy accordingly.
”Yes, that's right,” a.s.sented Zoie, glad to be rid of all further responsibility, ”we'll let Jimmy fix it.”
”Say, Jimmy,” called Aggie excitedly, ”you'll have to go straight to the Children's Home and get that baby just as quickly as you can. There's some red tape about the mother signing papers, but don't mind about that. Make them give it to you to-night. Hurry, Jimmy. Don't waste a minute.”
There was evidently a protest from the other end of the wire, for Aggie added impatiently, ”Go on, Jimmy, do! You can EAT any time.” And with that she hung up the receiver.
”Its clothes,” called Zoie frantically. ”Tell him about the clothes. I sent them this evening.”
”Never mind about the clothes,” answered Aggie. ”We're lucky if we get the baby.”
”But I have to mind,” persisted Zoie. ”I gave all its other things to the laundress. I wanted them to be nice and fresh. And now the horrid old creature hasn't brought them back yet.”
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