Part 33 (1/2)
”Well,” said Zoie, letting her eyes fall before his and picking at a bit of imaginary lint on the coverlet, ”babies and things.”
”Oh,” said Alfred, and he was about to proceed when she again interrupted him.
”But now that I DO realise it,” continued Zoie, earnestly, her fingers on his lips, lest he again interrupt, ”if you'll only have a little patience with me, I'll--I'll----” again her eyes fell bashfully to the coverlet, as she considered the possibility of being ultimately obliged to replace the bogus twins with real ones.
”All the patience in the world,” answered Alfred, little dreaming of the problem that confronted the contrite Zoie.
”That's all I ask,” declared Zoie, her a.s.surance completely restored, ”and in case anything SHOULD happen to THESE----” she glanced anxiously toward the door through which Aggie had borne the twins.
”But nothing is going to happen to these, dear,” interrupted Alfred, rising and again a.s.suming an air of fatherly protection. ”I'll attend to that. There, there,” he added, patting her small shoulder and nodding his head wisely. ”That crazy woman has got on your nerves, but you needn't worry, I've got everything fixed. Donneghey sent a special officer over with me. He's outside watching the house, now.”
”Now!” shrieked Zoie, fixing her eyes on the bedroom door, through which Jimmy had lately disappeared and wondering whether he had yet ”slipped”
down the fire-escape.
”Yes,” continued Alfred, walking up and down the floor with a masterly stride. ”If that woman is caught hanging around here again, she'll get a little surprise. My boys are safe now, G.o.d bless them!” Then reminded of the fact that he had not seen them since his return, he started quickly toward the bedroom door. ”I'll just have a look at the little rascals,”
he decided.
”No, dear,” cried Zoie. She caught Alfred's arm as he pa.s.sed the side of her bed, and clung to him in desperation. ”Wait a minute.”
Alfred looked down at her in surprise.
She turned her face toward the door, and called l.u.s.tily, ”Aggie! Aggie!”
”What is it, dear?” questioned Alfred, thinking Zoie suddenly ill, ”can I get you something?”
Before Zoie was obliged to reply, Aggie answered her summons.
”Did you call?” she asked, glancing inquiringly into Zoie's distressed face.
”Alfred's here,” said Zoie, with a sickly smile as she stroked his hand and glanced meaningly at Aggie. ”He's GOT the OFFICER!”
”The OFFICER?” cried Aggie, and involuntarily she took a step backward, as though to guard the bedroom door.
”Yes,” said Alfred, mistaking Aggie's surprise for a compliment to his resource; ”and now, Aggie, if you'll just stay with Zoie for a minute I'll have a look at my boys.”
”No, no!” exclaimed Aggie, nervously, and she placed herself again in front of the bedroom door.
Alfred was plainly annoyed by her proprietory air.
”They're asleep,” explained Aggie.
”I'll not WAKE them,” persisted Alfred, ”I just wish to have a LOOK at them,” and with that he again made a move toward the door.
”But Alfred,” protested Zoie, still clinging to his hand, ”you're not going to leave me again--so soon.”
Alfred was becoming more and more restive under the seeming absurdity of their persistent opposition, but before he could think of a polite way of over-ruling them, Aggie continued persuasively.
”You stay with Zoie,” she said. ”I'll bring the boys in here and you can both have a look at them.”