As a result of the time lost at luncheon Jimmy missed an appointment

that had to wait over until after office hours, and as a result of this

postponement, he missed Aggie, who went to a friend's house for dinner,

leaving word for him to follow. For the first time in his life, Jimmy

disobeyed Aggie's orders, and, later on, when he "trundled off to bed"

alone, he again recalled that it was Zoie Hardy who was always causing

hard feeling between him and his spouse.

Some hours later, when Aggie reached home with misgivings because Jimmy

had not joined her, she was surprised to find him sleeping as peacefully

as a cherub. "Poor dear," she murmured, "I hope he wasn't lonesome." And

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she stole away to her room.

The next morning when Aggie did not appear at the breakfast table, Jimmy

rushed to her room in genuine alarm. It was now Aggie's turn to sleep

peacefully; and he stole dejectedly back to the dining-room and for the

first time since their marriage, he munched his cold toast and sipped

his coffee alone.

So thoroughly was his life now disorganised, and so low were his spirits

that he determined to walk to his office, relying upon the crisp morning

air to brace him for the day's encounters. By degrees, he regained his

good cheer and as usual when in rising spirits, his mind turned toward

Aggie. The second anniversary of their wedding was fast approaching--he

began to take notice of various window displays. By the time he had

reached his office, the weightiest decision on his mind lay in choosing

between a pearl pendant and a diamond bracelet for his now adorable

spouse.

But a more difficult problem awaited him. Before he was fairly in his

chair, the telephone bell rang violently. Never guessing who was at the

other end of the wire, he picked up his receiver and answered.

"What?" he exclaimed in surprise. "Mrs. Hardy?" Several times he opened

his lips to ask a question, but it was apparent that the person at the

other end of the line had a great deal to say and very little time to

say it, and it was only after repeated attempts that he managed to get

in a word or so edgewise.

"What's happened?" he asked.

"Say nothing to anybody," was Zoie's noncommittal answer, "not even to

Aggie. Jump in a taxi and come as quickly as you can."

"But what IS it?" persisted Jimmy. The dull sound of the wire told him

that the person at the other end had "hung up."




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