"You ARE in prison, my dear," returned the now irrepressible Alfred. "A

prison of love--you and our precious boys." He stooped and implanted a

gracious kiss on her forehead, then turned toward the table for his hat.

"Now," he said, "I'll just run around the corner, set up the drinks for

the boys, and bring the officer home with me," and drawing himself up

proudly, he cried gaily in parting, "I'll bet there's not another man in

Chicago who has what I have to-night."

"I hope not," groaned Zoie. as the door closed behind him. Then,

thrusting her two small feet from beneath the coverlet and perching on

the side of the bed, she declared to Aggie that "Alfred was getting more

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idiotic every minute."

"He's worse than idiotic," corrected Aggie. "He's getting dangerous. If

he gets the police around here before we give that baby back, they'll

get the mother. She'll tell all she knows and that will be the end of

Jimmy!"

"End of Jimmy?" exclaimed Zoie, "it'll be the end of ALL of us."

"I can see our pictures in the papers, right now," groaned Aggie. "Jimmy

will be the villain."

"Jimmy IS a villain," declared Zoie. "Where is he? Why doesn't he come

back? How am I ever going to get that other twin?"

"There is only one thing to do," decided Aggie, "I must go for it

myself." And she snatched up her cape from the couch and started toward

the door.

"You?" cried Zoie, in alarm, "and leave me alone?"

"It's our only chance," argued Aggie. "I'll have to do it now, before

Alfred gets back."

"But Aggie," protested Zoie, clinging to her departing friend, "suppose

that crazy mother should come back?"

"Nonsense," replied Aggie, and before Zoie could actually realise what

was happening the bang of the outside door told her that she was alone.




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