"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," assented 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."
"You get into your OWN things," commanded Aggie.
"Where's my dressing gown?" asked Zoie, her elation revived by the
thought of her fine raiment, and with that she flew to the foot of the
bed and snatched up two of the prettiest negligees ever imported from
Paris. "Which do you like better?" she asked, as she held them both
aloft, "the pink or the blue?"