"And meet the other mother," concluded Jimmy with a shake of his head.

There was a distinct threat in Zoie's voice when she again addressed the

stubborn Jimmy and the glitter of triumph was in her eyes.

"You'd better meet here THERE than HERE," she warned him; "you know what

the Superintendent said."

"That's true," agreed Aggie with an anxious face. "Come now," she

pleaded, "it will only take a minute; you can do the whole thing before

you have had time to think."

"Before I have had time to think," repeated Jimmy excitedly. "That's how

you get me to do everything. Well, this time I've HAD time to think and

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I don't think I will!" and with that he threw himself upon the couch,

unmindful of the damage to the freshly laundered clothes.

"Get up," cried Zoie.

"You haven't time to sit down," said Aggie.

"I'll TAKE time," declared Jimmy. His eyes blinked ominously and he

remained glued to the couch.

There was a short silence; the two women gazed at Jimmy in despair.

Remembering a fresh grievance, Jimmy turned upon them.

"By the way," he said, "do you two know that I haven't had anything to

eat yet?"

"And do you know," said Zoie, "that Alfred may be back at any minute? He

can't stay away forever."

"Not unless he has cut his throat," rejoined Jimmy, "and that's what I'd

do if I had a razor."

Zoie regarded Jimmy as though he were beyond redemption. "Can't you ever

think of anybody but yourself?" she asked, with a martyred air.

Had Jimmy been half his age, Aggie would have felt sure that she saw him

make a face at her friend for answer. As it was, she resolved to make

one last effort to awaken her unobliging spouse to a belated sense of

duty.

"You see, dear," she said, "you might better get the washerwoman's baby

than to go from house to house for one," and she glanced again toward

the paper.

"Yes," urged Zoie, "and that's just what you'll HAVE to do, if you don't

get this one."

Jimmy's head hung dejectedly. It was apparent that his courage was

slipping from him. Aggie was quick to realise her opportunity, and

before Jimmy could protect himself from her treacherous wiles, she had

slipped one arm coyly about his neck.

"Now, Jimmy," she pleaded as she pressed her soft cheek to his throbbing

temple, and toyed with the bay curl on his perspiring forehead, "wont

you do this little teeny-weepy thing just for me?"




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