Propelled by a large red fist, attached to the back of his badly wilted
collar, the writhing form of Jimmy was now thrust through the outer
door.
"Let go of me," shouted the hapless Jimmy.
The answer was a spasmodic shaking administered by the fist; then a
large burly officer, carrying a small babe in his arms, shoved the
reluctant Jimmy into the centre of the room and stood guard over him.
"I got him for you, sir," announced the officer proudly, to the
astonished Alfred, who had just managed to untwine Zoie's arms and to
struggle to his feet.
Alfred's eyes fell first upon the dejected Jimmy, then they travelled to
the bundle of long clothes in the officer's arms.
"My boy!" he cried. "My boy!" He snatched the infant from the officer
and pressed him jealously to his breast. "I don't understand," he said,
gazing at the officer in stupefaction. "Where was he?"
"You mean this one?" asked the officer, nodding toward the unfortunate
Jimmy. "I caught him slipping down your fire-escape."
"I KNEW it," exclaimed Zoie in a rage, and she cast a vindictive look at
Jimmy for his awkwardness.
"Knew WHAT, dear?" asked Alfred, now thoroughly puzzled.
Zoie did not answer. Her powers of resource were fast waning. Alfred
turned again to the officer, then to Jimmy, who was still flashing
defiance into the officer's threatening eyes.
"My God!" he exclaimed, "this is awful. What's the matter with you,
Jimmy? This is the third time that you have tried to take my baby out
into the night."
"Then you've had trouble with him before?" remarked the officer. He
studied Jimmy with new interest, proud in the belief that he had brought
a confirmed "baby-snatcher" to justice.
"I've had a little trouble myself," declared Jimmy hotly, now resolved
to make a clean breast of it.
"I'm not asking about your troubles," interrupted the officer savagely,
and Jimmy felt the huge creature's obnoxious fingers tightening again on
his collar. "Go ahead, sir," said the officer to Alfred.
"Well," began Alfred, nodding toward the now livid Jimmy, "he was out
with my boy when I arrived. I stopped him from going out with him
a second time, and now you, officer, catch him slipping down the
fire-escape. I don't know what to say," he finished weakly.
"I do," exclaimed Jimmy, feeling more and more like a high explosive,
"and I'll say it."