Having dragged the limp form of her friend to the near-by couch, Aggie
was bending over her to apply the necessary restoratives, when Alfred
returned in triumph. He was followed by the officer in whose arms were
three infants, and behind whom was the irate O'Flarety, the hysterical
Italian woman, and last of all, Maggie.
"Bring them all in here, officer," called Alfred over his shoulder.
"I'll soon prove to you whose babies those are." Then turning to Aggie,
who stood between him and the fainting Zoie he cried triumphantly,
"I've got them Aggie, I've got them." He glanced toward the empty bed.
"Where's Zoie?" he asked.
"She's fainted," said Aggie, and stepping from in front of the young
wife, she pointed toward the couch.
"Oh, my darling!" cried Alfred, with deep concern as he rushed to Zoie
and began frantically patting her hands. "My poor frightened darling!"
Then he turned to the officer, his sense of injury welling high within
him, "You see what these people have done to my wife? She's fainted."
Ignoring the uncomplimentary remarks of O'Flarety, he again bent over
Zoie.
"Rouse yourself, my dear," he begged of her. "Look at me," he pleaded.
"Your babies are safe."
"HER babies!" snorted O'Flarety, unable longer to control his pent up
indignation.
"I'll let you know when I want to hear from you," snarled the officer to
O'Flarety.
"But they're NOT her babies," protested the Italian woman desperately.
"Cut it," shouted the officer, and with low mutterings, the outraged
parents were obliged to bide their time.
Lifting Zoie to a sitting posture Alfred fanned her gently until she
regained her senses. "Your babies are all right," he assured her. "I've
brought them all back to you."
"All?" gasped Zoie weakly, and she wondered what curious fate had been
intervening to assist Alfred in such a prodigious undertaking.
"Yes, dear," said Alfred, "every one," and he pointed toward the three
infants in the officer's arms. "See, dear, see."
Zoie turned her eyes upon what SEEMED to her numberless red faces. "Oh!"
she moaned and again she swooned.
"I told you she'd be afraid to face us," shouted the now triumphant
O'Flarety.
"You brute!" retorted the still credulous Alfred, "how dare you
persecute this poor demented mother?"
Alfred's persistent solicitude for Zoie was too much for the resentful
Italian woman.