Jimmy paused in the act of sitting and turned his round eyes toward the
'phone.
Aggie's facial expression was not reassuring. "But we can't," she was
saying; "that's impossible."
"What is it?" called Zoie across the foot of the bed, unable longer to
endure the suspense.
Aggie did not answer. She was growing more and more excited. "A thief!"
she cried wildly, over the 'phone. "How dare you call my husband a
thief!"
Jimmy was following the conversation with growing interest.
"Wait a minute," said Aggie, then she left the receiver hanging by the
cord and turned to the expectant pair behind her. "It's the Children's
Home," she explained. "That awful woman says Jimmy STOLE her baby!"
"What!" exclaimed Zoie as though such depravity on Jimmy's part were
unthinkable. Then she looked at him accusingly, and asked in low,
measured tones, "DID you STEAL HER BABY, JIMMY?"
"Didn't you tell me to?" asked Jimmy hotly. "Not literally," corrected
Aggie.
"How else COULD I steal a baby?" demanded Jimmy.
Zoie looked at the unfortunate creature as if she could strangle him,
and Aggie addressed him with a threat in her voice.
"Well, the Superintendent says you've got to bring it straight back."
"I'd like to see myself!" said Jimmy.
"He sha'n't bring it back," declared Zoie. "I'll not let him!"
"What shall I tell the Superintendent?" asked Aggie, "he's holding the
wire."
"Tell him he can't have it," answered Zoie, as though that were the end
of the whole matter.
"Well," concluded Aggie, "he says if Jimmy DOESN'T bring it back the
mother's coming after it."
"Good Lord!" exclaimed Zoie.
As for Jimmy, he bolted for the door. Aggie caught him by the sleeve as
he passed. "Wait, Jimmy," she said peremptorily. There was a moment of
awful indecision, then something approaching an idea came to Zoie.
"Tell the Superintendent that it isn't here," she whispered to Aggie
across the footboard. "Tell him that Jimmy hasn't got here yet."
"Yes," agreed Jimmy, "tell him I haven't got here yet."
Aggie nodded wisely and returned to the 'phone. "Hello," she called
pleasantly; then proceeded to explain. "Mr. Jinks hasn't got here yet."
There was a pause, then she added in her most conciliatory tone, "I'll
tell him what you say when he comes in." Another pause, and she hung up
the receiver with a most gracious good-bye and turned to the others with
increasing misgivings. "He says he won't be responsible for that mother
much longer--she's half-crazy."