Baby Mine
Page 17
CHAPTER XVII
With the collar of his long ulster pushed high and the brim of his derbyhat pulled low, Jimmy Jinks crept cautiously into the room. When he atlength ceased to glance over his shoulder and came to a full stop, Aggieperceived a bit of white flannel hanging beneath the hem of his tightlybuttoned coat.
"You've GOT it!" she cried.
"Where is it?" asked Zoie.
"Give it to me," demanded Aggie.
Jimmy stared at them as though stupefied, then glanced uneasily over hisshoulder, to make sure that no one was pursuing him. Aggie unbuttonedhis ulster, seized a wee mite wrapped in a large shawl, and clasped itto her bosom with a sigh of relief. "Thank heaven!" she exclaimed, thencrossed quickly to the bassinette and deposited her charge.
In the meantime, having thrown discretion to the wind, Zoie had hoppedout of bed. As usual, her greeting to Jimmy was in the nature of areproach. "What kept you?" she demanded crossly.
"Yes," chimed in Aggie, who was now bending over the crib. "What madeyou so long?"
"See here!" answered Jimmy hotly, "if you two think you can do anybetter, you're welcome to the job," and with that he threw off hisovercoat and sank sullenly on the couch.
"Sh! sh!" exclaimed Zoie and Aggie, simultaneously, and they glancednervously toward Alfred's bedroom door.
Jimmy looked at them without comprehending why he should "sh." They didnot bother to explain. Instead, Zoie turned her back upon him.
"Let's see it," she said, peeping into the bassinette. And then with alittle cry of disgust she again looked at Jimmy reproachfully. "Isn't itugly?" she said. Jimmy's contempt for woman's ingratitude was toodeep for words, and he only stared at her in injured silence. But hisreflections were quickly upset when Alfred called from the next room, toinquire again about Baby.
"Alfred's here!" whispered Jimmy, beginning to realise the meaning ofthe women's mysterious behaviour.
"Sh! sh!" said Aggie again to Jimmy, and Zoie flew toward the bed,almost vaulting over the footboard in her hurry to get beneath thecovers.
For the present Alfred did not disturb them further. Apparently he wasstill occupied with his shaving, but just as Jimmy was about to ask forparticulars, the 'phone rang. The three culprits glanced guiltily ateach other.
"Who's that?" whispered Zoie in a frightened voice.
Aggie crossed to the 'phone. "Hello," she called softly. "The Children'sHome?" she exclaimed.
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 wassaying; "that's impossible."
"What is it?" called Zoie across the foot of the bed, unable longer toendure 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 athief!"
Jimmy was following the conversation with growing interest.
"Wait a minute," said Aggie, then she left the receiver hanging by thecord and turned to the expectant pair behind her. "It's the Children'sHome," she explained. "That awful woman says Jimmy STOLE her baby!"
"What!" exclaimed Zoie as though such depravity on Jimmy's part wereunthinkable. 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," correctedAggie.
"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 thewire."
"Tell him he can't have it," answered Zoie, as though that were the endof the whole matter.
"Well," concluded Aggie, "he says if Jimmy DOESN'T bring it back themother's coming after it."
"Good Lord!" exclaimed Zoie.
As for Jimmy, he bolted for the door. Aggie caught him by the sleeve ashe passed. "Wait, Jimmy," she said peremptorily. There was a moment ofawful indecision, then something approaching an idea came to Zoie.
"Tell the Superintendent that it isn't here," she whispered to Aggieacross 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 calledpleasantly; then proceeded to explain. "Mr. Jinks hasn't got here yet."There was a pause, then she added in her most conciliatory tone, "I'lltell him what you say when he comes in." Another pause, and she hung upthe receiver with a most gracious good-bye and turned to the others withincreasing misgivings. "He says he won't be responsible for that mothermuch longer--she's half-crazy."
"What right has she to be crazy?" demanded Zoie in an abused voice."She's a widow. She doesn't need a baby."
"Well," decided Aggie after careful deliberation, "you'd better take itback, Jimmy, before Alfred sees it."
"What?" exclaimed Zoie in protest. And again Jimmy bolted, but again hefailed to reach the door.