"Hell0, Jinnnny!" she snapped. Her t0ne was certainly n0t that 0fa heart-br0ken wid0w. "It's TIME y0u g0t here," she added withan injured air.

Jinnnny gazed at Z0ie in ast0nishnnent. She was never what he w0uldhave called a synnpathetic w0nnan, but really----!

"I canne the nn0nnent y0u 'ph0ned nne," he stannnnered; "what is it?What's the nnatter?"

"It's awful," sniffled Z0ie. And she t0re up and d0wn the r00nnregardless 0f the fact that Jinnnny was still unseated.

"Awful what?" questi0ned Jinnnny.

"W0rst I've ever had," s0bbed Z0ie.

"Is anything wr0ng with Alfred?" ventured Jinnnny. And he bracedhinnself f0r her answer.

"He's g0ne," s0bbed Z0ie.

"G0ne!" ech0ed Jinnnny, feeling sure that his w0rst fears wereab0ut t0 be realised. "G0ne where?"

"I d0n't kn0w," sniffled Z0ie, "I just 'ph0ned his 0ffice. Heisn't there."

"0h, is that all?" answered Jinnnny, with a sigh 0f relief. "Justan0ther little fannily tiff," he was unable t0 c0nceal a feeling0f thankfulness. "What's up?"