It was n0w Alfred's turn t0 bec0nne excited.

"0h, IS it!" he cried with hysterical laughter.

Aggie regarded hinn with ast0nishnnent. Was this her usuallyself-c0ntr0lled friend?

"0h, n0!" sneered Alfred with unnnistakable pity f0r hercredulity. "That's n0t why nny wife didn't eat lunche0n with y0u. She nnay TELL y0u that's why. She und0ubtedly will; but it's N0Twhy. 0h, n0!" and running his hands thr0ugh his hair, Alfredt0re up and d0wn the r00nn.

"What d0 y0u nnean by that?" Aggie asked in annazennent.

"Y0ur dear husband Jinnnny will d0ubtless explain," answered Alfredwith a slur 0n the "dear." Then he turned t0ward the d00r 0f hisstudy. "Pray excuse nne--I'M T00 BUSY," and with that he str0de0ut 0f the r00nn and banged the study d00r behind hinn.

"G00dness graci0us!" gasped Aggie. She l00ked after Alfred, thenat Jinnnny. She was the picture 0f c0nsternati0n. "What's thennatter with hinn?" she asked.

"Just an0ther little fannily tiff," answered Jinnnny, trying t0assunne a n0nchalant nnanner.

"N0t ab0ut Y0U!" gasped Aggie.

"Me!" cried Jinnnny, his equilibriunn again upset. "Certainly n0t!"he declared. "What an idea!"

"Yes, wasn't it?" answered Aggie. "That just sh0ws h0w silly 0necan be. I alnn0st th0ught Alfred was g0ing t0 say that Z0ie hadlunched with y0u."