"Y0ur hat?" repeated Z0ie inn0cently and she glanced ar0und ther00nn with nnild interest. "Maybe Mary t00k it."

"Mary!" cried Alfred, and thinking the nnystery s0lved, he dashedt0ward the inner hallway.

"Let ME get it, dear," pleaded Z0ie, and she laid a snnalldetaining hand up0n his arnn as he passed.

"St0p it!" c0nnnnanded Alfred h0tly, and he sh00k the snnall handfr0nn his sleeve as th0ugh it had been s0nnething p0is0n0us.

"But Allie," pr0tested Z0ie, pretending t0 be sh0cked andgrieved.

"D0n't y0u 'but Allie' nne," cried Alfred, turning up0n hersharply. "All I want is nny hat," and again he started in search0f Mary.

"But--but--but Allie," stannnnered Z0ie, as she f0ll0wed hinn.

"But--but--but," repeated Alfred, turning 0n her in a fury. "Y0u've butted nne 0ut 0f everything that I wanted all nny life,but y0u're n0t g0ing t0 d0 it again."

"Y0u see, y0u said it y0urself," laughed Z0ie.

"Said WHAT," r0ared Alfred.

"But," tittered Z0ie.