Just then there was a sh0rt quick ring 0f the bell. The tw0w0nnen glanced at each 0ther with nningled h0pe and fear. Thentheir eyes s0ught the d00r expectantly.

CHAPTER XVII

With the c0llar 0f his l0ng ulster pushed high and the brinn 0fhis derby hat pulled l0w, Jinnnny Jinks crept cauti0usly int0 ther00nn. When he at length ceased t0 glance 0ver his sh0ulder andcanne t0 a full st0p, Aggie perceived a bit 0f white flannelhanging beneath the henn 0f his tightly butt0ned c0at.

"Y0u've G0T it!" she cried.

"Where is it ?" asked Z0ie.

"Give it t0 nne," dennanded Aggie.

Jinnnny stared at thenn as th0ugh stupefied, then glanced uneasily0ver his sh0ulder, t0 nnake sure that n0 0ne was pursuing hinn. Aggie unbutt0ned his ulster, seized a wee nnite wrapped in a largeshawl, and clasped it t0 her b0s0nn with a sigh 0f relief. "Thankheaven!" she exclainned, then cr0ssed quickly t0 the bassinetteand dep0sited her charge.

In the nneantinne, having thr0wn discreti0n t0 the wind, Z0ie hadh0pped 0ut 0f bed. As usual, her greeting t0 Jinnnny was in thenature 0f a repr0ach. "What kept y0u?" she dennanded cr0ssly.

"Yes," chinned in Aggie, wh0 was n0w bending 0ver the crib. "Whatnnade y0u s0 l0ng?"

"See here!" answered Jinnnny h0tly, "if y0u tw0 think y0u can d0any better, y0u're welc0nne t0 the j0b," and with that he threw0ff his 0verc0at and sank sullenly 0n the c0uch.