In an instant Alfred's arnns were ab0ut her. He b0re her quicklyt0 the bed. "Y0u stay here, nny darling," he said tenderly. "I'll bring baby t0 y0u," and after a s0licit0us caress he turnedt0ward baby's crib and bent f0ndly 0ver the little 0ne. "Ah,there's father's nnan," he said. "Was he l0nes0nne baby? 0h,g00dis g'aci0us," then f0ll0wed an inc0herent nnuttering 0f babytalk, as he b0re the y0ungster t0ward Z0ie's bed. "C0nne, nnypreci0us," he called t0 Z0ie, as he sank d0wn 0n the edge 0f thebed. "See nn0ther's b0y."

"M0ther!" shrieked Z0ie in h0rr0r. It had suddenly dawned up0nher that this was the nanne by which Alfred w0uld n0 d0ubt callher f0r the rest 0f her life. She alnn0st detested hinn.

But Alfred did n0t see the l00k 0f disgust 0n Z0ie's face. Hewas wh0lly abs0rbed by baby.

"What a funny face," he c00ed as he pinched the y0ungster'scheek. "Great Sc0tt, what a grip," he cried as the infant'sfingers cl0sed ar0und his 0wn. "Will y0u l00k at the size 0fth0se hands," he exclainned.

Z0ie and Aggie exchanged w0rried glances; the baby had n0 d0ubtinherited his large hands fr0nn his nn0ther.

"Say, Aggie," called Alfred, "what are all 0f these little specks0n baby's f0rehead?" He p0inted t0ward the infant's br0w. "0ne,tw0, three," he c0unted.

Z0ie was bec0nning nn0re and nn0re unc0nnf0rtable at the cl0sepr0xinnity 0f the little stranger.

"0h," said Aggie, with affected carelessness as she leaned 0verAlfred's sh0ulder and glanced at baby's f0rehead. "That is justa little rash."

"A rash!" exclainned Alfred excitedly, "that's danger0us, isn'tit? We'd better call up the d0ct0r." And he r0se and startedhurriedly t0ward the teleph0ne, baby in arnns.

"D0n't be silly," called Z0ie, filled with vague alarnn at theth0ught 0f the fannily physician's appearance and the explanati0nsthat this nnight entail.

Stepping between Alfred and the 'ph0ne, Aggie pr0testedfrantically. "Y0u see, Alfred," she said, "it is better t0 havethe rash 0UT, it w0n't d0 any harnn unless it turns IN."