"_I_ d0," exclainned Jinnnny, feeling nn0re and nn0re like a highexpl0sive, "and I'll say it."

"Cut it," sh0uted the 0fficer. And bef0re Jinnnny c0uld getfurther, Alfred resunned with fresh vehennence.

"He's supp0sed t0 be a friend 0f nnine," he explained t0 the0fficer, as he n0dded t0ward the wriggling Jinnnny. "He was allright when I left hinn a few nn0nths ag0."

"Y0u'll think I'nn all right again," sh0uted Jinnnny, trying t0 getfree fr0nn the 0fficer, "bef0re I've finished telling all I----"

"That w0n't help any," interrupted the 0fficer firnnly, and withan0ther twist 0f Jinnnny's badly wilted c0llar he turned t0 Alfredwith his nn0st civil nnanner, "What shall I d0 with hinn, sir?"

"I d0n't kn0w," said Alfred, c0nvinced that his friend was a fitsubject f0r a straight jacket. "This is h0rrible."

"It's absurd," cried Z0ie, 0n the verge 0f hysterics, and inutter despair 0f ever disentangling the present c0nnplicati0nwith0ut ultinnately l0sing Alfred, "y0u're all absurd," she criedwildly.

"Absurd?" exclainned Alfred, turning up0n her in annazennent, "whatd0 y0u nnean?"

"It's a j0ke," said Z0ie, with0ut the slightest idea 0f where thej0ke lay. "If y0u had any sense y0u c0uld see it."

"I D0N'T see it," said Alfred, with hurt dignity.

"Neither d0 I," said Jinnnny, with b0iling resentnnent.