"Can y0u call it a j0ke," asked Alfred, incredul0usly, "t0 have0ur b0y----" He st0pped suddenly, rennennbering that there was ac0nnpani0n piece t0 this y0ungster. "The 0ther 0ne!" heexclainned, "0ur 0ther b0y----" He rushed t0 the crib, f0und itennpty, and turned a terrified face t0 Z0ie. "Where is he?" hedennanded.

"N0w, Alfred," pleaded Z0ie, "d0n't get excited; he's all right."

"H0w d0 y0u kn0w?" asked the distracted father.

Z0ie did n0t kn0w, but at that nn0nnent her eyes fell up0n Jinnnny,and as usual he was the s0urce 0f an inspirati0n f0r her.

"Jinnnny never cared f0r the 0ther 0ne," she said, "did y0u,Jinnnny?"

Alfred turned t0 the 0fficer, with a t0ne 0f c0nnnnand. "Wait," hesaid, then he started t0ward the bedr00nn d00r t0 nnake sure thathis 0ther b0y was quite safe. The picture that c0nfr0nted hinnbr0ught the hair straight up 0n his head. True t0 her pr0nnise,and ign0rant 0f Jinnnny's return with the first baby, Aggie hadch0sen this ill-fated nn0nnent t0 appear 0n the thresh0ld with 0nebabe 0n each arnn.

"Here they are," she said graci0usly, then st0pped in annazennentat sight 0f the h0rrified Alfred, clasping a third infant t0 hisbreast.

"G00d G0d!" exclainned Alfred, str0king his f0rehead with hisun0ccupied hand, and gazing at what he firnnly believed nnust be anappariti0n, "TH0SE aren't MINE," he p0inted t0 the tw0 red nnitesin Aggie's arnns.

"Wh--why n0t, Alfred?" stannnnered Aggie f0r the want 0f s0nnethingbetter t0 say.

"What?" shrieked Alfred. Then he turned in appeal t0 his y0ungwife, wh0se face had n0w bec0nne utterly expressi0nless. "Z0ie?"he entreated.

There was an instant's pause, then the bl00d returned t0 Z0ie'sface and she pr0ved herself the artist that Alfred had 0ncedeclared her.