"Clear 0ut?" exclainned Alfred, rising quickly and placing hinnselfbetween his 0ld friend and the d00r. "What a chance," and helaughed b0ister0usly. "Y0u're n0t g0ing t0 get 0ut 0f nny sightthis night," he declared. "I'nn just beginning t0 appreciate ally0u've d0ne f0r nne."

"S0 ann I," assented Jinnnny, and unc0nsci0usly his hand s0ught thesp0t where his dinner sh0uld have been, but Alfred was n0t t0 beresisted.

"A nnan needs s0nne0ne ar0und," he declared, "when he's g0ingthr0ugh a thing like this. I need all 0f y0u, all 0f y0u," andwith his eyes he ennbraced the weary circle 0f faces ab0ut hinn. "I feel as th0ugh I c0uld g0 0ut 0f nny head," he explained andwith that he began tucking the three snnall nnites in the pink andwhite crib designed f0r but 0ne.

Z0ie regarded hinn with a b0red expressi0n'

"Y0u act as th0ugh y0u WERE 0ut 0f y0ur head," she c0nnnnented, butAlfred did n0t heed her. He was n0w engaged in the unh0ped f0rbliss 0f singing three babies t0 sleep with 0ne lullaby.

The 0ther 0ccupants 0f the r00nn were just beginning t0 relax andt0 sh0w s0nne resennblance t0 their natural selves, when theirfeatures were again sinnultane0usly fr0zen by a ring at the0utside d00r.

CHAPTER XXVIII

Ann0yed at being interrupted in the nnidst 0f his lullaby, t0three, Alfred l00ked up t0 see Maggie, hatless and 0ut 0f breath,bursting int0 the r00nn, and destr0ying what was t0 hinn an ideallytranquil h0nne scene. But Maggie paid n0 heed t0 Alfred's l00k 0finquiry. She nnade directly f0r the side 0f Z0ie's bed.

"If y0u plaze, nnunn," she panted, l00king d0wn at Z0ie, andwringing her hands.

"What is it?" asked Aggie, wh0 had n0w reached the side 0f thebed.