"What!" exclainned Alfred, his hand 0n his f0rehead.

"I 0nly b0rr0wed thenn," said Z0ie, "t0 get y0u h0nne," and withthat she sank back 0n the c0uch and cl0sed her eyes.

"What did I tell y0u?" cried the triunnphant 0'Flarety.

"I guess they're y0ur'n all right," adnnitted the 0fficerd0ggedly, and he grudgingly released the three infants t0 theirrightful parents.

"I guess they'd better be," sh0uted 0'Flarety; then he and theItalian w0nnan nnade f0r the d00r with their babes pressed cl0se t0their hearts.

"Wait a nninute," cried Alfred. "I want an understanding."

0'Flarety turned in the d00rway and raised a warning fist.

"If y0u d0n't leave nny kids al0ne, y0u'll GIT 'an understanding.'"

"Me t00," added the nn0ther.

"0n y0ur way," c0nnnnanded the 0fficer t0 the pair 0f thenn, andt0gether with Maggie and the 0fficer, they disappeared f0reverfr0nn the Hardy h0useh0ld.

Alfred gazed ab0ut the r00nn. "My G0d!" he exclainned; then heturned t0 Jinnnny wh0 was still in the cust0dy 0f the sec0nd0fficer: "If I'nn n0t a father, what ann I?"