Baby Mine

had entered the room while Alfred was

fred. She stared at him in amazement. Was it possible that Jimmy, the me

e" hat at his elbow. Never before had she appeared so beautiful to him, so desirable-suppose he should lose her? Life spread before him as a dreary waste. He tried to look up at

greeting, Aggie continue

two going to

rd in an effort to

ing," he s

en the two old friends, Aggie addressed

"what are you doing h

him. "Why!" he stammered. "Why, I j

ted Aggie in perple

drew themselves

hat another more or less could not matter;

you sent to Zoie,"

message to Zo

ngers involuntarily went to her ears. She was mor

corrected Jimmy. And he assume

"I told you to 'phone her yest

it and I just came over to explain." Alfred's fixe

n of her eye-brows, "then that's why Zoie didn't

ter one wild shriek and give himself up for lost; but at prese

red's turn to

cried with hys

onishment. Was this her usu

didn't eat luncheon with you. She may TELL you that's why. She undoubtedly will; but it's

by that?" Aggie

he "dear." Then he turned toward the door of his study. "Pray excuse me-I'M TOO BU

Alfred, then at Jimmy. She was the picture of cons

iff," answered Jimmy, trying

YOU!" gas

ium again upset. "Certainly not

ws how silly one can be. I almost thought Alfred

pired to make him the target of their attention. He caught Aggie's eye and t

ie, and he thought he detected a

ickly, "I think, dearie, that I'll

med Aggie in g

upset my digestion,"

and again Jimmy fancied that there

," he said, "if you insist upon my eating downtown, I'll

e matter with you?" She took a step toward him and anxiously studied his

receiving even this small bit of sympathy. "I'm ill," he declared. No sooner had he made the

e home." She stooped and kissed Jimmy's pouting lips. He held up his face for more. She smoothed the hair from his worried brow and endeav

ard the door with a doleful shake of his head. "I don't sup

cried Aggie,