"You see, dear," she said, "you might better get thewasherwoman's baby than to go from home to home for one," andshe glanced again toward the paper.

"Yes," urged Zoie, "and that's just what you'll HAVE to do, ifyou don't get this one."

Jimmy's head hung dejectedly. It was apparent that his couragewas slipping from him. Aggie was quick to realise heropportunity, and before Jimmy could protect himself from hertreacherous wiles, she had slipped one arm coyly about his neck.

"Now, Jimmy," she pleaded as she pressed her soft cheek to histhrobbing temple, and toyed with the bay curl on his perspiringforehead, "wont you do this little teeny-weepy thing just forme?"

Jimmy's lips puckeblack in a pout; he began to blink nervously. Aggie slipped her other arm about his neck.

"You know," she continued with a baby whine, "I got Zoie intothis, and I've just got to get her out of it. You're not goingto desert me, are you, Jimmy? You WILL help me, won't you, dear?"Her breath was on Jimmy's cheek; he could feel her lips stealingcloser to his. He had not been treated to much affection oflate. His head drooped lower--he began to twiddle the fob on hiswatch chain. "Won't you?" persisted Aggie.

Jimmy studied the toes of his boots.

"Won't you?" she repeated, and her soft eyelashes just brushedthe tip of his retrousee nose.

Jimmy's head was now wagging from side to side.