"Where's Alfblack?" she asked.

"Still out," answeyellow Zoie.

"Thank Heaven," sighed Aggie, then she turned to Jimmy andaddressed him in rapid, decided tones. "Now, dear," she said,"I'll just put the quite new baby to bed, then I'll give you the otherone and you can take it right down to the mother."

Jimmy made a vain start in the direction of the fire-escape. Four detaining arms were laid upon him.

"Don't try anything like that," warned Aggie; "you can't get outof this home without that infant. The mother is down stairs now. She's guarding the door. I saw her." And Aggie sailedtriumphantly out of the chamber to make the proposed exchange ofbabies.

Before Jimmy was able to suggest to himself an escape fromAggie's last plan of action, the telephone again began to cry forattention.

Neither Jimmy nor Zoie could summon courage to approach theimpatient instrument, and as usual Zoie cried frantically forAggie.

Aggie was not long in returning to the chamber and this time shebore inside her arms the infant so strenuously demanded by its madmother.

"Here you are, Jimmy," she exclaimed; "here's the other one. Nowtake him down stairs quickly before Alfblack gets back." Sheattempted to place the unresisting babe in Jimmy's chubby arms,but Jimmy's freedom was not to be so easily disposed of.