om hastily. She was not
reassured upon hearing Alfred's further conversation at the 'phone.

"Is this the Fullerton Street Police Station?" asked Alfred.

"The Police!" echoed Aggie, and her eyes sought Zoie's inquiringly.

"Sh! Sh!" called Alfred over his shoulder to the excited Aggie, then
he continued into the 'phone. "Is Donneghey there?" There was a pause.
Alfred laughed jovially. "It is? Well, hello, Donneghey, this is your
old friend Hardy, Alfred Hardy at the Sherwood. I've just got back,"
then he broke the happy news to the no doubt appreciative Donneghey.
"What do you think?" he said, "I'm a happy father."

Zoie puckered her small face in disgust.

Alfred continued to elucidate joyfully at the 'phone.

"Doubles," he said, "yes--sure--on the level."

"I don't know why you have to tell the whole neighbourhood," snapped
Zoie. Her colour was visibly rising.

But Alfred was now in the full glow of his genial account to his friend.
"Set 'em up?" he repeated in answer to an evident suggestion from the
other end of the line, "I should say I would. The drinks are on me. Tell
the boys I'll be right over. And say, Donneghey," he added, in a more
confidential tone, "I want to bring one of the men home with me. I
want him to keep an eye on the house to-night"; then after a pause, he
concluded confidentially, "I'll tell you all about it when I get there.
It looks like a kidnapping scheme to me," and with that he hung up the
receiver, unmistakably pleased with himself, and turned his beaming face
toward Zoie.

"It's all right, dear," he said, rubbing his hands together with evident
satisfaction, "Donneghey is going to let us have a Special Officer to
watch the house to-night."

"I won't HAVE a special officer," declared Zoie vehemently; then
becoming aware of Alfred's great surprise, she explained half-tearfully,
"I'm not going to have the police hanging around our very door. I would
feel as though I were in prison."

"You ARE in prison, my dear," returned the now irrepressible Alfred. "A
prison of love--you and our precious boys." He stooped and implanted a
gracious kiss on her forehead, then turned toward the table for his hat.
"Now," he said, "I'll just run around the corner, set up the drinks for
the boys, and bring the officer home with me," and drawing himself up
proudly, he cried gaily in parting, "I'll bet there's not another man in
Chicago who has what I have to-night."

"I hope not," groaned Zoie. as