e NOT her babies," protested the Italian woman desperately.

"Cut it," shouted the officer, and with low mutterings, the outraged
parents were obliged to bide their time.

Lifting Zoie to a sitting posture Alfred fanned her gently until she
regained her senses. "Your babies are all right," he assured her. "I've
brought them all back to you."

"All?" gasped Zoie weakly, and she wondered what curious fate had been
intervening to assist Alfred in such a prodigious undertaking.

"Yes, dear," said Alfred, "every one," and he pointed toward the three
infants in the officer's arms. "See, dear, see."

Zoie turned her eyes upon what SEEMED to her numberless red faces. "Oh!"
she moaned and again she swooned.

"I told you she'd be afraid to face us," shouted the now triumphant
O'Flarety.

"You brute!" retorted the still credulous Alfred, "how dare you
persecute this poor demented mother?"

Alfred's persistent solicitude for Zoie was too much for the resentful
Italian woman.

"She didn't persecute me, oh no!" she exclaimed sarcastically.

"Keep still, you!" commanded the officer.

Again Zoie was reviving and again Alfred lifted her in his arms and
begged her to assure the officer that the babies in question were hers.

"Let's hear her SAY it," demanded O'Flarety.

"You SHALL hear her," answered Alfred, with confidence. Then he beckoned
to the officer to approach, explaining that Zoie was very weak.

"Sure," said the officer; then planting himself directly in front of
Zoie's half closed eyes, he thrust the babies upon her attention.

"Look, Zoie!" pleaded Alfred. "Look!"

Zoie opened her eyes to see three small red faces immediately opposite
her own.

"Take them away!" she cried, with a frantic wave of her arm, "take them
away!"

"What?" exclaimed Alfred in astonishment.

"What did I tell you?" shouted O'Flarety. This hateful reminder brought
Alfred again to the protection of his young and defenceless wife.

"The excitement has unnerved her," he said to the officer.

"Ain't you about done with my kids?" asked O'Flarety, marvelling how any
man with so little penetration as the officer, managed to hold down a
"good payin' job."

"What do you want for your proof anyway?" asked the mother. But Alfred's
faith in the validity of his new parenthood was not to be so easily
shaken.

"My wife is in no condition to be questioned," he declared. "She's out
of her head, and if you don't----"

He stepped suddenly, fo