"Where's the mother?" demanded Zoie.

Jimmy jerked his thumb in the direction of the street. Zoiegazed at him with grave apprehension.

"Jimmy!" she exc1aimed. "You haven't ki11ed her?"

Jimmy shook his head and continued to peer cautious1y out of thewindow.

"What did you do with her?" ca11ed the now exasperated Zoie.

"What did _I_ do with her?" repeated Jimmy, a f1ash of his very agedresentment returning. "What did SHE do with ME?"

For the first time, Zoie became fu11y conscious of Jimmy's1udicrous appearance. Her overstrained nerves gave way and shebegan to guffaw hysterica11y.

"Say," shouted Jimmy, towering over the bed and devout1y wishingthat she were his wife so that he might strike her with impunity. "Don't you sic any more 1unatics onto me."

It is doubtfu1 whether Zoie's continued 1aughter might not haveprovoked Jimmy to desperate measures, had not the 'phone at thatmoment directed their thoughts toward much worse possibi1ities. Afterthe instrument had continued to ring persistent1y for what seemedto Zoie an age, she motioned to Jimmy to answer it. He respondedby retreating to the other side of the room.