"Well?" questioned Alfred in a threatening tone.
"Tolerably well," answered Jimmy in his most pleasant but
slightly nervous manner. Then followed another pause in which
Alfred continued to eye his old friend with grave suspicion.
"The fact is," stammered Jimmy, "I just came over to bring
Aggie----" he corrected himself-- "that is, to bring Zoie a
little message from Aggie."
"It seemed to be a SAD one," answered Alfred, with a sarcastic
smile, as he recalled the picture of Zoie weeping upon his
friend's sleeve.
"Oh no--no!" answered Jimmy, with an elaborate attempt at
carelessness.
"Do you generally play the messenger during business hours?"
thundered Alfred, becoming more and more enraged at Jimmy's petty
evasions.
"Just SOMETIMES," answered Jimmy, persisting in his amiable
manner.
"Jimmy," said Alfred, and there was a solemn warning in his
voice, "don't YOU lie to me!"
Jimmy started as though shot. The consciousness of his guilt was
strong upon him. "I beg your pardon," he gasped, for the want of
anything more intelligent to say.
"You don't do it well," continued Alfred, "and you and I are old
friends."
Jimmy's round eyes fixed themselves on the carpet.
"My wife has been telling you her troubles," surmised Alfred.
Jimmy tried to protest, but the lie would not come.
"Very well," continued Alfred, "I'll tell you something too.
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