"Is this Hardy & Company?" she asked.
"Well, this is Mrs. Hardy," she explained.
"I wish you'd ring me up the moment my husband comes in." There
was a slight pause, then she clutched the receiver harder. "Not
COMING back?" she gasped. "Gone!--to Detroit?" A short moan
escaped her lips. She let the receiver fall back on the hook and
her head went forward on her outstretched arms.
CHAPTER X
When Jimmy came home to luncheon that day, Aggie succeeded in
getting a general idea of the state of affairs in the Hardy
household. Of course Jimmy didn't tell the whole truth. Oh,
no--far from it. In fact, he appeared to be aggravatingly
ignorant as to the exact cause of the Hardy upheaval. Of ONE
thing, however, he was certain. "Alfred was going to quit
Chicago and leave Zoie to her own devices."
"Jimmy!" cried Aggie. "How awful!" and before Jimmy was fairly
out of the front gate, she had seized her hat and gloves and
rushed to the rescue of her friend.
Not surprised at finding Zoie in a state of collapse, Aggie
opened her arms sympathetically to receive the weeping
confidences that she was sure would soon come.
"Zoie dear," she said as the fragile mite rocked to and fro.
"What is it?" She pressed the soft ringlets from the girl's
throbbing forehead.
"It's Alfred," sobbed Zoie. "He's gone!"
"Yes, I know," answered Aggie tenderly.
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