"Taking the air?" asked the policeman.
"Ye-yes," mumbled Jimmy with affected nonchalence and he knocked
the heels of his boots together in order to keep his teeth from
chattering. "It's a fi-fine ni-night for air," he stuttered.
"Is it?" said the policeman, and to Jimmy's horror, he saw the
fellow's eyes fix themselves on the bit of white.
"Go-good-night," stammered Jimmy hurriedly, and trying to assume
an easy stride in spite of the uncomfortable addition to his
already rotund figure, he slipped into the hotel, where avoiding
the lighted elevator, he laboured quickly, up the stairs.
At the very moment when Zoie was driving Alfred in consternation
from the room, Jimmy entered it uninvited.
"Get out," was the inhospitable greeting received simultaneously
from Zoie and Aggie, and without waiting for further instructions
he "got."
Fortunately for all concerned, Alfred, who was at the same moment
departing by way of the bedroom door, did not look behind him;
but it was some minutes before Aggie who had followed Jimmy into
the hall could persuade him to return.
After repeated and insistent signals both from Aggie and Zoie,
Jimmy's round red face appeared cautiously around the frame of
the door. It bore unmistakable indications of apoplexy. But the
eyes of the women were not upon Jimmy's face, they too had caught
sight of the bit of white that hung below his coat, and dragging
him quickly into the room and closing the door, Aggie proceeded
without inquiry or thanks to unbutton his coat and to take from
beneath it the small object for which she and Zoie had been
eagerly waiting.
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