"I got him for you, sir," announced the officer proudly, to the
astonished Alfred, who had just managed to untwine Zoie's arms
and to struggle to his feet.
Alfred's eyes fell first upon the dejected Jimmy, then they
travelled to the bundle of long clothes in the officer's arms.
"My boy!" he cried. "My boy!" He snatched the infant from the
officer and pressed him jealously to his breast. "I don't
understand," he said, gazing at the officer in stupefaction.
"Where was he?"
"You mean this one?" asked the officer, nodding toward the
unfortunate Jimmy. "I caught him slipping down your
fire-escape."
"I KNEW it," exclaimed Zoie in a rage, and she cast a vindictive
look at Jimmy for his awkwardness.
"Knew WHAT, dear?" asked Alfred, now thoroughly puzzled.
Zoie did not answer. Her powers of resource were fast waning.
Alfred turned again to the officer, then to Jimmy, who was still
flashing defiance into the officer's threatening eyes.
"My God!" he exclaimed, "this is awful. What's the matter with
you, Jimmy? This is the third time that you have tried to take my
baby out into the night."
"Then you've had trouble with him before?" remarked the officer.
He studied Jimmy with new interest, proud in the belief that he
had brought a confirmed "baby-snatcher" to justice.
"I've had a little trouble myself," declared Jimmy hotly, now
resolved to make a clean breast of it.
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