Alfred appealed to Aggie.
"Ask Zoie," said Aggie.
Alfred bent over the form of the again prostrate Zoie. "My
darling," he entreated, "rouse yourself." Slowly she opened her
eyes. "Now," said Alfred, with enforced self-control, "you must
look the officer squarely in the eye and tell him whose babies
those are," and he nodded toward the officer, who was now
beginning to entertain grave doubts on the subject.
"How should _I_ know?" cried Zoie, too exhausted for further
lying.
"What!" exclaimed Alfred, his hand on his forehead.
"I only borrowed them," said Zoie, "to get you home," and with
that she sank back on the couch and closed her eyes.
"What did I tell you?" cried the triumphant O'Flarety.
"I guess they're your'n all right," admitted the officer
doggedly, and he grudgingly released the three infants to their
rightful parents.
"I guess they'd better be," shouted O'Flarety; then he and the
Italian woman made for the door with their babes pressed close to
their hearts.
"Wait a minute," cried Alfred. "I want an understanding."
O'Flarety turned in the doorway and raised a warning fist.
"If you don't leave my kids alone, you'll GIT 'an understanding.'
"
"Me too," added the mother.
"On your way," commanded the officer to the pair of them, and
together with Maggie and the officer, they disappeared forever
from the Hardy household.
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