out with you a
good many people seem to know it."

"That don't count, dad," says she. "Men, and even women, look at a girl
on the street--men at her ankles and women at her clothes; but that
doesn't mean anything. That doesn't get you anywhere. That isn't being
anybody. That doesn't mean that you are one of the best people."

"And you want to be one of the best people--is that it, sis?"

She set her teeth together and her eyes got bright.

"Well," says she, "we never played anything for pikers, did we, dad?"

Then them two looked each other in the eyes. I looked at them both. To
me it seemed there certainly was going to be some doings.

"Go to it, sis!" says her pa. "You've got your own bank account and it's
bigger than mine. The limit's the roof.

"Speaking of limits," says he, "reminds me that the president of our
bank he got me elected to the National League Club here in town; him
having such a pull he done it right soon--proxies, maybe. I've been over
there this afternoon trying to enjoy myself. Didn't know anybody on
earth. One or two folks finally did allow me to set in a poker game with
them when I ast. It wasn't poker, but only a imitation. I won two
hundred and fifty dollars and it broke up the game. If a fellow pushes
in half a stack of blues over there they all tremble and get pale. This
may be a good town for women, but, believe me, sis, it's no town for a
real man."

"Well, never mind, dad," says she. "If you get lonesome I'll have you
help me on the house. We'll have to get our servants together. For
instance, we've got to have a butler--and a good one."

"What's a butler?" says I.

"He stands back of your chair and makes you feel creepy," says Old Man
Wright. "We've got to have one of them things, shore. Then there's the
chauffore for the car when you get it, and the cook. That's about all,
ain't it?"

"That's about the beginning," says Bonnie Bell. "You have to have a cook
and a kitchen girl and two first-floor maids and two upper-floor maids
and a footman."

"Well, that will help some," says her pa. "I've been bored a good deal
and lonesome, but maybe, living with all them folks, somebody will start
something sometime. When did you say we could get in?"

"They tell me we'll be lucky if we have everything ready by Christmas,"
says Bonnie Bell.

"It looks like a merry summer, don't it?" says he sighing.

"And like a hell of a Merry Christmas!" says I.

IV

US AND CHRISTMAS EVE