"Yes," says Alex, "and some day he'll hit on somethin' that'll prob'ly make him famous!" "I wanna see Beryldine Nearer in 'The Vaccinated Vampire'," I says, reachin' for my hat. "I seen her last week in 'Almost A Fiend' and she was a knockout!" "Shut up!" says the wife. "What was you sayin', again, Alex?" "I says it's the dreamer which has made the world what it is to-day," he goes on, strikin' a pose. "He _thinks_ of somethin' and the practical feller comes along and makes money out of it. Take--" "They ain't no man can keep me from the movies!" I butts in. "I ain't gonna be late and only see half of this picture. I done that too often! You and Alice can fight it out amongst yourselves if--" "All right!" says the wife. "Come on, we'll all go. I admit freely I'm crazy to see Beryldine Nearer again, myself. I seen a gown on her in the last picture which I think I can duplicate in time for Mrs. Martin's card party. We'll ask Mr. and Mrs. Simmons to go with us too. The poor dear, it'll be a treat for her." "It'll be a treat for her husband, too!" I says. "I ain't gonna take the whole neighborhood to the movies. You must think I'm the Liberty Loan, don't you?" The wife comes over and kisses me. "Now, dear," she says. "Don't be so close across the chest. Won't you take 'em for me?" Well, when all Broadway used to roll over and play dead when she pulled that smile, what chance have _I_ got? "I'd take carbolic for you!" I answers, givin' her a squeeze. "Go ahead, honey, invite the first two pagefuls outa the phone book if you want and I'll take 'em all!" "There you go," she says. "No wonder we're not wealthy! If it wasn't for me holdin' you down, we wouldn't have a nickel. I'll call down and tell Mrs. Simmons to get ready--they may have an engagement themselves!" "I doubt if I'm lucky enough for that to happen!" I says. Well, I missed out again. They come up all right, and Mrs. Simmons is tickled to death. When set for the street, she was a pretty good looker herself, but Simmons ain't even got a hat with him. "Mister Simmons prefers to stay at home," says his wife, causin' my heart to leap with joy. "He has some important work to do, haven't you, dear?" Simmons flushes all up. "Why--eh--yes--quite so--much obliged--excuse me," he stutters, backin' away like he thought I'd wallop him for not goin'. Alex is lookin' at him strangely. "Pardon me," he says. "We just been talkin' over some of the wonderful ideas you been workin' on. I have a inventive twist in my brains myself and that lock you put together interests me very much. Could I see it?" Simmons brightens up in a flash and commences to grin. "I'd be very glad indeed to show it to you," he says. "Very glad! Its a--" Alex goes over and puts his arm on his shoulder. "You folks run along to the movies," he tells us. "Mr. Simmons and me is got a little conference on--eh, Simmons?" He prods him in the ribs and giggles.