"That's different," I says. "When I spend money in a card game it's more like a investment. I got a chance to make somethin' by it." "And this would be a investment, too," says the Wife, "and a whole lot better chance o' winnin' than in one o' them crooked card games." "What are you gettin' at?" I ast her. "This is what I'm gettin' at," she says, "though you'd ought to see it without me tellin' you. This here Bishop's made a big hit with Bess." "It's been done before," says I. "Listen to me," says the Frau. "It's high time she was gettin' married, and I don't want her marryin' none o' them Hoosier hicks." "They'll see to that," I says. "They ain't such hicks." "She could do a lot worse than take this here Bishop," the Missus says. "Ten thousand a year ain't no small change. And she'd be here in Chi; maybe they could find a flat right in this buildin'." "That's all right," I says. "We could move." "Don't be so smart," says the Missus. "It would be mighty nice for me to have her so near and it would be nice for you and I both to have a rich brother-in-law." "I don't know about that," says I. "Somebody might do us a mischief in a fit o' jealous rage." "He'd show us enough good times to make up for whatever they done," says the Wife. "We're foolish if we don't make no play for him and it'd be startin' off right to take him along to this here op'ra and set him in the best seats. He likes good music and you can see he's used to doin' things in style. And besides, sis looks her best when she's dressed up." Well, I finally give in and the Missus called Bessie out o' the despondents' ward and they was all smiles and pep, but they acted like I wasn't in the house; so, to make it realistical, I blowed down to Andy's and looked after some o' my other investments. * * * * * We always have dinner Sundays at one o'clock, but o' course Bishop didn't know that and showed up prompt at ten bells, before I was half-way through the comical section. I had to go to the door because the Missus don't never put on her shoes till she's positive the family on the first floor is all awake, and Bessie was baskin' in the kind o' water that don't come in your lease at Wabash. "Mr. Bishop, ain't it?" I says, lookin' him straight in the upper lip. "How'd you know?" he says, smilin'. "The girls told me to be expectin' a handsome man o' that name," I says. "And they told me about the mustache." "Wouldn't be much to tell," says Bishop. "It's young yet," I says. "Come in and take a weight off your feet." So he picked out the only chair we got that ain't upholstered with flatirons and we set down and was tryin' to think o' somethin' more to say when Bessie hollered to us from mid-channel. "Is that Mr. Bishop?" she yelped. "It's me, Miss Gorton," says Bishop. "I'll be right out," says Bess. "Take it easy," I says. "You mightn't catch cold, but they's no use riskin' it."