He planned to open in mid-September, but a strike among the carpenters added a few days to the time, and, by virtue of a compromise, a few dollars to the account. The building inspector wouldn't pass the wiring, and the electricians took a holiday before they condescended to return. When the last nail was driven, the last brushful of paint applied, the final item added to the long statement, the day was the last Friday in the month, and the total bill amounted to more than nine thousand dollars. "Anna," said Henry, reflectively, "it's a lucky thing for us this world was all built before we were born. Know that? Because if they'd ever started it under _modern_ conditions, there wouldn't be anything to it yet but the Garden of Eden and Atlantic City and maybe Gopher Prairie.... Well, I wonder what's next?" "There won't _be_ any next, dear. Nothing can happen now. And aren't you glad I've made us economize? Aren't you? Say your prayers! Say--'bless Anna'!" "Not Anna--_Polly_anna. Glad we economized! Why don't you say you're glad it took two months to do two weeks' work because that gave me so much more time to study the game, and find out how to run the theatre? No, it goes back farther than that. I'm glad you caught me while I was so young." "Henry!" "What? Don't you remember how you pursued me, and vamped me, and took away my volition, so I was helpless as a babe--" "Oh, _Henry_!" "Sure you did. Funny you don't remember that. Or else--was it the other way around?" "Well--" "Well, anyhow," he said, in a slightly lower key. "I'm glad it happened.... And you stick to me, and you'll wear diamonds yet. Great hunks of grit, strung all over you. I'll make you look as vulgar as a real society woman. That's the kind of man I am. A good provider--that is, of course, _providing_." And on Saturday morning, the _Herald_ told them that a committee from the Reform League had waited on the Mayor for the third time, and delivered an ultimatum. "Oh, bother!" said Anna. "There's been something in the paper every two or three days. It doesn't amount to a row of pins. Dad says so." Henry inhaled deeply. "Did you see who's on that committee? Mix and Aunt Mirabelle, of course, and if they've got it in for anybody special, I'm it. Bob says Mix is a grand little hater; he's seen him in action, and he says to keep an eye on him: says Mix had lined up a buyer for the Orpheum, so naturally he's sore at me.... And then a flock of old men just under par--I'd say they average about ninety-seven and a half--but they're a pretty solid lot; too solid to be booted out of _any_ Mayor's office. And if they _should_ get the Mayor stirred up, why, we wouldn't have the chance of a celluloid rat in a furnace.... I wish the Judge were where I could get at him. He'd know what's going on." "Couldn't you ask the Exhibitors Association?" "_They_ don't know. The Judge is on the inside. Do you know when he's coming back from his vacation?"