when, upon entering
their office, they discerned the bulky figure of Henry Feigenbaum
seated in Birsky's armchair.

"Honestly, boys," Feigenbaum said as he bit off the end of a cigar,
"the way you are keeping me waiting here, understand me, it would of
served you right if I would of gone right over to Adelstern's and give
him the order instead of you, y'understand; _aber_ the way Adelstern
treats Jonas Eschenbach, understand me, I would rather die as buy a
dollar's worth of goods from that _Rosher_."

"What d'ye mean, the way Adelstern treats Eschenbach?" Birsky asked.

"Why, just so soon as Eschenbach tells him he is going to sell out,"
Feigenbaum continued, "Adelstern right away disbands his mutual aid
society; and he also just so good as tells Eschenbach to his face,
y'understand, that all this baseball business was a waste of time,
understand me, and he only done it to get orders from Eschenbach! And a
man like Eschenbach, which he is a philanthropist and a gentleman,
understand me, takes the trouble he should give Adelstern pointers
about this here mutual aid society, which they are a blessing to both
employers and employees, _verstehst du mich_, all I could say is that
Adelstern acts like a loafer in throwing the whole thing up just
because Eschenbach quits!"

"_Aber_, Mr. Feigenbaum," Birsky said, while a puzzled expression came
over his face, "I thought you said when you was here last time that
Eschenbach goes too far in such things."

"When I was here last," Feigenbaum replied, "was something else again;
but when I left here Friday, understand me, right up till the last
minute Eschenbach says no, he wouldn't let twenty thousand of the
purchase price remain on a real-estate mortgage of the store property.
When I got to Cordova Saturday morning my lawyers there says that
Eschenbach stood ready to close the deal on them terms, y'understand,
provided I would let the old man look after our store's employees'
association, which I certainly agreed to; and so I bought his business
there and then, and I must got to buy at least five thousand dollars
goods before Wednesday morning for shipment by ten days already."

"You bought Eschenbach's store!" Zapp exclaimed.

Feigenbaum wriggled in Birsky's chair, which fitted him like a glove;
and after he had freed himself he rose ponderously.

"_Aber_ one moment, Mr. Feigenbaum," Birsky pleaded. "Did I understood
you to say that Eschenbach is to look after the mutual a