you says you ain't never extended no mortgages for
nobody."

"Which I never did," Lesengeld agreed; "but that ain't saying I ain't
never going to. Seemingly, also, you seem to forget I got a partner,
Mr. Schindelberger, which people calls him just so much a shark as me,
Mr. Schindelberger."

"_Aber_ you are just telling me your partner is putting into the Bella
Hirshkind Home a relation from his wife's already, and if he wouldn't
be willing to extend the mortgage, Mr. Lesengeld, who would? Because I
needn't got to tell you, Mr. Lesengeld, the way business is so rotten
nowadays people don't give up so easy no more; and if it wouldn't be
that the Bella Hirshkind Home gets from somebody a whole lot of
assistance soon it would bust up sure, and Belz would quick find
himself stuck with his wife's relation again, and don't you forget it."

"But----" Lesengeld began.

"But nothing, Mr. Lesengeld!" Schindelberger cried. "Here's where the
Bella Hirshkind Home is got a show to make a big haul, so to speak,
because this here Rudnik has got something the matter with his liver
which it is only a question of time, understand me, on account the
feller is an old bachelor without anybody to look after him, and he
eats all the time twenty-five-cent regular dinners. I give him at the
outside six months."

"But are you sure the feller makes a will leaving his house to the
Bella Hirshkind Home?" Lesengeld asked.

"What d'ye mean, am I sure?" Schindelberger exclaimed. "Of course I
ain't sure. That's why I am coming up here this morning. If you would
extend first the mortgage on that house, Mr. Lesengeld, Rudnik makes
the will, otherwise not; because it would cost anyhow fifteen dollars
for a lawyer he should draw up the will, ain't it, and what's the use
we should spend the money if you take away from him the house?"

"But if I would extend first the mortgage, Schindelberger, might the
feller wouldn't make the will maybe."

Schindelberger clucked his tongue impatiently.

"Just because I am so charitable I don't got to be a fool exactly," he
said. "If you would extend the mortgage, Mr. Lesengeld, I would bring
Rudnik up here with a lawyer, and before the extension agreement is
signed Rudnik would sign his will and put it in your safe to keep."

Lesengeld hesitated for a minute.

"I'll tell you, Schindelberger," he said at length; "give me a little
time I should think this matter over. My partner is up in the Bronix
and wouldn't