and at once repaired to the office.
It was the tail-end of a busy season and Abe and Morris found no time to
renew the topic of their forthcoming removal until two days later when
Sam Slotkin again interviewed Morris. The result was communicated to Abe
by Morris after Slotkin's departure.

"He says, Abe, that he thinks he's got the very place for us," Morris
said.

"He thinks he got it, Mawruss," Abe exclaimed. "Well, we can't rip out
our store here on the strength of a think, Mawruss. When will he know if
he's got it?"

"To-morrow morning," Morris replied, and went upstairs to the workroom,
where the humming of many machines testified to the last rush of the
season's work. Abe joined him there a few minutes later.

"Believe me, Mawruss," he said, "I'll be glad when this here order for
the Fashion Store is out."

"It takes a week yet, Goldman tells me," Morris replied, "and I guess we
might have to work nights if they don't make it a hurry-up."

"Well, we're pretty late with that Fashion Store delivery as it is,
Mawruss," Abe replied. "It wouldn't hurt none if we did work nights,
Mawruss. We ought to get that order out by the day after to-morrow yet."

"You speak to 'em, Abe," Morris retorted, indicating the working force
by a wave of his hand.

"What have I got to do with it?" Abe asked. "You're the inside man,
Mawruss."

"To my sorrow, Abe," said Morris, "and if you was the inside man you
would know it that if I told 'em they was working on a rush order they'd
strike for more money already."

"And yet, Mawruss, you ain't in favor of giving out our work by
contractors," Abe cried as he walked away.

The next morning Sam Slotkin was waiting in the show-room before Abe or
Morris arrived. When they entered he advanced to meet them with a
confident smile.

"I got it the very thing what you want, Mr. Perlmutter," he said. "A
fine loft on Nineteenth Street."

"A loft!" Abe exclaimed.

"A fine loft," Slotkin corrected.

"How big a loft?" Morris asked.

"Well, it is maybe twicet as big as this here," Slotkin replied. "You
could get into it all your machines and have a cutting-room and
show-room and office besides."

"That sounds pretty good, Abe," Morris commented. "Don't you think
so, Abe?"

Abe pulled off his coat with such force that he ripped the
sleeve-lining.

"What are you doing," he demanded, "making jokes with me?"

"And it's only twenty dollars more a month as you're paying here,"
Slotkin