r the first week or so
what we are there, ain't it? But if we should only get it one or two
customers that way, Mawruss, them fixtures would pay for themselves."

"Dreams you got it, Abe," Morris cried. "You think them customers would
be blind, Abe? Ain't they got eyes in their head? Since when would they
mistake a back number like you for an up-to-date feller like Rifkin,
Abe?"

"Maybe I am a back number, Mawruss," Abe replied, "but I know a bargain
when I see it. Them fixtures is practically this season's goods already.
Why, H. Rifkin ain't even paid for them yet."

"There ain't no seasons in fixtures, Abe," Morris replied, "and besides,
a feller like Rifkin could have it fixtures for ten years without paying
for 'em. He could get 'em on the installment plan and give back a
chattel mortgage, Abe. You couldn't tell me nothing about fixtures, Abe,
because I know all about it."

"You don't seem to know much about it this morning when I spoke to you,
Mawruss," Abe retorted.

"Sure not," Morris said, "but I learned it a whole lot since. I got to
thinking it over after you left. So I rings up a feller by the name
Flachsman, what is corresponding secretary in the District Grand Lodge
of the Independent Order Mattai Aaron, which I belong it. This here
Flachsman got a fixture business over on West Broadway."

Abe nodded. He lit a fresh cigar to sustain himself against impending
bad news.

"And this here Flachsman comes around here half an hour ago and shows
me pictures from fixtures, Abe; and he got it such elegant fixtures like
a bank or a saloon, which he could put it in for us for two thousand
dollars."

"Two thousand dollars!" Abe cried.

"Well, twenty-two fifty," Morris amended. "Comes to about the same with
cash discount. Flachsman tells me he seen the kind of loft we got and
knows it also the measurements; so I think to myself what's the use
waiting. Abe wants it we should buy the fixtures, and we ain't got no
time to lose. So I signed the contract."

Abe sat down heavily in the nearest chair and pushed his hat back from
his forehead.

"Yes, Mawruss," he said bitterly, "that's the way it goes when a
feller's got a partner what is changeable like Paris fashions. You are
all plain one minute, and the next you are all soutache and buttons.
This morning you wouldn't buy no fixtures, not if you could get 'em for
nix, and a couple hours later you throw it away two thousand dollars in
the streets."

Morris gla