cried. He seized Feigenbaum by the arm and propelled
him over to the sample line of skirts, behind which Morris cowered.

"Look at them goods," Abe said. "One or two of them styles would
be leaders for H. Rifkin. For us, all them different styles is our
ordinary line."

In turn, he displayed the rest of the firm's line and exercised his
faculties of persuasion, argument and flattery to such good purpose that
in less than an hour Feigenbaum had bought three thousand dollars' worth
of garments, deliveries to be made within ten days.

"And now, Mr. Feigenbaum," Abe said, "I want you to look around our
place. Mawruss is in the office, and he would be delighted, I know, to
see you."

He conducted his rediscovered customer to the office, where Morris was
seated at the roll-top mahogany desk.

"Ah, Mr. Feigenbaum," Morris cried, effusively seizing the newcomer by
both hands, "ain't it a pleasure to see you again! Take a seat."

He thrust Feigenbaum into the revolving chair that he had just vacated,
and took the box of gilt-edge customers' cigars out of the safe.

"Throw away that butt and take a fresh cigar," he exclaimed, handing
Feigenbaum a satiny Invincible with the broad band of the best Havana
maker on it. Feigenbaum received it with a smile, for he was now
completely thawed out.

"You got a fine place here, Mawruss," he said. "Fixtures and everything
A Number One, just like Rifkin's."

"Better as Rifkin's," Morris declared.

"Well, maybe it is better in quality," Feigenbaum admitted; "but, I
mean, in arrangement and color it is just the same. Why, when I come in
here with Abe, an hour ago, I assure you I thought I was in Rifkin's old
place. In fact, I could almost swear this desk is the same desk what
Rifkin had it."

He rose to his feet and passed his hand over the top of the desk with
the touch of a connoisseur.

"No," he said at last. "It ain't the same as Rifkin's. Rifkin's desk was
a fine piece of Costa Rica mahogany without a flaw. I used to be in the
furniture business oncet, you know, Mawruss, and so I can tell."

Abe flashed a triumphant grin on Morris, who frowned in reply.

"But ain't this here desk that--now--what-yer-call-it mahogany, too, Mr.
Feigenbaum?" Morris asked.

"Well, it's Costa Rica mahogany, all right," Feigenbaum said, "but it's
got a flaw into it."

"A flaw?" Morris and Abe exclaimed with one voice.

[Illustration: LOOK AT THEM GOODS.]

"Sure," Mr. Feigenbaum continued.