He sighed heavily and perused the letter, which read as
follows:

CHICAGO, ILL., SEP. '08.

MESS POTASH & PERLMUTTER

_Gents_:--Arrived here this A M and things look very
promising. Am informed by everybody that business is good on the
coast and prospects of big orders also very promising. Sales have
been slow here on a/c weather is very hot. Miss Schimpfer asst
buyer millinary dept Mandleberger Bros & Co says things look very
promising and expects to do a big fall business. Was two hours
late getting in to Chicago on a/c freight wreck and missed seeing
Kuhner his sister's daughter gets married and Kuhner goes to the
wedding. Will see Kuhner to morrow A M and let you know
results. Have appointment with Chester Prosnauer to morrow A
M and things look very promising there. Will write you to
morrow. Regards to Mr. Perlmutter. Hoping things is all right in
the store, I am,
MARKS PASINSKY.

Abe finished reading the letter and handed it in silence to Morris, who
examined it closely.

"That's a very promising letter, Abe," he said. "I'd like to know what
that feller done all day in Chicago. I bet yer that assistant millinery
buyer eats a good lunch on us, Abe, if she didn't also see it a theayter
on us, too. What does he think he's selling, anyway, Abe, millinery or
cloaks?"

"Give the feller a show, Mawruss," Abe replied. "He ain't been in
Chicago forty-eight hours yet. We'll wait till we get it another letter
from him, Mawruss, before we start to kick."

Another day elapsed, but no further epistle came from Marks Pasinsky,
and when the last mail arrived without any word from Chicago Morris grew
worried.

"Not even a weather report, Abe," he said. "If he couldn't sell no
goods, Abe, at least he could write us a letter."

"Maybe he's too busy, Mawruss," Abe suggested.

"Busy taking assistant millinery buyers to lunch, Abe," Morris replied.
"The way that feller acts, Abe, he ain't no stranger to auction
pinochle, neither, I bet yer."

Abe put on his hat and coat preparatory to going home.

"What's the use knocking him yet a while, Mawruss?" he said. "A
different tune you will sing it when we get a couple of orders from him
to-morrow morning."

But the next forenoon's mail was barren of result, and when Abe went out
to lunch that day he had little appetite