We are shut up here like we would be sitting in prison--ain't it?"

"You ain't got no kick coming," Redman said. "A young feller only going
on eighteen, understand me, is getting ten dollars a week and he kicks
yet. Sitting in prison, _sagt er_! Maybe you would like the concern they
should be putting in moving pictures here or a phonygraft!"

Elkan sighed heavily by way of reply and for a quarter of an hour longer
he worked in quietness, until Redman grew worried at his assistant's
unusual taciturnity.

"What's the trouble you ain't talking, Lubliner?" he said. "Don't you
feel so good?"

Elkan looked up. He was about to say that he felt all right when
suddenly he received the germ of an inspiration, and in the few seconds
that he hesitated it blossomed into a well-defined plan of action. He
therefore emitted a faint groan and laid down his shears.

"I got a _krank_ right here," he said, placing his hand on his left
side. "Ever since last week I got it."

"Well, why don't you say something about it before?" Redman cried
anxiously; for be it remembered that Elkan Lubliner was not only the
cousin of Marcus Polatkin but the adopted nephew of Philip Scheikowitz
as well. "You shouldn't let such things go."

"The fact is," Elkan replied, "I didn't want to say nothing about it to
Mr. Polatkin on account he's got enough to worry him with this here
Appenweier & Murray's account; and----"

"You got that account on the brain," Redman interrupted. "If you don't
feel so good you should go home. Leave me fix it for you."

As he spoke he hastily buttoned on his collar and left the cutting room,
while Elkan could not forego a delighted grin. After all, he reflected,
he had worked steadily for over a year and a half with only such
holidays as the orthodox ritual ordained; and he was so busy making
plans for his first afternoon of freedom that he nearly forgot to groan
again when Redman came back with Marcus Polatkin at his heels.

"_Nu_, Elkan!" Marcus said. "What's the matter? Don't you feel good?"

"I got a _krank_ right here," Elkan replied, placing his hand on his
right side. "I got it now pretty near a week already."

"Well, maybe you should sit down for the rest of the afternoon and file
away the old cutting slips," Marcus said, whereat Elkan moaned and
closed his eyes.

"I filed 'em away last week already," he murmured. "I think maybe if I
would lay in bed the rest of the afternoon I would be all right
to-morrow."