ock is all right, too, Mr. Gembitz," he commented, "but
you got your family to consider."

"You shouldn't worry about my family, Henry," Gembitz retorted. "I am
carrying good insurance; and, furthermore, I got my business in such
shape that it would go on just the same supposing I should die
to-morrow."

"_Gott soll hueten_, Mr. Gembitz," Henry added piously as the old man
disposed of a dishful of gravy through the capillary attraction of a
hunk of spongy rye bread.

"Yes, Henry," Gembitz continued, after he had licked his fingers and
submitted his bicuspids to a process of vacuum cleaning, "I got my
business down to such a fine point which you could really say was
systematic."

"That's a good thing, Mr. Gembitz," Henry said, "because, presuming for
the sake of argument, I am only saying you would be called away, Mr.
Gembitz, them boys of yours would run it into the ground in no time."

"What d'ye mean, run it into the ground?" Gembitz demanded indignantly.
"If you would got the gumption which my boys got it, Schrimm, you
wouldn't be doing a business which the most you are making is a couple
thousand a year."

"Sure, I know," Henry replied. "If I would got Lester's gumption I
would be sitting around the Harlem Winter Garden till all hours of the
morning; and if I would got Sidney's gumption I would be playing Kelly
pool from two to four every afternoon. And as for Max, Mr. Gembitz, if
I would got his gumption I would make a present of it to my worst
enemy. A boy which he is going on forty and couldn't do nothing without
asking his popper's permission first, Mr. Gembitz, he could better do
general house-work for a living as sell goods."

Gembitz rose from his table and struggled into his overcoat speechless
with indignation. It was not until he had buttoned the very last button
that he was able to enunciate.

"Listen here to me, Schrimm!" he said. "If Lester goes once in a while
on a restaurant in the evening, that's his business; and, anyhow, so
far what I could see, Schrimm, it don't interfere none with his
designing garments which you are stealing on us just as soon as we get
'em on the market. Furthermore, Schrimm, if Sidney plays Kelly pool
every afternoon, you could bet your life he also sells him a big bill
of goods, also. You got to entertain a customer oncet in a while if you
want to sell him goods, Schrimm; and, anyhow, Schrimm, if it would be
you would be trying to sell goods to this here Kelly, you