s nodded and Trinkmann walked hurriedly to the store door. He threw
it wide open, after the fashion of the lover in a Palais Royal farce
who expects to find a prying maidservant at the keyhole.

Maikafer stood directly outside, but, far from being embarrassed by
Trinkmann's sudden exit, he remained completely undisturbed and greeted
the restaurateur with calm urbanity.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Trinkmann," he said, "ain't it a fine weather?"

Trinkmann choked in mingled rage and indignation, and before he could
sufficiently compose himself to sort out an enunciable phrase from all
the profanity that surged to his lips Maikafer had brought forward the
man in the fur overcoat.

"This is my friend, Mr. Ringentaub," he said, "also in the restaurant
business."

"I'm pleased to meet your acquaintance," Mr. Ringentaub said. "Before I
got through talking with you on the 'phone this morning some one cut us
off."

At this juncture Trinkmann's pent-up emotion found expression.

"Away from here," he bellowed, after he had uttered a highly coloured
preamble, "away from here, the both of youse, before I call a policeman
and make you arrested!"

"Excuse me, Mr. Trinkmann," Maikafer interrupted, "do you got a lease
on the sidewalk, too?"

"Never mind what I got a lease on," Trinkmann said. "You are coming
around here trying to steal away my waiters and----"

"One moment, Mr. Trinkmann," Max said. "We are not trying to steal away
your waiters at all. Mr. Ringentaub here is a gentleman, even if some
people which is in the restaurant business don't act that way, Mr.
Trinkmann; but as you told me yourself, Mr. Trinkmann, you are firing
Louis and he's going to quit you at three o'clock; and as it is now
five minutes to three----"

"Who is going to quit me at three o'clock?" Trinkmann demanded.

"Louis is," Maikafer said.

"That's where you make a big mistake," Trinkmann cried. "Louis ain't
going to quit me at all. Here, I'll show you."

He led the way into the restaurant.

"Come inside, Mr. Ringentaub," he said excitedly. "No one is going to
harm you. Come right inside, and I'll show you suckers you are
mistaken."

He closed the door after them and almost ran to the kitchen.

"Louis," he said, "come here; I want to talk a few words something to
you."

He grabbed Louis by the arm and led him to the cashier's desk, where
Maikafer and his companion were standing.

"Louis," he said, "tell these gentlemen didn't I told you y