against the curb and the driver and his helper unloaded two large
signs.

"Trinkmann," Mrs. Trinkmann called, "some one rents the store acrosst
the street."

Trinkmann hastened to the door and glanced nervously toward the two
signs. Beads of perspiration sprang out on his forehead as he discerned
the lettering on one of the signboards, which read as follows:

FELIX RINGENTAUB

He uttered a faint groan and was about to communicate to Mrs. Trinkmann
the melancholy tidings that a rival establishment had come into being,
when the driver and his helper turned over the second sign. It
contained the words:

TAILORS' AND DRESSMAKERS' TRIMMINGS

Hardly had Trinkmann recovered from his astonishment when Felix
Ringentaub himself came hurriedly down the street, accompanied by Max
Maikafer. A moment later they entered the restaurant.

"Why, how do you do, Mrs. Trinkmann?" Max cried, "How's the twins?"

"Getting on fine," Mrs. Trinkmann said.

"Shake hands with my friend, Mr. Ringentaub," Max continued, as he
looked meaningly at Trinkmann. "Mr. Ringentaub, up to a couple of weeks
since, used to was in the restaurant business in Brownsville. He goes
now into the tailors' and dressmakers' trimmings business instead."

Trinkmann maintained a discreet silence and led them to one of Louis'
tables. There he sat down with them, for he was determined to get at
the heart of the mystery.

"Mr. Maikafer----" he began, but Max held up his hand protestingly.

"Ask me no questions, Trinkmann," he said, "and I wouldn't tell you no
lies. But one thing I will say, Trinkmann, and that is that Louis
didn't know nothing about it. We conned you into keeping him and
raising his wages. That's all. Am I right or wrong, Ringentaub?"

Ringentaub made no reply. He was holding a fork in his hand and
examining it critically.

"Of course, Trinkmann," he said, "I don't want to say nothing the first
time I am coming into your place, but this here fork's got onto it
something which it looks like a piece Bismarck herring."

"Don't take it so particular, Ringentaub," Maikafer said, blushing
guiltily. "Wash it off in the glass water."

"A glass water you drink, Maikafer," Ringentaub rejoined, "and forks
should be washed in the kitchen. And, furthermore, Trinkmann,"
Ringentaub said, "it don't do no harm if the waiters once in a while
cleans with polishing powder the forks."

"I thought, Maikafer," Trinkmann said in funereal tones, "you are