iss_," Meiselson commented, "three people playing auction pinochle
in a small store is a big crowd!"

"No auction pinochle gets played in that store, Meiselson. The feller
has working by him two cutters and three salesmen, and he makes 'em
earn their money. Only yesterday I am in the store, and if you would
believe me, Meiselson, his own landlord he wouldn't talk to at all, so
busy he is."

"In that case, what for should he need me for a partner I couldn't
understand at all," Meiselson declared.

"Neither could I," Shimko replied, "but a feller like you, which he
would soon got two thousand dollars to invest, needs _him_ for a
partner. A feller like Zamp would keep you straight, Meiselson. What
you want is somebody which he is going to make you work."

"What d'ye mean, going to make me work?" Meiselson asked indignantly.
"I am working just as hard as you are, Mr. Shimko. When a feller is
selling toilet soaps and perfumeries, Mr. Shimko, he couldn't see his
trade only at certain hours of the day."

"I ain't kicking you are not working, Meiselson," Shimko said hastily.
"All I am telling you is, what for a job is selling toilet soaps and
perfumery? You got a limited trade there, Meiselson; because when it
comes to toilet soaps, understand me, how many people takes it so
particular? I bet yer with a hundred people, Meiselson, eighty uses
laundry soap, fifteen _ganvers_ soap from hotels and saloons, and
the rest buys wunst in six months a five-cent cake of soap. As for
perfumery, Meiselson, for a dollar bill you could get enough perfumery
to make a thousand people smell like an Italiener barber-shop; whereas
clothing, Meiselson, everybody must got to wear it. If you are coming
to compare clothing with toilet soap for a business, Meiselson, there
ain't no more comparison as gold and putty."

Meiselson remained silent.

"Furthermore," Shimko continued, "if Zamp sees a young feller like you,
which even your worst enemy must got to admit it, Meiselson, you are a
swell dresser, and make a fine, up-to-date appearance, understand me,
he would maybe reconsider his decision not to take a partner."

"Did he say he wouldn't take a partner?" Meiselson asked hopefully.

"He says to me so sure as you are sitting there: 'Mr. Shimko, my dear
friend, if it would be for your sake, I would willingly go as partners
together with some young feller,' he says; 'but when a business man is
making money,' he says, 'why should he got to got