."

* * * * *

Insomnia bears the same relation to the calling of real-estate operators
that fossyjaw does to the worker in the match industry; and, during the
twenty days that preceded the closing of his contract with Elkan,
Barnett Glaubmann spent many a sleepless night in contemplation of
disputed brokerage claims by Kamin, Stout and Ortelsburg. Moreover, the
knowledge that Henry D. Feldman represented the purchaser was an
influence far from sedative; and what little sleep Glaubmann secured was
filled with nightmares of fence encroachments, defects in the legal
proceedings for opening of Linden Boulevard as a public highway, and a
score of other technical objections that Feldman might raise to free
Elkan from his contract.

Not once, however, did Glaubmann consider the tenancy of Max Kovner as
any objection to title. Indeed, he was so certain of Kovner's
willingness to move out that he even pondered the advisability of
gouging Max for twenty-five or fifty dollars as a consideration for
accepting a surrender of the verbal lease; and to that end he avoided
the Linden Boulevard house until the morning before the date set for the
closing of the title.

Then, having observed Max board the eight-five train for Brooklyn
Bridge, he sauntered off to interview Mrs. Kovner; and as he turned the
corner of Linden Boulevard he sketched out a plan of action that had for
its foundation the complete intimidation of Mrs. Kovner. This being
secured, he would proceed to suggest the payment of fifty dollars as the
alternative of strong measures against Max Kovner for allowing the
Linden Boulevard premises to fall into such bad repair; and he was so
full of his idea that he had begun to ascend the front stoop of the
Kovner house before he noticed the odour of fresh paint.

Never in the history of the Kovner house had the electric bell been in
working order. Hence Glaubmann knocked with his naked fist and left the
imprint of his four knuckles on the wet varnish just as Mrs. Kovner
flung wide the door. It was at this instant that Glaubmann's well-laid
plans were swept away.

"Now see what you done, you dirty slob you!" she bellowed. "What's the
matter with you? Couldn't you ring the bell?"

"Why, Mrs. Kovner," Glaubmann stammered, "the bell don't ring at all.
Ain't it?"

"The bell don't ring?" Mrs. Kovner exclaimed. "Who says it don't?"

She pressed the button with her finger and a shrill response came from