ammet.

"Yes, Mr. Lapin," Elkan said, "them models was all designed by our own
designer and some one _ganvered_ 'em on us. Furthermore, I could bring
you here to-morrow morning at eight o'clock from our sample racks these
same identical models, with the prices on 'em marked plain like the
figures on a ten-dollar bill, understand me; and if they ain't from
twenty to thirty per cent. lower as you paid for these here garments I'd
eat 'em!"

For at least ten minutes Max Lapin sat with knitted brows and pondered
Elkan's words.

"Eight o'clock is too early," he announced at last. "Make it half-past
nine."

"Six, even, ain't too early for an up-to-date buyer to look at some
genuine bargains," Elkan insisted; "and, besides, I must got to get back
to the shop at nine."

"But----" Lapin began.

"But nothing, Mr. Lapin," Elkan said, rising to his feet. "Make it eight
o'clock, and the next time I would come round at half-past nine."

"What d'ye mean the next time?" Lapin exclaimed.

"I mean this wouldn't be the last time we do business together, because
the job as assistant cutter which I got it is just temporary, Mr.
Lapin," he said as he started for the door--"just temporary--that's
all."

He paused with his hand on the doorknob.

"See you at eight o'clock to-morrow morning," he said cheerfully; and
five minutes later he was having hard work to keep from dancing his way
down Thirty-third Street to the subway.

* * * * *

From half-past seven in the morning until six at night were the working
hours of all Polatkin & Scheikowitz's employees, save only Sam
Markulies, the shipping clerk, whose duty it was to unlock the shop at
quarter-past seven sharp. This hour had been fixed by Philip Scheikowitz
himself, who, on an average of once a month, would stroll into the
shipping department at closing-time and announce his intention of going
to a wedding that evening. Sometimes the proposed excursion was a
pinocle party or a visit to the theatre, but the denouement was always
the same. The next morning Scheikowitz would arrive at the factory door
precisely at quarter-past seven to find Markulies from five to ten
minutes late; whereupon Markulies would receive his discharge, to take
effect the following Saturday night--and for the ensuing month his
punctuality was assured.

During the quarter of an hour which preceded the arrival of the other
employees, Markulies usually dusted the office and showroom