Part 68 (1/2)
She heaved a tremendous sigh.
”Y'orter heard the roar they put up about a tongue sandwich,” she said.
”Ain't it funny, Kitty, how tightwads is always fussy about their feed?”
When Abe returned to his place of business a couple of hours later, he found Morris adding up figures on the back of an envelope.
”Well, Abe,” Morris cried, ”what's new about the house?”
”I'll tell you what's new, Mawruss,” Abe replied. ”Just add four hundred dollars to them figures on that envelope, and you'll find out what that house costs you up to date.”
”What do you mean?”
”Never mind what I mean, Mawruss,” Abe said. ”I'll tell you later what I mean. The thing is now, Mawruss, I got to know one thing and I got to know it quick. Where could I find this here lowlife brother-in-law of yours?”
”Let me see,” said Morris. ”It's already two o'clock, so I guess, Abe, you would be liable to get him in the back room of Wa.s.serbauer's Cafe.
Him and a feller by the name Feinson and that lowlife Rabiner plays there auction pinochle together.”
”But ain't he got no office, Mawruss?” Abe asked.
”Sure, he's got an office,” Morris replied. ”He's got it desk-room with a couple of real estaters on Liberty Street, Abe. Look him up in the telephone book. He's got a phone put in too, Abe, with my money, I bet yer.”
Abe consulted the telephone book and again put on his hat.
”Where are you going now, Abe?” Morris asked.
”I'm going down to Ferdy Rothschild's office,” Abe replied.
”But you wouldn't find him in, Abe,” Morris protested.
”I hope not,” Abe replied; and for the second time that day he left his place of business and boarded a downtown L train.
Ferdy Rothschild's office was tucked away in an obscure corner of a small office building on Liberty Street, and as Abe plodded wearily up three flights of stairs he overtook a short, stout gentleman headed in the same direction.
”A feller what's got his office on the top floor of a back-number building like this,” said the exhausted traveler, ”should keep it airs.h.i.+ps for his customers.”
”I bet yer,” Abe gasped, as they reached the landing together, and then in silence they both walked side by side to the office of Ferdy Rothschild.
Abe opened the door and motioned his companion to enter first, whereat the stranger nodded politely and walked into the office.
”Is Mr. Rothschild in?” he said to the office-boy, who was the sole occupant of the room.
”Mr. Rothschild, now, telephoned,” the boy replied, ”and he says, now, that if a guy comes in by the name of Marks to tell him he should wait.”
”Did he say he would be right in?” Mr. Marks asked.
”No,” the boy answered, ”but he'll be in soon, all right.”
”How do you know that?” Abe asked.