Part 4 (1/2)

”That's a fine note,” Aaron declared to Philip, as they surveyed the black ruins the next morning. ”Now what would I do? Without that medicine I will cough my face off already.”

He examined the label of the bottle and sighed.

”I suppose I could go and see that Doctor Goldenreich,” he said, ”and right away I am out ten dollars.”

”Why don't you ring up Miss Meyerson over at Zaretsky & Fatkin's?”

Philip suggested.

Aaron sighed heavily. His business relations with Greenberg & Sen had proved far from satisfactory, and it was only Philip's job and his own sense of shame that prevented him from resuming his dealings with Zaretsky & Fatkin.

As for Sam and Max, they missed their old customer both financially and socially.

”Yes, Sam,” Max said the day after Blaukopf's fire, ”things ain't the same around here like in former times already.”

”If you mean in the office, Max,” Sam said, ”I'm glad they ain't.

That's a fine bookkeeper we got it, Max, and a fine woman, too. Ain't it a shame and a disgrace for young fellers nowadays, Max, that a fine woman like Miss Meyerson is already thirty-five and should be single?

My Sarah is crazy about her. Her and Sarah goes to a matinee last Sat.u.r.day afternoon together and Sarah asks her to dinner to-morrow.”

Max nodded.

”With some bookkeepers, Sam,” he said, ”you couldn't do such things.

Right away they would take advantage. Miss Meyerson, that's something else again. She takes an interest in our business, Sam. Even a grouch like Aaron Pinsky she treated good.”

”I bet yer,” Sam replied. ”I seen Elenbogen in the subway this morning and he tells me Aaron goes around blowing about paying a thousand dollars to a professor uptown and he gives him a medicine which cures his cough completely. I bet yer that's the same medicine which he got it originally from Miss Meyerson.”

”I bet yer,” Max agreed as the telephone bell rang. Sam hastened to answer it.

”Hallo!” he said. ”Yes, this is Zaretsky & Fatkin. You want to speak to Miss Meyerson? All right. Miss Meyerson! Telephone!”

Miss Meyerson came from her office and took the receiver from Sam.

”h.e.l.lo,” she said. ”Who is this, please?”

The answer made her clap her hand over the transmitter.

”It's Aaron Pinsky,” she said to Max, and both partners sprang to their feet.

”What does he want?” Sam hissed.

Miss Meyerson waved them to silence and resumed her conversation over the 'phone.

”h.e.l.lo, Mr. Pinsky,” she said. ”What can I do for you?”

She listened patiently to Aaron's narrative of the fire in Blaukopf's drug store, and when he had concluded she winked furtively at her employers.

”Mr. Pinsky,” she said, ”won't you repeat that over again? I didn't understand it.”

Once more Aaron explained the details of the prescription book's incineration, and again Miss Meyerson winked.