Part 21 (1/2)
”I don't know what you are talking about at all,” he said.
”No?” Sam retorted slyly. ”Well, I'll describe it to you, Henry. It's what you would call a princess dress in tailor-made effects. The waist's got lapels of the same goods, with a little braid on to it, two plaits in the middle and one on each shoulder; yoke and collar of silk net; and----”
”You mean my style number 2018?” Henry asked.
”I don't mean nothing, Henry,” Sam declared, ”because you shouldn't throw me no bluffs, Henry. I seen one of them garments in your cutting room only yesterday, Henry, which, if it wasn't made up in my old factory, I would eat it, Henry--and Doctor Eichendorfer says I got to be careful with my diet at that.”
Henry shrugged.
”Well,” he began, ”there ain't no harm if----”
”Sure, there ain't no harm, Henry,” Sam said, ”because them garments is going like hot cakes. A big concern like Falkstatter, Fein & Company takes over three thousand dollars' worth from the boys for their stores in Sarahcuse, Rochester, and Buffalo.”
”Falkstatter, Fein & Company!” Henry cried. ”Does them boys of yours sell Falkstatter, Fein & Company?”
”Sure,” Sam answered. ”Why not?”
”Why not?” Henry repeated. ”Ain't you heard?”
”I ain't heard nothing,” Sam replied; ”but I know that concern for twenty years since already, Henry, and they always pay prompt to the day.”
”Sure, I know,” Henry said; ”but only this morning I seen Sol Klinger in the subway and Sol tells me Simon Falkstatter committed suicide last night.”
”Committed suicide!” Sam gasped. ”What for?”
”I don't know what for,” Henry replied; ”but n.o.body commits suicide for pleasure, Mr. Gembitz, and if a man is in business, like Falkstatter, when Marshall Field's was new beginners already, Mr. Gembitz, and he sees he is got to bust up, Mr. Gembitz, what should he do?”
Sam rose to his feet and seized his hat and cane.
”Going home so soon, Mr. Gembitz?” Henry asked.
”No, I ain't going home, Henry,” Sam replied. ”I'm going over to see my boys. I guess they need me.”
He started for the door, but as he reached it he paused.
”By the way, Henry,” he said, ”on my way down I stopped in to see that new concern there on Fifth Avenue--Weldon, Jones & Company--and you should send 'em up also a couple of them princess dresses in brown and smoke. I'll see you to-morrow.”
”Do you think you could get down again to-morrow?” Henry asked.
”I don't know, Henry; but if lies could get me here I guess I could,”
Sam replied. ”Because, the way my children fixes me lately, I am beginning to be such a liar that you could really say I am an expert.”
Ten minutes later Sam Gembitz walked into the elevator of his late place of business and smiled affably at the elevator boy, who returned his greeting with a perfunctory nod.
”Well, what's new around here, Louis?” Sam asked.
”I dunno, Mr. Gembitz,” the elevator boy said. ”I am only just coming back from my lunch.”
”I mean what happens since I am going away, Louis?” Sam continued.