Part 36 (2/2)
”You could do as you like, Zapp,” he said, ”but for me I ain't worrying about things not happening until they don't, Zapp; so, if any one wants me for anything I would be over in Hammersmith's for the next half-hour.”
Ten minutes later he sat at his favourite table in Hammersmith's cafe; and, pending the arrival of an order which included _Kreploch_ soup and some _eingedampftes Kalbflieisch_, he gazed about him at the lunch-hour crowd. Nor was his appet.i.te diminished by the spectacle of H. Dexter Adelstern and Finkman engaged in earnest conversation at an adjoining table, and he could not forbear a triumphant smile as he attacked his plate of soup. He had barely swallowed the first spoonful, however, when Adelstern and Finkman caught sight of him and they immediately rose from their seats and came over to his table.
”Why, how do you do, Mr. Birsky?” Adelstern cried. ”I hear you had a great game of baseball yesterday.”
Birsky nodded almost proudly.
”You hear correct,” he said. ”Our mutual aid society must got to thank you, Mr. Adelstern, for the use of your Bronix lots.”
”Don't mention it,” Adelstern replied; ”in fact, you are welcome to use 'em whenever you want to, Mr. Birsky.”
He winked furtively at Finkman, who forthwith broke into the conversation.
”Might he would buy 'em from you, maybe, Adelstern,” he suggested, ”and add 'em to his other holdings on Ammerman Avenue!”
Birsky felt that he could afford to laugh at this sally of Finkman's, and he did so rather mirthlessly.
”Why don't you buy 'em, Finkman?” he suggested. ”From the way you are talking here the other day to Mr. Eschenbach, you would need 'em for your mutual aid society which you are making a bluff at getting up.”
”I ain't making no bluffs at nothing, Birsky,” Finkman replied, ”because, _Gott sei dank_, I don't got to steal other people's idees to get business.”
”Do you think I am stealing Adelstern's idee of this here mutual aid society, Finkman?” Birsky demanded, abandoning his soup and glaring at his compet.i.tor.
”We don't think nothing, Birsky,” Adelstern said; ”because, whether you stole it _oder_ you didn't stole it, Birsky, you are welcome to it. And if you would send round to my place this afternoon yet I would give you, free for nothing, a lot of bats and b.a.l.l.s and other _Bobkies_ just so good as new, which I ain't got no use for no more.”
”What d'ye mean, you ain't got no use for 'em?” Birsky demanded. He began to feel a sense of uneasiness that made nauseating the idea of _eingedampftes Kalbfleisch_.
”Why, I mean I am giving up my mutual aid society,” Adelstern replied.
”It's taking up too much of my time--especially now, Mr. Birsky, when Eschenbach could hang round my place all he wants to, understand me; he wouldn't give me no peace at all.”
For a brief interval Birsky stared blankly at Adelstern.
”Especially now!” he exclaimed. ”What are you talking about, especially now?”
”Why, ain't you heard?” Adelstern asked in feigned surprise.
”I ain't heard nothing,” Birsky said hoa.r.s.ely.
”Do you mean to told me,” Finkman interrupted, ”that you ain't heard it yet about Eschenbach?”
”I ain't heard nothing about Eschenbach,” Birsky rejoined.
”Then read this,” Finkman said, thrusting a marked copy of the _Daily Cloak and Suit Review_ under Birsky's nose; and ringed in blue pencil was the following item:
CORDOVA, OHIO--Jonas Eschenbach to Retire. Jonas Eschenbach's department store is soon to pa.s.s into new hands, and Mr. Eschenbach will take up his future residence in the city of New York.
Negotiations for the purchase of his business, which have been pending for some time, were closed Sat.u.r.day, and Mr. Eschenbach has been summoned from New York, where he has been staying for the last few days, to conclude the details of the transaction. The purchaser's name has not yet been disclosed.
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