Part 42 (2/2)
”Blooma Duckman!” Belz exclaimed. ”What's the trouble; is she sick?”
Schindelberger shook his head.
”Worser as that,” he explained. ”She disappeared from the Bella Hirshkind Home a week ago already and n.o.body sees nothing from her since.”
For a brief interval Belz stared at his visitor and then he turned to Lesengeld.
”Ain't that a fine note?” he said.
”All we are discovering is a couple packages she got with her, which the superintendent sends her over to West Farms she should buy some groceries, and on her way back she drops the packages and disappears.”
”Might she fell down a rock maybe?” Lesengeld suggested. ”The other day I am seeing a fillum where a feller falls down a rock already and they search for him a hundred people yet. They get near him as I am to you, Schindelberger, and still they couldn't find him anyhow on account the feller is too weak to say something.”
”How could she fall down a rock?” Schindelberger interrupted. ”It's all swamps up there. But, anyhow, Belz, we are wasting time here talking about it. The best thing is you should ring up the police.”
”What d'ye mean, wasting time?” Belz cried. ”You're a fine one to talk about wasting time. Here the woman disappears a week ago already and you are only just telling me now.”
Schindelberger blushed.
”Well, you see,” he said, ”we all the time got hopes she would come back.” In point of fact he had purposely delayed breaking the news to Belz in order that the settlement of Rudnik's mortgage extension should not be prejudiced. ”But now,” he added ingenuously, ”it don't make no difference, because Rudnik telephones me yesterday morning that the whole thing is off on account he is married.”
”Married!” Lesengeld cried. ”Do you mean to told me that old _Schlemiel_ gets married yet?”
”So sure as you are sitting there. And he says he would come round here this morning and see you.”
”He should save himself the trouble,” Belz declared angrily. ”Now particularly that Blooma Duckman ain't up there at all, I wouldn't extend that mortgage, not if he gives a deed to that Home to take effect right to-day yet. I shouldn't begun with you in the first place, Schindelberger.”
Schindelberger seized his hat.
”I acted for the best,” he said. ”I am sorry you should get delayed on your mortgage, gentlemen, _aber_ you shouldn't hold it up against me. I done it for the sake of the Bella Hirshkind Home, which if people gets sore at me on account I always act charitable, that's their lookout, not mine.”
He started for the door as he finished speaking, but as he placed his hand on the k.n.o.b some one turned it from the other side and the next moment he stood face to face with Rudnik.
”So!” Schindelberger exclaimed. ”You are really coming up here, are you? It ain't a bluff, like you are taking my card to go up to the Home and you never went near the place at all.”
Rudnik shut the door behind him.
”What d'ye mean, I didn't go near the place at all?” he said angrily.
”Do you think I am such a liar like you are, Schindelberger? Not only did I go near the place, but I got so near it that a hundred feet more and the engine would knocked me into the front door of the Home already.”
It was then that Lesengeld and Belz observed the stout cane on which Rudnik supported himself.
”I come pretty close to being killed already on account I am going up to the Home,” he continued; ”and if n.o.body is asking me to sit down I would sit down anyway, because if a feller gets run over by a train he naturally don't feel so strong, even if he would escape with bruises only.”
”Did you got run over with a train?” Schindelberger asked.
”I certainly did,” Rudnik said. ”I got run over with a train and married in six days, and if you go to work and foreclose my house on me to-day yet, it will sure make a busy week for me.” He looked pathetically at Belz. ”Unless,” he added, ”you are going to give me a show and extend the mortgage.”
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