Thus encouraged, Morris once more took up the work of the firm’s designing, and he labored with the energy of despair, for the season was far spent.  At length he evolved four models that made Abe’s eyes fairly bulge.

“That’s snappy stuff, Mawruss,” he said, as he examined the completed samples one morning.  “I bet yer they sell like hot cakes.”

Abe’s prophecy more than justified itself, and in ten days they were completely swamped with orders.  Abe and Morris went around wearing smiles that only relaxed when they remembered Louis Grossman and his hide-bound agreement, under which he drew five per cent. of the firm’s profits and sixty dollars a week.

“Anyhow, Mawruss, we’ll get some return from Louis Grossman,” Abe said.  “I advertised in the Daily Cloak and Suit Record yesterday them four styles of yours as the four best sellers of the season, originated by the creator of the Arverne Sacque.  Ike Herzog was in the first thing this morning and bought two big lots of each one of the models.  Ike’s a great admirer of Louis Grossman, Mawruss.  I bet yer when Sammet Brothers saw that ad they went crazy; ain’t it?”

“But,” Morris protested, “why should Louis Grossman get the credit for my work?”

“Because, Mawruss, you know them Arverne Sacques is the best sellers put out in the cloak and suit business this year,” Abe replied.  “And besides, Mawruss, we may be suckers, but that ain’t no reason why Sammet Brothers should know it.”

“Don’t worry, Abe,” said Morris; “they know they stuck us good and plenty when they released Louis Grossman.”

“Do they?” Abe rejoined.  “Well, they don’t know it unless you told ’em.  Louis Grossman won’t tell ’em and I didn’t tell ’em when I met Leon and Barney at lunch to-day.”

“What did you tell ’em!” Morris asked, somewhat alarmed.

“I told ’em, Mawruss, that the season is comparatively young yet, but we already made from ten to twenty per cent. more sales by our new designer.  I told Leon them new styles what Louis Grossman got up for us is selling so big we can’t put ’em out fast enough.”

“And what did Leon say?” Morris asked.

“He didn’t say nothing,” Abe replied, “but he looked like his best customer had busted up on him.  Then I showed him the order what we got from Ike Herzog, and he started in right away to call Barney down for going home early the day before.  I tell you, Mawruss, he was all broke up.”

“I know, Abe,” Morris commented, “that’s all right, too, but, all the same, we ain’t got much of a laugh on them two boys, so long as Louis Grossman loafs away upstairs drawing sixty dollars a week and five per cent. of the profits.”

“Well,” Abe replied, “what are you going to do about it?  Henry D. Feldman drew up the contract, and you know, Mawruss, contracts what Henry D. Feldman makes nobody can break.”

“Can’t they?” Morris cried.  “Well, if Henry D. Feldman made it can’t Henry D. Feldman break it?  What good is the lawyer, anyhow, what can’t get us out of the contract what he fixed up himself?”