B. Rashkin nodded calmly and Abe pondered for a moment.

“Well, Rashkin,” Abe said, “I am willing I should spend some money, y’understand, and so I would make you this offer:  Would you give me an option on the house at forty-eight thousand for two weeks, supposing I paid you, we will say, two hundred dollars?”

Rashkin shook his head.

“We will say then two hundred and fifty dollars,” Abe said; but Rashkin declined.

Immediately they commenced to bargain vigorously, and at intervals of five minutes each modified his price for the option, until half an hour had expired, when they met at four hundred dollars.

“All right,” B. Rashkin cried, “let us go and see Milton M. Sugarman and draw up the option.”

“I am agreeable,” Abe said; “any lawyer could draw it up, so far as I am concerned.”

They rose from the table without leaving the customary nickel for the waitress and, as they passed out of the door, she glared after them and indignantly adjusted her pompadour with both hands.

“Pipe them two high-livers,” she hissed to the waitress at the next table.  “I knew them guys was going to pass me up as soon as I laid me eyes on ’em.”

She heaved a tremendous sigh.

“Y’orter heard the roar they put up about a tongue sandwich,” she said.  “Ain’t it funny, Kitty, how tightwads is always fussy about their feed?”

When Abe returned to his place of business a couple of hours later, he found Morris adding up figures on the back of an envelope.

“Well, Abe,” Morris cried, “what’s new about the house?”

“I’ll tell you what’s new, Mawruss,” Abe replied.  “Just add four hundred dollars to them figures on that envelope, and you’ll find out what that house costs you up to date.”

“What do you mean?”

“Never mind what I mean, Mawruss,” Abe said.  “I’ll tell you later what I mean.  The thing is now, Mawruss, I got to know one thing and I got to know it quick.  Where could I find this here lowlife brother-in-law of yours?”

“Let me see,” said Morris.  “It’s already two o’clock, so I guess, Abe, you would be liable to get him in the back room of Wasserbauer’s Cafe.  Him and a feller by the name Feinson and that lowlife Rabiner plays there auction pinochle together.”

“But ain’t he got no office, Mawruss?” Abe asked.

“Sure, he’s got an office,” Morris replied.  “He’s got it desk-room with a couple of real estaters on Liberty Street, Abe.  Look him up in the telephone book.  He’s got a phone put in too, Abe, with my money, I bet yer.”

Abe consulted the telephone book and again put on his hat.

“Where are you going now, Abe?” Morris asked.

“I’m going down to Ferdy Rothschild’s office,” Abe replied.

“But you wouldn’t find him in, Abe,” Morris protested.

“I hope not,” Abe replied; and for the second time that day he left his place of business and boarded a downtown L train.