“Fraudulent Bankruptcy in Galveston,” it read.  “A petition in bankruptcy was filed yesterday against Siegmund Lowenstein, doing business as the O’Gorman-Henderson Dry-Goods Company, in Galveston, Texas.  When the Federal receiver took charge of the bankrupt’s premises they were apparently swept clean of stock and fixtures.  It is understood that Lowenstein has fled to Matamoros, Mexico, where his wife preceded him some two weeks ago.  The liabilities are estimated at fifty thousand dollars, and the only asset is the store building, which is valued at ten thousand dollars and is subject to mortgages aggregating about the same amount.  The majority of the creditors are in New York City and Boston.”

Morris returned the paper to his partner without comment.

“You see, Mawruss,” said Abe, as he lit a fresh cheroot.  “Sometimes it pays to be sick.  Ain’t it?”

CHAPTER IV

“Never no more, Mawruss,” said Abe Potash to his partner as they sat in the show-room of their spacious cloak and suit establishment one week after Abe’s return from Pittsburgh.  “Never no more, Mawruss, because it ain’t good policy.  This is strictly a wholesale business, and if once we sell a friend one garment that friend brings a friend, and that friend brings also a friend, and the first thing you know, Mawruss, we are doing a big retail business at a net loss of fifty cents a garment.”

“But this ain’t a friend, Abe,” Morris protested.  “It’s my wife’s servant-girl.  She seen one of them samples, style forty-twenty-two, them plum-color Empires what I took it home to show M. Garfunkel on my way down yesterday, and now she’s crazy to have one.  If she don’t get one my Minnie is afraid she’ll leave.”

“All right,” Abe said, “let her leave.  If my Rosie can cook herself and wash herself, Mawruss, I guess it won’t hurt your Minnie.  Let her try doing her own work for a while, Mawruss.  I guess it’ll do her good.”

“But, anyhow, Abe, I told the girl to come down this morning and I’d give her one for two dollars, and I guess she’ll be here most any time now.”

“Well, Mawruss,” said Abe, “this once is all right, but never no more.  We ain’t doing a cloak and suit business for the servant-girl trade.”

Further discussion was prevented by the entrance of the retail customer herself.  Morris jumped quickly to his feet and conducted her to the rear of the store, while Abe silently sought refuge in the cutting-room upstairs.

“What size do you think you wear, Lina?” Morris asked.

“Big,” Lina replied.  “Fat.”

“Yes, I know,” Morris said, “but what size?”

“Very fat,” Lina replied.  She was a Lithuanian and her generous figure had never known the refining influence of a corset until she had landed at Ellis Island two years before.

“That’s the biggest I got, Lina,” Morris said, producing the largest-size garment in stock.  “Maybe if you try it on over your dress you’ll get some idea of whether it’s big enough.”