"
Abe laid down the paper with a sigh of relief.
"If that don't make us solid with Philip Hahn, Mawruss," he said,
"nothing will."
Miss Kreitmann left at the end of the week, and Abe and Morris wasted no
time in vain regrets over her departure, but proceeded at once to assort
and make up a new line of samples for Philip Hahn's inspection. For
three days they jumped every time a customer entered the store, and Abe
wore a genial smile of such fixity that his face fairly ached.
At length, on the Thursday following Miss Kreitmann's resignation,
while Abe was flicking an imaginary grain of dust from the spotless
array of samples, the store door burst open and a short, stout person
entered. Abe looked up and, emitting an exclamation, rushed forward with
both arms extended in hearty greeting.
"_Mis_ter Hahn," he cried, "how _do_ you do?"
The newcomer drew himself up haughtily, and his small mustache seemed to
shed sparks of indignation.
Abe stopped short in hurt astonishment.
"Is th-there a-anything the matter?" he faltered.
"Is there anything the matter!" Mr. Hahn roared. "Is there anything the
matter! That's a fine question for _you_ to ask."
"W-w-why?" Abe stuttered. "Ain't everything all right?"
Mr. Hahn, with an effort that bulged every vein in his bald forehead,
subsided into comparative calm.
"Mr. Potash," he said, "I bought from you six bills of goods in the last
few months. Ain't it?"
Abe nodded.
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