The Competitive Nephew Part 8

"What d'ye mean, where do _you_ come in?" Zamp asked.

"Why the idee is mine you should get in a couple salesmen and cutters,"

s.h.i.+mko began, "and----"

"What d'ye mean, the _idee_ is yours?" Zamp rejoined. "Ain't I got a right to hire a couple salesmen and cutters if I want to?"

"Yes, but you never would have done so if I ain't told it you," s.h.i.+mko said. "I ought to get a rake-off here."

"You should get a rake-off because my business is increasing so I got to hire a couple salesmen and cutters!" Zamp exclaimed. "What an idee!"

s.h.i.+mko paused. After all, he reflected, why should he quarrel with Zamp? At two o'clock, when he expected to return with Meiselson, if the copartners.h.i.+p were consummated, he would collect 10 per cent. of the copartners.h.i.+p funds as the regular commission. Moreover, he had decided to refuse to consent to the transfer of the store lease from Zamp individually to the copartners.h.i.+p of Zamp & Meiselson, save at an increase in rental of ten dollars a month.

"Very well, Zamp," he said. "Maybe the idee ain't mine; but just the same, I would be back here at two o'clock, and Meiselson comes along."

With this ultimatum s.h.i.+mko started off for Wa.s.serbauer's Cafe, and at ten minutes to two he accompanied Meiselson down to Ca.n.a.l Street.

"Yes, Meiselson," s.h.i.+mko began, as they approached Zamp's store.

"There's a feller which he ain't got no more sense as you have, and yet he is doing a big business anyhow."

"What d'ye mean, no more sense as I got it?" Meiselson demanded.

"Always up to now I got sense enough to make a living, and I ain't killed myself doing it, neither!"

For the remainder of their journey to Zamp's store s.h.i.+mko sulked in silence; but when at length they reached their destination he exclaimed aloud:

"Did you ever see the like?" he cried. "The place is actually full up with customers!"

Zamp's prediction had more than justified itself. When s.h.i.+mko and Meiselson entered, he looked up absently as he handled the rolls of piece goods which he had purchased, for cash, only one hour previously.

Moreover, his pockets overflowed with money, for every customer had paid a deposit of at least 25 per cent.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Zamp," s.h.i.+mko cried. "This is Mr. Meiselson, the gentleman which I am speaking to you about. He wants to go as partners together with you."

Zamp ran his hand through his dishevelled hair. He was more than confused by his sudden accession of trade.

"You got to excuse me, Mr. s.h.i.+mko," he said, "I am very, very busy just now."

s.h.i.+mko winked furtively at Zamp.

"Sure, I know," he said, "but when could we see you later to-day?"

"You _couldn't_ see me later to-day," Zamp replied. "I am going to work to-night getting out orders."

"_Naturlich_," s.h.i.+mko rejoined, "but couldn't you take a cup coffee with us a little later?"

Zamp jumped nervously as the door opened to admit another customer. The two clerks, supplemented by a third salesman, who had been hired by telephone, were extolling the virtues of Zamp's wares in stentorian tones, and the atmosphere of the little store was fairly suffocating.

"I couldn't think of it," Zamp answered, and turned to the newly arrived customer. "Well, sir," he cried, "what could I do for _you_?"

"Say, lookyhere, Zamp," s.h.i.+mko exploded angrily, "what is the matter with you? I am bringing you here a feller which he wants to go as partners together with you, and----"

At this juncture Meiselson raised his right hand like a traffic policeman at a busy crossing.

"One moment, Mr. s.h.i.+mko," he interrupted. "You are saying that I am the feller which wants to go as partners together with Mr. Zamp?"

"Sure!" s.h.i.+mko said.

"Well, all I got to say is this," Meiselson replied. "I ain't no horse.

Some people which they got a couple thousand dollars to invest would like it they should go into a business like this, and kill themselves to death, Mr. s.h.i.+mko, but _me_ not!"

He opened the store door and started for the street.

"But, lookyhere, Meiselson!" s.h.i.+mko cried in anguished tones.

"_Koosh_, Mr. s.h.i.+mko!" Meiselson said. "I am in the soap and perfumery business, Mr. s.h.i.+mko, and I would stay in it, too!"

Six months later Harry Zamp sat in Dachtel's Coffee House on Ca.n.a.l Street, and smoked a post-prandial cigar. A diamond pin sparkled in his neck-tie, and his well-cut clothing testified to his complete solvency.

Indeed, a replica of the coat and vest hung in the window of his enlarged business premises on Ca.n.a.l Street, labelled "The Latest from the London Pickadillies," and he had sold, strictly for cash, more than a dozen of the same style during the last twenty-four hours. For the rush of trade which began on the day when he hired the "property"

salesmen and cutters had not only continued but had actually increased; and it was therefore with the most pleasurable sensations that he recognized, at the next table, Isaac Meiselson, the unconscious cause of all his prosperity.

"Excuse me," he began, "ain't your name Meiselson?"

"My name is Mr. Meiselson," Isaac admitted. "This is Mr. Zamp, ain't it?"

Zamp nodded.

"You look pretty well, considering the way you are working in that clothing business of yours," Meiselson remarked.

"Hard work never hurted me none," Zamp answered. "Are you still in the soap and perfumery business, Mr. Meiselson?"

Meiselson shook his head.

"No," he said, "I went out of the soap business when I got married last month."

"Is that so?" Zamp commented. "And did you go into another business?"

"Not yet," Meiselson replied, and then he smiled. "The fact is," he added in a burst of confidence, "my wife is a dressmaker."

CHAPTER THREE

THE SORROWS OF SEIDEN

"Say, lookyhere!" said Isaac Seiden, proprietor of the Sanspareil Waist Company, as he stood in the office of his factory on Greene Street; "what is the use your telling me it is when it ain't? My wife's mother never got a brother by the name Pesach."