Part 17 (1/2)

Throughout the moving scenes of that entire afternoon Leon had acted the part of disinterested onlooker to the point of lethargy, but now he fairly glared at Uncle Mosha.

”I don't got to stay here to be called names,” he said.

”My trouble's what you got to stay here for,” Uncle Mosha retorted.

”Yes, boys; what d'ye think for a highwayman like that Aaron Kronberg?”

Aaron blushed a fiery red.

”Come on, Leon,” he said. ”Let's get out of this.”

”Hold on!” Max Gershon shouted. ”Don't you do nothing of the kind, Sammet. Me and Mr. Mosha Kronberg we own this here house together, and he made a contract with you to sell you this here house which I stand by. Do you want to take it _oder_ not? Because if not, we would keep your seven hundred and fifty dollars.”

Leon Sammet emitted a huge guffaw.

”That worries me a whole lot,” he replied. ”As Aaron just told you, the seven hundred and fifty belongs to him.”

”Very true,” Feldman interrupted, ”but it was you who engaged me to examine the t.i.tle, Mr. Sammet, and my fees and disburs.e.m.e.nts in this matter amount to five hundred dollars.”

Leon Sammet sat down again.

”Come on, Leon,” Aaron cried. ”What are you waiting for?”

”Do you mean to told me, Mr. Feldman, I owe you five hundred dollars?”

Leon asked.

”Five hundred and eight dollars and forty-two cents to be exact,” said Feldman, crunching a slip of paper.

”Then all I got to say is,” Leon declared, ”I got here a certified check for eight thousand dollars which Aaron Kronberg gives me, and I would sure hold it until he secures me against your bill.”

”Say, lookyhere, boys,” Alex Kronberg said at length, ”I've been listening to all this here Megillah and I ain't said a word nor nothing.

But I'll tell you what I'll do. It's a cinch that Uncle Mosha won't go to live with Aaron now, so I'll take him to live with me.”

”I am agreeable,” said Uncle Mosha.

”Furthermore,” Alex continued, ”Uncle Mosha and Max will keep the house.

I will also pay Mr. Feldman his five hundred dollars and take it out of the seven hundred and fifty which Aaron paid Uncle Mosha. The balance of two hundred and fifty Aaron shall have back again.”

”I am content,” Uncle Mosha replied. ”I don't want none of Aaron's money; and you could take it from me, Alex, Aaron would never see none of my money.”

”And now, gentlemen, let us fix up this copartners.h.i.+p agreement,” Max Gershon said as Aaron Kronberg slunk out of the office, followed by Leon Sammet. ”Mr. Potash and Mr. Perlmutter have wasted pretty near the whole afternoon here.”

”That's all right,” Abe said. ”I don't consider we wasted any time. Many a night I threw away four dollars taking a customer on the theayter yet, when the show wasn't near so good as what we seen it this afternoon; and the customer ain't bought no goods off me anyhow.”

”Don't you worry yourself about that, Abe!” Max cried. ”You got a couple of customers at this show which they would buy goods from you so long as we are in business, and don't you forget it. Ain't I right, Alex?”