"Mrs. Chaikin! Mrs. Chaikin!" I remonstrated. "Why should you be so suspicious? Can't you see that I am the most devoted friend you people ever had? God has blessed us; we are making a success of our business so we must be devoted to one another, while here you imagine all kinds of nonsense."
"A woman will be a woman," Chaikin muttered, with his sheepish smile
The unfeigned ardor of my plea produced an impression on Mrs.
Chaikin.
Still, she insisted upon receiving her husband's share of the profits at once in spot cash. I argued again
"Why, of course you are going to get your share of the profits," I said, genially. "Of course you are. Only we must first pay for the goods of those five hundred coats and for some other things. Mustn't we? Then, too, there is that other order to fill. We need more goods and cash for wages and rent and other expenses.
"But you said you were going to get it all yourself, and now you want us to pay for it. You think you are smart, don't you?"
Her husband opened his mouth, but she waved it shut before she had any idea what he wanted to say
"Anybody could fool you," she said. "'When a fool goes shopping there is rejoicing among the shopkeepers.'"
With our joint efforts we finally managed to placate her, however, and the next evening our shop was the scene of feverish activity.