"Why, what's the matter with our credit policy?" Morris asked.
"Nothing," Mr. Lowenstein replied. "Only a merchant like me, what wants to enlarge his business, needs a little better terms than thirty days. Ain't it? I'm improving my departments all the time, and I got to buy more fixtures, lay in a better stock and even build a new wing to my store building. All this costs money, Mr. Perlmutter, as you know, and contractors must be paid strictly for cash. Under the circumstances, I need ready money, and, naturally, the house what gives me the most generous credit gets my biggest order."
"Excuse me for a moment," Morris broke in, "I think I hear the telephone."
He walked to the rear of the store, where the telephone bell had been trilling impatiently.
"Hello," he said, taking the receiver off the hook.
"Hello," said a voice from the other end of the line. "Is this Potash & Perlmutter?"
"It is," said Morris.
"Well, this is Garfunkel & Levy," the voice went on. "We understand Mr. Lowenstein, of Galveston, is in your store. Will you please and call him to the 'phone for a minute?"
"This ain't no public pay station," Morris cried. "And besides, Mr. Lowenstein just left here."
He banged the receiver onto the hook and returned at once to the front of the store.