"To Dotyville, Pennsylvania," Abe replied. "We leave next Saturday. In the meantime I ain't going to worry, Mawruss."

"That's right, Abe," said Morris.

"Sure it's right," Abe rejoined. "I'm going to leave you to do the worrying, and in the meantime I guess I'll look after getting out them forty-twenty-two's. Them forty-twenty-two's—them plum-color Empires was your idee, Mawruss. You said they'd make a hit with the Southern trade, Mawruss, and I hope they do, Mawruss, for, if they don't, there ain't much chance of our getting paid for them."

A week later Abe Potash and his wife left for Dotyville, Pennsylvania, and two days afterward Morris received the following letter:

DOTY'S UNION HOUSE,
Dotyville, Pennsylvania.
Dear Morris:
How is things in the store?We got here the day before yesterday and I have got enough already. Itis a dead town. The food what they give us reminds me when Pincus Vesell& me was partners together as new beginners and I was makingsouthern trips by dollar and a half a day houses American plan. The manDoty what keeps the hotel also runs the general store also. He says afellow by the name of Levy used to run it but he couldnt make it go; hemade a failure of it. I tried to sell him a few garments but he claimsto be overstocked at present and I believe him. I seen some styles whathe tries to get rid of it what me & Pincus Vesell made up in smalllots way before the Spanish war already. It is a dead town. Me and Rosieleave tonight for Pittsburg and we are going to stay with Rosies brotherin law Hyman Margolius. Write us how things is going in the store to theOutlet Auction House Hyman Margolius prop 2132 4 & 6 North PotterAve Pittsburg Pa. You should see that Miss Cohen billed them 4022son date we packed them as Goldman the shipping clerk forgot togive them to Arrow Dispatch when they called. That ain't our faultMorris. Write and tell me how things is going in the store and dontforget to tell Miss Cohen about the bill to S. Lowenstein as above
Yours Truly
A. POTASH.
P. S. How is things in the store?

During the first three days of Abe Potash's vacation he had traveled by local train one hundred and twenty miles to Dotyville, and unpacked and packed two trunks under the shrill and captious supervision of Mrs. Potash. Then followed a tiresome journey to Pittsburgh with two changes of cars, and finally, on the morning of the fourth day, at seven-thirty sharp, he accompanied Hyman Margolius to the latter's place of business.

There he took off his coat and helped Hyman and his staff of assistants to pile up and mark for auction a large consignment of clothing. After this, he called off the lot numbers while Hyman checked them in a first draft of a printed catalogue, and at one o'clock, with hands and face all grimy from contact with the ill-dyed satinets of which the clothing was manufactured, he partook of a substantial luncheon at Bleistift's Restaurant and Lunch-Room.

"Well, Abe," Hyman said, "how do you like the auction business so far as you gone yet?"

"It's a good, live business, Hymie," Abe replied; "but, the way it works out, it ain't always on the square. A fellow what wants to do his creditors buys

goods in New York, we'll say, for his business in—Galveston, we'll say, and then when he gets the goods he don't even bother to unpack 'em, Hymie, but ships 'em right away to you. And you examine 'em, and if they're all O. K., why, you send him a check for about half what it costs to manufacture 'em. Then he pockets the check, Hymie, and ten days later busts up on the poor sucker what sold him the goods in New York at ninety days. Ain't that right, Hymie?"