The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1917-03-03
confdentially acquainted him with the
circumstances of the theft.


MED Barney to the cutting room of
Potash & Perlmutter. When they en-
tered Pincus Rifkin was laying out his
cloth In long, smooth folds on a cutting
table, preparatory to chalking out the
pattern on the upper layer. He was
humming a psalm to the traditional He
brew melody, for Pincus was a pioCs
By token Of that same piety, his whis-
kers had never known the refining In
f1uence of scissors since they first
sprouted. They gave him a venerable,
peaceful aspect, and In contemplating
their %profusion one was apt to lose
sight Of the well developed chest over
which they cascaded- Moreover, Pin
Gus had a jaunty way of carrying him
self that made the other cutters and
operators treat him respectfully. But
Max saw only the flowing whiskers,
and he winked confidently at his
brother.
"Dis here Is a pipe" he muttered.
"Come here" he growled, advancing
toward Pincus.
Pincus smiled and shrugged his shout
ders. His English was rather weak,
and he relied a great deal upon gesture.
You're Rifkin, amt yer?" Max went
on.
Sure said Pincus.
Max thrust his chin out until 1t was
at least six inches In advance Of the
rest of his body.
"Who pinched the silk r. he beloved.
"SillikT' said Pincus. what Silk 2"
"G'wanr' Max roared. "You amt
never seen no silk, have your You
don't know narten about 1t, do you?
Maybe disTl make you remember
He threw back his right arm and,
clinching his fist, aimed straight for
the point Of Pincus' jaw. Unfortunate
ly for Max and fortunately for Pincus,
the ~patriarchal beard obscured a reced-
ing chin, and what was intended for a
crashing blow glanced harmless past
the side Of Pincus' neck and nearly dis
located Max's shoulder.
Then it was that the spirit Of Judas
Maccabeus became reincarnated In the
frame of Pincus Rifkin. With a shout
that echoed through the cloak and suit
establishment of Potash & Perlmutter,
he leaped upon the astonished Max
Greenberg. After the dust settled, it
required the combined efforts of the
twenty odd operators to pry him loose
from Max's throat.
They sent around the corner for a
doctor, who resOrted to artificial respir-
alton before Max Greenberg recovered
sufficiently to go home in a cab at
Potash & Perlmutter's expense, but
the moral influence of having a police
man for a brother was dissipated, per
haps forever, in the minds Of those
twenty odd operators in the cutting
room.
"Of our he stole the silk, Nav
russ" said Abe the next morning, as
they discussed the ARRAY. Otherwise
why should he try to murder Barney's
brother? Amt it?"
Maybe Barney's brother hit him
first, Abe" Morris suggested
"Barney's brother Is a policeman,
Mawruss," Abe went on; and you
know as well as 1 do, Mawruss, that a
policeman is a loafer. But Rifkin
comes from decent, respectable people
in the old country, and his father Is a
rabbi. Amt it? So why should Rifkin
fight like a policeman fights? A fell
Ter which he acts like a policeman Is a
thief, too, l bet yer"
Morris lit a cigar and pulled away
with a soul expression on his face.
II guess, Abe" he said, wed better
forget all about this here silk and get
down to business"
Forget about 1t, MawrussT" Abe
repeated. Forget nothing! l suppose,
Mawruss, $500 amt nothing to you,
Mawruss. / suppose you pick $500
up In the street, Mawruss. No, stree,
Mawruss, 1 amt no policeman, and l
amt no rabbits son, neither, Mawruss.
But 1 guess l got a little gumption, too,
and I'll get back that silk If l have to
take Rifkin's brother myself and shake
the silk out Of him"
The exterior Of Aaron Rifkin's store
little betrayed the prosperity Of the
business transacted within, for en-.
trance was had through a narrow slit
between a soda water stand and a fish
stall. Above this aperture, however,
hung an elaborate sign, ON which ap-
peared In gilt letters the English word
Remnants" spelled Theoretically in
struggling Hebrew characters. If this
had not been sufficient to guide Abe's
footsteps %squarely in the entrance
stood a replica of Pincus Rifkin, with
flowing beard and apologize smile
complete.
Abe elbowed his way past Pincus'
brother into the dark store and made
straight for the counter.
"Nu," said Aaron, what can l do TO,
your
"Some silk l want to see it." Abe re.
piled.
"Sillik?" Aaron murmured. "What
for silk you would likeY"
"Black silk" said Abe.
Aaron went behind the counter and
pulled down a roll of silk.