Joseph Mandelbaum and Benjamin Rosenblatt, partners in the garment industry, are having their worst season ever. Ten thousand Madras sports coats are hanging on the rack unsold, and bankruptcy is imminent.
Out of the blue, in walks a buyer from Australia looking for Madras sports jackets.
"Would you guys have any for sale?" asks the Australian, "I have been looking for them
everywhere."
After a brief pause to catch his breath, Joseph admits that there might be a few left. Soon a deal is concluded for ten thousand jackets, to be shipped to Australia at a handsome profit.
"There is one thing;" says the buyer, "for this large order I need to get confirmation from my home office. There should be no problem, so unless I send you a cable by the end of the week, the deal is on."
The week creeps by, with the partners anxiously waiting to see if the Australian will change his mind.
At ten minutes to five on Friday, Benjamin is closing up the shop when there is a knock at the door and a voice shouts, "Telegram!"
The partners freeze. Trembling, Joseph grabs the cable and opens it. Suddenly his face lights up.
"Bennie! Great news! Your wife just died!"
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