Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-10-13

Until he had put the matter to final
test 1t would be easy enough, They
Kept pretzels at the cornery grocery.
de would go there. He would buy
some.
i vii haf nickel's WORT of pref
zels,'' he said.
"Pretzelsy' replied the clerk "All
out. Sorry. We've got another bar.
tel comm, but dey amt here yet"
Fritz turned with groan and went
out.
Fritz walked down the street until
he came to a cafe. There, on the
counter with the picked onions and the
dried herring. Mas dish of pretzels.
What easier than to buy a glass of
beer, stroll nonehalantly over and grab
a handful? There were no dark brow
ed men In the saloon.
The bartener drew his beer. Schnel-
Ter raised 1t with trembling hand
and took one sip. As the crucial mo-
ment drew nearer his courage ebbed.
He walked toward the free lunch.
A greasy cross section of herring was
the instrument of fate. AS Schneider
reached his land over the pretzel dish
the foot on which his weight rested
shot out at right angles to his body
He clutched wildly as he went down
and his hand grasped the pretzel bowl
Then II rained pretzels and the dish
broke in dozen pieces.
The bartender put one hand on the
mahogany and vau.ted over as the
handful OF customers set up laugh
There was terrifying frown on that
bartender's face.
"Git up. y'bum," he growled. Are
youse trying t'put tn place on tn
pork"
Fritz. arose In confusion. 1t seemed
that there We're pretzels in his eyes and
in his hair-everywhere but In his
hand. He suffered out an apology as
he vainly endeavored to put the pieces
of the broken dish together
Il WILL he hesitated-- II will pay
for Ger pretzels.
Yell git out O here" said the bar
tender, and he added shove that ma
teriaily aided Fritz to find the door.
Schneider went back to his shoeshop.
He sat down in the doorway with his
come to him the most precious thing in
the world. as it was the hardest to get.
A little girl stopped in front of the
basement and looked curiously down
at him. He knew her. she was Rachel
Morowitz. the daughter of his land
Fritz had an idea
Rachel. madchen." he called. "ein
moment-come here.
II am hungry he said. Here ISIS
Elm nickel. Get me some pretzels. Any
we're you can get dem, but 1t must be
pretzels. Noting else will be der same.
Len viii elf you anodler nickel"
Fritz waited. The moments dragged.
They led into half an hour and still
Rachel had not come.
A sound of wailing smote Schnel-
ler's ears. He felt that 1t had to do
with Rachel and the impossible pref
eel.
He came from his torturing reverie
to see that Rachel stood before him.
surrounded by group Of sympathiz-
ers, who sobbed In unison with her.
"A boy comes by me as go in der
store" she blubbered. HE trips me.
und out from my hand rolls der nickel.
Den he grabs 1t an tries to lick him.
But / can't make lickin's init big
boy. an of he scoots init dar nickel.
oh. forgif me. Mister Shoemaker"
Fritz could see that the fight was
useless. He soothed the child and gave
her cents for herself She was not
to blame. When the children had gone
he locked his shop and walked down
the street 1t was well to keep NOV
Ing until the end came.
The shoemaker's eye rested on boy
few PAGES ahead who carried
basket covered with paper. At first
Schneider looked carelessly. Then he
caught the brown CLINT of what he felt
sure was a pretzel. He FASTENED his
footsteps.
1t was whole basket Of pretzels.
"Poy." said Fritz, selling the young
ster's arm. II want a pretzel." His
eyes were sunken and glaring. The
boy twisted away.
"Dese amt fer sale, mister" he said.
"Dey're goin' someres. Dey amt
mine"
.Nefer mind" exclaimed Fritz. Il
gif you a dime for vun pretzel." The
boy backed toward the curb Schnel-
Ter, In terror lest lie should run. grab
bed him fiercely.
II git you dollar"' he cried. ''Vun
dollar for vun pretZel.
Lego me-" screamed the boy. thor
oughly frightened. Lego mel"
Schneider reached into the basket as
he saw his chance slipping and grab
bed handful of pretzels. The boy
howled at the top of his voice. The
street turned with one neck and crowd
ed up. Fritz bolted.
That was enough. The throng gave