Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-10-06

DOLLAR FOR YUM PRETZEL."
the lock a long time before he finally
turned the key, and then he wheeled
, for his pretzel-to see that it had dis
appeared.
"Mein Gottr' he groaned as his eyes
bulged and a frightened snort whistled
from his noStrils.
It was the end for sure this time,
and he waited for the clammy hand to
come from the unknown and yank him
into eternity. But nothing happened.
The fat dog sighed contentedly and
lazily licked up a pretzel crumb from
the floor, but the popeyed, expectant
Fritz was dead to this piece Of damag-
ing evidence.
AS the minutes rolled on poor Fritz
fell to thinking again.
The night waned. With dawn Fritz
got up. He went into the shop and
! looked around at the familiar tools,
the bench, the rows of shoes to be re-
paired side by side with those neatly
finished and waiting for their owners.
He sighed. Yesterday morning he had
been happy.
He decided to go and get beer at
Donovan's-that is, he would if fate
did not interfere. He was prepared
for anything now.
1t was very early. One or two Ital-
ians on their way to work, with lunch
boxes and shovels, were drinking. The
bartender looked sleepy, but not half
SC hollow eyed as Fritz.
Beer" said Fritz.
eye look rocky, Dutch" commented
the bartender. made a night Of it?"
''Nein," said Fritz.
Schneider took a little sip. Even
from beer the JOY had fed forever.
And when JOY fees from beer for a
man like Fritz, what has he left?
"Dass ich so traurig BIN ran through
Fritzs mind.
Schneider felt something. He could
not tell at first what it was. But when
he saw out Of the tail Of his eye the
dark stranger lean over the bar not ten
feet away, he knew what had settled
like a thick, cold cloud over his soul.
1t was the same man. Schneider was
too scared to move. He knew that
the end was now at hand.
Hello, Mike!" said the bartender.
his face Frightening.
"Hello yourself, We son of a gum
returned the stranger. Eye look like
mourner at tn wake av yer own
fun'ral''
"Quit yer kiddin'," replied the other.
eff yed ben up all night, ye wouldn't
be no better yerself."
"Ain't I ben up all night, laughin',' -
cried the mustached instrument of fate
as he roared and beat the bar with his
fist. IL scared Dutchman in herr
yist'dy till tn poor mutt turned the
color o. sauerkraut. Ye oughter seen
i'm.
Il comes in a feelin' peevish fer
wunst in me life, an here was that
Dutch shoemaker that stuffs himself
2 with pretzels and drinks beer fer the
2 whole ward
"He was lappin' 'em up from bot
4 hams. Thinks I, I'll take me crouch
4 out on tn Dutchman. I looks uglier'1
Donovan's prize bull pup an 1 walks
" up to i'm wit me jaw out.
S "'Ye've eat yer last pretzel,' sez
: An I'll vote tn straight Republican
Llthet IL uc ulCu ldll Lei II. pOO
, boob looked at me like he'd seen {
g ghost 1t was too good to spoil an
beats it out the door an hid aroun' tn
: corner. He comes a tearin' out in
d minute, mutterin'. Den he goes back.
: Fritz had listened, his mouth hang
n ing. AS the roar of the bartender
e laughter arose Fritz came to life will
'r a bump. He set down his beer ant
IS plunged both hands to the wrists il
p the pretzel bowl. AS pretzei crunchet
e between his teeth he took long drink
1t tasted good again.