The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-03-09

He could still feel that long. skinny
finger pointing ut his nose!
Schneider got up and put on his hat
He would take no rest and do no work
Until he hal: put the matter to final
test. 1t would be easy enough. They
kept pretzels at the cornery grocery.
He would go there. He would buy
some.
Il will haf niclsels wort Of pref
zels," he said.
"Pretzels?: replied. the clerk. "All
out Sorry. We've got another bar
rel comm, but dey amt here yet"
Fritz turned with a groan and went
out.
Fritz walked down the street until
| be came to cafe. There, on the
counter with the picked onions and the
| dried herring. was a, dish of pretZeis.
What easier than to buy a glass OF
beer stroll ncnchalantly over and grab
n handful? There were no dark brow
| ed men in the saloon.
The bartener drew his beer. Schnei-
Ter raised it with a trembling hand
and took one sip. Asl the cruical mo-
ment drew nearer his courage ebbed.
He walked toward the free lunch.
\ greasy cross section Of herring was
the instrument of fate. AS Schneider
reached his hand over the pretzel dish
the foot on which his weight rested
shot out at right angles to his body.
He clutched wildly rs he went down
and his hand grasped the pretzel bowl.
Then it rained pretZels and the dish
broke i'll dozen pieces.
The bartender put one hand on the
mahogany and vaulted over as the
handful of customers set up laugh
There was terrifying Ifrown on tha
bartepders face.
Cit up. y'bum,' he growled. "Are
youse trying t'put til place on tn
pork:'
Fritz arose in confusion. 1t seemed
that there were pretZels i'll his eyes ant
in his hair-eyerywher but in hi:
hand. He suffered out an apology Il
I he vainly endeavored toput the piece
of the broken dish together.
Il WILL" he hesitated- Il will pa!
for der pretZelS.'
Ven git out o here" said the bar
tender, and he added Il shove that ms
terially aided Fritz to find the door.
II Schneider went back to his shoeshOI
He sat down in the doorway with hi
head in his hands. \ pretZel had be
II come to him the most precious thing |
the world, rs it was the hardest to ge
A little girl stopped in front of til
s basement and looked curiously dow
{ at him He knew her. she was Rach'
i Morowitz, the daughter of his lam
l. lord, who lived on the floor abov
It rrTyz Hau aII fueH.
u "I.achei, madchen." lie called. "e
Il moment-cOme here
u II am hungry" he said. Here L
y Elm nickel. Get me some pretzels. An
u, u, we're you can get dem, but it must
prctzels. Noting else will be der sam
Den will gif you anodder nickel
% Fritz waited. The moments dragge
They fed into half an hour and st
u Rache! had not come.
~ A sound of wailing smote Schn
~ ler's ears He felt that it had to
\ with Rachel and the impossible pr
! gel.
| He came from his torturing revel
| to see that Rachel stood before hi
| surrounded by group of sympath
ers, who sobbed in unison with her.
i "A boy comes by me as | go In q
II store" she blubbered. He trips 4
4 und out from my hand rolls der nick
! Den he grabs it an l tries to lick hi
] But l can't make lickin's NIT
boy, an off he scoots NIT dar nick
y Oh, forgif me, Mister Shoemaker
Fritz could see that the fight "
4 useless. He soothed the child and 81
I her 5 cents for herself. She was
! to blame. When the children had g
H. be locked his shop and walked do
VI the street. 1t was well to keep NJ
i ing until the end came.
II The shoemaker's eye rested on
Y few PAGES ahead who carried
basket covered with paper. At +
Schneider looked carelessly. linen
caught the brown CLINT of what he
sure was a pretzel. He fastened
N footsteps.
It was whole basket of pretzels'
"Poy." said Fritz, seizing the yot
ster's arm, 81 want pretzel.'
eyes were sunken and glaring.
boy twisted away.
"Dese amt fer sale, mister he
: "Dey're goin' someres: Dey
NINE" ...-
"Nefer mind" exclaimed Fritz.
ELr elf YOU dime for vun pretzel.
boy backed toward the curb. Sci
,ulv ,er. in terror lest he should run.
else bed him fiercely.
ian? .I gif you a dollar!' he cried. "
With dollar for vun pretZcl!'
"Iecco mel" screamed the boy.
4 q ouehly frightened. Lego me!'
ould Schneider reached into the baske
he he saw his chance slipping and
MES. bed handful of pretzels. The
He hovIed at the top of his voice.
and street turned with one neck and cr
ed up Fritz bolted. -
pret- Illat was eii"uSn. ;.
,i;aa chase. With Il policeman well IL
yard lead, men and women dashed ate
stop shoemaker Inc crown sie" do
from Il score to Il hundred and
orter to hundreds.
his stop thief! kit.narer! Lynch
ua beat on the terrified ears of Fri
I the the mob surged at his heels. He
cl ana turned and doubled. In