The Omaha morning bee., 1925-01-06

Jared him like cannon's detona
ton.
"Holtz! / want to see Holtz"
The ladylike Miss Hannigan stoot
palsied. peppermints dropping from
her candy scoop. Several customers
turned open-mouthed toward th,
block OF a man stood in the entrance
long, silvery hair showing under 4
broad-brimmed black hat. He wore I
greasy suit of heavy broadcloth ant
across his rounded stomach large
gold chain with a heavy Masonic
charm
"Holtzr' he beloved again.
"I'm Holtz," said Admah with {
sort of savage dignity: for he wa'
never less than proprietor In his owr
shop.
We'll. break every bone in my
body" demanded the formidable per
son and came striding in.
He was a dissolate looking old mar
with a tobacco stain in one corner ol
his mouth. His cheeks were veiny; It
cxuded Bourbon He wore with il
all disreputable resemblance to Ben
jamin Franklin.
(Which one are you?" he asked
IN a harch Yankee voice as he clapp,d
,he younger man on the shoulder. His
eyes were not unkindly. !. E. Some
thing stirred in Admah's heart. HI
MAS seeing a ghost.
I'm Admah HoltZ," he said sud
ienly tanned.
well, there's a handful for you.
nerrily roared the Franklin carica
.ure. And I guess you don't know
%ho in hell you're talkin' to-
You amt"
That's Jest who I am. my lad
,-ap'n Laf2 Holtz. Put 'er here, boy
And there stood Admah, pump
handling with one whom he had fof
years regarded as a mere figure, like
a cast-iron statue.
"Gosh.amightyr he whispered, re
verting to boyhood.
Surprised, hey?" asked Captain
Lafe with a wheeZe that was louder
than any wheeze should be- We'll
now, where's the other one?'
THE other WHAT"
"Ain't there two of you boys?"
"Yes. Me and 10. He's home to-
day"
Where dyou set down. asked
the old man abruptly. Somewhat re.
lieved, Admah led into the rear room
and brought out two kitchen chairs.
The one which Uncle Lafe accepted
creaked under his dead weight.
1--WE often heard Ma talk about
you," said the nephew, for the visitor
was gazing into space as If awaiting
the next move. She's been dead over
ten years"
Don't say So He tried to cross
his legs, but changed his mind be.
cause the major portion of Captain
Lafe was in the way.
PAS dead, too; l reckon you know
that"
Il guess I do" Uncle Lafe spat
into distant wastebasket. Il ought
to know. 1 paid for the funeral.
This should have touched Admah's
pride, but he sonly smiled. In the
quaint personality he seemed to see
his father whom he had known and
loved so short time.
Il guess I've passed this place
dozen times" said the old man as
though no other topic were on his
mind, land today's the first time
looked up. And when l seen the
name Holtz l says, by ginger, won
der IL them amt Matty's boysi gone
into business. Holtz Is an odd name
round this town. Hum" He wheezed
and spat again $50 Matty's dead
Got rest 'er bones, she was a woman
| only seen 'er once after marriage.
but say, She had Henry mewin like
a kitten under a stove. Why didn /
you folks look me up when you come
to town."
II went to your house once. They
said you'd moved
THAT stone shack on West lnnes
Street? Ho,' He laughed until the
candy makers turned. giggling ner-
vously. why, I amt been In that
place for thirty years. Sold out to
a real estate sharp who thought the
town was movin' that way. ] knew
1t wasn't. So I packed up and went
into the hog business. Ever hear OF
Dell's Landin' hams?"
why. Captain Holtze-"
Uncle Lafe. SON." He cracked his
nephew painfully on the knee.
Uncle Lafe, everybody knows
about Dell's Landin' hams, l reckon
You don't mean to say
Yep. And Dell's Landin' country
sausages. We amt no rivals TO the
Peake family when 1t comes 10 wealth
and social refinement, but guess yer
Aunt Browne can show 'em few
tricks about cookin' a ham. Got a
carr
i've got Ford Admah admitted
Good. Married."
mo, sir"
THE other one married."
20? Yes, he's married.
Don't cotton to yer sisterin-law.
do you?'
why, she's a very nice lady"