Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 301, Decatur, Adams County, 23 December 1963 — Page 14

PAGE FOURTEEN

-V . , -- ' ’ . ' " \ -- v . ■■■ g'Uuv? ffw-rSB Ol® ml I I ■ 1 ft Wv I i j CAROLING FORTH GAY WISHES! D.&T. Standard Service - (j ‘ .:_ *» ■ ■ - f ' . • > 130 N. 13th Street

■a A * WISH <3mho fflA JL±M| JOYOUS CHRISTMAS ]jll z ' 1 r %' • • •';•••' * * ' '‘IO KTB&tifcju I . . 3 KR, > j MMOXzft? Adams County Artificial Breeders . r~" , Association _.. HUBERT FUELLING, DONALD HIRSCHY—TECHNICIANS

- Old-Fashioned Wishes ft/e take this opportunity to wish all our friends a wonderful Christmas holiday! NORBERT AUMANN ELECTRIC 110 RUGG STREET PHONE 3-3041

|w;hi’istmas BY RENA DOHERTY HARRY ADAMS had always believed in taking the things he wanted in life. On more than one occasion, it had cost him; so many times, in fact, that he figured about half his lifetime had been spent behind bars, more counting foster homes. Getting caught was just an occupational hazard as far as Harry was concerned. If the State wanted to house and feed him for a few more years, well, it beat working for a living. Harry was hungry at the moment. He stopped in front of the Minit Case, hands in pockets, idly fingering the last dollar bill he owned. A crudely-lettered sign in the window read: Christmas Special Turkey Potatoes-Gravy 75<i Harry looked inside. Only a cook and one waitress, both old and harmless. He could go in, order a meal, wait till he was ready and then get himself some Christmas spending money. He felt his coat pocket. The gun was still there. It A ■fes, IK iiiil He paused to read the sign in the window of the Minit Case.

wasn’t much of a gun. Probably wouldn’t even fire. But the sight of a gun did things to motet people —made tjiem do whatever you told them. Harry was on his second cup of coffee when the woman closed the door behind the cook, pulled down the shade and put a “Closed” sign in the window. This is too easy, he thought to himself. Well, no need to rush it now. “Gimme another cup of coffee.” “Sure thing. How about some more turkey. We got plenty and we won’t be open tomorrow.” “Naw, no more of that. Just coffee.” The woman placed the coffee on the table. “Oh, well, it won’t be wasted. That’s why we’re closing early. Henry, that just left, he’s my husband. Every year we take stuff up to the children’s home on Christmas Eve. Been doing it for years. We don’t make much here, just a living. But it’s enough to let us do something. We manage to get a present for all the children.” Harry almost choked on his coffee. The woman looked at him, strangely. “Coffee to hot?” “Naw, naw. Not too hot. Just went down wrong. Had enough anyway.” He stood up slowly, his hand moving cautiously toward his pocket. The woman had walked to the corner of the room, her back to him, taking down a weather-worn coat from a timeless rack. She turned slowly to face him. “You just keep your money, mister. Our treat. Compliments of the Minit Case.” She opened the door, letting in a cool blast of icy wind. It was an effort to Harry to move. When he did, he blundered past her, compelled by the urge to get outside, out of this place forever. He slipped down on the snow-covered sidewalk, sprawling like an eagle in flight. Strong arms lifted him to a sitSosition and the Woman knelt s him. “Are you hurt? Did you hurt yourself?” Harry brushed her aside, angrily, and regained his feet. Something in her eyes stopped him as he turned to walk away. She was still kneeling there in the snow. ■- r . Second Thought Tenderly now. Harry reached down and helped her to her feet. “I’m sorry. Forgive me. .Goodnight. And a Merry Christmas to you, Mrs. Norton.” Around the corner and into.the night, Harry Adams walked toward Christmas. He hadn’t meant to call her by name. He’d been stupid enough to pass up the .chance at the money, but he shouldn’t have called her by name! He stopped under a corner street light, just standing there for a long time, looking at nothing. Then he took it from his pocket. It wasn't much of a knife. Probably cost only a dollar. You could tell it was old, so old that the inscription on the side was almost worn away. ' But you could see it. If you held it just right in the light it said,. “Merry Christmas, Harry, from your friends, Mr., and Mrs. Norton.”

THEDECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT, DECATUR, INDIANA

'o Ire lIWwS If /JzHwfr"W K nk vZ-lw I lr I |r \ H BL ESSING S May the true, deep meaning of Christmas make the season bright for you and yours. The Commercial Print Shop

Best Wishes f° r a Infiil Merry MRM Christmas Eg&J entero MAY Christmas Day be an especially merry and bright one, bringing you full measure of joy, peace and contentment. DECATUR SUPPLY HOUSE, INC. 140 W. Monroe St. Phone 3-3363

I®, V jfcl WBr.-z * 41 1./1F -r, W Best wishes for a fine " x ’ |P old-fashioned Christmas season full of good cheer. DAN EMENHISER PAINTING CONTRACTOR A • ’ ' DECATUR, INDIANA

a I*- '©V" ' : 'U' ~~ ( 4r> ” y/tKs” ■ 1 1 * ■: ; " 1 1 --A’" I'rBo" Ml i z // f 1 ( ( \)) A\\ —j-- 1 /•/-/ / !AZ-/‘ ( 11 DECATUR AUTO SUPPLY, INC. 135 S. First Street Decatur, Ind.

■•\CLOSEb--. JBgBIStMAS BY C. R. ROWAN •TEDDY AMES closed the door -t-end turned the key for the last time, then crossed the street to Beckman’s Restaurant. It had begun to snow, softly, quietly, as it should on Christmas Eve. Pausing in the flickering light of the restaurant neon, he turned once more to look across the street. No one but himself would miss “Teddy’s Smoke Shop.” “He’d miss the joy of seeing new faces every day. No, Teddy thought to himself, money hadn’t mattered at all. He just couldn’t stand the idea of doing nothing. “Just quittin’,” as old man Beckman put it, had killed more old folks than any sickness in the world. Teddy couldn’t blame the old man for any part of what had hapSened. The old man had been fair. [e’d always wait a week or more • if Teddy was short on the rent money. The younger Beckman’s. Ah, they were different. They had the “go-getter” philosophy. They were going to take out all the old empty cigar boxes Teddy had stashed away in corners and under counters, remodel the whole place and open up a washateria.

/i fi\ r® I oLSt Beckman smiled. "This coffee is too hot Too strong, too.” He pushed open the restaurant door and made his way to the corner booth. He had sat down, brushing snow Ijom his coat lapel, before he noticed the steaming cup of coffee on the table. Old man Beckman’s voice came from the kitchen. “That’s your coffee, Teddy. I saw you close up. Knew you’d come.” Teddy fingered the coffee cup. It was top hot to pick up. “Almost didn’t. All day long I thought to myself that once I locked that door I would turn my back on the place and never look back.” “Without even bringing me the key?” “I was going to leave it with j Mrs. Davidson.” “Leave it with Mrs. Davidson? ' Why?” ‘ Question He walked behind the counter, poured himself a cup of coffee and made his way to the table. “Teddy, you need any ...” “Money? What for? Besides, I sold all my stock, you know.” “Why go away? If you need something to do, why can’t you do it here?” “Not a chance. You know how things are, with the new industrial plant coming to town soon and everything else. I couldn’t even find a garage to rent. And the city has laws about selling things on the street.” Beckman smiled. “This coffee is too hot. Too strong, too. Ever wonder why I came over to see you a couple of times each day?” ' “Just neighborly ...” “Partly, but you know something, Teddy, I been in the restaurant business fifty years. That coffee you made on your little hot plate beat any coffee I ever had the pleasure of tasting.” “Why, I come over here twice a day for coffee." “You come to visit. You know this coffee’s not half as good as what you make.” Teddy took the cup away from his lips. "In truth, I guess it isn’t.” Old man Beckman stacked one cup upon the other. “Teddy, we got some talking to do. You go over there, pour out what’s left of that coffee and let’s see what you can do with a real coffee-making machine. Meanwhile, I’ll finish washing 'dishes out in the kitchen.” Christmas bells were sounding when the two men emerged from the restaurant and ioined the crowd of people heading for the little church on the hill. New Deal “That’s the story, Teddy,” Beckman was saying. "The boys really wanted my place, but I held out. I knew if I quit, I’d be retired for good. I couldn’t open another restaurant. Yet, with a little improvements, a good partner, and some good coffee as a starter, I felt I would be good for another 20 years. So, I made the boys settle for your place, hoping I could get you to join up with me. You won’t be sorry.!’ Teddy looked at the darkened store front across the street. You could barely read “Teddy’s Smoke Shop” in the half-shadows. He looked back at the flashing neon' of the restaurant. *T’m happy air ready. Merry Christmas, partner, Merry Christmas.”

'IJ/VxJO/v . Il a •- a/ nil JL* X * / J \ A very big # ' ' thanks to all ' , our loyal patrons. BURKE INSURANCE SERVICE 239 N. 11th Street Decatur, Ind.

jW '• x w • • • * ” e rejoice in - - the happiness of the Christmas season, and extend our wishes that your holiday is the best ever. MR. and MRS. FREIT BUSCHE

3 . ||l|M| ' ' l SF''t' I K'\s >iW**y' j- ~ t n ■ ■■: >* A w ' «SMIRa A i “A\! J■: /flv \ j V*' A, H1« ■** tt (3EHr JBk m . Our Friends tp' BAKER PLUMBING and HEATING 704 W. Monroe St. Decatur, Ind. k shß ID II - - XiE-Sf gwJgjfeBwMffi wT I. % JfwMVititaJ'Xa.Gkristmas warmth and Christmas cheer, We extend to you this time of year. BRIEDE STUDIO & CAMERA SHOP 202 S. Second St. Docatur, Ind.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1963