Hans Mueller was quite anxious that all of the Rovers should see the factory, or works, which he ran in connection with his chain of delicatessen stores. Tom could not spare the time to go, but the boys were willing, and so set off on the following morning early.
The works was one where Hans Mueller turned out his sauerkraut, pickles, and numerous table delicacies. Here they handled many hundreds of pounds of frankfurters, bolognas, and numerous kinds of smoked and salted fish and meats.
“Mine sauerkraut has taken already six brizes,” said the delicatessen dealer proudly. “And nobody in all Chicago has any better hot dogs, as you call ’em, dan I carry. And den mine cheeses! Why, I import cheeses from all over de world! I can show you cheeses what you never even heard de name of,” he went on earnestly.
“And I’ll bet the smell of some of them would knock a house down,” added Andy.
“Vell, a smell is already something what you got to get used to,” answered Hans Mueller philosophically.
The lads had lunch with the delicatessen dealer at a cafeteria restaurant run in connection with his largest store. They had chicken salad and tongue sandwiches, along with “home-made” apple pie, all of which the boys relished keenly.
“It’s as good a lunch as a fellow could get at a leading hotel,” declared Jack to their host. “No wonder your stores are a big success, Uncle Hans.”
“Vell, I tries to give de bublic der money’s worth,” was the reply.
After lunch Hans Mueller had to go off to visit some of his other stores, and the boys started out on another inspection of the big city by the lakes.
“It’s a good deal like New York, only somewhat different,” said Andy.