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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6



                  THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
                  1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND
                  ACCORDINGLY MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED
                  OF IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                  SAID ACT OR LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THIS
                  NOTE AND THE INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE SUBORDINATE, IN
                  THE MANNER AND TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH IN THAT INTERCREDITOR
                  AND SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT (AS AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED OR
                  OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE "SUBORDINATION
                  AGREEMENT") DATED AS OF JUNE 22, 1999 BETWEEN AND AMONG WEISS
                  & NEUMAN SHOE CO., AS THE COMPANY, SOUTHWEST BANK OF ST.
                  LOUIS, AS THE SUBORDINATED CREDITOR, AND THE SENIOR LENDER
                  NAMED THEREIN, TO ALL INDEBTEDNESS OWED BY THE MAKER OF THIS
                  NOTE TO THE SENIOR LENDER, AND THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE, BY ITS
                  ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, SHALL BE BOUND BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE
                  SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT.


                            WEISS AND NEUMAN SHOE CO.

                                SUBORDINATED NOTE
$95,000                                                     St. Louis, Missouri
                                                                  June 22, 1999

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Weiss and Neuman Shoe
Co., a Missouri corporation (the "Company"), hereby promises to pay to the order
of Southwest Bank of St. Louis, a Missouri banking corporation (the "Holder"),
at the Holder's office at 2301 S. Kingshighway, St. Louis, Missouri 63110 or
such other place as shall be designated in writing by the Holder, the aggregate
principal amount of Ninety Five Thousand Dollars ($95,000) and all accrued
unpaid interest on January 31, 2003 (the "Maturity Date").

Section 1. Payment

                  1.1 Interest. The outstanding principal amount of this Note
shall bear interest (computed on the basis of a 365 or 366 day year, as the case
may be) at a rate equal to nine percent (9%) per annum from the date hereof to
(and including) the Maturity Date. Following the occurrence of any Event of
Default, the outstanding principal amount of this Note shall bear interest
payable on demand at a Default Rate per annum equal to sixteen percent (16%).
Accrued interest shall be paid on the Maturity Date.


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                  1.2 Business Days. Whenever payment on this Note shall be due
on a date that is not a Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be the
next succeeding Business Day and interest due on the unpaid principal and any
other Amounts Payable hereunder shall accrue during such extension and shall be
payable on such succeeding Business Day.

                  1.3 Additional Agreements of the Company.

                           (a)      While this Note remains outstanding, Peter
                                    Edison shall remain as the Chief Executive
                                    Officer of the Company unless a successor
                                    reasonably satisfactory to the Holder is
                                    appointed within thirty (30) days of Mr.
                                    Edison's cessation of such duties;

                           (b)      Company shall deliver to the Holder:

                                    (i)      Within ninety (90) days after the
                                             end of each fiscal year of the
                                             Company beginning with the fiscal
                                             year ending December 31, 1999, an
                                             annual income statement for such
                                             fiscal year, a balance sheet for
                                             the Company as of the end of such
                                             year and a statement of cash flows
                                             for such year, together with such
                                             notes thereto as are appropriate,
                                             prepared in accordance with
                                             generally accepted accounting
                                             principles consistently applied and
                                             setting forth in each case in
                                             comparative form the figures for
                                             the previous year, in reasonable
                                             detail and audited by an
                                             independent public accountant;

                                    (ii)     Within thirty (30) days after the
                                             end of each fiscal quarter, an
                                             unaudited income statement and cash
                                             flow statement for the Company for
                                             such quarter and the current fiscal
                                             year to date and an unaudited
                                             balance sheet as of the end of such
                                             fiscal quarter, setting forth in
                                             comparative form the correspondent
                                             figures for the prior fiscal
                                             quarter in such reasonable detail
                                             as shall be requested by the
                                             Holder;

                                    (iii)    From time to time upon Holder's
                                             request, such other information
                                             regarding the business, affairs and
                                             prospects and financial condition
                                             of the Company as the Holder shall
                                             reasonably request.



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Section 2. Prepayment.

                  2.1 Prepayment. This Note may be prepaid in whole or in part
at any time.

Section 3. Defaults

                  3.1 Events of Default. If one or more of the following events
("Events of Default") shall have occurred and be continuing:

                      (a) the Company shall fail to pay within five (5) Business
         Days of the due date thereof any principal of this Note or shall fail
         to pay within five (5) Business Days of the due date thereof any
         interest or any other Amounts Payable hereunder and the same shall not
         have been cured within ten (10) days after written notice thereof has
         been given by the Holder to the Company;

                      (b) the Company shall commence a voluntary case or other
         proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with
         respect to itself or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or
         other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment
         of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar
         official, or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of
         or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or
         other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general
         assignment for the benefit of creditors;

                      (c) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be
         commenced against the Company seeking liquidation, reorganization or
         other relief with respect to it or its debts under any bankruptcy,
         insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking
         the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other
         similar official, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall
         remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days; or an
         order for relief shall be entered against the Company under the Federal
         bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect;

                      (d) if the Company shall fail in any material respect to
         perform or preserve any covenant, agreement or provision set forth in
         this Note and such failure shall not be cured to the Holder's
         satisfaction within thirty (30) days after written notice from the
         Holder to the Company, or

                      (e) The occurrence of any default under or pursuant to the
         Senior Indebtedness;

then, and in every such event, subject to the provisions of Section 4, the
Holder may, by notice to the Company and to the holders of Senior Indebtedness,
declare the principal amount of this Note together with accrued interest
thereon, to be, and such portions of the principal amount of this Note (and
accrued interest thereon) shall thereupon become, due and payable without
presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby waived by the Company.



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Section 4. Subordination

                  4.1 Note Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness. The Holder
acknowledges and agrees that all of its right, title and interest in and to this
Note, including but not limited to its right to receive payments in respect of
principal and interest as provided herein, shall be subordinate to any and all
Senior Indebtedness of the Company, including any debt financing provided by
Foothill Capital Corporation, individually or as agent for itself and Paragon
Capital LLC ("Foothill"). The Holder agrees to execute any and all agreements,
including but not limited to an intercreditor and subordination agreement, which
the holder of Senior Indebtedness may require. The Holder covenants and agrees
for the benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness that it will not take any
security interest, lien or other encumbrance on the assets of the Company as
collateral security for the Company's obligations under this Note without such
holders' prior written consent. The Holder acknowledges that the Company shall
not make, and the Holder shall not accept any payments of principal or interest
on this Note after the Holder's receipt of written notice of the occurrence of
and during the continuation of a default under any Senior Indebtedness
agreement. If the Holder shall at any time receive any payment which is
prohibited by any Senior Indebtedness agreement, and receive notice of same from
any holder of Senior Indebtedness, the Holder will hold such payment in trust
and immediately turn it (or an amount of money equal to it) over to the holder
of Senior Indebtedness for application in payment of the outstanding Senior
Indebtedness.

Section 5. Definitions

         For purposes of this Note, the following terms have the meanings set
forth below.

         "Amounts Payable" means all principal of, interest on, premium, if any,
fees, costs, expenses, indemnities, or any other amounts due from the Company
under this Note, and all claims against or liabilities of the Company in respect
of this Note.

         "Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other days on
which commercial banks in St. Louis, Missouri or New York City are required or
authorized by law to close.

         "Default" means any condition or event that constitutes an Event of
Default or that with notice or lapse of time or both would, unless cured or
waived, become an Event of Default.

         "Indebtedness" means any indebtedness (including, without limitation,
Senior Indebtedness), whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or
evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures, guarantees or similar instruments or
letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or
representing the deferred and unpaid balance of the purchase price of any
property (including pursuant to capital leases), and any financial hedging
obligations, if and to the extent such indebtedness (other than a financial
hedging obligation) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such
person prepared on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, other than a trade payable or accrued expense.

         "Maturity Date" means January 31, 2003.



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         "Note" means this Subordinated Note due on the Maturity Date.

         "Senior Indebtedness" shall mean the principal, interest (including any
interest accruing subsequent to an event specified in Sections 3.1(b) and
3.1(c)), premium, if any, fees (including, without limitation, any commitment,
agency, facility, structuring, restructuring or other fee), costs, expenses,
indemnities, and other amounts due on or in connection with any Indebtedness of
the Company to Foothill Capital Corporation individually or as an Agent for
itself for other lenders, now or herewith incurred, or any documents executed
under or in connection therewith, and any amendments, modifications, deferrals,
renewals or extensions of such Indebtedness, and any amounts owed in respect of
any Indebtedness incurred in refinancing, replacing or refunding the foregoing
(including any refinancing, replacing or refunding with new lenders), unless the
terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such Indebtedness is not
Senior Indebtedness with respect to this Note. Nothing in this Note shall
restrict an Affiliate of the Company from being a holder of Senior Indebtedness.
Indebtedness owed to Affiliates of the Company will be Senior Indebtedness for
purposes of this Note. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Senior
Indebtedness shall include any payables, accrued expenses, fees or other amounts
due to an Affiliate of the Company.

Section 6. Miscellaneous

                  6.1 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to
any party hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, sent
by facsimile transmission or sent by certified, registered or express mail,
postage prepaid, and shall be deemed given when so delivered personally, or sent
by facsimile transmission, or if mailed or sent by overnight courier, upon
receipt thereof, as follows:

         If to the Company to:

                  Peter Edison, President
                  Weiss and Neuman Shoe Co.
                  1209 Washington Avenue
                  St. Louis, Missouri 63103
                  Telephone: (314) 231-5125
                  Facsimile: (314) 212-9707

                  with a copy to:

                  Thomas K. Vandiver
                  Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal
                  One Metropolitan Square, Suite 3000
                  St. Louis, Missouri 63102
                  Telephone: (314) 241-1800
                  Facsimile: (314) 259-5959



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         If to the Holder, to:

                  Daniel Fridrich
                  Southwest Bank of St. Louis
                  2301 S. Kingshighway
                  St. Louis, Missouri 63110
                  Telephone: (314) 776-5200
                  Facsimile: (314) 776-2146

                  with a copy to:

                  John L. Sullivan
                  Armstrong Teasdale, L.P.
                  One Metropolitan Square, Suite 2600
                  St. Louis, Missouri 63102
                  Telephone: (314) 621-5070
                  Facsimile: (314) 621-5065

Each party may, by notice given in accordance with this Section to the other
party, designate another address or person for receipt of notices hereunder.

                  6.2 No Waivers. No failure or delay by the Holder in
exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under this Note shall
operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be
cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. No
notice to or demand on the Company in any case shall entitle the Company to any
other or further notice or demand in related or similar circumstances requiring
such notice.

                  6.3 Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Note may be
amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing,
signed by the Company and the Holder.

                  6.4 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Note shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Holder and its respective
successors and permitted assigns. If requested by a holder of Senior
Indebtedness as part of any consent, the assignee or transferee of the Holder
shall agree in writing to be bound by all of the terms of this Note. The Holder
hereof hereby waives proof of reliance hereon by the holders of Senior
Indebtedness.

                  This Note is registered on the books of the Company and is
transferable only by surrender thereof at the chief executive office of the
Company duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly
executed by the registered holder of this Note or its attorney duly authorized
in writing. Payment of or on account of principal and interest on this Note
shall be made only to or upon the order in writing of the registered holder.

                  6.5 LITIGATION. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED,
APPLIED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF
MISSOURI, AND NO DOCTRINE OF CHOICE



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OF LAW SHALL BE USED TO APPLY ANY LAW OTHER THAN THAT OF MISSOURI, AND NO
DEFENSE, COUNTERCLAIM OR RIGHT OF SET-OFF GIVEN OR ALLOWED BY THE LAWS OF ANY
OTHER STATE OR JURISDICTION, OR ARISING OUT OF THE ENACTMENT, MODIFICATION OR
REPEAL OF ANY LAW, REGULATION, ORDINANCE OR DECREE OF ANY FOREIGN JURISDICTION,
BE INTERPOSED IN ANY ACTION HEREON. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR ARISING OUT OF THIS NOTE MAY BE COMMENCED IN THE STATE
COURTS, OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTS IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. THE
PARTIES CONSENT TO SUCH JURISDICTION, AGREE THAT VENUE WILL BE PROPER IN SUCH
COURTS AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTIONS BASED UPON FORUM NON CONVENIENS. THE CHOICE
OF FORUM SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 6.5 SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO PRECLUDE THE
ENFORCEMENT OF ANY ACTION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

                  If any amounts due pursuant to this Note are not paid when
due, and this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney or attorneys for
collection (whether or not litigation is commenced) or for representation of the
Holder hereof in connection with bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, the
undersigned promises to pay, in addition to all other amounts due hereon, the
reasonable costs and expenses of such collection representation, including
reasonable attorney's fees and expenses.

                                            WEISS AND NEUMAN SHOE CO.



                                            By:  /s/ PETER EDISON
                                                 ------------------------------
                                                 Peter Edison, President



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