The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-05-03
THE COBBLER'S STORY
BY Richard B. KIMBALL.

He came running down the steps of
my shop-this very basement-and sat
down in that chair, all out of breath.
was hammering away, polishing of
a new sole which | had lust fitted to q
customers boot. | was in q great hurry,
because | had promised the boots at two
O'Clock, and it was now q full quarter
past. | should not have minded that.
but the gentleman said he should Ger.
tainly call for them at two. He was a
good customer, and | did not wish to
disappoint him.
=" had finished one, and was nearly
through with the other. | looked w
and was glad to sec that it was not the
owner of the boots, and | kept hammer
ing all the harder.
The young mamie was q young
man, not more than One-and-twenty-
sat about a minute, till he gothis breath.
Then he spoke up, in savage, domineer-
ing way:
az Look here, old fellow, here's little
job | want you to attend tC while | wait;
| am IN hurry
:" did not like his tone; and, raising
my eyes to his face, did not like his
looks, either. For all that, he was a
handsome, well built fellow-a regular
dandy, | should say. What struck me
particularly was that he was as pale as a
ghost.
"'Can't touch your job till am
through with this. | shall be done in q
few minutes
Times were dull, you see, and
thought | would hold on to him, if |
could.
He swore a big oath, which startled
me so much that Dropped the boot-in
fact, | may say it was as good as finished
and held out my hand for his. He had
already pulled it off.
"'How long2' he demanded, sharply.
[ examined the boot-a neat button
gaiter, almost new, best French leather,
frst-class every way; in fact, one of
Stiles best-you know Stiles is first
class-should say the pair must have
cost fourteen dollars, perhaps fourteen
fifty, with the leather buttons, which are
extra. The strangest part of the whole
was, that the heel had been torn off, and
the sole ripped clesr away TO the centre
An odd sort of job, wasn't it?
SO Well exclaimed the man, savagely,
what are you waiting for? Why don't
you answer
- Where is the heel?' | asked.
90 In perdition, he muttered; and !
have hall mind to send you there after
it,
:" / was frightened. I had read so
many murder cases in the newspapers, |
was afraid | was to make one Of them.
He looked to ME as if he would not
think twice before putting one of my
own knives through me.
- 1t viii take good hour l SAID,
and | can't make neat Job at that.
= Will give you thirty minutes he
answered, taking out his watch 'Botch
it any way you Ike, only make it
strong. Thirty minutes, mind"
" | went to work with all my might,
the young man cycling me every instant.
| felt all the time as if he was pointing
revolver at me.
Do you object if l do this with peg.
work. / said, when | came to the heel
it will save good fifteen minutes
- Peg away he growled. Time al
most up.
q managed to get the heel on some
sort of fashion. 1t didn't look much
like its mate-ha, ha, ha!-but he paid
no attention to that.
"0n went the boot.
- Now button it, he said.
q / did go.
"He took glance at the street, then
he fumbled in his pocket, and pulling
out roll Of bills, threw me q FIVE.
"There you srer he exclaimed
VIII be back one of these days for the
change
Sosaying, he dsrted of double-quick,
and, turning up the street, WAS out OF
sight before | could count three.
Ny first thought was that he had
given me 2 counterfeit note. But dis
covered, on examining it, that it was
genuine, and no mistake.
90 am in luck to-day, l thought
Five dollars for thirty minutes work
con looking little more careful at
the bill, perceived on one corner a drop
of something red, which did not appear
TO be exactly dry, No, can't say il
was red, like red paint or Yermilion yes,
IL tE4s red thouch-fezstwisa r,ora red