Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-05-26
The Cobbler's Story.

"He came running down the steps of
my shop-this very basement-and sat
down in that chair, all out of breath.
Il was hammering away, polishing off
new sole which had just fitted to
customer boot. l was in hurry, be.
cause had promised the boots at two
o'clock, and it was now full quarter
past L 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.
81 had finished one and was nearly
through with the other. 1 looked up
and was glad to see that it was not the
owner of the boots, and | kept hammer
ing all the harder.
"The young mamie was young
man, not more than one and-twenty-
sat about minute. till he got his breath.
Then he spoke up in savage, domineer-
ing way:
"'Look here, old fellow, here's a
little job | want you to attend to while
wait: | am in hurry
81 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, we'll built fellow-a regular
dandy, l should say. What struck me
particularly was that he was as pale as
a ghost
"'Can't touch your job till I am thro'
with this. l shall be done in few
minutes
"Times were dull, you see, and |
thought 1 would hold on to him, if l
could.
He swore big oath, which startled
me so much that dropped the boot-in
fact, | may say it was as good as finish
ed-and held out my hand for his. He
had already pulled it off.
"'How long?' he demanded, sharply.
Il examined the boot-a neat button
gaiter, almost new, best French leather,
first class in 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 clear away to
the ccnter-an odd sort of job. wasn't
it?
"'Well,' exclaimed the man, savagely,
what are you waiting for? Why don't
you answer?'
"'Where is the heel?' ] asked.
I'm perditiOn, he muttered, and l
have half mind to send you there after
it.
81 was frightened. l 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 will take good hour l said,
and can't make good Job at that
"'Will give you thirty minutes, he
answered, taking out his watch. 'Botch
it any way you like, only make it strong.
Thirty minutes, mind
Il went to work with all my might,
the young man cycling me every instant.
l felt all the time as if he was pointing
revolver at me.
"'Do you object if l do this with peg
work 2 said, when came to the heel
it will save good fifteen minutes
"'Peg away he growled. Time al
most up
81 managed to get the heel on in
some sort of fashion. 1t didn't look
much like its mate-ha, ha, ha but
paid no attention to that.
"On went the boot.
"'Now button it, he said.
81 did so.
"He took glance at the street, then
he fumbled in his pocket, and pulling
out roll of bills threw me fve
"'There you are!' he exclaimed
will he back one of these days for the
change.
$50 saying, he darted off double quick
and, turning up the street, was out o.
sight before | could count three.
"My first thought was that he had
given me a counterfeit note. But dis
covered on examining it, that it was
genuine, and no mistake.
81 am in luck to day. l thought
Five dollars for thirty minutes work !
"On looking a little more carefully al
, the bill, perceived on one corner +;
drop of something red, which did no
f appear to be quite dry. No, l can't say
) it was red, like red paint or vermillion
yes. it a0aS red though-leastwise NOR,
red than anything else. 1t looked 81
fresh that l put my finger on the spot
just as one might say, without thinkiD!
e of anything particular yet was in
kind of puzzle, to considering it dic
: look, as was telling you, quite fresl
: like.