The morning call., 1893-09-07
A PAIR OF SHOES.
Society Narrowly Escapes
a Rude Shock.
LONG SAVES A SCANDAL.
The Strange Story of Mrs. q. Fink's
Delay in Obtaining Her French
Importation.

What might have been one of the most
celebrated of society scandals has been
squelched in its incipieDcy by the fnesse
OF very clever attorney.
Imagine the shock that San Francisco
Swelldom would receive if it became known
that one of its most beautiful and cultured
bellies had been convicted of petty larceny.
Imagine, il you can, what the concen-
trated agony OF San Francisco's Four Hun
dred would be like could il realize that one
of its most proper and best dressed yourg
ladies had narrowly escaped night in
dark cell at the City Prison and the
search-ight publicity of a Police Court
investigation in the morning-with the pic
ture of the fair culprit in the afternoon
papers and her family connections told
with fiaring scare heads and double-leaded
paragraphsl
Imagine-but, no; imagination stands
aghast here. and the story itself must be
recited if only the little that has already
been said is to be given the credence It's
truthfulness deserves.
1t is all about two very costly pairs of j..
dainty imported pieces of feminine foot
wear.
They were made in Paris, on a special
of Mrs. G. Fink, who resides with her hus-
band and mother at fashionable hotel.
Lucke, the fashionable shoe-dealer, i'm
ported these shoes for Mrs. Fink.
On August "a the imported shoes arrived
in this city. Before evening of the same
day Mr.. Lueke's errand-boy had delivered
the costly footwear to those in barge at
the Pleasanton, and brought back receipt
for the delivery of the goods.
Mr. Lucke smiled and was happy. The
bill would be sent out next. Collection
day was only four days off.
On the Monday following Mrs. Fink ap-
peared at the shoestOre and inquired of the
astonished Mr.. Lucke why those imported
shoes were so long in coming.
why, madam, those shoes were deliv-
cred last week, exclaimed the dealer.
mot to me-" returned Mrs. Fink. II
have yet to see Them
but they were delivered to your ad-
dress. Here is the receipt" replied Mr..
Lucke.
Presently it dawned upon both that
those imported French shoes had been
misappropriated. But by whom? Search
ing inquiry was made at the = hotel,
and several times the errand-boy was sent
out there to see If he could Identify the
person who signed his receipt and ac-
eepted the goods.
Inquiry was truitless. The whereabouts
OF that costly footwear remained mystery,
profound aud obtuse Hntil next Wednes-
day afternoon.
Came .hen this fair creature of luxury.
culture and magnificent raiment to the
Lucke store. She brought with her a pair
of shoes. relative had made the pur-
chase. They were too small. Could not
they be exchanged for pair just one size
less small?
: The obliging clerk thought they could.
True, he had no shoes in stock of exactly
that make, but here was something Just
as good.''
The exchange was made and the dash
ing belle of San Francisco's 400 walked
out with new shoes on her shapely feet
that were. however. just a size less small
than those of Mrs. Fink.
Ten busy minutes had not elapsed be-
fore the dashing belle returned. Indigna-
tion came with her. Came also bursted
buttonhole on one of those brand new
shoes.
The polite clerk assured her that acct
dents would harpen with the best made
goods. but she would not be pacifed She
wanted the money back for the unsound
shoes. Mr. Lucke himself was called
upon in this crisis. He expressed the
utmost regret that such a thing should
happen to shoe from his house, but the
irate belle wanted more than apologies.
She wanted monev. And money she did
get. A bonus OF 81 90 was paid to her and