The evening times., 1896-10-20
HOW BE|DLER WON A TEN
Walked Six Blocks Barefoot
at Church Time.
BIG CROWD SAW THE FUN
The Young Men Were Talking Over
Election Bets and Milt Beidler
Proved He Would Pay If He Lost.
James Rudd and Otto Fischer Make
wheelbarrow Wager.

They were discussing politics at a down.
Town resort last Sunday afternoon, when
The question turned upon election wagers.
There were a dozen or more young nien In
the group, anu each propounded a different
sort OF bet. The wheelbarrow ride, the
mustache sacrifice and other wagers which
would be Illuminating to the1osing candi-
date were proposed, but the one which
seemed TO take most favorably with the
boys was thatsuggestedb by Mr Percy 4 ngle.
II was that the Bryan or Mckinley man
whose favorite should lose on election day
should walk barefoot for Il certain distance
about the downtown portion OF tie city.
There were several enthusiasts who were
willing to accept the terms, but suspicion
rested upon some lest niodeSty would cause
the follower Of the defeated candidate TO
fan TO comply when tie time came. There
were those who didn't believe any man
would SO humble himself
To prove that he at least was willing to
carry out the agreement in case his candi-
date should lose Milt Beidler offered to bet
that he would perform the task at once.
THEY PUT UP THE MONEY.
A pool was at once formed and the young
the crowd. The agreement was that lie
should remove his Shoes and stockings roll
his trousers up to his knees and walk in
his bare feet from the corner Of Fifth and
Gstreets northwest to Seventh, thence down
seventh to F and up F to Fifth and back
to the place Of beginning, thus completing
circuit Of six squares
The cash was no sooner up than the foot
gear was removed and the trousers turned
dp far more than London style. II was
Sunday evening after dark and people were
passing along tochurch. The air was chilly
and Beidlers feet We're tender
lie walked, but he stepped as though ne
were treadiDg onegg shells, and wa afraid
they would break. a shouting, laughing
crowd Of men and boys followed after the
bare feet, Jeering and testing. A philan
tbropical old gentleman met Beidler at the
corner OF Seventh street, and sympathized
With his for the nude condition OF has pedal
extremities. He attempted TO persuade
the crowd To have respect for the sabbath
and compassion on the barefoot man, but
this didn't 90 with the group. They were
having no end of fun
1t was costing them something to be
sure, but that was no pleasure trip for
young Beidler. The pavement was hard
and cold a nd Beidler stubbed his toes until
they bied, but he didL'6 stop. Each step
cost him a thrill OF pain. The crowd grew
larger and more iubilant. until hen he
turned the corner OF Seventh and F
streets fully 200 persons We're following
him.
CORN DOCTOR GOT a GOOD JOB.
Then he quiCkened his pace and the group
followed close behind. 1t was q curious
sight and no one appreciated the uncom-
Portable circumstances more than young
Beidler. He was glad when he reached
Fifth and G streets again, and had Won
the tenner.
1t cost him a good portion OF it to pay
the chiropodist to get his feet in cUndi-
tiona again so that he could walk yes
terday.
The money was promptly paid over, for
the boys had had much more than SO
worth OF fun, and in the excitement forgot
all about the election bets, and it is safe
to say that no more wagers of a similar
nature will be made with young Eeidler.
But the ordinary run OF amusing wagers
goes on. James II. Rudd and Otto,Fischcg.
BARRIERS ut Luber's shop. under the National
Theater. made a wheelbarrow bet on the
election this morning. They put up 500
each as a forfeit in case the loser fails to
perform the wheeling agreed upon.
James II. Rucd is for Bryan and Otto
Fischer for Mckinley. If Mckinley wins
Mr. Rudd is to wheel Mr.. Fischer from the
shop down ennsylvania avenue to the
Capitol and back. II Bryan wins.-but lie
isn't going to.