Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-11-18
SHOES CAME BACK.
HOW Mr.. AND MRS. AlGERNON SMITH
DISPOSED OF A NUISANCE.
They Couldn't Sell the Things, Couldn't
Give Them Away and Were Not Permit
ted to Lose Them Finally Smith Thought
of the Furnace, and All Is Well.

of the Furnace, and All Is Well.
A rag peddler was slowly passing
Mrs. AlgerDon Smith s house when that
good woman hailed him.
GLOW much for old shoes?''
"Helluy cent pount for WOOL an
cotton. CANT puy ole shoes. I"
"But won't you give me something
for them?'
"Any iron or pottles you want to sell
lady? You want to sell dose things vat
you haf on? Helluv cent a pount. ]
gan no more gif. | want not dose shoes,
not for nottings. Nottings else?"
Mrs. Smith Indignantly closed the
window. When her husband came home
at night, she said:
"Algernon, | want you to take lot
of old shoes I've done up in package
and throw them away. F"
"Why don't you give them to the
washerwoman?" asked Mr.. Smith.
"She won't have them--says they re
not her kind of shoes, was the answer.
"They are all either too large or too
small, the heels are too high, and they
hre the wrong number | offered them
to tramp, and he said when he went
into the shoe business he would let me
know-he wasn't buying mistits yet. "
81 like his impudence. Where are
they? I'll make short work of them, -
said Mr.. Smith, and he took the big
bundle his wife gave him and went out
In 10 minutes he was back
$50 you got rid Of them, !" said his
wife joyfully. Il think there was an
accumulation of six years III that lot
Some of them | had given to people
who were begging at the door, but | al
ways found them again nexG day in the
lot. Old shoes are like cats, if You send
them away they always come back"
1.-THE cat won't come back this time, "
said her husband. 81 dumped them in a
vacant lot and ran. After this when
you buy pair Of new shoes leave your
old ones at the store,
Next morning as Mrs Smith was do
ing her homework the door bell rang.
81 guess maybe you've had bur
glary. said the CHEEKY voice of man
who stood on the steps and seemed in 9
hurry y found this bundle, with your
name and address on it, when | was
looking over my lot today.
Mrs Smith took the bundle and fee
bly, thanked him. When Algernon came
home, she told him. He said there were
more ways Of killing n cat than of chok-
ing her with butter, and after supper he
took up the bundle and went out.
He knew of nice dark place down
near church where he could slide in
and drop that load of shoes without be
ing seen. He had taken the precaution
to tear off the address and had changed
the shape of the bundle AS he deposit
ed it in the archway Of this dark corner
n heavy hand was laid on his shoulder
mo you don t, No abandonment of
the little innocent when you get tired
of your own flesh and blood Pick up
the poor thing now or II club ye. +"
1t was the new policeman ON that
beat, and he didn't know Mr.. Smith
He listened to his explanation with a
most aggressive end unbolieviug air
'Lemme see the kid, he demanded,
and when the "kid' proved to be Kid
shoes he grow still angrier.
i've a mind to run We III for disturb
ing the peace and resisting an officer,
he said, tut finally permitted Smith to
take his bundle and 20 home.
The next night smudga came ont OF
the Smiths chimney, and tho nci&hbms
held their noses. About midnight Il
loud rapping was heard at the front
door, ana light in the basement was
hastily eNtiuguished Mir, Smith an,
swered tho summons, while Mrs. Smith
hid in the coal cellar A patrol wagon
full Of policemen was at tho door One
of them was on the steps
Are you running a glue factory here
without a iceuao?' he demanded of
Smith.
"TEon what is that internal odor?
Your ucighbors have telcphonod that
you were making yourself a nuisance
and want You abatcd
smith took the crowd in and told his
story--how they had put those shoes in
the garhaCa hoN and had them turned
out again ana how they had tried to sell
them or give them away and finally 10
lose them Then he showed the police to
tine basement and opened the door OF Che
furnace, where The shoes were being
creuutcd Then he produced some bot
ties with long uecLs that were mt for
his birthday, and for half an hour he