The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-08-17
Buying
Shoes

| As Jane and her mother we're In
hurry when they entered the crowded
shoe department they were relieved
to see a man respond to the call OF
! the foorwalker and come toward
them at once with an expectaut smile.
! His little black eyes peered at them
nterestedly through his silver.
trimmed spectacles and he adjusted
he garnet stickpin In bis tie as II
| anxious to create good impression.
Something can show you. mad.
| amp" he asked.
| Yes"
Here" he said. joyfully. BE
| seated"
| Then he stood for a moment. sud-
.en:y nervous and hesitating. The
| a-orwalker pointed with his pencil
20 an empty stool. Reassured. the
go.ng man dragged 1t over.
What size do you wear. madam
Il cont know. Isn't the number In
&c shoe?"
oh, yes" he said. quickly. "oh.
ses the number is in the shoe. but
vas Just wondering what size you
isuaiiy wear"
He looked around. The man who
:es Einistering to the customer on
the left Of them handed him meas.
.-irg stick and he put 1t to use. Then
be stood with the stick In one hand
and the shoe In the other.
"Now-a-what kind Of shoe were
you wanting. madam"
Il want a walking shoe-a good.
:erviceable shoe. but not q heavy
:o.e."
Yes. Now, what shaped toe: Did
you have anything special in mind?"
why. you might let me see few
styles" she said rather briskly Il
don't just know"
James mother is never In a good
humor when she has to buy shoes.
Customers around and about them
completed their transactions with sad.
dening dispatch; new ones came and
went: the congestion Of the morning
disappeared; still their clerk did not
come. James mother watched the
hands Of the clock until she could
stand It no longer.
We'll go!" she said.
you can't" Jane chuckled. HE
has your shoe"
Then you'll have to 60 and find
him."
Ssh! Here he is now!"
His hair was disordered and his
brow held the dew Of labor, but he
smiled afresh. In his hands he bore
one pair of shoes.
This is very popular little SHOE"
he said, holding one up and breathing
hard as he looked at 1t.
"Try 1t on" said James mother.
grimly, thrusting forth foot.
AS If to make up for lost time, the
hook fourished rapidly over each but.
ton until James mother protested.
Too tight" she said. pressing her
lips together.
Exactly. It's the buttons, madam.
Now, see." he said. smoothing the
vamp with the palm of his hand. 10Th.
erwise it's perfect at. We can easily
change the buttons, and" he leaned
forward NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. q
very popular little shoe"
Indeed? It looks rather ordinary
to me. Suppose you let me see some.
thing in patent leather. And If you
could hurry. please. I'd be- very CRATE.
full"
WELL" he smiled. almost sadly,
II don't believe we have any patent
feathers"
The time was passing. How long
would 1t take to have those buttons
changed?" demanded James mother.
About three minutes, madam"
Then I suppose I'll have to take
these"
When he had marked the shoes he
set them gently at his side and, from
what seemed the very depths Of his
heart, drew forth new cash book.
Between the crisp pages Of this book
he adjusted the tracing paper with ex.
asperating precision and with still
greater pains he wrote In q small yer.
teal hand.
I'm just a moment now" he said,
and departed.
Jane and her mother are still won.
dering through what eliminating ex.
perience he went during the ten min.
utes that ensued. for when they saw
him again he was perspiring heavily
and mopped his forehead with large
handkerchief. He did not return to
them, however.
Il have to 60 to lunch" they heard
him entreat the man who had given
him the measuring stick. "Will you at.
tend to my customers?"
The other salesman came to the
mother and daughter a moment later.
II have your parcel" he said, land
your change"
"My shoel" gasped James mother
suddenly as he was about to 60. my
other shoe!"
II beg your pardon" he said. inquir.
ingly.