The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1913-02-21

far beyond the scope Of the Bugles
local column. There might have peen
employment here for the alienist or
for those who circulate the pledge.
but had had enough Of it. l got up
and repeated that l must go.
"'Twas me that did it, he NUT
tered as led him toward the door
"me, the shoemaker of Jerusalem
/ got him to the sidewalk, and in the
augmented light l saw that his race
was scared and lined and warped by
a sadness almost incredibly the prod
uct Of single lifetime.
l stood, uncertain how to take my
leave. l looked down the street,
shuffled my feet, looked back again
and felt my hair rise. The old man
had disappeared.
And then my capillaries relaxed, for
l dimly saw him footing 1T away
through the darkness But he walked
so swiftly and silently and contrary
to the gait promised by his age that
my composure was not all restored,
though I knew not why.
That night l was foolish enough to
take down some dust covered volumes
from my modest shelves. l searched
"Hermippus Redivivus" and "SalathieP'
and the "Pepys Collection" in vain.
And then In a book called 1.-THE Citi-
zen Of the World" and in one two
centuries old l came upon what de-
sired. Michob Alder had indeed come
to Paris in the year 1643 and related
to the Turkish Spy an extraordinary
story. He claimed to be the Wander.
ing Jew, and that
But here ! fell asleep. for my edi-
torial duties had not been light that
day.
Judge Hoover was the Bugle's candi
date for congress. Having to confer
with him. sought his home early the
next morning, and we walked together
downtown through little street with
which l was unfamiliar.
did you ever hear of Michob Alder?
asked him, smiling
"Why, yes" said the judge. "And
that reminds me of my shoes he has
for mending. Here is his shop now"
Judge Hoover stepped into dingy
small shop. l looked up at the sigr
and saw Mike O'Bader, Boot and Shoe
Maker" on it.
There sat my Wandering Jew on his
shoemaker's bench trimming hall
sole.
Judge Hoover inquired kindly con
corning his shoes. The old shoemaker
looked up and spoke sanely enough
He had been i'll, he said, for a few
days. The next day the shoes would
be ready. He looked at me, and
could see that l had no place in his
memory. So out we went and on oul
way.
'Old Mike" remarked the candidate
has been on one of his sprees. HI
gets crazy drunk regularly once q
month. But he's good shoemaker"
What is his history:" inquired.
whisky" epitomized Judge Hoover
THAT explains him.
| was silent. but did not accept the
explanation. And so when had the
chance l asked Old Man Sellers. who
browsed daily on my exchanges.
Mike O'Bader," said he, twas
maxim shoes in Montopolis when
come here goin on fifteen year ago.
guess whisky's his trouble Once o
month he gets off the track and stays
so week. He's got rigmarole some
thin about his bein' a peddler that
he tells everybody. Nobody won't lister
to him any more. When he's sober he
amt SIGH fool
But again 1 would not. Not yet was
my Wandering Jay rightly construed
for me. / trust that women may not
be allowed a title to all the curiosity
In the world. So when Montopolis
Oldest inhabitant (some ninety score
years younger than Michob Ader)
dropped in to acquire PRONUNCIATION in
print l siphoned his perpetual trickle
Of "reminiscences in the direction of the
uninterrupted maker of shoes.
Uncle Abner was the complete his
tory of Montopolis. bound in butternut
'O'Bader." he quavered. come here
In 60 He was the first shoemake,
In the place. Folks generally considers
him crazy at times now. But he don't
harm nobody. l s'pose drinkin upset
his mlnd-yes. drinkin' very likely done
1t. It's a powerful bad thing, drinkin'
I'm an old, old man. sir and never
see no good in drinkin'."
did Mike O'Bader have great loss
or trouble of any kindT' asked.
"Lemme see. About thirty year age
there was somethin' of the kind.
recollect Montopolis. sir, in them day,
used to be mighty strict place.
well, Mike O'Bader had daughte
then-a right pretty girl. She was to,
gay sort for Montopolis. so one da,
she slips off to another town and rum
away with circus. It was two years
before she comes back. all fixed up il
fine clothes and rings and jewelry, t,
see Mike. He wouldn't have nothin' t,
do with her, so she stays around tow
awhile. anyway. l reckon the mel
folks wouldn't have raised no objec