The Washburn leader., 1916-02-04
THE Old SHOES
BY ceNEvlEvE uLMAR.

< BY cENEWEvE uLMAR.
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Il am sorry to have to ask an inn
mense favor Of you, Mary" began
John Rice. in his clumsy. but straight
forward fashion.
III 1t is something that pleases you,
or does you any good,' brightly re-
sponded his patient, gentle-faced wife,
don't be sorry. John. Be glad, for 1
am bound to grant It,"
"You dear, lovable sweetheart" en-.
thused John. Il don't know how I
ever came to get you-I don't deserve
you. You have been imposed upon
ever since married you. Just to
think Of it! calculated that father
had enough to care Tor the home brood
as long as any Of them lived. You
know how he went out to Oregon with
all his money bent on buying a big
fruit farm and moving there. You re.
member how he came home dazed,
and telling an incoherent story Of be.
ing beaten in a rough mining town
out West. We could get no trace Of
the thirty thousand dollars he had
taken with him for investments. II
was gone-lost. Father died. Mother
found barely enough left to support
her. To relieve her you consented
to take the children"
Wanted them, you mean. l was
delighted to have the dear little ones
to care for
well, may as well break the final
bad news" went OF John desperately.
Mothers millinery venture has failed.
She can struggle on no longer and
hold on! where are you going?" for
Mary was fitting away fast as she
could go.
Where am going?" she chirped
vivaciously. why, to get the spare
room ready and comfortable fast as l
can, of course. Why, sir, do you think
am going to have honored company
catch me unprepared?"
You ANGEL" voiced John Rice. "You
have brought nothing but brightness
and blessings to anyone coming near
you!"
Johns mother was settled in the
very best room in the house. New life
seemed to inspire her, with her chill.
dren restored to her, and Mary,s con.
slant cheerful smile brought radiant
sunshine to her dropping spirit.
Things were not going we'll with
John. A cut in salary made him look
serious, but Mary declared it possible
to meet the grocery bill without de.
priving them Of enough to eat. The
mother contributed q few dollars a
f.month to the household from doing
some sewing, but John was worried.
for It looked vague and dark ahead.
Then came new surprise. and com.
plication, and burden. The brother Of
Mary was crippled in an accident at
the mills where he had worked. The
doctor said he would be an invalid
for about a year. Harry Estes could
get around well enough, but he could
not do the hard work his former posi-.
ton had required.
Harry was cutting away dangling
piece Of shoe sole when old Mrs.
Rice noticed the fact.
''Why. Harry, your shoes are pretty
we'll gone up, aren't they?" she re.
marked.
"That for some time,' Harry tried
to say lightly.
II was thinking" proceeded Mrs.
Rice re1ectively. Il have some clothes
and such up in the old trunk of my
dead husband. Yes. and am certain
there is pair Of shoes he wore. They
are not new, but certainly better than
those you are wearing. Il they fit
you, they might do. Wait III go and
look them up"
Mrs. Rice proceeded to the attic.
She, returned shortly with the pair Of
shoes she had described and handed
them to Harry.
'Why, they At. Just famously," he
declared, as he tried one ON. They
would do me for six months II they
were patched up little. i helped the
old shoemaker on Central street carry
in some leather supplies q few days
since. He told me that made me q
free customer in the way Of repairs
might need. I'll 60 and see him now"
The shoemaker was true to his
7 promise. Harry sat in his stocking
feet as the artisan began work on the
shoes.
The worker had found the sole Of
the shoe quite regular and ordinary.
When he came to the other, however,
Il held fast and firm and he had to
dig hard to loosen two thin plates Of
steel. He drew them out. Between
them lay q little package, done up in
oilskin.
Whoever wore these shoes used
this sole for a pocketbook," observed
the cobbler. as he handed the oilskin
packet to Harry.
The latter unfolded it. Within rest.
ed q note! or q check! No, certi.
6cate Of deposit on an Oregon bank
for thirty thousand dollars!
Harry knew. enough OF the history
Of the Rice family to read the oracle