The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-10
The OLD SHOES
BY GENEvIEvE ULMAR.

John Rice, in his clumsy, but straight
forward fashion.
IF it is something that pleases you,
or does you any good" brightly re-
sponded his patient, gentle-faced wire,
don't be sorry, John. Be glad, for l
am bound to grant it"
You dear, lovable sweetheart" en-
Unused John. Il don't know how l
ever came to get you'll 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 for 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. 1t
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. I was
delighted to have the dear little ones
to care for"
well. may as we'll break the final
bad news" went on 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
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'll"
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 few dollars a
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 year. Harry Estes could
get around we'll enough, but he could
not do the hard work his former posi-.
ton had required.
Harry was cutting away a dangling
piece of shoe sole when old Mrs.
Rice noticed the fact.
why, Harry, your shoes are pretty
well gone up, aren't they?" she re.
marked.
That for some time,' Harry tried
to say lightly.
Il was thinking proceeded Mrs.
Rice refectively. 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. If thew fiji
you, they might do. Wait I'll 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 fit just famously," he
declared, as he tried one on. Thew
would do me for six months If thew
were patched up little. | helped the
old shoemaker on Central street carry
in some leather supplies a few DAVIS
since. He told me that made me a
free customer in the way of repairs
might need I'll go and see him now"
The shoemaker was true to his
promise. Harry sat in his stocking
1eet as the artisan began work on the
shoes.
The worker had found the sole of
tne shoe quite regular and ordinary.
When ne came to the other, however.
It held fast and firm and he had to
dig hard to loosen two thin plates of
Steel He drew them out. Betveen
them lay little package. done I'M in
oilskin.
whoever wore these shoes used
this sole for a pocketbook," observed
the cobbler, as he handed he oilskin
packet to Harry.
The latter unfolded it. Within rest.
eu note! or a check! No, certi-
hcate of deposit on an Oregon bank
Tor thirty thousand dollars!
Harry knew enough of the history
or the Rice family to read the oracle
promptly. He uttered an excited ven
Then, in his stocking feet, he made a
dash for home.
The agitated Mrs. Rice insisted ON
going straight to the local bank to he
assured the certificate was good
There she left it for collection-"haIf
to John and Mary" she directed
If we hadn't taken in the children
mother would never have come, nor
the old shoes" reasoned the bappv
Mary And, oh, John, see the grand
fortune that has come to us for dutv
well performed"
'Sopyrlght, 1915. by the Mcclure Newsna.
per SyndicateD
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