Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1918-03-21
IN IA "a ~ ~ N ~ - ~ ~ -
= = SQUEAKY SHOES =
IN -
N BY VINCENT G. PERRY. n
Fes -
Copyright. 1918. By the Mcclure Eewspa
per EYndirate1

before he Ind thrown his bathrObe
over his paJamns. slipped into his slip
pers and opened his bedroom door, but
In that short time whoever 1t was that
had raped, had disappeared. Marshall
was about TO close the door when the
Odor Of hot coffee reached his nos
trls; there IL was--a large cupful on
Il tray at his feet and there was a
plate OF steaming mullins, too.
"Wcll, this IS the best yet" he nut.
tered as he picked up the tray. "my
roomlng-house lady certainly is atten-
tive TO her roOmers."
He did not wait TO dress before tack.
ling the mullins and coffee.
Great !" he exclaimed when the last
crumb had been washed down by the
last drop of coffee. 81 made change
for the better when | moved here.
Breakfast wasn't included In my bar
gain. either"
Marshall was clerk In shoe store.
Saturday night, the busiest Of all the
week for him, came and was almost
gone. He was tired through and
through, and the prospect OF sleeping
late on Sunday looked bright.
He was the last one to leave the
store that night and was just turning
the key in the lock TO close up when
he heard a faint pant beside him. He
looked and saw pretty young woman
who had been hurrylng.
"Oh, am ! too late to get pair of
shocsT she painted IL have been work
ing late tonight and / did so want TO
get them !"
There was an appeal In her tone and
he liked her face. 1T won't be any
trouble to open up again" be answered
rs he pushed upon the door and flashed
on the lights. "What style of shoe do
you want and what size do you wear 2"
She did not take long to make her
choice. Almost the first pair he showed
her she liked. and although he warned
her that they would squeak for time
until they were broken-in, she was bent
on the purchase.
ut is late for you to be out alone.
Perhaps am going your way" he sug-
gested.
~ live In Marlborough street; num-
Der thlrty-seven."
"The very place where | ROOM" he
said in surprise, II have just been there
Il week"
1T is strange that we have never
met ut the rooming house." she said
rs they were walking home. II have
been working so hard ut the Office the
last two weeks that haven't had time
to notice any changes. Where is your
roomf'
AT the end of the hall on the second
floor"
She started. "Are you sureT she
asked
Certainly"
HAS Miss Moore. the former occu-
pant OF that room, left the house alto
getherT
"The landlady told me that they had
taken her 20 n sanitnrium, The room
was fumlgated before went into IT,"
Poor little thing. l was afraid II
would come TO that" There was gem
uine sorrow In her voice. AS Marshall
wished her goodnight he asked her
her name.
Grace Atkinson" she answered.
Mine is Marshall Bell" he told
her, "and hope l will be able 10 re-
new our acquaintance some time
soon" Then he went TO bed.
When he nwoke II was past noon. He
jumped out OF bed. hurricdly. Why
hadn't he wnkened NJ the knock The
coffee and mullins would be cold. He
opened the door md gave n gasp OF dis
appointment. The tray was not there.
As he passed through the hall on
his way out to dinner, he looked into
the sitting room. where he spled the
young woman OF the evening before.
sitting reading.
Wont you come out to dinner7" ne
invited.
She hesltnted for minute. then
rose "Thank you. will." she said.
As she walked toward him he noticed
the squeak of her new shoes.
"rhe lnndlndy must be sick" he re-
marked after they had had dinner. "She
always leaves nice tray of mullins
and coffee for me In the morning, but
this morning she did not do so. love
mullins and coffee I"
81 think the landlady is quite Well"
Grace answered, as she put her hand
kerchief TO her cheeks to hide blush.
Monday morning Marshall woke with
n start. Had he been dreamiug2 He
would have sworn that he had heard
4 rap on his door He listened. There
was an unmistakahle sound of squeak
Ing shoes going down the hall. He
opened the door just little. The odor
Of coffee greeted him and he seized
the tray. After he had finished he
dressed, and as he was going out
stopped to put the tray back where
he had found II but. struck with
thought, he put it back In his room
and locked his door as he went out.
Grace Sterling was preparing sup
per that evening when there was
tlmid knock on her door She opened
IL and was confronted by Marshall Bell
tray IN hand.
Il have come 10 bring back your tray
aud dishes" he said "and wish 10