Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-05-29
A Pair Of
Shoes
Copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper uniOp.l
BY RALPH HAMILTON

Copyright, 1919. by Western Newspaper union.l
You're good fellow" mumbled
Robert Ford, shoe merchant, but he
hiceoughed as he said it. Then he
profusely shook the hand Of his rescu-
er, for such Wyie Grier had proved
himself To be.
The latter, humbly appareled, wear
ing sadly broken shoes and a battered
hat was a strong. strange contrast 10
the nattily attired Ford. The latter
did not seen to mind that one bit.
Truly democratic gratitude glowei
upon the forid face of the conyiyial
shoe merchant. His alcoholic eXpan-
Siveness had led to careless, swing
ing motion Grier had pulled him out
of the way of a bounding automobile.
He had recognized the rescue act in
It's true proportions.
You're a good fellow" he repeated,
"and you just come with me-" and he
linked his arm in that Of Grler and led
the way to his neat, up-to-date store.
He gently urged Grier to a seat re-
moved his hat and although somewhat
unsteady on his pins, at once assumed
the bearing Of man engaged in real
business.
Let me see" he unused audibly.
about number nine will fill the bill"
but, say" demonstrated Grier feeb-
ly, 1--WE got no money"
"Who said you had? No need Of it,"
retorted Ford keenly.
"And I'm not looking for pay for
common, friendly act"
81 fancy / know how near that ma.
chine grazed me. You're going to get
a pair of shoes, free gratis. Goodness
knows, you need them !" and Ford Sc
lected a pair that his clever eye dis
cerned was suited to heavy wear, fit
ted them, laced them, and bowed TO
this moneyless customer, but sppreci-
ated reScuer, as courteously as though
he were a millionaire
81 don't know how much TO thank
YOU" spoke Wylie Grier and there was
little grateful catch in his voice
Don't take me for tramp who would
pawn or sell that comfortable foot.
wear for a drink But viii you kind
~ do up the old ones? You see, I'm
trying to get back to responsibility,
and l take all the odd jobs that come
along. Sometimes it's digging ashes,
and the old shoes will do for that
Sure" assented Ford graclously.
"And say, when / think of that auto
mobile l sort of shudder. A drop too
much, step too slow-and hlngoi
but it was a narrow escape" Then he
slapped Grier cheerfully on the Shout
der, as If he was his friend and hero,
and Grier left the store. the bundle
containing his old shoes under HIS
arm proud, pleased ana encouraged.
For he felt that he deserved encour-
agement, did Wylie Grier. He had
been ION the water wagon" for two
months, and gradually, as his poor, be-
logged brain had come out from under
the cloud Of years of Sodden indiffer-
ence, had given way to remorse, and
that TO memory, and that TO hope. He
tried to remember the wife and two
children he had so cruelty abandoned,
whereas in the old, reckless days he
had sought only TO forget them. And
there grew up within him longing, q
yearning, a love restored for all he
had on earth to cling to.
Outside the shoe shop Grier noticed
what he had not seen before Just
al the edge of the sidewalk was q red,
white and blue barrel. Upon II was
a printed card: "Give your old shoes
for the barefooted men and women OF
Belgium" He made an involuntary
movement to place his discarded foot.
wear in the barrel Then a spasm of
true emotion was manifested in his
face. In a flash all that was generous
and tender In his nature came to the
surface, He walked over to a step.
removed the gift just awarded, put on
the old, broken shoes, deposited the
new ones in the barrel and left the
spot, head erect, pulses beating fast,
glad and proud that fate had put it Ia
his way to bring out the best that
was in him.
From beyond the store window Ford
had noted, first with curiosity, then In
terest, and finally with a mantiing
blush Of shame, the act so clearly out
lined that its noble motive could not
be misunderstood He ran to the door.
Eli! You come back here" he
shouted after Grier. and grabbed his
arm and pulled him into the store as
Grier wonderingly approached him.
You TO a staring clerk, "plck ont
one pair az every size in the establish
ment Oh, say I'm mean, self>h-a
cad You gave up your best. and 7.
the Dragging patriot the liberal Mr..
Ford, donated twelve pairs Of tooth.
pick, out-of-style bumpers that would
make the Belelans below II they tried
TO wear them Oh Some one kick
me, And you-down and outg VOL.
feel the lesson you've taught me.
I'll make you a man again r.
Which he did, within a week. In
neat attire, shaven, engaging and hope
full, Wylie Grier WIS a sort Of general
utility man about the shoe store, earn
ing a respectable living.