The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1919-09-27

DOlu dl JQe same llIuS. 1eOpIG SldISu
at him and he was humiliated from
the fact that they stared also at the
big policeman who had just led him
from drinking place and now kindly,
though, reprovingly, took him to the
corner with the words:
"GO home now, young man, and
thank me for saving you your money
and perhaps your sense. | fancy you
don't know the reputation of the joint
you went into"
Rodney Price did not reply. He
traced in going into 1.-The joint" a step
down an incline whittier he had been
headed for some time past. He had
gone into the place because he had not
the moral strength to resist a panacea
for headache, a trembling frame and
a general sense of collapse, due to
over-indulgence the night previous.
The dutiful and friendly officer saw
to it that the man he had rescued
was not followed or headed off. He
kept his eye on Price until he had
turned a corner. Half a square further
progressed, the latter stumbled where
there was a loose sidewalk tile. He
steadied himself and did not fall, al
though his head was dizzy and a sub
tie drOWSineSS was overcoming him.
Contact with the obstruction had rip
ped off the heel of one shoe. Price
picked it UP and passed on his way
seeking a shoe shop and at last came
to a sign telling that repairing was
done inside.
A woman, her back to him, was hold
ing out two little shoes and explaining
that she wanted them ready by noon,
when she would call for them. As
Price plunged heavily into a seat she
addressed the cobbler.
Its my little ones birthday, Mr..
Akers," she said, "and I've promised
to take her to a movie this afternoon.
'The cost will be nothing, ma'am,"
observed the gentle hearted cObbler.
"Pu send them over before noon, and
you can tell your little one that the
mending was my present, and if was
a little better off I'd give her a brand
new pair"
Rodney Price held his senses diz-
zying and muddled. Somehow, how
ever, he reused up as a vague recog-
milton of the soft low tone Of the wOm-
an reached his hearing, but he could
not trace out the suggestion. la a
maudlin way he gained the counter
unsteadily.
"Just fix my heel, will your he
spoke, and handed it and the shoe he
had taken off to the cobbler. "And let
me snooze for an hour I'm terribly
dOzy. When you wake me up have the
little girls shoe fixed, too. I've got
an idea. 5ee?"
The old shoemaker did not "See"
anything further than an inebriate
talking incoherently. When the hour
had gone by, however, he came from
behind the counter, the mended shoe
in his hand. He had some difficulty
In arousing Price, who unknOwingly
was the victim of a drugged drink.
The latter put on the shoe, produced
well-f1lled pocket book, selected
bank note and threw it on the counter.
"No change" he ordered. "Hello !"
as his eyes fell upon the little mended
shoes, and then his hand passed over
his brow confusedly. "Oh, yes, I re-
member now, poor woman the child's
birthday. And you, good old soul, was
to fix the shoes for nothing. A capital
Job, too, neatly patched and polished
up nicely. Here" and he rendered
second bank note TO the astonished
cobbler. "And here" he added with
reckless laugh, "Tll do my share" and
he stuffed a handful of bills in one OF
the tiny shoes Nov then, you let
me deliver them, won't you? Where
does the little one live?"
Second floor, No. 1S2, six doors
west There's a sign in frOnt-'dress-
maker"
"All right. Poor little shoes. Poor
little child. And me a regular goody
two shoes. eh? Well somebody will be
happy, and the bewildered shoemak-
er's visitor left the place unsteadily,
the two little shoes in his hand.
His gait was unsteady, his sight
blurred, for the drugged drink had not
yet lost its effect. He located 182, how
ever, and the sign "dressmaker" and
the second floor. About to approach
door he slipped to the floor of the hall
way instead, for a second time rob-
bed of his senses by the drug.
"Oh, mamma !" exclaimed the little
child, as she chanced to- open the
door, and, startled, noticed the pros
trate man. Here's someone sick, or
asleep and oh, my shoes. all fixed up
beautifully, and oh, mamma! they are
full of money! -
Lost in amazement the mother view
ed the situation.
When Rodney Price aroused again
he lay on a couch in neat but poor
ly furnished room. He fancied he
was dreaming as a familiar, long
sought-for face seemed to flash across
his vision He rpvipwn7 tho uaSt -