Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1879 — But He Couldn't. [ARTICLE]

But He Couldn't.

Detroit Free Press. There was a strapping big young fellow from the interior at the foot of Woodward avenue yesterday, to see the shipping. Several boot-blocks had tackled him for a job in vain, and they Anally got together behind some bunches of shingles* and went into Committee of the Whole to concoct a scheme for revenge. As a result, an innocent looking shiner sidled up to the stranger and said: “See here, Johnnie, I’ve made a bet with the boys.” “Wall, I don’t keer,” * was the coldhearted answer. “I’ve made a bfet that I kin shine one o’ them shoes o’ yourn in less'n four minits,” continued the boy. The bet is a quarter and I know you’ll gin me a chance to win it. Jlst stick out your foot here, and the job wont‘cost ye a cent.” The stranger slowly consented, aud held his watch to time the work. The lad worked fast, and be bad a good polish on the shoe in about three minutes. When through he rose up, packed away taift brushes, and the stranger found himself hi just the fix tne boys had planned.' They expected an offer to complete the job, b it it did not come. After a moment devoted to thought the roung man descended the steps to the harbor Master’s boat, reached out his leg for the water, and “souse went the shiny shoe below the surface. “I reckon,” said the stranger as he pulled in his leg and let half a gallon of water run out of his shoe, “I reckon you boys think you’re smart, but none of our family ever mistook saleratus for salsody, and I didn’t come to town to have my haircut with a buzz-saw.