"
That was all Gustave said. He did not tell him about the wonder shoes
for that was a secret.
When he came back that way with the butter, Max was still out at play.
"I will race with you as far as my gate," Gustave said to Max.
"But I shall beat you because I am riding my velocipede and can race
on wheels while you will have to race on foot," said Max.
But Gustave was off like an arrow and although Max worked the pedals
of his new velocipede as fast as he could, he was not able to win the
race. Gustave reached his gate before Max on his velocipede did.
"How did you go so fast?" asked Max.
"I have new shoes," said Gustave, but still he did not tell the secret
of their wonder.
"I should like to have a pair just like them," said Max, who was often
late for school and seldom able to do an errand for his mother
promptly.
"I will ask the old shoemaker if he has any more shoes like mine,
Max," Gustave said. So, after he had given his mother the pat of
butter, which was exactly in time, he went back to the shop of the old
shoemaker.
"My friend, Max, wants a pair of wonder shoes like mine," Gustave
said. "Have you any more?" he asked.
The old shoemaker smiled, and chuckled, and laughed, until his
spectacles nearly dropped off.
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