The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-12-30
The Unexpected
BY ALVAH J. GARTH

Immensely better than the one Marcy
Slower wore. He had been getting
down at the heels for several weeks,
and his failure In securing work he at
tSibuted rightly to his threadbare ap-
pearance. BY trading in his old
worn garment and adding nearly all
his cash reserve, he became the owner
spruced up as to shoe shine and neck.
wear, went clean shaver the next day
in quest Of position and secured a
good one.
1t was under false pretenses, how
ever, and Slower experienced sensa-
ton of half shame and regret at an
act that necessity seemed to excuse.
In the pocket Of the coat he had
bought he discovered some papers. for
gotten or discarded at least left by
the original owner Of the garment
whose surname, strange to say, was
the same as his own, and the CO.
Incidental feature of the occasion i'm
pressed him.
There was an old memorandum
book, too, which various nOtatiOnS in
dictated the life history Of this Alvin
Slower. From these Marcy was made
aware Of the fact that Alvin Slower
had filled several minor positions cred
itably, but had come to crisis Of I'M
employment, could not find new lu-
crative position, and had decided to
60 West and try life under altered
conditions. In his memorandum book
the name and address of his nearest
living relative, Eugenia Slower, his
sister, was given.
Marcy had come to the city to meet
with little success in securing lucra
tive employment. In fact he seemed
to have wasted his effort, for desul-
tory and poorly paid remuneration
was the result He had no recon-
mendations or other testimonials of
value and, desperate and driven to his
last resource, he decided to adopt the
identity of Alvin Slower and use his
letters from former employers in other
cities. He became Alvin Slower, and
within few weeks was installed per
manently, it seemeds in a position
which he filed with satisfaction to his
employers, who advanced him rap
idly
Often Marcy wondered what had be-
come of the man who had proven for
Aim stepping stone to competence
and responsibility. At the end Of
year, looking over the discarded men,
orandum book, he began to think Of
the sister named therein. 1t seemed
TO him that he owed gratitude, per-
haps something more, to this uncCn-
scious almoner of his fortunes, and
finally he could not resist the i'm
pulse to ferret out this Eugenia Sto.
yer and learn what had become
of her brother.
Marcy found her living in cheap
boarding house and poorly supporting
herself by work in book bindery.
She was we'll educated, but had been
compelled to earn her own living be-
fore she had acquired any business
training,
you will forgive my presumption
IN coming to you, stranger" said
Marcy, "but I have done so impelled
By curiosity owing to a somewhat
strange circumstance. I once found
q memorandum book belonging to your
Brother and as our names are similar
was naturally interested in him. The
mention Of yourself in the note book
caused me to seek you out"
Eugenia Slower seemed drawn to-
ward Marcy as If some one of kin
had come into her lonely life. Marcy
concealed the truth from her and led
her to speak Of her brother.
MY last letter from him was six
months ago." she told Marcy. HE
had been unsuccessful and was i'll be-
Sides I sent him some money out Of
the little l had saved and have not
heard from him SINCE"
That was the beginning Of a close
friendship and the result was a new
fife for the hard working bindery girl.
Marcy secured her a new position,
called upon her frequently, and with
in year she was new being in her
ambitions and changed environment.
Meantime Marcy was advanced to a
managerial position where his In
come was more than trebled. Then
The firm sold out, but he had a small
interest that brought him several
thousand dollars besides what he had
saved
The day that Marcy visited Eugenia
to tell her Of the change in his af-
fairs she had received letter from
her brother. He had secured home
stead right in a far western district
He was enthusiastic over the pros
poets of having home. He had made
a little money in selling mining pros
pect and sent her the means Of join
ing him.
Marcy thought over the situation
for several days. He had learned tC
love the quiet, unassuming girl who
had so strangely come into his life
10 her brother he owed success in
life that would enable him TO- assist
aim in building his new home or