The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-09-23
Changing ! Name
By oTILLIA F. PFEIFFER

"a, 1890. Western Newspaper Union.)
He was man Of strange tempera
ment cherishing hobby purely, in
dividual which conferred about name
fully as strange and uncommon-Ia1
Ssaar.
Having acquired competence ant
a social and business position sat the
age Of fifty that was unassailable
Ssaar was actuated by two FREEDOM
mating characteristics pride and ex
clusiveneses.
Until few days before the present
Ssaar had conceived the proud salts.
faction that nowhere in the great city
nowhere country wide was there an
other human being who bore his name.
But now poison had come into the cup
of his triumphant assurance, there
was fly in the ointment! Lo, and be
hold! After years of serenity and con-
haughtiness, his whimsical love Of be-
ing different from his fellow beings
had appeared-Miss Winifred Ssaar
Of Weston, an obscure little Iowa town.
The discovery had nettled and then
disgruntled him. Somehow it had
been pleasing to him to know that he
was the last, the only living descend
ant of Bruno Ssar, noted explorer.
He was seated in his sumptuous H.
brary watching the clock, and there
was Impotence and the suspense Of
an unfulflled purpose in his restless
eyes. He started up as servant ush-
cred his expected visitor into the room.
"Been waiting for you, Alstyne,"
hailed the master Of the mansion re-
lievedly. Something special and par
ticular. Sit down."
His caller was young man he had
known for several years and greatly
liked. Hugh Alstyne had a free-and-
easy manner, as if he did not worry
much, but intelligence was manifest
in his really handsome face.
II hope it's something to keep me
busy for WHILE" said Alstyne, indo-
lently reposing in the arms Of capa-
cious rocker. 1--WE given up CONNER
cial reporting and I don't want to go
back to the law"
you are right" nodded Ssaar,
"there is some travel. a difficulty to
be overcome, and some policy and
Of human nature to be ex-
erted. To begin with, you know how
value and treasure my name. BY a
mere chance yesterday ran across it
as borne by another besides myself"
"Odd, isn't It," remarked Alstyne.
II suppose you had ransa cked all
genealogy to be sure that you couldn't
be classed with the Browns, Smiths
and Robinsons."
81 thought I had" returned Ssaar,
palpably perturbed. II have never
known Of the remotest branch Of the
Ssaar family in this country, yet.
there you are"
Ssaar pushed across the table
small publication, sectional maya
zine published at an Iowa county seat.
It was evidently the production of
some. ambitious editor who catered
solely to nefghborhod clientele, and
was mildly and crudely a potpourri OF:
poetry. sketches and
farm interests. Its front page was
taken up with a poem entitled AT
Twilight" readable, really meritorious.
A few brief lines under the name of
the writer, Winifred Ssaar, welcomed
"a new and shining literary star to our
galaxy of writer's, Miss Ssaar being
besides we'll known in educational cir
cles."
"H'm! quite melodious," comment
ed Alstyne. "Some pretty ideas and
we'll expressed. A striving amateur,
I infer. What of it?'
y ''To be squelched!" announced Ssaar5
with spirit and defirriteness, "at once
and effectually. Can't you see she has
broken into writing? How soon may
not her name be blazoned wide? My
It is made common and ordl.
nary. I want you to go to Weston
where this young lady lives. You may
have to bride the editor to refuse fur
Their contributions; you may have to
buy her off. You can draw on me for
any amount, but relegate this poetical
young lady back to obscurity in some
way"
willing to kill budding genius, are
you, just to suit a caprice?" suggested
Alstyne satirically.
"Don't debate It," replied Ssaar.
"Reach the matter delicately, only re-
tire that name. Are you equal to the
tasb?"
'You have employed me In a num-
Der of little commissions" said Al
styne, ''harder than this one. You are
willing to make up to this young
lady In money for what she loses In lit
erary enjoyment?'
THAT'S It, make it a commercial
transaction If that is the only way
out. l allow you free swing"
Hugh Alstyne was highly success
full in his enterprise. He went down
to Weston to find Miss Winifred Ssaar,
an orphan school teacher, lovely and
gentle beyond compare. He claimed