The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-11-24
An Unusual
Welcome
By MARVIN ST. JOHNS.

|
Collins was in a very uncomfortable
frame of mind as he jOurneyed down
town in the subway. He had been un-
employed for nearly two months and
was fast approaching the end Of his
resources when he answered the prom
Using advertisement in the newspaper.
An invitation to call was the response
and Collins was almost certain that
his application would be turned
| down."
The reason for this pessimistic con-
c;asion was that both the advertise
ment and the letter especially stated
that the advertiser wanted Clean
cut man. Decidedly Collins was not
"clean-cut" in the fashion-plate sense.
The car was crowded and Collins
was hanging to strap. He fell to
watching the face of girl who was
seated opposite. Her hair was light
brown, and her eyes, Collins per-
ceived, when she lifted them for a
moment in his direction, were his
favorite cOlOr-at least, at that mo-
ment-bluegray.
On one side of her sat swarthy.
mean-visaged individual, a common
subway type. On the other sat a
puffy-faced gentleman, reading his
newspaper. Collins had totally for
gotten the girl by the time the train
stopped at Brooklyn bridge.
Suddenly his attention was drawn
to her by hearing her exclaim in a
low, well-modulated veice, but express
sive of intense ScOrn:
"Will you kindly stop pressing my
arm, sir?"
His nerves were already tingling.
This slight incident completely upset
his equilibrium. he saw the puffy
faced man, who had begun to look
exceedingly uncomfortable, apparent
ly attempting to conceal himself be-
hind his newspaper. Collins leaped
forward and dragged the puffy-faced
man from his seat. Holding him by
the collar with one hand he delivered
q clean uppercut with the free fist,
and had the satisfaction Of landing
sQuarely upon the puffy-faced mans
optic.
Instantly the car was In an uproar.
Collins found himself the center Of q
mass Of struggling humanity. A man
was clapping him on the shoulder and
shouting approvingly. "Well done,
young fellowr he exclaimed. That's
the way we southerners would do.
Give him what ne deserves!"
Collins worked himself free and
tried to help the girl through the
throng. he reached her and offered
her his arm. She declined 1t indig-
nantly, and Collins, crestfallen, fol-
lowed her to the car door, where he
was at once seized by gray-coated
subway guard.
"Hold him." yelled the puffy-faced
man, who, hatless and coatless, now
appeared on the scene. That's the
fellow that assaulted and tried to rob
me-"
Collins saw the girl stop suddenly,
hesitate, and then return impulslvely
toward him. She laid her hand upon
bis arm.
mo, 1t is a mistake" she said. This
gentleman tried to protect me against
a despicable fellow who WIS insulting
me, only-only-"
'Only he struck the wrong man."
she said. "This gentleman was per-
fectly innocent"
"Innecent" snorted the pufty-faced
man. II should say that / am inno-
cent. l am a family man, and can't
20 home with black eye. Besides,
I'm a churchwarden, and there's moth
ing in my life | have to conceal. Ny
name is Robert B. Allison, president Of
the Western Manufacturing company.
and the little influence that I have i
shall use to see that this young black
guard gets the punishment he de-
serves"
Collins was thunderstruck at this
piece of information. Surely fate had
dealt very hardly with him. The puffy
faced man, who had now adjusted his
coat and hat, did not look much like
q prospective employer.
'Mr. Allison" he said impulsively,
II don't care for myself, but If you are
a gentleman you will let me get this
lady out Of this crowd. Won't you ac-
cept my humble apologiesf Ny name
Is Collins-Frank Collins, and was
on my way downtown to apply to you
for a position. lose the position ;
let us call the account even."
"You are Mr.. Allison!" exclaimed
the girl "Why. l am Grace Loomis,
and I was on my way to your Office in
answer to your letter to call concern.
ing private secretaryship."
There was an awful silence. Col
Inns dared not look up. The crowd
was melting away; the three stood
there together, for even the guard, see
ing the turn matters wereStaking, had
wisely gone about his business. Sud
denly a roar burst from Allison's lips.
"Good Lord, that's one on me" he