The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-01-05
Unusual
Welcome
Bv MARVIN ST. JOHNS.

frame of mind as he JOurneyeu 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 ull was the response
and Collins was almost certain that
his application would be turned
down."
The reason for this peSsimistic con-
c;usion 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 fashlon-plate sense.
The car was crow ded and Collins
was hanging to strap. He fell to
watching tile face of a girl who was
seated opposite. Her hair was light
brown, and her eyes, Collins per-
moment in his direction, were his
favorite color--at least, at that mo-
ment-blue-gray.
On one side of her sat swarthy.
mean-visHged individual, common
Subway type. On the other sat
pufry-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
low, well-modulated voice, but expires.
sive Of intense scOrn:
"Will you kindly stop pressing my
arm, slr?"
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
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 a
mass Of struggling humanity. A man
| was clapping him on the shoulder and
shouting upprovingly. "Well done,
young fellow!" he exclaimed. "That's
! the way we southerners would do.
Give him what he deserves"
Collins worked himself free and
| tried to help the girl through the
! throng. He reached her and offered
her his arm. She declined it indlg-
| 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 impulsively
toward him. She laid her hand upon
his arm.
mo, 1t Is a mistake" she said. "This
gentleman tried to protect me against
q despicable fellow who was insulting
| me, Only-only-"
"Only he struck the wrong man."
she said. "This gentleman was per-
fectly innocent"
"Innocent ~ snorted the puffy-faced
man. * should say that I am inno-
cent. am a family man, and ! can't
go home with black eye. Besides,
I'm a churchwarden, and there's moth
Ing In my life l have to conceal. My
name is Robert b. Allison, president Of
the Western Manufacturing company,
and the little influence that l have
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
a prospective employer.
"Nlr. Allison" he satd impulsvely,
Il don't care for myself. but if you are
gentleman you will let me get this
lady out of this crowd. Won't you &C.
CcpL Ay
Is Collins-Frank Collins, and I was
on my way downtown to apply to you
for a position. l lose the position;
let us call the account even"
"You are Mr.. Allison" exclaimed
the girl "Why, I am Grace Loomis,
and 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 were taking, had
| wisely gone about his business. Sud-
denly a roar burst from Allison's lips
"Good Lord, that's one OH mew he
said. 81 can't afford to have It get
about tina, | was maulci by one Of
my employees to punish me for in
sulting my secretary. Besides, need
you both to give evidence to my wife
about my eve. Come on down to nv