Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1918-03-21
THE AUTHOR
BY MILDRED WHITE


Wnen Janice stepped from the tram,
she looked about In dismay. Evident
ly the station agent had but waited
for the s 80 TO arrive. before closing
his Office and departing. One solitary
light shone from the window of the de-
serted waiting room, and no village
bus or auto, was in sight.
When last she had visited this pie
turesque country, Ii had been summer
time and the coming Of the evening
train signal for the outpouring of
autos and various gay carts, to meet
evening guests. Janice had not stop
ped in her sudden resolution, to con
slider the difference between summer
and zero weather In the country. II
was Characteristic, that as soon as her
purpose was formed she had followed
II out. The managing editor had been
first to suggest 1t.
"Why don't you" he had said, seek
out some noted author and ask trial
at illustrating his work? You are too
good for syndicate"
And aglow with enthusiasm, Janice
had picked out the author-victim, and
FASTENED on his trail. A mere notice
In the society column of the morning
paper, directed her to the Isolated spot
where she had been wont to go for ma
ture study during an earlier and more
prosperous time.
don MacDougall," the noted Scotch
author, so the paper said, had retired
to his bungalow in Wayne county, to de-
vote himself to his forthcoming book
The bungalow in Wayne county, Janice
well knew.
Janice picked up her suitcase and
plodded to the rear where showed the
dim light of a lantern attached to a
rough sleigh wagon, upon which
cloaked figure was loading certain
broad boxes.
"Are you going up hill?" Janice ask
ed him.
Without ceasing his work the man
gTuhly answered in the affirmative.
~ expected to find the village bus,
the girl went on, sit isn't here. Could
you carry up my suitcase?"
For a moment he paused. "Going
to walk up yourself?" he asked.
Janice laughed. "Why, rather than
try that" she said, I'D ride up with
you"
The man was not encouraging.
'"There's no seat in the Sleigh" he OBJ
jected 81 have to drive standing up"
Such surly disobligement could be
settled but one way. Lightly Janice
followed her suitcase into the wagon.
81 will sit on this box" she said.
81 will pay you for your trouble"
she added.
"S-all right" the driver mumbled.
Before her old-time boarding place
he drew rein at her direction, Janice
pointed TO the suitcase. Garry it in
the hall. please" she said, and pressed
coin into his palm.
Early upon the following morning
she was up and on her way to the glis-
tening wood.
Janice's hands were too cold to make
more than n rough outline Of her study,
but she stood silently committing its
beauty to memory. Presently through
a break In the trees came her drivers
tail figure. He wore red sweater and
his face showed a days growth OF
beard; In his arms he carried some
logs.
Morning" he nodded, and stood de-
liberately looking at the sketch In her
hand. pretty" he said at last.
Janice smiled, "Well," she agreed,
at will be-"
A sudden light flashed into his
sombre eyes. "You do this often7 he
asked.
The girl nodded. II make my living
that way" she said.
DO you know anything Of Mr. Mac
Dougal the author?" she asked. in
carrying things back and forth from
the station, have you met him at any
timer"
The man answered slowly. 81 was
carrying his books and his typewriter
up there last night" he replied, land
these logs are for his fireplace"
Perhaps you can tell me, then" she
went on, when should be most like
ly to find him at home. l wish TO see
him-on business"
"Business?" the man repeated; his
tone was perplexed. "He writes books,
while you" he pointed to the sketch
-"draw those"
Janice nodded; musingly she spoke
as though answering her own thought:
He requires pictures for his books,
and L" she threw out her arms to
the fir trees, II understand nature as
he loves IL"
The man said quickly; "MacDougal
VIII be at home at three this after
noon He heSitated. "Now, II you'd
care TO ride back" And once again
Janice rode through the wintry land
scape, this time with fur robe for
cushion. II was in subdued excite
ment that she raised. that afternoon,
the knocker Of the white bungalow
door. This quest meant so much TO her.
excitement gave place to surprise az
the sleigh-driver's face appeared at
the door Yet could this correctly
CARRIED and deferential person be her
companion Of last nights adventure7"
H.rA