The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-06-07
IN IA "a E IA "a A A IA IA Ae
THE AUTHOR
By MILDRED WHITE.


When Janice stepped from the train,
she looked about in dismay. Evident
~ the station agent had but waited
for the S 80 to arrive. before closing
his office and departing One solitary
light shone from the win low OF the de-
serted waiting room, and no village
bus or auto, was in sight.
When last she had visited this pic
turesque country, it had been summer
time and the coming Of the evening
train a 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. 1t
was characteristic, that as soon as her
purpose was formed, she had followed
1t out. The managing editor had been
first to suggest it.
"Why don't you," he had said, "seek
out some noted author and ask trial
at illustrating his work? You are too
good for a 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 60 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
rough sleigh wagon, upon which a
cloaked figure was loading certain
broad boxes.
"Are you going up hill?" Janice ask
ed him.
Without ceasing his work the man
gruffly answered in the affirmative.
II expected to find the village bus"
the girl went on, ut isn't here. Could
you carry up my suitcase"
For a moment he paused. "Going
to walk up yourself2" 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" ne 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.
II will sit on this box" she said.
II 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 1t in
the hall, please" she said. and pressed
q 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 rough outline of her study,
but she stood silently committing its
beauty to memory. Presently through
a break In the trees came her drivers
tall figure. He wore red sweater and
his face showed 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,
ut will be-"
A sudden light flashed into his
sombre eyes. "You do this often?" he
asked.
The girl nodded. II make my living
that way" she said.
"Do you know anything Of Mr.. Mac.
Dougal the authorT she asked. "In
carrying things back and forth from
the station, have you met him at any
timer"
The man answered slowly. II 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 I should be most like
~ to find him at home. I wish to see
him-on business"
"BusinessT the man repeated; his
tone was perplexed. HE writes books
while you" he pointed to the sketch
draw those"