The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-11-04
IN TIME OF NEED
BY sAIpEE E. BALLOON.
8 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. q

"Swlftness is the essence Of the press
ent task, Miss Peyton," spoke Vance
Drury traveller, explorer and lecturer
"They tell me can take dictation
very rapidly" replied the young lady
stenographer modestly, but with con
vlction.
"Then you will exactly suit me. II
is peculiar case. have just return
ed from the far South Pacific. have
reason to believe / have discovered
new land and new people. have
had a rival and an unworthy one
Axel Morgan, man not at all averse
to stealing my thunder, and, as have
reason to believe, in possession OF
copies Of my memoranda of the first
six months Of my trip. Be that as 10
may, | am here safe in New YORK
ahead of him. To prevent the poss-
bility Of his coming on the scene to am
tlcipate the publication Of my book,
wish to rush 1t to press forthwith"
81 understand,p nodded Miss Peyton.
She was glad of the work, for which
she had been engaged at very good
pay. She was the daughter of an edi-
tor and writer and recognized in Vance
Drury q man of superior mental mold.
Besides that, his daring, adventurous
spirit captlvated her. There was
charm in his recital of the scenes he
had Witnessed the work was unique,
and for q week from eight until noon
and from one to six, Nina sat In The lit
tic Office, transcribing the notes made
by the explorer during his years visit
to the Antarctic circle.
Some Of his descriptions Of icy won
ders, OF great soltudes, of sun and
moon pictures no one but an actual
observer could describe. Vance jotted
down these verbal descriptions, recog-
nlzing in them the finest part Of his
work.
"You see, l want to group all my
ideas into half-cOherent form. I've
sent for very dear friend, Carl Whit
ley, the story writer. want him to
beat the mass into shape and give 1t
the literary flavor, the coloring, the
snap and 60"
Carl Whitley appeared on the scene.
From the first Nina disliked him. He
assumed great airs of literary superb
Ority because he had made hit in the
world Of letters with one or two triv-
ial books. At once Nina realized that
he was indolent fairly written out, and
inclined to rest on the generosity OF
Drury in giving the finishing touches
to the book, the latter proposed to
issue.
1t was two days after Nina had COM
pleted her work and was transcribing
the great mass Of data to typewriter
form, when she was telephoned for by
Drury. She was somewhat startled
and alarmed to learn that he was at
a private hospital. She found him I'M
der charge Of a physician.
"Miss Peyton," said Drury, "there
may be no cause for alarm, but have
reason to believe that / am going to
have a relapse into the sleeping fever
of which / had an attack just before
returning to this country. If this is
true, / shall be utterly incapacltated,
mentally and physically, for at least
two months. l have sent for you to
urge Whitley to get at work on the book
at once II would break my heart to
have Axel Morgan appear OF the scene
while ! am helpless and fitch my hon
estly-earned laurels. You will urge on
Whitley and my publisher and push
forward the work at once, l hope"
Nina promised him, pleased and hon
ored with the confidence he reposed
in her. She met a decided obstacle
Mt the outset. Carl Whitley developed
in his true colors an incompetent, a
procrastlnate. she soon realized that
no dependence whatever could be
placed upon him.
with this hoped-for cooperation fail
ing, and Vance Drury lying in vast
ing fever, all the initiative and energy
in the young woman became aroused.
She was urged ON by reading n
dispatch stating that Axel Nor
gan had arrived at Spanish
port, en- route for the United
States. Nina sat rejecting seriously
oil one evening. The next she spent
with the prospective publisher Of the
book. Then-work. oh, such work !
0ay and night she devoted heart, soul
and mind TO the task she had set for
herself. Carl Whitley she utterly
disdained. He was a broken reed, a
pretense.
A great triumph was in her eyes,
wearied and worn as they were from
Overwork, as she went to the hospital
one day. "You can see Mr.. Drury,"
spoke the physician. "He is past the
crisis of his sickness, though weak"
Nina approached the cot Across it
lay a newspaper and she noted that its
first column referred to the arrival in
the city of the explorer, Axel Morgan.
The downcast expression on the face
Of Drury told how depressingly the an
nouncement affected him.
'Mr. Drury," she spoke softly.
"Ah, y0uv y and his eyes frightened
and both hands were extended. II
hear that Whitley has utterly failed
you. What-what is this2"
1t was the first volume from the
press Of "the great book" and as she
Z placed It in his hands she tottered and
p The