Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-02-06
IN TIME OF NEED
BY sAloEE e. BALLOON.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
l0opyrisht. 1e1s Western Newapaper union.,

Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Union.)
SSwiftness is the essence of the pres.
emit task, Miss Peyton," spoke Vance
Drury, traveller, explorer and lecturer.
'sThey tell me can take dictaSion
very rapidly" replied the young lady
stenographer modestly, but with con
victton.
"Then you will exactly suit me. Ii
10 peculiar case. have just return.
ed from the far South Pacific. / have
reason to believe have discovered
. new land and new people. have
had 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 it
may, I am here safe in New York
ahead OF him. To prevent the posi-
bility of his coming on the scene to an
ticipate the publication Of my book,
wish to rush it to press forthwith
II understand,Y 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 man of superior mental mold.
Besides that, his daring, adventurous
spirit captivated her. There was a
charm in his recital of the scenes he
had witnessed, the work was unique,
and for week from eight until noon
and from one to six, Nina sat in the lit
tie 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 solitudes, of sun and
moon pictures no one but an actual
observer could describe. Vance iotted
I down these verbal descriptions, recog-
nizing in them the finest part of his
| work.
"You see.s want to group all my
ideas into lf-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 it
the literary flavor, the coloring, the
snap and go"
Carl Whitley appeared on the scene
From the first Nina disliked him. He
assumed great airs of literary superb.
GRITTY 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 tine book, the latter proposed to
Issue.
It 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 70 learn that he was at
private hospital. She found him un
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 relapse into the sleeping fever
of which / had an attack just before
returning to this country. If this is
true, shall be utterly incapacitated,
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. 1t would break my heart to
have Axel Morgan appear on the scene
J while l 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 decided obstacle
;. at the outset. Carl Whitley developed
in his true cOlOrs an incompetent, q
procrastinate. She soon realized that
no dependence whatever could be
n placed upon him.
With this hoped-for cooperation fail
Ing, and Vance Drury lying in vast
n ing fever. all the initiative and energy
n in the young woman became aroused
= She was urged on by reading q
y dispatch stating that Axel Nor
gan had arrived at Spanish
port, en- route for the United
} States. Nina sat rejecting seriousl.
8 all one evening. The next she spen
with the prospective publisher of tn
I book. Then-work, oh, such work
8 Day and night she devoted heart, sou
and mind to the task she had set TO
: herself. Carl Whitley She utterl
disdained. He was broken reed,
pretense.
A great triumph was in her eye.
e wearied and worn as they were fro1
7, overwOrk, as she went to the hospits
Il one day. "You can see Mr.. Drury,
Y spoke the physician. HE is past tn
= crisis ,of his sickness, though weak.
i Nina approached the cot. Across
q lay q newspaper and she noted that it
d nrst column referred to the arrival
the city Of the explorer, Axel Morgan
The downcast expression on the fac
: OF Drury told how depressingly the al
nouncement affected him.
'Mr. Drury," she spoke softly.
"Ah, you!" and his eyes brightene
- and both hands were extended.
hear that Whitley has utterly faile
r. you. What-what is this?"
It was the first volume from I'll
press Of 1.-THE great book and as 81
81 placed 1t in his hands she tottered al
fell senseless across the cot. III
strain had been too much, but oh, ii
reaction, when. an hour later, she e
tered into the joyous delight of tt
grateful man to whom her noble effor
Al IL, a, n