17. 1923:
Rapid City, Man.    October 14, 1923

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Dear Mr. Phelps,

Received your note about a week ago.

Meanwhile a situation has developed which makes it imperative for me to turn some of my manuscripts into cash. I have, therefore, made up my mind to offer the Pioneers to McClelland Stewart as they stand. I am so completely discouraged that I have given up further work on them. What I have to offer, is a fragment. But so is "Over Prairie Trails"; and also "The Turn of the Year." The Pioneers, I am afraid, will simply have to pass as a series of sketches. I may even destroy the story tissue altogether and let it go at that. If M. & S. decline, I am still in hopes that I can sell parts of the book to some magazine. I have nothing else to offer. The Ant book cannot appear for years yet. The Search for America has gone the rounds all over the continent. It, too, is largely fragmental, I am afraid. It does no longer enter into calculations of mine. Nothing else is in such a state that I can do anything with it at the present. So I must, for the moment, fall back on the Pioneers. If I were a young man, I should not do this; but I feel that I am declining.

Now the point is that you have the only legible manuscript of the Pioneers. When I typed it, I had no ribbon for the typewriter that left a mark on the paper. Will you let me have that Ms. back as soon as you can? People that have a claim on me or my help are dependent on what I can do with it in a hurry.

Yours sincerely,
F.P.G.