55. 1925:
Rapid City, Man.    September 12, 1925

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Dear Phelps,

Are you still living? It is exactly 124 years ago that I last heard from you.

This letter of mine is provoked by the fact that I received a "salesman's dummy" of my book from Pierce. I am in the throes of despondency about Doran's advertisements. "A New Writer of North Country Romance". "Sturdy young Niels loved Ellen, daughter of a pioneer, But she would have none of him; and his thwarted passion took him to a darker love and into danger to body and soul.Vivid, thrilling, this story breathes the lure of the forest and the charm of hardy people."

Brrrr!

Does that kind of thing sell even a gold-brick these days? It would take a great deal of persuading to make me read what is heralded that way, unless I had to sample it as a reviewer.

Again, as in the case of my two former books, I am almost sorry I ever listened to any proposal of publication. The thing looks so strange in print. And it seems to me, it does not tell the story.

However, you will probably laugh. But I had to tell somebody. My sleep is gone.

Yours,
F.P.G.