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stefansson-wrangel-09-20-069-001
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Dear Mr. Maurer:
I am returning herewith the papers you lent me. I am using the first of Fred's four articles almost in full as part of the story of the Karluk and of Wrangell Island. The rest has been too much abbreviated for the purpose of my book so that I am using the longer manuscript left by Captain Hadley. The Karluk story as a whole, then, will be told in the book in the words of your brother and of Captain Hadley. We will be sending to-morrow the additional sets of photographs you requested.
I have finished at least the book about Wrangell Island. It is not as well done as it might have been because I have been so crowded with lecturing and other work. Also we were delayed more than five months because I could write nothing of consequence until we finally recovered the missing manuscript pages from Mr. Noice. I would give anything to have another week or two to put things in better shape but that is now impossible, for I signed a contract a year ago to make a lecture trip through Australia. I would not have made that contract but for the pressing need of earning money every way I can to pay all financial obligations in connection with Wrangell Island.
As I have written you before, I have intended to redeem eventually all the shares taken by the various boys in our company. The lawyers tell me that legally I have to pay all other debts first, the shareholders coming last. It will, therefore, not be until next year that I can hope to take up the shares. I am expecting to do that together with six per cent. interest.