Tim read and dreamed and when his managing editor, speaking for the newspaper syndicate, asked him to take over the flight and carry on, Tim’s happiness knew no bounds. He felt it was the opportunity of a lifetime and within an hour after his acceptance, word was sent out on the humming press association wires that Tim Murphy and Ralph Parsons, the flying reporters of the Atkinson News, would attempt the daring Arctic adventure.
Another month elapsed before they were ready to leave Atkinson on the start of their long trip. Tim spent his last evening with Dan Watkins in the quiet of his friend’s room.
Dan had gone over all the plans with Tim and agreed that they had an excellent chance to succeed in their mission.
“And here’s a bit of good news, Tim,” he added, just before the flying reporter took his leave, “I have a hunch that if you succeed Carson will make you the aviation editor of the News.”
“You really think so, Dan?” Tim’s words reflected his hope and eagerness.
“I certainly do,” replied the copy reader. “From what I accidentally overheard this afternoon when he was talking with the business manager, things are all set—providing you succeed.”
“Then I’ll make it across the top of the world or bust up in the attempt,” said Tim determinedly.
The farewells the next day were brief for there is little time on a daily paper for leave-taking and Tim and Ralph were glad that it was so. A few sincere good wishes from Dan and their managing editor, and they found themselves on the Overland limited, bound for the coast where they would embark for the voyage along the coast to Alaska.
A week later when their steamer pulled away from the dock, Tim gazed at Seattle’s skyline but his thoughts were in the far north as they churned down Puget sound. He was actually bound for the Arctic! Really going to fly across the heart of the great unknown!
His dream had not been a dream after all but he was sensible enough to realize that only by hard work and the whole-hearted cooperation of Ralph had he been able to turn his dream into a reality. Good old steady Ralph. Perhaps he wasn’t the speediest sort of a fellow but he was reliable and could always be counted on in coming through in a crisis. And after all that was what counted on such an adventure as they were facing.