davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-08-04

family refused to recognize her as a g7ingo's
wife. There the bride had died in bearing
daughter Mercedes Teodora Inocencia, and
there the father had reared his child,
A small pension for trivial war wounds kept
him pleasantly drunk during most of his wax
ing hours; grazing fees from pasture lands -
it was there that your aci6n landed today,
Senor" paid the taxes. Jones occasionally
sold few hectares of timber. Living was
cheap and easily obtained.
There was little to admire in the portrait of
Hector Alonzo Jones as painted by his daugh-
ter, but she had loved him, worshipped his
memory. He had died six weeks before.
And that is why come to you, Se1or.
Always my father reminded me that was an
American and that one American would help
another need help and wise advice. Within
few days of my fathers death, man named
Meinhardt came to Caacupe. He wishes to
buy those fields where your ari6n landed and
he will pay me twenty thousand pesos -
Argentine, not Paraguayan - for them"
That's nearly five thousand dollars! Are
you sure he's not after your TIMBER"
Positive. He wants only that land north
of the city, above the river. He helped me
find, in my fathers papers, the survey and
the deeds. He has them now.'
you should have kept them. Let me think,
Senorita."
John Curtiss knew that five thousand dol
lars was ridiculous sum for pasture in the
deep interior of Paraguay. The area was good
for nothing save grazing or as landing field
for such rare arrivals as his own plane Air
port! An airport at Caacupe would be on the
direct route from Brazil to Chile and the west
coast. 1t was convenient to river transport,
to rubber and metals from the Bolivian from
Evening star., 1940-08-04

the Church of Our Lady of Caacupe, the
offices of the tax collector and the military
commandant, three barber shops, two lottery
banks, and a structure misnamed the Grand
Hotel There are a thousand towns like
Caacupe in South America - red-tied roofs
bracketing rectangular patios, palms, a plaza
with statue of an all but forgotten military
hero. This one was just another Paraguayan
hamlet, no different from any other Curtiss
had visited - until the knocking sounded on
the door of his room in the Hotel Grande.
He opened it and saw a girl cheaply but not
poorly dressed in fresh cotton print; girl
whose social status was quite definitely estab-
lished by the fact that she wore shoes, and a
hat instead of rebosa.
You are the Senior John Curtiss?" He
bowed and her hand met his. Il am very glad.
l am an American, too - Mercedes Teodora
Inocencia Jones'"
Tier hair was chestnut-brown and her skin
creamy white. Her features were so exquis-
itely chiseled, that John Curtiss caught his
breath. He was no stranger to the beauty of
Latin women who burst like orchids into
sudden and bewildering bloom, but this girl
.:alled herself an American. He replied, auto
matically, in English: Il am very glad to -"
Please, Senior, l speak only Spanish, am
American because my father, Hector Alonzo
Jones, was an American. l will explain ="
Her story was fantastic, but as believable
as her own presence in the shabby hotel room.
It was the story of ne'er-do-well who, after
the World War, had turned up in Paraguay,
been employed by a moderately wealthy
hacendado, and eloped with his employers
daughter. She had inherited property in
Caacupe, and they had gone there when her
Evening star., 1940-08-04

tier, and to the timber of northern Paraguay
and the Chaco Boreal. Five thousand was
cheap for undisputed possession of such site;
a site in which Great Basin Air Transport
might be as interested as was the unidentified
Meinhardt.
"You must not sell that land, Mercedes"
said Curtiss. I'VE must learn why this Senior
Meinhardt wants it 50 badly and we must get
back those papers. Where does he live?"
"On the Street of the Second of August
will show you" A few minutes later Mer-
cedes halted at the door of pink-stuccoed
house which presented only blank walls to
the dusty street. Curtiss raised the knocker.
Tell me, Mercedes, did you sign any
papers for this man? No? That's good. Now,
let me do all the talking to Meinhardt and -
no matter what l say - trust me-"
But, of course, trust you, Se1or. You are
an American, like me-"
John gulped and let fall the knocker. He
stepped quickly past the barefooted Cuarani
woman who opened the door, and entered a
room which stood open to the vaulted cor
ridor.
1.-Two men sat at a paper-littered table.
One rose, and John saw huge body and thick
hairy hands that rested on the table as though
to brace the enormous paunch and barrel
chest. Above was close cropped skull and
pale expressionless face in which small blue
eyes glittered like bits of ice. The seated man
was Latin, obviously, so this huge creature
must be Meinhardt. John Curtiss looked him
in the face and smelled danger as one smells
smoke in crowded theater.
Then followed the introductions, the stilted
compliments, and the verbal sparring de-
manded by Latin custom. John slurred the
pronunciation of his own name and Mein7.
hardt repeated it as Juan Cortez in presenting
his companion as Senor Jose Gomez.
Il speak for the senorita, " said John at last,
and Mercedes bowed gravely. "She has de-
cided not to sell the land which was her
mothers and is here to ask that you return
the agrimensura and other papers,
If Meinhardt felt surprise he did not show
it. "The senorita is child" he replied in
Spanish as perfect as Johns own, land too
inexperienced to know that certain obliga-
tons are binding. Look -"
He tossed paper across the table. 1t was
a receipt for five hundred pesos paid on ac-
count of the purchase of certain described
lands and was signed by Mercedes Teodora
Inocencia Jones. Curtiss merely glanced at
(Continvsd on poos 10)
Evening star., 1940-08-04
II Short Story Complete in This Issue

y
4
~aREAT BASIN AIR TRANSPORT borrowed
q John Curtiss from the foreign exchange
~ department of California bank and
assigned him to the South American mission
when he demonstrated that he spoke Spanish
as though it were his mother tongue and that
he knew instinctively all the answers to all the
questions relative to passports, the intricacies
of Spanish correspondence, and the negotia-
tions incident to permission to land the
missions BT-4 transport on military air
dromes. He'd been born in Bolivia, son of an
American mining engineer, and for nineteen
years had lived anywhere you might mention
between Panama and Patagonia. He'd come
with his mother to the States when his
father died and had worked his way through
college by conducting Spanish conversation
classes,
All that was on his employment record.
along with: Age &C. Height Sill, Weight l85,
Single, and that was why Jim Vancamp, head
of the G-BAT party, picked him as one-man
mission to visit the inland republic of Para
quay and survey the possibilities there for the
establishment of air freight routes as part
of the comprehensive system planned for the
entire South American continent.
What the record didn't show, and what
Vancamp couldn't have known, was that
John Curtiss was rather shy, that he d known
scarcely dozen white girls in his life, that
his work in the mines had given him physical
strength greater than that of many pro-
fessional strong men, and that there was no
trick of fighting, fair or FOUL that he did not
know and had not seen practiced by the hard,
staggering tough men who follow tough jobs
the whole world round. The record didn't
show those details, but they explain, in no
small measure, what happened in Caacupe
The Pan American Douglas dropped John
Curtiss at Asunci6n and roared off toward
Buenos Aires. At the airport he found one
Ramon Fuentes, who had been a military
pilot during the Chaco War and who knew
every jungle clearing from Humaita to Puerto
Casado. John Curtiss hired him and his ten
year-old plane and flew to Conception and
Villa Rica and sent Vancamp long letters,
along with detailed statistics and samples
of hardwood with grain as beautiful as lace
and as ooorful as tapestry. He flew to places
with names like Tacarupucu and Horqueta
and then he flew to Caacupe.
Caacupe's eight short streets start from
the Plaza Independence and end within less
than mile in jungle trails. On the plaza is
Evening star., 1940-08-04
BAD NE|GHb0R

How young John Curtiss of G-Bat met who tried
kill him . 5. and the girl who saved his life
in an exciting story of adventure in South America
by Hoffman BirneY
Mvarosd BY Allen
Moose Pass miner., 1940-03-29

miner Gulch in the operated mule train between Kik, they thriv ing communities captained boat Turnagain Arm
Moose Pass miner., 1940-03-29

Albert Sellers spen two days in Seward, re turning to Moose Pass Wedne sday's train.
 Moose Pass school children enj oyed an Ea ster egg hunt on Good Friday.
 F. E. Swartz, C.E. I for the Public Roads Admini st rat i on, is ex7 pected to arrive from | Juneau next week and on his arri val, work will commence on the Vict or Creek bridge. l
 One of the PARA. buildings was moved Wedne sday to Mile 2Ob 1 at Vict or Greek. 1
 Frank Hielo expect a to take a month 8 vaca tien after which he 1 will esume his duties as section foreman fo1 the Public Roads Ad- mini st rat ion.
 George Lind say has taken a five year leas on the Oracle Mine and will operate it in com nection with his own Summit Lake mine.
 Mir. and Mrs. Kenneth Quinn and their small daughter arrived on the mid-week boat from the States. They will assume management of 1 Hielo's Roadhouse on April l. Mir. Quinn will also work on the railroad section dur ing the summer.
 Mrs. Ray Stafford and Mi ss Mary Stafford mu shed to Harry Morrinl' cabin one day this week.
 Charles Harper of 1 Anchorage, arrived in Mnoea pa rc TburcSaU f al
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-11-28
Stolen Bicycle Is
Found in KOOtenai River

Saturday, while crossing the Koo-
tenai bridge, Mrs. Charles Powell
noticed an object in the river and
after closer inspection determined
it to be a bicycle She told her hus-
band about it and Mr.. Powell fished
the wheel out the next day.
The incident was Immediately re-
ported to Police Chief George Bry-
ant and the bicycle was turned over
to him. Mr.. Bryant stated the BIZ
cycle belonged to boy named Ron
aid Halen and had been missing for
some time. He returned the prop
erty to the owner.
1t is the opinion of Chief Bryant
that some person stole the bicycle
and after riding it for while be-
came frightened at the prospect of
being caught with stolen goods SO
figured by throwing the machine in
the river he would rid himself of
discriminating evidence.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-11-28
Libby Camera Club
Elects First Officers

Last evening the newly organ
lied Camera Club met at the COM
munity room of the court house.
Election of officers was the first
business and after balloting had
taken place it was found that David
[. Holz had been elected as presi-
dent of the group. John Myers will
serve as secretary treasurer.
Plans for the showing of color
portraits and landscape Transparent
cies were made. This feature will
take place at the next meeting,
December 4, at the clubs studio and
darkroom near the old Zonolite mill.
President Holz issued the state
ment that those prospective mem
bers who have signified their inten-
tons of joining are urged to attend
the next meeting. If they are not
sure about the meeting place, he
said they might call him and he
would direct them to the proper
spot. Business will be taken up
promptly at o'clock.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-11-28
Buy Christmas
Seals and Help

Have you bought your Anti-Tu-
berculosis Christmas Seals?
Last year, the money raised from
Christmas Seals made possible
thousands of tests in Montana which
resulted in discovery of 1892 pos
tive reactors.'
Without the help of Christmas
Seal purchasers, most of these po-
tential tuberculosis victims would
be unaware today of the menace
to them and their families.
A survey of the tuberculosis sit
uation in Montana during 1899
showed 239 deaths and 455 new
cases.
Health officials estimate there are
1000 active cases of tuberculosis in
the state. Only 258 hospital beds are
available in the state for white vic
Tins, and only "a beds for Indian
patients.
The following program has been
outlined in Montana, all made pos
sible by the sale Of Christmas Seals:
To locate all cases early and estab-
lish centers for diagnosis and treat
ment; to test all high school and
college students and contact cases
in the state; to provide adequate ia
cilities for Indian victims; and to
continue the educational program
for prevention Of the disease.
To support the program, let us
use Christmas Seals as generously
as possible.
The child's health today is the ma
TONS health tomorrow Keeping
this fact in mind, it is our desire
to continue the health program fol-
the children in our community
which is supported by your pur-
chase of these seals.
MRS. ELDON SCHUCK,
Seal Sale Chairman.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-11-28

Captain Howard Eggert and Leonard
Spencer had been named as the two
men who had contributed most to
the success of the team, not only in
their good playing but in their CO.
operation and good craftsmanship.
The announcement was given spirit
ed applause.
Coach Erickson also announced at
that time that II lettermen had met
and had chosen Bill Martin as team
captain for l941. This also brought
forth vigorous applause, and after
it had subsidized the new captain told
of his enjoyment of the game, that
all the boys had had wonderfully
good time working under Coach
Erickson, that he believed the squad
would still manifest fine spirit
next year and he hoped for another
successful team.
Coach Erickson announced that
Professor Scott, in charge of high
school athletic competition in the
state, would be in Libby in the near
future, at which time he would
award to the Libby team the trophy
that was coming to them for win
ming the district championship.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-11-28
Win Prizes In
Book Week Contests

With two hundred and twenty
wooden Friends from Book ar
ranged in the childrens room at
the Lincoln County Library, the
place resembles Santa Claus toy
shop. The characters were carved,
sawed, whitfield, and painted on and
from wood by children from all
over the county and 1t is surprising
the excellence of some of the work.
The exhibit will be up all this week
and until the latter part of next.
Within the next few weeks most of
it will also be shown in Troy and
Eureka at the branch libraries.
This annual contest among the
children during Book Week activi-
ties is very popular and the children
are already clamoring to know what
they will have to make next year.
Making them creates interest in
good books and seeing the characters
gives other children incentive to
read certain titles. It is interesting
to note that tn majority of friends
from books are animals. These
stories enjoy a continued demand,
and BLACK Beauty" never seems to
grow old.
Awards are made to the rooms or
schools with the best exhibit in the
different classes. This year the
judges for the contest were Miss
Betty Richardson, Mrs. Dexter Shau-
rette, and James Blackboard, Jr
They commented on the originality
and fine workmanship of many al
the entries.
-Fol2ewing are the prize winners
City Upper
|. Troy Jr Hi, Miss Smiley
teacher.
2. Eureka Jr. Hi, Mrs. Ambrose,
teacher.
8. Libby 5th Grade, Miss Mac
Lean, teacher
City Lower
/. Libby 4th Grade, Miss Wilson,
teacher.
2. Libby 3rd Grade, Miss Rowe,
teacher.
3. Libby End Grade, Miss Carlson,
teacher.
Rural Upper
/. Rexford, Clarence Baker, teach
er.
2. Warland, Mrs. Waive Brown,
teacher.
3. Trailer, Clyde Davis, teacher.
Rural Lower
|. Trailer, Clyde Davis, teacher.
2. Warland, Mrs. Brown, teacher.
3, Gateway, Miss Keith, teacher.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-11-28
Libby To Hove
Fine Art Exhibit

Libby will again have an out
standing exhibit of American etch-
ings and Autographs at the audi
torium of the New Central school
tomorrow evening Friday, the 10th.
The collection is a large one and
is by the most outstanding Ameri-
can artists in the field Of etching
and Autograph, including w. r.
Locke, Grant Wood, JAG Young
Thomas Benton, and many others.
It has been secured from the As
ISOLATED American Artists, one OF
the largest art galleries in New York
City, and all Of them will be signed
originals.
This is rare opportunity for the
Libby people to become acquainted
with art work Of the highest quail
ity. Along with the etchings and
ithoaFaprs will be n collection o.
Gelatone reproductions of some oil
the finest OF American modern art
The Gelatone process is only few
years old and is far superior to any
other reproductive process as it d.
vides the picture matt into as many
as 100000 points to the square inch,
thus insuring the exact color re-
production of the original.
This collection has been brought
in for the benefit of the school and
public and the auditorium will be
open all evening Friday for the ben
eft of those who wish to see the
collection. There will b no admis-
sion price. This display is being
sponsored by James M. Blackford,
Jr., and A. A. Wood.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-11-28
Mysterious Fire
Damages Wichman Home

Last evening at 1870 the local
fire department was called to the
August Wichman home and put out
what might have been a very seri-
Gus fire.
The closet of the Wichman home
was afire, started by some unde-
termined cause. When members of
the department arrived many clothes
had burned or were burning. They
took the clothes outside and then
extinguished flames on the walls of
the closet. Beside the loss of
clothes no other damage was done
except by smoke.
Tuesday evening the department
was called to the Gordon Luscher
home to take care of chimney
fire. Wednesday evening they ex-
tinguished a chimney fire at the
George Earle residence.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-11-28
Mixed Quortette
To Appear Here
In Concert

The Whitworth mixed quartet will
appear here in concert at the First
Presbyterian church Monday even
ing, Dec. Q, to render both secular
and sacred music The quartet,
composed OF Mary Boyle, contralto
from this city; Louis Messex, lyric
tenor, Carlita Dreblow, lyric So
prano; and James .Goodseu, bari
tone, has made many appearances
to deeply appreciative audiences
Miss Eleanor Barrow, their colored
accompanist, is gifted with many
other aptitudes, for she Is known
for her beautiful contralto solos,
and her negro spirituals and has
won the first mezzo soprano award
of the Inland Empire music festival.
The versatility of this quartet
makes for more interesting and en-
joyable- program. Each member is
also full fledged soloist. Miss
Dreblow, a beautiful lyric soprano,
sings in style and with color. Mary
Boyle not only has rich contralto
voice, but has also very pleasing
personality and sings with depth
of feeling. Audiences long remem-
Der the clear, ringing voice of Louis
Messex. TIL brilliant baritone tai
ent of Mr.. Goodsell is supported by
a fine sense of Interpretation and
gives Mr.. Goodsell the qualifications
necessary for good reader He also
has achieved outstanding merit in
International Music Festival con-
certs.
The five personalities, wealth Of
humor, and we'll trained voices of
this group have brought deep APP
probation of their concerts Wherev-
er they have gone and should pro-
vide delightful and profitable en-
tertainment.
Last year the Whitworth College
mixed quartet group under the di-
rection of Mrs. Winifred McNair
Hopkins achieved an outstanding
record of six first and four second
awards at the international music
festival at Vancouver, British CO.
lumbia.
The group is appearing in Libby
Kalispell, Whitefish, and Roman in
both radio and concert programs.
There will be no admission charge
to the concert, but a collection will
be taken to help defray expenses.
After the program there will be
a reception in the church parlors,
which all will be cordially invited
to attend and meet the young mu-
sicians from Whitworth.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-11-28
Naturalization Class Will
Start Friday Night, Nov. 29

The first meeting of the natural.
ization class that the American Lee
gion is sponsoring will be held Fri
day night, the 10Th, in the com
munity room at the court house
time, $780,
w. B. Avery of Kasispell, who has
had considerable experience in that
work, will be at the meeting tc
help get the class started. Dr.. J
P. Campbell, American Legion
commander, will also be present
All those who wish to take III
studies preparatory to taking our
citizenship papers are urged to be
at this meeting.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-11-28
Mining Men
Looking 10
Annual Meet
Convinced Convention Will
Be of Great Value
To Industry.
MANY OUTSTANDING
EXPERTS ON PROGRAM

SPOKANE.-The annual cpnven-
ton Of the Northwest Mining As
ISOLATION, which will be held in
Spokane December 5, s, and 7, will
bring more prominent leaders in
the industry together than have
been in attendance in many years.
Great Importance is being at
tached to the session of Saturday
morning, December I, in particular,
when Donald A. Callahan, vice pres
ident OF the American Mining Con-
gress and a former trustee of the
Northwest Mining Association, will
preside as chairman. The sole SUBJ
ject of this part of the convention
will be the recently enacted federal
tax law Leading mining men have
given assurance that they will be
present and take part. It is exz
pected that out of this discussion
recommendations will be reached
to be presented to the congressman
and senators of the Northwest for
changing the provisions of this law
SO that new enterprises, particu-
larly mining, will be benefited in
stead of handicapped.
With the program of speakers still
to be added to, those who have def
initely accepted an invitation to ap-
pear include:
Keith Whiting, geologist, Federal
Mining & Smelling Co, Wallace,
Idaho, who will speak on Geology
at Depth in the Occur d'Alene Dis
trict";
Leo J. Hoban, secretary, Hecla
Mining Company, Wallace, Idaho
Recent Federal Tax Legislation;
Ivan Bloch, chief, Market De-
velopment Section, Bonneville Prof
ect, Portland, Normal and
National Defense Considerations of
Northwest Resources;
j. Howard Bird, U. S. Bureau of
Mines, Safety Division, All Federal
Building, Seattle, Wash, "A CO.
operative Plan for Accident Pre-
vention in the Mines of the Pa
cific Northwest;
r. T. Banks, Sullivan Machinery
Co, Salt Lake City, Utah-'Recent
Developments in High Speed Dia-
mond Drills for Blast Hole Drill
ling;
John H. Eby, Mining Engineer,
Spokane, Wash. -" Marginal Mines ;
DR.. Harold E. Culver, Supervisor,
Division of Geology, Pullman,
Washington;
Congressman Chas. III. Leavy,
Federal Building, Spokane, Wash;
Congressman White, Clarksfork,
Idaho;
L. K. Requa, Idaho Almaden
Mines Company, Weiser, Idaho
j. B. Haffner, General Manager,
Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining &
Concentrating Company, Kellogg,
Idaho.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-11-28
Visited Governor
About Highway z
Boomers Ferry Herald)

O. c. Wilson and C. w. King re-
turned Tuesday afternoon from
Boise, Idaho, where they spent Mon
day comforting with Governor Bot
tolfsen in regard to Improvements
needed for Highway No. 2.
Governor Bottolfsen assured
Messrs. Wilson and King that it
was the plan of the highway de-
partment to partially resurface the
highway and to oil the entire stretch
and that the state would urge CO.
operation of the forestry depart
ment and public roads administra-
ton on a definite road program for
future years.
A recent survey of the public
roads administration calls for new
construction of about seven miles
Of Highway No. 2 in the Moyie river
canyon.
The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-11-28
Sportsmen Praised
For Fine Cooperation

!. The state fish and game depart
ment has thanked Montana sports
men for "fine cooperation" during
the current pheasant season. A re-
port showed that of 1900 cars
checked near Flathead lake no vi
olations were found.