davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-08
By JAN VALTM

stairs TO my garnet quarters.
In a flash Avatin's eyes had
taken in every. detail OF the
place.
Firelei was there. There
was a startled look in her
eyes. Her lips parted. she
moved forward 10 greet the
Lett, a stranger 10 her. 1t
was obvious that Avatin's APP
pearance-a strongly mascu-
line mixture Of Viking and
Mongol--had instantly caught
her artistic interest.
Michel Avatin shot a ques-
tioning glance in my direction.
"She Is my comrade." / said.
Party member"
"NO."
II regret" Avatin muttered.
please ask her TO leave us
alone for one hour"
Firelei picked up a book,
and left the apartment with
out uttering a word.
FIRES QUESTIONS
As Michel Avatin faced me
squarely, he was the image
of all the power Of the Comm
tern and the GPU. He pos
seSsed the uncompromising
poise of a fanatic who re-
garded himself as a member
Of the ruling caste or one
sixth of the surface OF the
earth.
How can you. an interna-
tiOnal representative engaged
In illegal work." he demanded.
"allow some one who II not a
party member to know an ad-
dress on the secrecy of which
depends the safety of our con-
spirative Apparat:"
(Which address ."
This address. Your ad-
.iress."
THE girl Ii trustworthy" l
said.
"Trustworthiness is a mere
assumption until IL has been
tested In the fire." countered
Avatin. "She Is not n party
member"
Our conversation became
increasingly bitter. A party
spy in the Antwerp Apparat
had collected a lot of details
about my personal life. and
reported them TO Comrade
Anton who, during his duty as
a GPU representative. had
included them in his regular
reports TO Berlin. Avatin
spoke quite frankly about this
system of mutual Bolshevist
control -
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-08
the Side
By E. V. DurIins
Bctsy. Ike oN good wow't
Rad a f5Hpcr Of her orH.
VIII Carleton.

Armus My wife is Of the finest women on
this continent she always as gentle as lamb
woman who has temper should be viewed with suspicion She
usually ecretye lacking sincerity and generally dangerous
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-08
CHAPTER X\\H

NhhthA
Up TO this time Firelei had
rarely met any Of my Com
munist associates. Now II be-
came unavoidable that she
would meet them more fire.
quently and observe them at
close range. These Commu-
niSts were not of the local
party organization, with when
/ had little TO do. but men
and women engaged in the
international Apparat OF the
Comintern, passing through
Antwerp on their various mis-
SionS.
At times they stayed over
night at my den. and, accept
inc as a matter of course that
Firelei was a member OF the
service. they often spoke with
out reservation, as men VIII IN
place they consider safe
after a long and hazardous
Journey. 1t became apparent
to Firelei that Communist ac-
tivitieS were closely linked
with the Soviet secret police.
One of my visitors-en
route from England TO Berlin
was "a Macedonian whose
name was on the wanted
list of every political police
in Europe in connection with
the assassination in Sofia of
Nikolaus Mileff shortly after
the latter'S appointment as
Bulgarian envoy TO Washing
ton. Another, a Eurasian Boil
shevik. told of his escape from
Pamekasan Prison on Madura
Island in the Dutch East
Indies. where some 600 lead
ers of the armed insurrection
of 1926-1927 in Java and
Sumatra were confined.
WAS A CUT-THROAT
This emaciated EuraSian,
who called himself Wade
mar" was a cut-throat who
might have fitted into any
pirate tale. Before his trans
fer to Madura Island. he had
spent two years in the Digul
River prison camps in the
jungles of Dutch New Guinea
under narrowing conditions.
He prided himself on having
organized prison mutinies and
engineered the murder of sew
eral guards.
with this" he said,
abruptly pulling long thin
dagger from under his belt
and caressing it in Firelei's
presence.
He had come 10 Antwerp
as a stowaway from Slnga-
-pefey-I escorted him-to-Ner--
vierS. where the Communist
in charge of the border sta
ton struggled him through
the frontier woods TO Aachen
and put him aboard a train
bound for Berlin.
Still another, Russian
waiting in Antwerp for a
Soviet steamer TO take him TO
Leningrad, tried to create a
favorable impression on the
silently listening Firelei by
telling her of his exploits as
a GPU agent in Bangkok,
where he claimed to have
pressed a number of maids of
the Rajhani Hotel into a
Soviet commercial espionage
organization which called it,
self Association of Employees
of Europeans"
SHE DISLIKES COMINTERN
The more Firelei learned of
the underground machine Of
the Comintern, the more pro-
nounced became her diStaste
for the Communist movement
as a whole. The single-track
fanaticism. the matter-of-fact
callousness, and the intol-
erance of many of the Com
munists she met, appalled, her.
How can people who talk
Of nothing but destruction and
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-08

you think it's wonderful.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-08
Out of the Night

could not find the answer
TO give her We both be-
lieved that il was a crime 10
have a child when the POSSIBLE
ity of bringing il up in security
and happy surroundings was
lacking, and when the parents
lived in constant fear of sud-
den flight or of a prolonged
plunge into prison.
81 am bound Ia serve the
cause as long as l live" j said.
well aware of waverings it,
side.
write. all the same. You
may change your mind some
day." Firelei said quietly.
FINDS TIME TO WRITE
I found time TO write.
played with the idea of break
ing away and striking out on
my own the way soldier toys
with the thought of deserving
his muddy trench TO return TO
distant homestead, never
earnestly believing that it can
be realized.
The ties which held me
shackled 10 the Communist
machine were stronger than l
cared to admit TO myself
Nevertheless. ! wrote. with
Firelei at my side. Whenever
] began a piece. | finished IT
in single sitting which :
usually ended at dawn. Five
or six articles and stories. all
of which had the sea as their
background, went out to varl-
Gus magazines. The editors
sent me checks in return, and
printed what l had written.
Strangely enough all-this-
did not excite me at all.
took il as a matter of course,
in the belief that there is
nothing a Bolshevik cannot
do Had l not won Firelei?
My self-conscience still bor-
dered on the monstrous.
would not have SHE'D away
from an assignment TO sail a
canoe around Cape Horn or TO
take charge of the government
of Alghanistan. Meanwhile
Firelei was making plans for
my literary career. and talked
of renting a fisherman's cot
tage on a desolate spot of the
Flanders coast.
MESSENGER COMES
The end of this period of
wavering came like sudden
awakening from a long and
erratic dream. 1t came in the
form of a messenger from
Ernst Wollweber in Berlin.
The messenger was Michel
Avatin, the Lett, whom l had
helped TO conduct across the
ocean aboard the Montpelier
six years earlier.
The years. it seemed, had
not made him older. Compact,
firm-faced, swift-moving and
ever at ease. he appeared one
evening at the international
Club in Antwerp and en-
barked Immediately on a
thorough overhauling OF the
organization which / had a
mandate TO direct.
liked TO work with Avatin.
He was efficient and incorrup-
tible. His reputation in the
Comintern was that of man
who never crawled. never
begged favor, never accorded
mercy to strikers. He was
known to have friends and
hackers high in the councils
OF the GPU and the Russian
Party. But he was the kind
of man who never demanded
anything of any one that he
would not be able and willing
to do himself.
Avatin exercised many func-
tons as a representative of
the foreign division of the
GPU. His routine checkup on
the soundness of the Comm
terms international Apparat in
the Lowlands was only part OF
his mission. His main job was
that of director of the party's
"S-Apparat." the espionage de-
partment, in Germany and the
smaller adjoining countries.
ASKED ASSISTANCE
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-08

blOodshed lead humanity to
freedom and happiness:" she
asked.
"YOu must understand that
we are at war" / answered.
"The purpose OF war Is to an
initiate the enemy. We must
destroy before we can build
anew"
But why must we borrow
the methods from Russia:
Everything you do II aimed
at violence. 1 don't like yio-
lence."
Every birth Is like a reyo-
lution-violent."
81 have so much to learn"
Firelei said.
"You must learn how TO
hate" / told her.
~ wish we could go away
and live our own lives" Fire
lei concluded.
One night / returned very
late from dash TO Rotter-
dam. l was surprised 10 see
that the light was still burn
ing in our room. Firelei was
not asleep. / found her porting
over a Sheaf of manuscripts l
had written, partly in San
Quentin and partly during odd
hours to take my mind OF the
often Sickening pressure o.
Comlntern business.
MANUSCRIPT OF BOOK
The stack inc u d e d the
manuscript of a book. and
number OF short sketches and
articles dealing with the eX-
periences and observations OF
my early years aboard sailing
ships. Fireleis voice was
tinged with jubilation.
This Is a discovery" she
exclaimed. "Why have you
never told me that you write:
Why don't you send these
pieces out to be published:
Let's do it! 1 think they are
vivid, really good"
saw at once that Firelei
hoped that my writing could
open for her and me a life
away from the Comintern.
"They are not Marxist," l
said. II just wrote them be-
cause 1 dream sometimes OF
going back to sailors life.'
"Just because of that! Let
me send them out"
She begged irresistibly.
Next morning she went TO the
city library to explore publ
cations likely to accept ma
terial portraying the ways OF
ships and sailors. The follow
ing days she toiled at my
typewriter. putting a number
of manuscripts she had Sc
lected into shape. She worked
devotedly, and with an en-
thuSiaSm that astonished me.
The book manuscript which l
had named "Scum's Wake
she promptly dispatched TO
publishing house in New
York.
A description of sailing
-vcssei maneuvering through a
foggy English Channel night
went 10 the Blue Peter, a natl
teal magazine appearing in
London. A story of Heligo-
land, TO which Firelei affixed
the title Silver Bridges" was
sent to a tourist periodical in
Hamburg. and an account Of
my stoWayay voyage from,
Shanghai 10 Vancouver was
put on its way 10 New York
travel magazine. Firelei con-
tinued TO re-type more of my
manuscripts during spare
hours.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-08
ASKED ASSISTANCE

AShED ASSlSl ANIL
In Antwerp, he requested
my assistance in compiling a
select list of little-known but
reliable young Communists to
be planted within the Russian
White Guard organization in
Belgium and Holland. Avatin
also went into conference
with one of his aides, who was
an employee of the Italian con-
sulate in Antwerp. Mussolinfs
Ovra was very active in Turing
exiled Italian revolutionists to
southern France. particularly
TO MarSeilles where they were
occasionally abducted TO Italy.
The conference between the
Lettish spy hunter and the
Italian took place in the
suburban office of Comrade
Anton, the resident agent of
the GPU in Antwerp.
when you catch an Ovra
spy. what do you do with
him ?" / asked Michel Avatin.
I'VE cross-examine the I'M
important ones, then give
them a hard beating, and let
them flee. The dangerous
spies we execute, to strike
fear into their colleagues"
Abruptly, while we we're
striding along a street, Avatin
said:
Take me TO your quarters.
I have instructions for you
from Comrade Wollweber."
But I am not under WOLF
weber's Jurisdiction"
Perhaps you are. He has
taken over our military work
In Central Europe"
The tone in which Avatin
said this was casual, but 1
thought il held a mildly
ominous undertone. Central
Europe" embraced Switzer-
land. Czecho-Slovakia. tho
Netherlands and Belgium. We
mounted the six flights OF
Kodiak mirror., 1941-11-29
Today Is Deadline
 For Duck Hunters

Ducks can take a breather after tonight because the season officially ends then. The season ends Saturday and not Sunday as many suppose because the law limits it to 60 days, and be- cause October had 31 days the 6o-day period ends on November 29.
 This information comes from Jack Benson, wild life agent, who adds that any hunting after the deadline will be punishable.
 So today is your last chanc at the ducks.
Kodiak mirror., 1941-11-29
Defense Houses
 Can Get Priority

Washington (R)-OPAI has announced that priorities assist ance will be given defense hous- ing projects in Anchorage, Fair banks, Ketchikan, Sitka and Kodiak.
 To qualify as defense housing the houses in these areas which are privately built must be offer ed at prices not exceeding $6000 or renting no more than $50 monthly per family unit.
Kodiak mirror., 1941-11-29
Russians Admit
 Gain By Germans

Moscow ans are admitting serious new Cor man gains on the northern and southern Hanks of the Moscow defense arc, but declared that Red Army counter attacks in the Ukraine had thrown the Nazis back six more miles in the north west Tostovin sector, where the Germans already had lost 37 to 60.
 The Vichy radio said that German front reports" said the Nazi mechanized forces had slash ed through the Red Army de- fense to a point within less than Is miles of Moscow. This IS the closest approach since Hitler started his huge scale drive on October 2.
 Radio reports said that Ger man spearheads had broken through southeast Kin, 50 miles northwest of Moscow. There was no confirming report from else where, however.
Kodiak mirror., 1941-11-29

Jorgen Fredrickson, owner and operator of the Belmont bar, is returning on the Mount McKin- l'y after lengthy trip in the states. His trip was a combina- ton business and pleasure one. Upon his return he will resume his seat in the city council.
Kodiak mirror., 1941-11-29
Chimney Blaze ( uses
 Little Damage To Home

Tie volunteer fire department answered an alarm about 1000 an Wednesday evening for chim- pey fire at the Norman Noble residence on Kupreanof drive opposite Totem Igloo shop. Prompt turning in of the alarm enabled the firemen to quickly extinguish the blazing shingles next to the chimney. There was nodamage.
Kodiak mirror., 1941-11-29

Bendix, N. J.-Press Associa-
 tion Photo Soldiers were sta tioned at the plant of Air Assoc iates, Incorporation, after an ex- ecutive order of President Roose- welt directed the army to take over. The officer in command of
Kodiak mirror., 1941-11-29
Another Nominec Namsd
 For Secretary of Union

Charles L. E. Svendsen was nominated for secretary by all members of the Ouzinkie local at a regular meeting of the United Fishermen of Alaska here. Her man Anderson was delegate, and W. c. Smith, chairman.
 Bill Castell and Cliff Summer lin are the other two nominees so far for the position.
Kodiak mirror., 1941-11-29
Hospital News

Baby boys were born to Mir. and Mrs August Heitman on November F, and to Mir and Mrs. Scott Stream on November 26.
Kodiak mirror., 1941-11-29

Edwin Anderson, from the Ouzinkie Mission, is recovering rapidly from a major operation l erformed on November 24.
Kodiak mirror., 1941-11-29

Patients admitted in the past two weeks are: Maria Larsen, Robert Rauen, Mrs. August Heitman, John Goodmanson Herman Kayo, Billy Lacosse, Mrs. Scott Stream. Edwin Ander- son aud Dan Taylor.
 Patients dismis ed in the same period were: Jerome krogstad Ronald Fadaof, Maria Larsen, Robert Rauen, Mrs Valley, Mrs. John Bathu,st, John Goodman son, Herman kayo, Billy lacosse ard Mrs Augu t Heitna !.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-22
RESULTS PRINTED

The results were printed a few
days later in the Bugle Call, a
two-page mimeographed paper
published weekly by the Journal
ism Club.
Jack Leary spent two hours in
finally penning the following note,
which he sent along with the
paper to Lauralee Brent in care
Of the Fairfax Studios:
Dear Miss Brent:
80" am enclosing a copY OF our
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-22
GETS NICE SALARY

Molly Brown, who handles the
large fan mail staff at Fairfax and
who draws down a nice salary be-
cause she's cot brains, drifted into
The publicity department where
she pumped her pretty figure in
a plushy chair in Hank Vetter's
office.
I'm busy growled the press
chief. blowing thick clouds Of
cigar smoke across the desk.
which is about as big as a
county in Georgia.
"If you're so busy. Mr.. Vet
ter" Molly said acidly, you
might remove your feet from
the mahogany"
81 think better that way"
Nettpr retorted "it Is"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-22
SUPERVISED AFFAIR

A still camera crew had been
brought along by Hank Vetter,
who personally supervised the af-
fair. once his interest had been
awakened.
Lauralee was snapped a dozen
times during the fried chicken
dinner in the big mess hall, and
Jack Leary was in most of them.
AS he escorted her over the
grounds that afternoon. he showed
her the several barracks, the gym,
the recreation hall and even the
Schoolhouse, the cameramen and
most of the cadets trailed along
like the gallery in the wake of a
champion at a golf tournament.
Before getting into Vetter's sleek
convertible. she autographed a big
beautiful photograph for Jack.
Lauralee was not little sur
prised when the chief sent for her.
In an Office that had been I'M
ported piece by piece from a
Florentine palace, the head OF
Fairfax sat enthroned, and his
mood was happy one.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-22
PRESENTS GIRL

The desk were
pictures clipped from a hundred
papers, stacked several deep over
the polished surface.
Seated by the desk, like a proud
papa. was Hank Vetter and he was
all smiles as he presented the girl
10 the chief.
ITS gone over big, Lauralee."
Vetter said. She seemed puz-
zled. You mean" he demanded.
that you haven't seen the
papers,"
II saw some of the pictures in
the local papers" she said "They
came out nice. Isn't that little
Leary boy good-lookihg?"
"Loeal papers, my eye, Miss
Brent" CALCULATED the chief.
Those shots appeared every
where. just look at 'em, never
thought Hank had sense enough
TO cook up gag like this
SQUAREST SHOOTER
81 didn't consider II a gag"
Lauralee Brent said Indignantly.
Netter IS probably the squarest
shooter in Hollywood.
Don't get me wrong. chief"
he said. 1T was Molly Brown
who thought up the business"
well, IL worked. Remind me,
Hank, To give Miss Brown the
raise I had planned for you"
Then he handed over 10 Laura
lee an important looking document.
"New contract. Miss Brent"
he said We've got a nice spot
for YOU in the next Barker pic
ture."
And that is why once q
month. Jack Leary has dinner with
Lauralee and her mother in their
bungalow in the Hollywood hill
Lauralee, like Hank Vet.
ter, IS square shooter, too.
THE END.
Tomorrow's short story, Three
in the North
For the Inside News" OF
Washington, Follow Paul NAL
Ions Column In the Times.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-22

voted that she'd be the girl
they'd like most TO take to
dinner.
"They passed up Hedy LAMAR
and Ann Sheridan and a lot of
other glamour gals for her"
What am l supposed to do
about this, hire a band:"
NO, you dope. ] don't claim
10 be a great publicist, like you
think you are, but II this Laura
lee Brent actually went out
there to eat with those cadets
YOU might get her picture In
Kalamazoo paper sometime.
1T would be a little different
from the leg art you're turning
out by the bale"
One hundred Prentice cadets
will never forget that Sunday din
ner, with a beautiful girl seated
at the right of the major at the
head table, and Corp. Jack Lear.
beside her.
She was about the prettiest cir
they'd ever seen anywhere, any
time, any place.
She was especially gracious t
Jack, thanking him time and time
again for making it possible 70,
her 10 be a dinner guest.
About the only remark TIL
tongue-tied boy could utter wa
the somewhat inane:
Zone hundred men and
girl"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-22
THINKS WITH FEET

"I've always said" interrupted
Molly Brown, "that the results
of this department prove beyond
the shadow of n doubt that
somebody i'm this office thinks
with his feet"
"YOu didn't come In here"
said Netter, not IN the least
perturbed, Ito pass out phony
compliments. Give, lady, give"
"A letter came in today, Mr..
Vetter, that you might be In
terested In. 1t came TO Lauralee
Brent"
"And who" he demanded, sis
Lauralee Brent"
"She's one Of our stock in
genues. as you ought to know.
She's supported Lila Holden In
a couple of BIS"
PASSED UP HEDY
''Well. what of 1t? ."
at seems" Molly said, that
the boys I'm military school
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-22
ApvERTfsFMEN1

help pictured because waited
despite ersbaldne
iiopea
CAN who losing their hair and who avoid
badness. To those people we offer
( \ private scalp examination and analysis by a
petent, licensed expert
T. No false misleading claims promises Dates
We IN M pressure No
accepted unless honestly believe will helped
advanced scientific treatment which has
cessfully the
Is individually n privacy.
A reasonable payable AS the
We do not ask to sign agreement to take series
g. Separate 70
6, The honest advertising a worthwhile
losing itching
don't wait until il late to he helped hair
while Dates Associates
Griswod Griswod and
1922 $3.50 VI, Saturdays
20 VI
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-22
DESPERATELY IN LOVE

Jack Leary. 14-year-old corporal
az the second squad, Third PA
,oon. was desperately in love and
had been for a whole month.
On his monthly weekend home
he had taken in B picture IN
one Of the downtown Los Angeles
theaters. and in il was a young
supporting actress, one Lauralee
Brent-Ro relation 10 George.
She was certainly lovely 10 look
al.
The idea came 10 him when Dick
Barham asked him 10 vote for
Autry as top sergeant
Young Barham SAID he hadn |
decided on that yet, so Jack prom
ised 10 work for the horse opera
star if the cadet lieutenant would
do likewise for Lauralee Brent as
the favorite dinner companion
They shook hands on that and
the corporal set out from there
He Joined the Karlof hackers
on the desert island .buslness-a
direct slap al the Harvard LAM
poon for naming Miriam Hopkins
and garnered some more votes
for Lauralee. OF whom none Of the
boys had ever heard.
Jack got aboard the move 10
select Deanna Durbin as the most
desirable companion on desert
island. exacting support in this
quarter for the girl of his dreams,
When the votes were tabulated
and announced amid great hilar-
ity, it was with palpitating heart
that he heard Capt. Grant say
that Lauralee Brent was the per.
son the cadet corps would prefer
az dinner com naninn
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-22

school paper and YOU will please
notice that YOU were chosen as
the girl we'd like most to have
rs dinner guest In the mess hall
some sunday.
II saw you In your picture.
Tragedy I'm the North Woods,
and l liked YOU awfully In 1t.
That's why i managed your
campaign. VIII YOU please send
me your picture
"(Signed) JACK LEARf,
"Cadet COru0raI"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-22
Daily ShOz'f Story
Companion in the Mess Hall
By SAN FORD FARRELL

ITfifRf hadn't been as much eN-
l. ciiementin the school since
the magician put on ms feats of
legerdemain for the cadets three
months ago Politics was the key
note. but il was not Of the Demo-
cratic or Republican brand New
Deal or anti-New Deal
One hundred American boys
ranging in age from 6 10 10. were
borrowing a leaf from the Hsr-
ward Lampoon 20 determine who
would ho the least desirable com
panlon or a desert island
And they were gong 10 ballot
on their choices for or against
many other things too. &
Cadet Lieut.. Dick Barham for
instance. was managing A vigorous
campaign for Gene AutrX Tor hon
orary top sergeant. and at the
same time was gathering support
for Humphrey Bocart as the per-.
son least preferred for that m
portant post.
JUDY Garland was Co-manaeed7
by a trio of ninth graders for top
honors as the schools favorlte fllm
actress,
June Preisser had a committee
backing her as the glrl they O
rather GATE or a party.
Electioneering had gone on
busily in the week preceding the
voting scheduled for the weekly
get-together affair IN the recrea-
tion hall.