The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-09-03

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deal higher than our valley. We do
not have free access" he admit
ted. "Cuts here and here would be
necessary to connect these ravines
leading into the bowl, and an earth
dam would have to be thrown up
here. Also, we'd have to bore
through these hills in order to bring
the water out to the valley. But -"
Curtis point was that dam large
enough to serve most of the valley
by gravity could be carved out of
the hills. It would need more earth
moving equipment, and Montaya
held in his hand Curtis memoran-
dunn listing what he wanted. He
looked at Curt with increased in
terest and respect.
"But the cost of this equipment,
Mr.. Curtis"
81 know where you can get some
perfectly satisfactory secondhand
machines at fair price. What's
more, you can have immediate de-
livery and get them here in two
weeks or so. In my opinion, none Of
the work is progressing fast enough.
Wen need everything we can put
on the levee to complete it in time"
In the end Montaya agreed, and
by phone, then and there, ordered
the necessary radiogram sent to his
New Orleans office. Other business
followed, disposed of item by item.
Montaya glanced at his wrist.
"There are two men you have not
yet met. Knowing you would be
free at this hour I asked them here.
Sunday seemed a good time, not to
interfere with the routine of any,
one."
He opened the door to the outer
office, nodded to someone outside,
held the door open.
In marched two young men in
freshly starched whites, punctilious
and stiff of manner. They could
be only the Swedes whom Curt had
heard mentioned so many times.
Both were tall, both dark blond, with
fair skin and blue eyes, both wide
of shoulder and hard as nails.
There the resemblance ceased.
One was round of face, with full
lips that held a curious quirk in the
corners. He had wavy hair. Not
too strong a countenance, this.
The others face was square, with
thin, straight lips, frosty eyes, and
stiff cropped hair. There was an
old scar on his left cheek.
"Mr. Curtis, this is Mr.. Ryden,
who smooths out our transportation
problems" Square-face bowed stiff
ly. "And Mr.. Lannestock, our Chief
Pilot" The other followed suit. Mel
Their smiled.
Curt extended a hand but felt no
warmth in their response. Palpa-
bly,, they were i'll at ease, and Curt
presently put this down to their poor
command of English. They seemed
to understand the language well
enough but expressed themselves
haltingly and with an effort.
Flying always seemed an adven-
turous life to me-" Curt said, by
way of conversation. "Do you en-
JOY this sort of utility flying?
Freighting, laying chemicals, that
sort of thing?"
cit is, a job" was Lannestock's
answer. He had trouble with his 81"
Ryden was more voluble. "a good
flyer likes any kind of flying. It is
not always work. There was the
map" He cast a glance at the big
map on Curtis wall. "And the alli-
gators"
Montaya explained.
Before the swampland was
drained of surface water, alligators
were quite nuisance. And, yes,
some danger. AS fast as the clear
ing progressed, Mr.. Ryden bombed
them from a low altitude with gre
nades. Those that were not killed
were driven down the rivers into
the marshes between Tempujo and
the sea-"
A curious look ivened Ryden's
eyes as Montaya spoke. They took
on a merciless slant. Lines of cru
city tensed his thin lips. Features
that a moment before had been
merely cold took on a hint of leashed
fury and hate. Here was a man
capable of anything.
The sudden transition hit Curt like
an electric shock. He shifted his
gaze to Lannestock. There was no
viciousness in this mans face but
Curt got the impression that lame
stock was dominated by the other.
"Karl and Costa" Montaya con-
tinued in a tone shaded with affec-
ton, "were invaluable to us when
we needed two full-time flyers to
freight materials. There is still
much work for them to do. I could
not get along without them"
Here was another surprise
warmth from ''The Dark Lily!
"Planes have their uses" Curt
admitted. "What make Of plane do
you use?" He'd asked Montaya this
question before, and got no answer.
''They are old planesl" Ryden spit
this out, with it giving Montaya a
dirty look.
The Spaniards teeth shone affa-
bly,. Here was nothing new. He
was, indeed, mildly amused.
always they ask for new ma
Chimes" He shrugged expressively.y
sBut if the planes they have will
fly, I cannot be putting several times
the price into new equipment for
this heavy work. They, too, become
at once secondhand.
'But repair work." asked Curt,
''to keep them in condition.
''Both Karl and Costa are quite
competent at repairs. And they have
good mechanics to assist"
'But always we repair, like we
glue together. Some day we come
to pieces in the air and have no
gluel"
Montaya shrugged again, less
good-naturedly. "Karl, you are too
good a flyer to take up bad plane.