The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-09-24
CHAPTER XII

through the circle. Again Ryden
registered relief as he gave up the
spotlight.
Eve don't wish to appear to unvel-
COON you," Toenjes said, his voice
controlled. Again Curt was amazed
at the rapid change, amazed that
the Dutchman's anger-or whatever
1t was he'd seen in his face-had
vanished. "Zey mean to gay We
are not as a coomairzhal field
equipped. You had re trouble With
your blane?"
''Yeh, trouble" The lieutenant
also had trouble to regain his own
equanimity. In fact, he made little
effort to do so, merely transferring
his angry gaze from Ryden to Toen-
jes. "Clogged a fuel line. Headed
for Puerto Soledad but the matter of
safety forced me down here"
81 am glad for you to land zafe.
Vat can We do for your"
But the army mans gaze met
Curtis. Curt was grinning from ear
to ear as he stepped into the
fray.
Names Curtis. Chief Engineer
for the Compania Agricola Tropical,
who have this valley. This is DR..
Toenies, of Amsterdam, an agricul-
tural authority in charge of farms. 7"
Didn't see much looked like
farms from the air." grunted the
other, still unappeased.
Just started planting. Come back
in couple of years. This is Karl
Ryden, to whom-er, at whom you
were talking. And Costa lame
stock. Flyers, both"
The army man grunted again, get
ting back a little good humor.
I'm Lieutenant Trainor. My
men," nodding in direction of each
in turn, "Blanding, Newman, Fos-
ter" All three were engaged making
a space about the plane. Sorry if
we inconvenience you, but We'll
have to make some repairs"
'Of course"
Things organized, ladders brought
from the nearby, hangers, the two
men Newman and Foster stripped to
their waists and got busy disman-
ting the fuel line of the engine. It
was not simple task but they knew
their job.
Toenjes took considerable inter-
est, conversing in low tones with
Ryden. This left Curt by himself
for a moment, and he singled out
the second lieutenant.
"Blanding? Curtis"
They grinned and shook hands.
Blanding spat and said, American?
What you doing in this blooming
league of nations?"
Work here. What's the matter?
No cooperation from our field
force?"
Cooperation? Say, a guy'd think
it was a crime to set down Grip
pied plane. Private field, private
field" he mimicked. ''What the
hell? By the way" his tone changed,
became curious, what you doing
with those old crates? Those old.
time Junkers transports"
He wore smile that was hall
amusement, half disgust, as he nod
ded toward the two G. A. T. planes.
He spat again.
"Junkers?" said Curt "That what
they are? I'm no airman, didn't
know. Only been on the job here
ten days or so, myself. Oh, an out
fit like this has to keep expenditures
down to a minimum. Understand
the planes were picked up in Eu-
rope secondhand, being cheaper
than similar equipment from the
States"
'sWhat do you use them for?"
"Freighting, chiefiy-that is, we
did. Now we use them to lay a
chemical mix to treat the soil be-
fore planting. They've been pretty
useful"
DR.. Toenjes had sided up and
was standing by. Curt smile crook
edly.
1.-The chemical mix is DR.. Toenjes'
pride and glory" he said. "De.
signed to Offset acidity, prevent
plant disease, and so on. Take g
bow, Doctor"
DR.. Toenjes only glared at the
pleasantly.
They watched for some minutes
the work on the engine. The fue,
line was disconnected, blown out
reconnected. The engine was test.
ed, but still it sputtered.
Lieutenant Trainor, from kibitz
ing position above, jumped to the
ground. He wore frown.
eve were scheduled to touch
Puerto Soledad this afternoon anc
proceed onward at once. II we
can catch up with the other planes
quickly, they'll wait for us. But
supposing we can't, make repair:
tonight, any way of putting US up?'
ST should think So" answered
Curt. Trouble serious, them"
'Not serious, but it goes deeper
than ] thought. I see you have 9th
er hangers here" The lieutenant
nodded toward the far end Of the
field. "Could we put the machine
under cover for the night?"
Sorry" Curt replied. "They were
built as hangers, all right, but
they're used for storage purposes
now. They're full up with materials
and supplies. You couldn't even gel
the nose of your ship inside"
Curt hadn't yet gone through the
buildings, but he recalled the ex
traordinary stock of pipe and fit
tings, and other materials listed IL
the inventory Senior Montaya hao
sent him.
Attention called to the end of the
fed. they saw movement there
Lieutenant Trainor produced pail
of field glasses, adjusted them, stud
led what he saw. Then he shrugged
and Curt automatically reached fol
the lowered binoculars.
Pointing them at the bodega, Cur
-a... @ small cre1u of men with Ian