The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-09-17
CHAPTER x

SurI was urea, not, anu SIlShy'
He had some matters to go over
with Montaya and had intended a
trip to the senor's Office after a
shower and change of clothes. But
there was an hour to spare and this
was as good a time as any for a
visit to the field.
He plunged down rugged foot
path leading into a more Travelled
pathway, and in less than fifteen
minutes was at the wide double
gates that stretched across the rail-
road tracks leading into the field.
These were of heavy fence wire
pulled taut over pipe frames. One
gate was swinging ajar, and Curt
pushed on in.
A few men busy some distance
away hadn't seemed to notice his
approach, yet word had carried. Be-
fore Curt reached the field office,
young Karl Ryden came trotting
around corner of the nearest hang
ar, his square face congested with
anger or annoyance, Curt couldn't
tell which. Perhaps it was both.
Said Curt cheerfully, 81 was al
the hospital and the short cut down
the hill was inviting. Should have
phoned, perhaps, but 1 wasn't near
one at the moment"
ct is all right" Ryden said stiff
ly. I'VE happen to be here today"
Lannestock came running up, wip-
ing his hands on some cotton waste.
He, too, was visibly put out by the
visit. Curt ignored the scowl, tried
another smile, extended his hand to
Lannestock.
Hello, Lannestock. Or shall ]
say Costa? We're all one family
here"
Both Swedes bowed stiff1y, uncer-
tainly. Ryden was the spokesman.
"Of course, Mr.. Curtis. We are
friends here"
''Fme-Karl." He surveyed the
two. Repair work on the planes to-
day."
yes" Ryden snapped this out.
He then flung some Swedish at
Lannestock, who stood wiping sweat
from his forehead with the sleeve
of his coverall. Lannestock nodded
and made off for the living quarters.
Ryden spoke again to Curt.
my friend will get clean. Then
we have something to drink Now
you let me show you the plant"
Grouped behind the two hangers
were the utility buildings, and it
was to these Ryden led the way.
The largest was a V-shaped af-
fair, housing in one wing the office,
in the other a six-room bachelor
quarters for Ryden, Lannestock, and
their principal mechanics. These
wings were connected by a club
room containing tables for cards and
billiards, radio, photograph, a small
bar, an enclosure stocked with small
itemEchiefiy cigarettes, toilet arti-
cles, less perishable candies.
mo wonder you men don't often
come up to San Alejo," Curt re-
marked. 81 wouldn't want to my
self, with so many comforts right
at hand"
1--WE are happy here" Ryden con-
ceded, still unbending. "There is
nothing we need except the cinema.
For that we 60 up to the town."
Lannestock, dripping from the
shower, emerged from his quarters
with a towel about his waist and
trotted to the pool for a quick
plunge.
But there remained the hangers.
With Ryden clearly reluctant, Curt
himself led the way.
In front of each hangar was the
plane it housed, mechanics were
still at work on them. On one plane
they were repairing the landing
gear, but the other machine was
dismantled of cowling and propel-
lor, and new wing had been in
stalled. The old one lay on the
ground.
Curt puzzled. These were a make
of plane quite unfamiliar to him, but
after all Curt wasn't particularly
air-mnded man. They seemed big,
bulky, awkward things, Percherons
of the air, built for hard usage.
Each had powder-laying nozzles pro-
truding from the fuselage well back
under the tails.
Thought of this powder led Curt S
eyes to the shed-type structure be-
tween the hangers, which evidently
housed the chemical for treating the
swampland. The sliding doors were
closed and locked, but the hard
packed earth before the building
and in paths leading to the air.
planes loading spaces was white
with the stuff trod in under foot.
Ryden was complaining blackly,
apparently for the purpose of MAX
ing talk. Curt became aware of a
food of words.
90. all the time we repair,
repair. We get one thing done, then
there is another. These planes are
only junk"
''They look pretty sturdy to me-"
Curt said.
"Oh, they fly, but they are old.
We need new ones. There is still
much work to do. But" he lifted
his shoulders, "Senor Montaya will
not. The best he do is get a new
passenger plane if we make these
last for soil treatment"
Curt noticed foodlighting equip
ment.
ST see you can do night flying"
''That is for emergency. We have
never used it"
Something else was for emergen-
cy, too. An emergency against
emergency, Curt told himself. At
one end of the hangar in front of
him he saw broad shelf holding
some dozens of oil flares.
Curt turned back to the shed that
housed the chemical, eyed it specu-
latively. Against his better judg-
ment he was about to put ques-
ton, when a furious chugging and
clankinp of rails. the sudden sound