541205-67

I hope that Polly is made to under-
stand that I have not deserted her. Tell
Chris that I would like a letter from her,
especially some drawings of our house and
what she wears, so that I can show them to
the little children in Guatemala--and
Mother Malseed, let me have a note from you
from time to time on the actual state of
affairs of the Bee Family--Annette always
hides those things that would tend to make
me worried while in the field. Of course,
Jay will have to write me again if I am to
understand exactly what we are to buy.
Speaking of guns, Jay, the policemen in
Guatemala have rifles that do not look any
better than your old Indian rifle.

When I last wrote you, I believe that
I had just returned from Bannera and was
awaiting air transportation to Guatemala
City. I have never been quite sure that
my letters are getting out of Guatemala, as
I have mailed them out under very unusual
circumstances. If the letter does not
carry enough postage, they are just as apt
to throw it in the wastepaper basket as not.
On December 3, before going down to the
airfield in Barrios, I dropped over to see
if the car had been unloaded--it had and also
it had been inspected! The United Fruit
Company guaranteed that it would be delivered
to Guatemala City "in bond" but somehow the
Great Military and Customs officials found
out that there were guns in the car and
they turned the equipment upside down. With
my packing, there was adequate room left
in the car, but by the time they had
released the boxes with batts of cotton and
pawed through the rest of the things, the
car was overflowing. I personally did not