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Waco 42 [Header]

George and Matty had stunted over Pike's Peak, [The first time it had ever been done] had seen Hollywood, and had just missed a cyclone at Albuquerque, New Mexico. They visited Katherine Stinson, and saw many of their wartime friends. One of my neighbours had a husband, named George, too. He was working on the railroad and due for a pension, so he was nearing the time when her husband would not be away so much. I would enthuse with her when George was due in, admire all the cooking she had done ahead, so she could feed him well, yet have time to visit with him, and she would enthuse with me, when my George was coming home. Her  George would have the substitute engineer give a special whistle as the freight would slow down for him to drop off, and my George would reve his motor several times, dive low over the house, zoom, loop, and with a hard kick to the rudder, fly off to the field, then phone me, and rush home in the Stutz that was at his disposal. Again I felt that I unconsciously influenced the design of aircraft. Mattie had built a big twin engined job, which always made me feel that it would plummet down to Earth, with George riding the nose, whilst looked so heavy, like the heavy base of one of those toys, you can't tip over. Mattie didn't enjoy the ship, as I recall and when George didn't fly it no more, I felt relieved. Llyod Stearman was working for Matty then, and he and his bride came to live with us, so I wouldn't be so nervous when George was off on long trips. We flew over to Dodge City, saw the cemetry, of the olden days when the sheriff, "just shot'em before they shot him", and the outlaws were buried with all their clothing, just as they were. Fascinating history in that part of the country. The whole south west seemed from the air, to be spiked with oil towers. Everyone was driving Packards, and wearing diamonds. Wichita was interesting for the farmers, who made their farming pay, moved into town and let younger men run the farm, while they enjoyed city comforts. Buddie put George in the headlines, once more than his flying did. Buddie was three now, and the idol of his parents. He