Posted: March 24, 1998 at 19:21:52: by Richard Frahm
I have to correct my earlier posting. The first Norton I read was Ralestone Luck in the late 1930's. So, here is another collecting story that might be tited ANDRE, THE CEMENT KILN AND THE FIRE MAIN. Two of the most obscure stories by Andre Norton are "The Boy and the Ogre" and "Toymaker's Snuffbox" that appeared in The Golden Magazine for Boys and Girls in 1966. I wanted them and when I read in the newspaper an article about a old magazine dealer who had opened a warehouse in a former cement kiln on the tideflats of Tacoma, Washington, I called him. He said that if I travelled from Seattle to Tacoma and met him, he would open his storage and we could look. The place was fantastic - sort of a gothic crypt filled with stacks and piles, bales and boxes of magazines. Old Mr. Way like a bird dog led me thru narrow dark passages of magazines until we came to a table and he said "there!" and there they were - copies of the Golden Magazine including my two sought for issues. He charged me just 50 cents each and I left very happy. Then about 18 months later, the technical library I headed had a fire main break on the floor above and many of my periodical files were soaked beyond recovery. I called Mr. Way and he came and said I can do something for you and so he did. The Insurance paid him $7,500 for the several thousand journal issues he replaced. I again was very happy and so was he.
Richard Frahm
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