stefansson-wrangel-09-14-103-004

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regard to the second story based upon the diaries. The most ridicu-
lous of all the claims is that the diaries belong to him because he
discovered them in Wrangell Island and because they would still be
up there if he hadn't fetched them. We think, however, that the
Wrangell Island relief ship would have been about as well managed by
anyone else as it was by Noice, so that there is not even that much
sense in his contention. The Newspaper Alliance claim that they bought
the story from Noice as our agent, and claim that they were justified
in looking upon him so because Mr. Taylor had told them over the tele-
phone that Noice was all right and that they might deal with him. This
telephone converstation was a misunderstanding, for the Alliance were
asking Taylor about one thing and he answered with another thing in his
mind. Everyone that I have talked with, including the Newspaper Alli-
ance, feel that Noice is without anything to stand on personally, but
it is to the interest of the Alliance to maintain the contention that
the bargain they made with Noice must stand legally because of his
having been our agent.

From my point of view one of the worst things about
the whole matter is that it tends to destroy one's confidence in human
nature. When the next fellow comes along who is in Noice's position
and needs help, I shall have difficulty in not saying to myself that
he is probably another Noice.

The most astounding thing perhaps is Noice inability
to see that he is injuring himself more than anyone else. What he says
and does may be temporarily annoying and painful to us, but Noice will
have to bear the permanent burden.

Please remember me most kindly to your wife and son.

I am going off on another week's trip and expect to
write you again when I get back. I hope there will be something good
to tell then.

Mr. J. I. Knight,
McMinnville, Oregon.