Marston and Me by Thomson Burtis
"Marston and Me" by Thomson Burtis is a story set against the backdrop of the U.S. Air Service during a period of inactivity along the border. The protagonist, Slim Evans, a border patrolman and flyer, finds himself embroiled in a series of events that test his skills and resolve. The narrative begins with a dry spell of action for the border patrol, leading to a sense of monotony among the patrolmen. However, this changes when Slim is ordered to Langham Field, Virginia, to participate in bombing tests on German battleships. At Langham Field, Slim encounters Sergeant Marston, a former officer who had made Slim's life difficult during his cadet days. Despite their past animosity, Slim chooses Marston as his mechanic for ferrying Martin Bombers from Cleveland to Langham. The story takes a turn when sabotage is suspected after two bombers are destroyed in a fire at the Martin factory, and later, Slim and his fellow pilot, Les Fernald, experience near-fatal incidents due to tampered control cables. As the plot unfolds, Slim's suspicions about Marston's involvement in the sabotage are challenged when Marston saves Slim's life during an aerial attack by unknown assailants. The investigation reveals that the sabotage was orchestrated by a delusional inventor and his accomplice, who sought to undermine the Air Service's bombing tests for personal gain. The story concludes with Slim and Marston reaching a mutual respect, despite their personal differences, as they continue their duties in the Air Service. The narrative explores themes of redemption, duty, and the complexities of personal relationships within the military.
By Thomson Burtis · First published 1952 · Genre: Memoir, Historical Fiction, Adventure · 5 chapters · 17,530 words
First lines
Life on the border had hit a dry spell for some unknown reason. Not a -- -- thing had happened, was happening or seemed about to happen. For approximately four months the border patrolmen, of which, at times, I had the honor to be one, were slowly dying of dry-rot. We galloped up and down the frisky Rio Grande from Brownsville to San Diego, including waystations, with our customary eagerness to spot something of interest in connection with smuggling, rustling and other diversions of the Spigs and American renegades, but we were like a bunch of mosquitoes sucking on a piece of marble.
What this Textopian page supports
Marston and Me is listed on Textopian as a historical account by Thomson Burtis, dated 1952 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Historical account
- Author: Thomson Burtis
- Date: 1952 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Memoir, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Western, Drama
- Length: 17,530 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 324 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Marston and Me by Thomson Burtis
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Memoir — The title suggests a personal narrative that intertwines the author's experiences with those of Marston.
- Historical Fiction — The work likely situates personal and social events within a distinct historical context, blending fact with narrative embellishment.
- Adventure — The plot is assumed to include dynamic exploits and explorations that propel the narrative forward.
- Western — Given Thomson Burtis’s association with mid-century American pulp, themes of rugged individualism and frontier ethos may be present.
Tags
memoir · biography · character study · human interest · relationship · personal narrative · self-reflection · life story · American literature · non-fiction · storytelling · inspirational