The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-09-26
Talk Of the T0ll,,1

One couldn't help noticing them.
even IL they hadn't the numbers sewed
to their sleeves. They were pretty and
liviy. which was sufficient cause for q
stolid citizen to observe them, much
less a reporter who IL supposed to be
ION the job" s. z.s' - 4 IT, : n
They cruised into the hsfel lpbby
and cast anchor. As9s.
A closeup was very encouraging,'
they were not only pretty. but very
pretty, and besides, one addressed the
other as "Olivia," and the other an.
| swered to the name Of ."Bl0ndy."
That was encouraging. Girls with
names like those could be safely asked
what those numbers meant.
They were asked-and the question
was answered. with more information
J thrown in as a good measure.
! "Olivia" spoke first, and held her
| left arm so that all could see the mum.
ber-"126." It read.
THAT NUMBER she said, lis the
draft numeral OF my sweetheart hubby,
and my name Is Mrs. D. NJ. Bangs, and
live in Coifax, Washington, and he
was drafted from there. and I'm going
to $3.50"
"Raise the DEVIL" finished "Blondy,"
and then she recited her piece-and
held up the arm that had the figures,
1924" sewed upon the sleeve.
My name," she confided, lis Mrs.
A. b. Collins. from Spokane. Washing
ton. Sure. those are my husbands
draft number.
There was no stopping to Blondy:
shcs talked like a Little Wonder record.
do you know where we got this
idea:" she asked.
That bit of information net being
known. It was necessary to say so.
WELL" she said--this very conf
dentaliy-"we got It from the Denver
Post"
After giving out this bit of news
Blondy looked around with the air OF
a soap box orator who has just pre-
dicted a fall In the price of onions.
Seeing that they were well posted
girls. It was thought best to let them
ramble.
"olivia' perked up then and came to
the front.
Yes" she continued, I'VE read about
girls who are tattooing and otherwise
prominently placing the numbers Of
their sweethearts' regiments on their
necks. and other places. SO we thought
we would be distinctly individual and
sew our hubbys' red ink numbers to
our arms"
"Oh yes, so on. Olivia"-this for en-
couragement
well, that's all today; let's go,
Blondy, think the brute is kidding
U.S."
They went; arm in arm. with the
numbers flashing gayly.
When the soldiers were passing
through Missoula. last Monday, the
Ladies of the G. A. r. discovered that
the boys of the Wyoming contingent
had no flag. To know was to act and
Mrs. Leta Bascom, president. of. the
order. in behalf of the members, pre-
scented the Wyoming boys with a
s handsome silk flag: at the same time
giving the Missoula boys a generous
supply of cigarettes. The grateful
soldiers promised to carry the FLAG
D. with them to France and to bring Il
to back in good time, to the United
l. States.
1t was lonely spot, that look gu
ST station of the forest rangers at Noun
Is Emerine. % miles from Philipsburg
OF and the man who had been stationed
III there earlier in the season grew s,
4 lonesome that he gave up and returnt
ne to civilization.
as The need OF q .smoke- chaser wa
cd serious. Forest fires were breaking
out every day. and there was none t
g. take the job.
ar. 1t remained for a pluck woman t,
he volunteer for the service-and she wa
ne accepted.
he Mr.. and Mrs. Jack Kelley were driv
en- ing across the state In a spring wagon
ais when they stopped at Philipsburg an.
de received the news that a look wa
Tut wanted at Mount Emerine.
an With her two dogs for protectors tn
on nervy woman climbed to the lionel
'ar point on the mountain top. an
an watched throughout the summer TO
ID the tell-tale wisps of smoke. She re
manned until the danger was over. an
OF reported many fire. while her hus
AS band was kept busy as forest guar
Mt miles away from her camp.
tic The Missoula forestry offices rim
ais with the praise Of one lone woman
err faithful service.
in
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