The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-06-07
Poinsettias For Peace

settia canes and they had to hold up
Oils first eastern order to help find her.
But he called: "Hey-you in the tan
sweater and cords. You can go on tne
hooks."
Three days later Valencia had the
story OF Russell Downes. It was 9 "a
miliar story to western employers: East
ern birth; good family; university; row
with father; row with married brotnefs
and sisters and grandmother; " OF
three Jobs, mostly with family fr1enos'
.sulks; pride; departure for unknown
fields.
Valencia Redd liked to hear about
family life. She and her father mao
neither kith nor kim. Her mother died
that her own life had been very lonely
without brothers or sisters.
Mike lost no time in advising Gil 10
look up the antecedents of young owneS
but Gil thought hat might wait until
the Bangor. Me-, order had been shipped.
This was different, Mike feared. he
heard her tell young Downes last night
under the n-silvered bougainv1llea
that it must take a lot of courage 10
abandon grapefruit at a family break
fast and hitch-hike across the continent.
Gil Redd looked up from a duplicate
freight bill for Iowa and said unexpec
eddy, "Well, it does"
He was a tall muscular man with his
daughters violet eyes but more au-
thoritative. His mouth was somber' as
If at some time he and life had had a
sharp quarrel which had never entirely
been made up.
He went on, a little amused. "Any-
how, that's Walls usual line. She often
reminds me Of my fathers mother A
great old girl-when he was given ner
own way"
Unde a blue velvet night sky in Cali
fornia, poinsettias are darker than blood
and eyes are blacker than violets.
With honeysuckles above his head,
Russell Downes. stretched ~contentedly on
the ground, found life pretty good. He
asked Valencia If she'd see the game
with him in the Rose bowl on New years
day. He had done some careful figuring
(although he didn't tell this to her) and
by careful eating he could pay his room
rent in a cheap lodging house in Van
Mugs for two weeks Or so after the pick
ing season was over. and yet spend
enough on the gay afternoon with this
violet-eyed girl.
At the invitation, Valencia squealed
with delight. as If she'd not dared to
hope she'd sit in the great brilliant Rose
bowl on that great day. Russ glowed.
Life was wonderful! Fate had brought
him here.
And I'll pay for the tickets" Valencia
said impulsively. For it would be q
shame for him to spend his few weeks
hard pay.
"Will you?" he said oddly.
He adj, so the girl had believed. dark
gray eyes that couldn't lose their friend
ly charm. But she had been wrong.
They could. They did. They now be-
came that cold slate-gray which perhaps
the world knew in primordial days when
the heavens were sunless.
ua ro% ,,~ fropo tina pr011nd nelth.
erately he said, I'm that case, the dates
off. Guess I better get to Van Mugs
and bed"
She watched him stride dow the
road, not waiting for a bus. He was
silly. Why, she often bought the tick
cts. And usually the gasoline. And
why not?
Two hot sulky days passed. The fol-
Lowing night. Russ swung out from the
line Of departing pickers and approached
Valencia, who was watching Mike hand
out pay envelopes for the week.
He said INSTANTLY. you were Joking
when you offered to pay for those tick
cts. I guess"
Il was only joking!' She assured him
so breathlessly, with such anxious d.
lated eyes, that Mike, not catching the
words, wondered II some DANCED Por-
tuguese in the fields had knitted a docile
chink.
A1CGTWdTO IL CCCuIIcO W Iuc GAd0 wv
might have been Joking" Russ repeated
namely.
"of course I wasI' she repeated. ear
nestly.
Then it's all right" he declared. as
II relieved.
NOW it's all right" she agreed hap
PLY.
Valencia went to her father, who
agreed, after looking gravely at his ear
nest-eyed daughter to promote oun
|Downes, put him in charge Of the Mex1-
! cans and the Japs.
Russ Downes' promotion brought him
from fields to the office several times q
day.
watching him stride up or down the
gorgeous hillside. One morning Mike
threw a pad Of telegraph blanks at her.
Snap out! You don't nave to keep
books for your father. He can afford
to hire someone. But as long as you
n hike to n dssg BUSY Hes ae your work made 5sse out
a dun to a movie queen for plants she
amt yet received. And a receipt to a
Young Politicians Social Lodge that
amt paid for last years decorations
Valencia laughed, joyously.
But a day later, all laughter had left
her face and soul.
It was late afternoon. Poinsettias,
red and tall. swayed in a slight breeze.
making a sibilant sound that went far.
Afterward Valencia remembered 1t as
snakelike.
She was alone in the office. Mike
had gone to Los Angeles; a truck had
been smashed on Main street.
In a handsome rented car he little
old lady in sable cape n too many
diamond rings drove to the stucco porch
and called imperiously.
Russ Downes was talking to Gil Redd.
a hundred yards down the hillside. Va
lencia was tipping statements, to be
mailed after New Years day.
Valencia assumed that the imperious