Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-06-01
Poinsettias For Peace

Published b. Special Arzanssmenss Win N.
Chicago Tribane-Eew York News Syndicate
Incorporated
Copyright: 1884: BY IDA N. EVANS
ON TWO PARTs-PARr oND
VALENCIA MAKES A ROMANTIC
BLUNDER WHEN AN EAaPERTOUs
OLD LADY CONES TO THE REDD
lPOKNSETTEA FIELDS SEARCHING
FOR A LOST GBANDSON--NHEEE
FATE HAD SENT Russ D0wNEs
AFTER A FAMILY QUARREE
Calling al cars calling all cars
-. person reported missing f. III
a M, Dec. 25th .. white female
=. aged 80
Always by Dec. 10. the Redd poinssttia
fields are like vast blood-red sheets
spread over q California hillside TO catch
sun gold. moon silver and Christmas dol
lars.
BY Dec. II transient poinsettia pickers
overrun the fields like ants at an upset
bucket OF cane sugar; and wires from
Maine TO Malibu and the Dakotas, the
Bronx and washington, d. C., demand
instant shipment.
For nations may be at war; cigaret
firms may fret over coughs; q citizenry
may fear go or Scent dollar; but the
world wants It's poinsettia on Christmas
day. usually by air express. insured and
special delivery.
At 4, Valencia Redd had helped her
father hire. boss, pay and fire poinsettia
pickers
At 10 she could instantly tell an ear
nest young Stanfordian, needing next
semester's dues. from a hftch-hiker from
the Oklahoma oil fields who needed
about everything, including morals and a
shirt.
she had small saint-like face, violet
eyes and brown hair slashed with gold
BY the California sun. She had not
worn hat except TO church since she
was 2.
But by the time she was 10, she had
worn nearly every fraternity pin OF the
western states; and what had been con-
told her Of American football
history. would ia fine print, have COW
cred the seats OF the Rose bowl.
It was In the Rose bowl. early In NO
Vember, that Russ Downes first saw the
creamy tanned, small saint-like face, J
seven seats to his left. Russ had seen
laces. This one was, he admitted read
ly, worth q second look.
Valencia wore q gold and white sweat
r. and high spirits She loved football. /
five young men In more or less slightly 1
Iweaters were buying things FOR her; pea
luts, pennons, yellow NUNS. toffee.
Looks are cheap. Russ took q third.
Then, resolutely, he fixed his eyes down
N the field. Gay girls for whom one
,ought gay nothingss were not 4or him.
ze was at the game on a ticket which a
riend had not wanted to use. He was
nut OF funds and spirits.
A month later he was more out OF
unds, and spirits, too, when he applied
or work under the PickeFs Wanted sign
yer the stucco porch OF the yellow
bungalow office OF the Redd poinsettia
ields.
But. startled, he forgot his private af-
airs when at a side desk beyond the
pplication window he saw again that
creamy tanned, small saint
Ike face.
Mike Bonberg, Gil Redds foreman,
ook down the sign when Russ was
1urth from the application table. ''No
lore needed today" ne grunted at Russ
ownes and the line OF Mexicans, Chinks,
APPS Portuguese, Hawaiians, FiIipinos.
ussians, Oklahomans. Hoosiers and !,
her Americans. :,
Disappointed, Russ was striding off,
lshing that he had not seen that girl
second time. But Mike had smothered
l awful ejaculation. due TO vslencia's y
ztck, cruel kick on his heavy left knee, .
III since the San Juan assault with :,
BOSWELL. ..
At Mikes glare, Valencia slightly in =
med her bright little head In the di- y
ction OF Russ. Mike snorted In disgust :,
It comprehension. "Oh7 Lookin' east y
Is year for your educational friIls.
NJ" Mike hacked out OF the corner OF ~ -
) thin old mouth. He had known Gil -