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Speaker 1: Christmas by injunction from Heart of the West by O.

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Henry Cherokee was the civic father of Yellowhammer. Yellowhammer was

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a new mining town constructed mainly of canvas and undressed pine.

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Cherokee was a prospector. One day, while his burrow was

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eating quartz and pine burrs, Cherokee turned up with his pick,

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a nugget weighing thirty ounces. He staked his claim, and then,

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being a man of breadth and hospitality, he sent out

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invitations to his friends in three states to drop in

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and share his luck. Not one of the invited guests

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sent regrets. They rolled in from the Kila Country, from

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Salt River, from the Pecos, from Albuquerque and Phoenix and

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Santa Fe, and from all the camps, intervening. When a

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thousand citizens had arrived and taken up claims, they named

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the town Yellowhammer, pointed a vigilance committee and presented Cherokee

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with a watch chain made of nuggets. Three hours after

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their presentation ceremonies, Cherokee's claim played out. He had located

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a pocket instead of a vein. He abandoned it and

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staked others one by one. Luck had kissed her hand

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to him never afterward did he turn up enough dust

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in Yellowhammer to pay his bar bill. But his thousand

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invited guests were mostly prospering, and Cherokee smiled and congratulated them.

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Yellowhammer was made up of men who took off their

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hats to a smiling loser. So they invited Cherokee to

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say what he wanted me, said, Cherokee, Oh, grub stakes

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will be about the thing I reckon. I'll prospect along

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up in the Mariposas. If I strike it up there,

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I will most certainly let you all know about the facts.

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I never was any hand to hold out car words

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from my friends. In may, Cherokee packed his burrow and

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turned its thoughtful mouse colored forehead to the north. Many

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citizens escorted him to the undefined limits of yellow Hammer

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and bestowed upon him shouts of commendation and farewells. Five

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pocket flasks without an air bubble between contents and cork

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were forced upon him, and he was bidden to consider

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yellow Hammer in perpetual commission for his bed, bacon and eggs,

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and hot water for shaving. In the event that Luck

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did not see fit to warm her hands by his

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camp fire in the Mariposas, the name of the father

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of yellow Hammer was given him by the gold Hunters.

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In accordance with their popular system of nomenclature. It was

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not necessary for a citizen to exhibit his baptismal certificate

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in order to acquire a cognomen. A man's name was

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his personal property. For convenience in calling him off to

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the bar and in designating him among other blue shirted bipeds,

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a temporary appellation, title or epithet was conferred upon him

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by the public. Personal peculiarities formed the source of the

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majority of such informal baptisms. Many were easily dubbed geographically

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from the regions from which they confessed to have hailed.

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Some announced themselves to be Thompson's and Adamses and the like,

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with a brazenness and loudness that cast a cloud upon

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their titles. A few vaingloriously and shamelessly uncovered their proper

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and indisputable names. This was held to be unduly arrogant

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and did not win popularity. One man who said he

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was Chesterton L. C. Belmont, and proved it by letters,

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was given till sundown to leave the town. Such names

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as Shorty bow Legs, Texas lazy bill, thirsty rogers, limping Riley,

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the Judge, and California Ed were in favor. Cherokee derived

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his title from the fact that he claimed to have

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lived for a time with that tribe in the Indian nation.

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On the twentieth day of December, Baldy, the mail rider

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brought Yellowhammer a piece of news. What do I see

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in Albuquerque, said Baldy to the patrons of the bar.

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But Cherokee all embellished and festooned up like the Tsara turkey,

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and lavish in money in bulk. Him and me seen

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the elephant and the owl, and we had specimens of

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this Sidelet's powder, wine, and Cherokee he audits all the

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bills c o d. His pockets looked like a pool

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table's after a fifteen ball run. Cherokee must have struck

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pay or remarked California Ed. Well, he's white. I'm much

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obliged to him for his success. Seems like Cherokee would

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bramble down to yellow Hammer and see his friends, said another,

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slightly aggrieved. But that's the way. Prosperity is the finest

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cure there is for lost forgetfulness. You wait, said Baldy,

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I'm comin to that. Cherokee strikes at three foot vane

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up in the Mariposas that essays a trip to Europe

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to the ton, and he closes it out to a

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syndicate outfit for a hundred thousand hasty dollars in cash.

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Then he buys himself a baby sealskin overcoat and a

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red sleigh. And what do you think he takes it

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in his head to do next? Chuck a luck, said Texas,

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whose ideas of recreation were the gamesters. Come and kiss

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me my honey, sang Shorty, who carried tin types in

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his pocket and wore a red necktie while working on

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his claim. Bought a saloon, suggested thirsty rogers. Cherokee took

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me to a room, continued Baldy, and showed me he's

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got that room full of drums and dolls and skates

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and bags of candy, jumpin' jacks and toy lambs and

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whistles and such infantile truck. And what do you think

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he's going to do with them in efficacious knickknacks, don't

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surmise none. Cherokee told me he's going to load him

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up in his red sleigh and wait a minute, don't

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order no drinks yet. He's going to drive down here

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to Yellowhammer and give the kids, the kids of this

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yere town the biggest Christmas tree and the biggest crying

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doll and the little giant boy's tool chest blow out

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that was ever seen west of Cape Hatteras two minutes

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of absolute silence ticked away in the wake of Baldy's words.

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It was broken by the house who, happily, conceiving the

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moment to be ripe for extending hospitality, said dozen whiskey glasses,

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spinning down the bar with the slower traveling bottle bringing

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up the rear. Didn't you tell him, asked the miner

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called Trinidad. Well, no, answered Baldy pensively. I never exactly

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seen my way too. You see, Cherokee had this Christmas

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mess already bought and paid for, and he was all

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flattered up with self esteem over his idea. And we

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had in a way flew the flume with that fizzy

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wine I speak of, So I never let on. I

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cannot refrain from a certain amount of surprise, said the judge,

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as he hung his ivory handled cane on the bar.

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That our friend Cherokee should possess such an erroneous conception

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of his as it were own town. Oh it ain't

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the eighth wonder of the terrestrial world, said Baldy. Cherokee's

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been gone from yellow Hammer over seven months. Lots of

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things could happen. And in that time, how's he to

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know that there ain't a single kid in this town?

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And so far as emigration is concerned, none expected, come

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to think of it, remarked California. Ed it's funny some

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ain't drifted in yet. Town ain't settled enough yet for

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to bring in the rubber ring brigade. I reckon to

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top off this Christmas tree splurge o Cherokees, went on Baldy,

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he is going to give an imitation a Sada Claus.

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He's got a white wig and whiskers that disfigure him

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up exactly like the pictures of this William Cullen Longfellow

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in the books, and a red suit of fur trimmed

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outside underwear, an eight ounce gloves and a stand up,

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lay down crocheted red cap. Ain't it a shame that

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an outfit like that can't get a chance to connect

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with Annie and Willie's prayer layout. When does Cherokee allow

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to come over with his truck trinidad mornin before Christmas,

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said baldy, And he wants you folks to have a

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room fixed up, and a tree hauled and ready, and

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such ladies to assist as can stop breathing long enough

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to let it be a surprise for the kids. The

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unblest condition of Yellowhammer had been truly described. The voice

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of childhood had never gladdened its flimsy structures. The patter

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of restless little feet had never consecrated the one rugged

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highway between the two rows of tents and rough buildings.

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Later they would come, But now Yellowhammer was but a

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mountain camp, And nowhere in it were the roguish, expectant

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eyes opening wide at dawn of the enchanting day, the

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eager small hands to reach for Santa's bewildering horde, the elated,

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childish voicings of the season's joy, such as the coming

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good things of the warm hearted Cherokee deserved. Of women,

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there were five in yellow Hammer, the assayer's wife, the

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proprietress of the Lucky Strike Hotel, and a laundress whose

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wash tub panned out an ounce of dust a day.

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These were the permanent feminines. The remaining two were the

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Spangler sisters, Missus Fanchon and Irma, of the Transcontinental Comedy Company,

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then playing in repertoire at the Improvised Empire Theater. But

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of children there were none. Sometimes Miss Fanchon enacted with

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spirit and address the part of robustious childhood. But between

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her delineation and the visions of adolescence that the Fancy

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offered as eligible recipients of Cherokee's holiday stores, there seemed

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to be fixed. A Gulf Christmas would come on Thursday.

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On Tuesday morning, Trinidad, instead of going to work, sought

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out the judge at the Lucky Strike Hotel. It'll be

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a disgrace to you, Fellowhammer, said Trinidad. If it throws

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Cherokee down on his Christmas tree blow out, you might

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say that the man made this town for one. I'm

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going to see what can be done to give santy

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Claus a square deal. My co operation, said the judge,

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would be gladly forthcoming. I am indebted to Cherokee for

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past favors, but I do not see I have heretofore

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regarded the absence of children rather as a luxury. But

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in this instance still I do not see. Look at me,

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said Trinidad, and you'll see old ways and means with

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the fur on. I'm going to hitch up a team

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and rustle up a load of kids for Cherokee Santa

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Claus act. If I have to rob an orphan asylum, eureka,

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cried the judge enthusiastically. No you didn't, said Trinidad, decidedly.

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I've found it myself. I learned about that Latin word

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in school. I will accompany you, declared the judge, waving

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his cane. Perhaps such eloquence and gift of language as

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I possess will be of benefit in persuading our young

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friends to lend themselves to our project. Within an hour,

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Yellowhammer was acquainted with the scheme of Trinidad and the

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judge and approved it. Citizens who knew of any families

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with offspring within a forty mile radius of Yellowhammer came

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forward and contributed their information. Trinidad made careful notes of

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all such and then hastened to secure a vehicle in team.

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The first stop scheduled was at a double log house

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fifteen miles out from Yellowhammer. A man opened the door

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at Trinidad's hail, and then came down and leaned upon

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a rickety gait. The doorway was filled with a close

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mass of youngsters, some ragged, all full of curiosity and health.

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It's this way, explained Trinidad. We're from Yellow and we

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come kidnapping in a gentle kind of way. One of

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our leadin' citizens is stung with a Santa Claus affliction,

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and he's due in town tomorrow with half the folderols

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that's painted red and made in Germany. The youngest kid

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we've got in yellowhammer packs a forty five and a

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safety raiser. Consequently, we're mighty shy on anybody to say

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ooh and ah when we light the candles on the

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Christmas tree. Now, Pardner, if you'll loan us a few kids,

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we guarantee to return em safe'en sound on Christmas Day,

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and they'll come back loaded down with a good time

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and Swiss family Robinson's and cornacopias and red drums and

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similar testimonials. What do you say? In other words, said

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the judge, we have discovered, for the first time in

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our embryonic but progressive little city the inconveniences of the

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absence of adolescence, the season of the year having approximately arrived,

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during which it is accustomed to bestow frivolous but often

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appreciated gifts upon the young and tender. I understand, said

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the parent, packing his pipe with a forefinger. I guess

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I needn't detain you, gentlemen. Me an the old woman

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have got seven kids, so to speak, and runnin my

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mind over the bunch. I don't appear to hit upon

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none that we could spare for you to take over

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to your doin's. The old woman has got some popcorn, candy,

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an rag dolls hid in the clothes chest, and we

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allow to give Christmas a little whirl of our own

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in our insignificant sort of style. No, I couldn't, with

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any degree of avidity, seem to fall in with the

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idea of letting none of 'em go. Thank you, kindly, gentlemen.

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Down the slope they drove, and up another foothill to

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the ranch house of Wiley Wilson. Trinidad recited his appeal,

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and the judge boomed out his ponderous antiphony. Missus Wiley

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gathered her two rosy cheeked youngsters close to her skirts

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and did not smile until she had seen Wiley laugh

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and shake his head again a refusal. Trinidad and the

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judge vainly exhausted more than half the list before twilight

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set in among the hills. They spent the night at

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a stage road hostelry and set out again early the

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next morning. The wagon had not acquired a single passenger.

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It's creepin' upon my faculties, remarked Trinidad that borrowin' kids

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at Christmas is something like trying to steal butter from

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a man that's got hot pancakes. A common It is

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undoubtedly an indisputable fact, said the judge, that the uh

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family ties seemed to be more coherent and assertive at

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this period of the year. On the day before Christmas,

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they drove thirty miles, making four fruitless halts and appeals

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everywhere they found kids at a premium. The sun was

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low when the wife of a section boss on a

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lonely railroad huddled her unavailable progeny behind her and said,

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there's a woman that's just took charge of the railroad

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eating house down at Granite Junction. I hear she's got

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a little boy. Maybe she might let him go. Trinidad

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pulled up his mules at Granite Junction at five o'clock

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in the afternoon. The train had just departed with its

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load of fed and appeased passengers. On the steps of

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the eating house, they found a thin and glowering boy

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of ten smoking a cigarette. The dining room had been

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left in chaos by the peripatetic appetites. A youngish woman

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00:16:43,679 --> 00:16:48,039
reclined exhausted in a chair. Her face wore sharp lines

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of worry. She had once possessed a certain style of

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beauty that would never wholly leave her and would never

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wholly return. Trinidad set forth his mission. I'd count a

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mercy if you'd take Bobby for a while, she said wearily.

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I'm on the go from mornin' till night, and I

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don't have time to tend to him. He's learnin bad

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habits from the men. It'll be the only chance he'll

252
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have to get any Christmas. The men went outside and

253
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conferred with Bobby. Trinidad pictured the glories of the Christmas

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tree and presents in lively colors and moreover, my young friend,

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added the judge. Santa Claus himself will personally distribute the

256
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offerings that will typify the gifts conveyed by the shepherds

257
00:17:35,319 --> 00:17:40,640
of Bethlehem to Ah. Come off, said the boy, squinting

258
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his small eyes. I ain't no kid. There ain't any

259
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Santa Claus. It's your folks that buys toys. An sneaks

260
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em in when you're asleep, and they make marks in

261
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the soot in the chimney with the tongs to look

262
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like Santa's sleigh tracks. That might be so, argued Trinidad.

263
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But Chris ms trees ain't no fairy tale. This one's

264
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gonna look like the ten Cents store in Albuquerque, all

265
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strung up in a redwood. There's tops and drums and

266
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Noah's arks and all rats, said Bobby wearily. I cut

267
00:18:14,079 --> 00:18:17,480
them out long ago. I'd like to have a rifle,

268
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not a target one, a real one to shoot wildcats with.

269
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But I guess you won't have any of them on

270
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your old tree. Well, I can't say for sure, said

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Trinidad diplomatically. It might be you go along with us

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and see the hope thus held out, though faint won,

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the boy's hesitating consent to go with this solitary beneficiary

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for Cherokee's holiday bounty the canvassers spun along the homeward

275
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road in Yellowhammer. The empty storeroom had been transformed into

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what might have passed as the bower of an Arizona fairy.

277
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The ladies had done their work well. A tall Christmas

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tree covered to the topmost branch with candles, spangles, and

279
00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,279
toys sufficient for more than a score of children stood

280
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in the center of the floor. Near sunset, anxious eyes

281
00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:12,799
had begun to scan the street for the returning team

282
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of the child providers. At noon that day, Cherokee had

283
00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:20,000
dashed into town with his new sleigh piled high with

284
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bundles and boxes and bales of all sizes and shapes.

285
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So intent was he upon the arrangements for his altruistic

286
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plans that the dearth of children did not receive his notice.

287
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No one gave away the humiliating state of Yellowhammer, for

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the efforts of Trinidad and the judge were expected to

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00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:43,839
supply the deficiency. When the sun went down, Cherokee, with

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many wings and arch grins on his seasoned face, went

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into retirement with the bundle containing the Santa Claus raiment

292
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and a pack containing special and undisclosed gifts. When the

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kids are rounded up, He instructed the volunteer arrangement ca Midty,

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light up the candles on the tree and set them

295
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to play in Pussy Wants a Corner and King William.

296
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When they get good and at it, while old Saint

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Ol slide in the door, I reckon, there'll be plenty

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of gifts to go round. The ladies were flitting about

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the tree, giving it final touches that were never final.

300
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The Spangled Sisters were there in costume as Lady Violet

301
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de Vere and Marie the Maid in their new drama

302
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The Miner's Bride. The theater did not open until nine,

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and they were welcome assistants of the Christmas Tree Committee.

304
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Every minute heads would pop out the door to look

305
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and listen for the approach of Trinidad's team. And now

306
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this became an anxious function, for night had fallen and

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it would soon be necessary to light the candles on

308
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the tree. And Cherokee was apt to make an eruption

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at any time. In his Chris kringled garb at length,

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the wagon of the child rustlers rattled down the street

311
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to the door. The ladies, with little screams of excit,

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flew to the lighting of the candles. The men of

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Yellowhammer passed in and out restlessly, or stood about the

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room in embarrassed groups. Trinidad and the judge, bearing the

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marks of protracted travel, entered conducting between them. A single

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impish boy who stared with sullen pessimistic eyes at the

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gaudy tree. Where are the other children? Asked the essayer's wife,

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The acknowledged leader of all social functions, ma'am, said Trinidad

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00:21:32,039 --> 00:21:36,519
with a sigh. Prospecting for kids at Christmas time is

320
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like huntin and limestone for silver. This parental business is

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one that I have no chance to comprehend. It seems

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that fathers and mothers are willing for their offsprings to

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be drownded, stole, fed on poison, oak, and et by

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catamounts three hundred sixty four days in the year, But

325
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on Christmas Day they insists on enjoying the exclusive mortification

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of their company. This, here, young biped ma'am, is all

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that washes out of our two days maneuvers. Oh the

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sweet little boy, cooed Miss Irma, trailing her devere robes

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to the center of the stage. Ah, shut up, said Bobby,

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with a scowl. Who's a kid, you, ain't you? Bat

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fresh brat breathed Miss Irma beneath her enameled smile. We

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done the best we could, said Trinidad. It's tough on Cherokee,

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but it can't be helped. Then the door opened and

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Cherokee entered in the conventional dress of Saint Nick. A white,

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rippling beard and flowing hair covered his face almost to

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his dark and shining eyes over his shoulder. He carried

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a pack. No one stirred as he came in. Even

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the Spangler's sisters ceased their coquettish poses and stared curiously

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at the tall figure. Bobby stood with his hands in

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his pockets, gazing gloomily at the effeminate and childish tree.

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Cherokee put down his pack and looked wonderingly about the room.

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Perhaps he fancied that a bevy of eager children were

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being herded somewhere to be loosed. Upon his entrance, he

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went up to Bobby and extended his red mittened hand.

345
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Merry Christmas, little boy, said Cherokee. Anything on the tree

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you want, they'll get it down for you. Won't you

347
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shake hands with Santi Claus there ain't any Santy Claus,

348
00:23:35,279 --> 00:23:39,200
whined the boy, you got old false billygoat's whiskers on

349
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your face. I ain't no kid. What do I want

350
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with dolls and tin horses? The driver said, you'd have

351
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a rifle and you haven't. I want to go home.

352
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Trinidad stepped into the breach. He shook Cherokee's hand in

353
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warm greeting. I'm sorry, Cherokee, He explained, there never was

354
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a kid in Yellowhammer. We tried to rustle a bunch

355
00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,440
of em for your swaree, but this sardine was all

356
00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:09,759
we could catch. He's a atheist and he don't believe

357
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in Santa Claus. It's a shame for you to be

358
00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,599
out all this truck. But me an, the judge was

359
00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:18,240
sure we could round up a wagon full of candidates

360
00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:23,240
for your gim cracks. That's all right, said Cherokee gravely.

361
00:24:23,599 --> 00:24:27,200
The expense don't amount to nothin worth mentionin'. We can

362
00:24:27,319 --> 00:24:30,000
dump the stuff down a shaft or throw it away.

363
00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:33,640
I don't know what I was thinking about, but it

364
00:24:33,839 --> 00:24:36,960
never occurred to my cogitations that there wasn't any kids

365
00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:42,079
in Yellowhammer. Meanwhile, the company had relaxed into a hollow

366
00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:46,759
but praiseworthy imitation of a pleasure gathering. Bobby had retreated

367
00:24:46,799 --> 00:24:50,119
to a distant chair and was coldly regarding the scene

368
00:24:50,559 --> 00:24:55,119
with onwe plastered thick upon him. Cherokee, lingering with his

369
00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:59,559
original idea, went over and sat beside him. Where do

370
00:24:59,599 --> 00:25:04,920
you live, little boy, he asked, respectfully, granite junction, said Bobby,

371
00:25:05,039 --> 00:25:09,519
without emphasis. The room was warm. Cherokee took off his

372
00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:16,039
cap and then removed his beard and wig. Say, exclaimed Bobby,

373
00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:20,240
with a show of interest. I know your mug all right.

374
00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:26,039
Did ye ever see me before, asked Cherokee. I don't know,

375
00:25:26,279 --> 00:25:30,519
but I've seen your picture lots o times where the

376
00:25:30,559 --> 00:25:36,440
boy hesitated on the bureau at home. He answered, let's

377
00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:40,960
have your name, if you please, Buddy, Robert Lumsden, the

378
00:25:41,039 --> 00:25:44,000
picture belongs to my mother. She puts it under her

379
00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:47,200
pillow of knights when once I saw her kiss it.

380
00:25:47,839 --> 00:25:52,319
I wouldn't, but women are that way. Cherokee rose and

381
00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:56,599
beckoned to Trinidad, keep this boy by you till I

382
00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:00,079
come back. He said, I'm going to shed these Chris

383
00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:03,440
miss duds and hitch up my sleigh. I'm gonna take

384
00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:10,000
this kid home, well, infidel, said Trinidad, taking Cherokee's vacant chair.

385
00:26:10,839 --> 00:26:14,079
And so you are too superannuated and effee to yearn

386
00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:18,319
for such mockeries as candy and toys. It seems I

387
00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:22,319
don't like you, said Bobby, with acrimony. You said there

388
00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:25,839
would be a rifle. A fella can't even smoke. I

389
00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:29,720
wish I was at home. Cherokee drove his sleigh to

390
00:26:29,799 --> 00:26:32,920
the door, and they lifted Bobby in beside him. The

391
00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,920
team of fine horses sprang away prancingly over the hard snow.

392
00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:41,319
Cherokee had on his five hundred dollar overcoat of baby

393
00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:44,799
seal skin. The lap robe that he drew about them

394
00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:48,640
was as warm as velvet. Bobby slipped a cigarette from

395
00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:52,319
his pocket and was trying to snap a match. Throw

396
00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:57,000
that cigarette away, said Cherokee in a quiet but new voice.

397
00:26:57,319 --> 00:27:02,799
Bobby hesitated, then dropped the cylinder overboard. Throw the box, too,

398
00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:08,880
commanded the new voice, more reluctantly. The boy obeyed, say,

399
00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:13,039
said Bobby presently. I like you. I don't know why

400
00:27:13,759 --> 00:27:16,079
nobody never made me do anything I didn't want to

401
00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:21,000
do before. Tell me, kid, said Cherokee, not using his

402
00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:25,279
new voice. Are you sure your mother kissed that picture

403
00:27:25,319 --> 00:27:29,279
that looks like me dead? Sure I seen her do it?

404
00:27:31,319 --> 00:27:35,279
Didn't You remark somethin a while ago about wantin a rifle?

405
00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:40,400
You bet I did? Will you get me one tomorrow?

406
00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:46,400
Silver mounted Cherokee took out his watch. Half past nine.

407
00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:49,519
We'll hit the junction plumb on time with Christmas Day?

408
00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:57,160
Are you cold? Sit closer? Son? End of Christmas by

409
00:27:57,279 --> 00:27:59,440
Injunction by O. Henry