Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-12-24
A Sierra Christmas.

the bravest men in the Sierras, haG
Deen called away from his breakfast
that Christmas morning to join party
ofmen in pursuit Of horse-thieves who
had plundered q mountain ranch dur
Tng the night.
Her mother and brother Charlie had
gone month before for an all-winter
vast to Mrs. Baxter's old home, 1000
EsmIes away, in the states. Lizzie was
fn0usekeeper in her mothers absence,
and she went singing about her morn
IGg's work after her father had gone
Sac had her first long dress. and she
was to wear it that afternoon to a little
Christmas party down in the town. She
rhoIlght perhaps she could edo up" her
h&ir, too, instead of letting it hang as
usual in two thick brads.
With her mind upon these things
she went singing about her work,
CHANGING now and then through her
,osgen kitchen door at the brood of yell
EQW chickens pecking about under the
EUchsia-tree that grew by the kitchen
perch. She had rolled up her sleeves,
and was washing the breakfast dishes.
>5he had gone into the pantry for a
moment, when she heard a voice from
she kitchen porch saying, "Wish you
merry Christmas, Miss Liz !"
Stepping out of the pantry, Lizzie
s&w standing in the doorway big
6CaWny young man who had once spent
ss;X months in jail. Behind him on the
porch were two other rough-looking
msen who she had never seen before.
Gne of them was q Mexican the other
WAS redhaired, and had a revolver in
Gis belt.
<'Merry, Christmas, Zeke!" she replied,
ecAaerfuliy, without an instant's hesita-
ton, although she realized perfectly
that these men had come, knowing of
d@r fathers absence, TO open the jail
and set free the prisoners-"M Merry
Christmas [ s'posed you was down to
Sacramento
"'Well, | wuz," said Ieke, "but kept
laundering for mountun ar, SO here | be.
These is two friends of mine come with
me. Walk in, gents, an I'll make you
'quainted with Miss Baxter Here's a
posy card for you, Liz"
ward 30 the kitchen table, which stood
in the middle of the room. Beside her
djsh-pan on the table lay the keys of the
Jail.
When Xeke spoke to his companions,
gIancing away from her for an instant,
SHE carelessly dropped upon the table
the dish towel that hung over one of
lGr bare arms. 1t covered the bunch
of keys.
She plunged her hands into the soap
Suds, and began hastily washing out the
p4ntes. That's pretty posy card,
Ieke. Much obliged. Stand it up on
sand, nodding cordially to Zeke's COM
uanlons. 81 just know not one of vou's
been TO breakfast, SO I'll hurry and get
alGese dishes cleared away, and set the
table for YOU
Truth is, Liz" said Zeke, "we took
an earlyish breakfast this mornung, see
sing we've goung to have COMPANY to
Christmas dinner. Truth is, we've
come to invite the comp'ny to celebrate
with us to-day"
Qg.e made significant gesture toward
the door which connected the sheritt's
house with the jail.
Pm cooking the mems dinners my
self nowadays said Lizzie, with APP
parent Inconsistencies, taking up from
the table two or three forks, the dish
towel. and the hidden keys, and thrust
ing them all into the dishpan. cts
going to be a good dinner to-day" she
added, smiling, though with a breath
s1f relief that she had managed to get
she keys out of sight in the soapsuds.
81 never complained of the victuals l
had myself under this here hospitable
roof," said Xeke, "but some of the
sellers inside don't enjoy such retired
Eife, so we've come to invite 'em out.
Where the Jail keys, LIZ
ooh, Xeke - Lizzie shook her head
reproachfully. "Do you call this fair
play ?''
TOO much talk" growled the red
haired man. We're foolung away
glrecious time. You trot up to your pas
room, sis, and get us them keys; quick,
ROW Skip 7" He pulled his revolver
from his belt and pointed it at her.
Lizzie grew pale, but she went on
washing dishes. She dared not 60 and
leave the men with her dish-pan and
Its guarded keys.
Put up that shooter" said Zeke.
Come, Liz, you show us where they
are. Nobody amt going to hurt you"
"Will you all 60 up and hunt?"
asked Lizzie.
"'IeS."
She put down the plate she was WHIP
Jag, and with an air of dignity led the
vs.9v upstairs. The men followed.
You can hunt for yourselves, and
I'jl help" said she, when they reached
KSer fathers room. "Pa never hides
ghe keys, though"
''Wen. he's nobody's fool, and he
Esasn't taken EN- along to-day to hunt
Eeorse borrowers with" said Zeke.
1--we must hunt fur whur he commonly
&ides. Now you ought to know whur
shat is, Liz"
''He don't hide 'em," repeated Liz
-1te. Gle hangs them up nights, and
quits his revolver down on this chair
ysnder them, where he could get in
handy"
"W ell, they amt thur now" broke
En the red-haired man, ''and you've got
TO find 'em, miss. Hunt lively.