Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-12-23
A Sierra Christmas.

! A Sierra Christmas.
| Lizzie Baxter was alone in the house.
Her father, the sheriff of High Peak
County, known far and near as one Of
the bravest men in the Sierras, haG
been called away from his breakfast
that Christmas morning to join party
ofmen in pursuit of horse thieves who
| had plundered mountain ranch dur
ing the night.
Her mother and brother Charlie had
gone month before for an all-winter
visit to Mrs. Baxter's old home, 1000
miles away, in the states. Lizzie was
housekeeper in her mothers absence,
and she went singing about her morn
ing's work after her father had gone
She had her first long dress. and she
was to wear it that afternoon to a little
Christmas party down in the town. She
thought perhaps she could "do up" her
hair, too, instead of letting it hang as
usual in two thick braids.
With her mind upon these things
she went singing about her work
glancing now and then through her
low chickens pecking about under the
fuchsia-tree that grew by the kitchen
porch. She had rolled up her sleeves,
and was washing the breakfast dishes.
She had gone into the pantry for a
moment, when she heard voice from
the kitchen porch saying, "Wish you
merry Christmas, Miss Liz ~
Stepping out of the pantry, Lizzie
saw standing in the doorway big
brawny young man who had once spent
six months in jail. Behind him on the
porch were two other rough-looking
men who she had never seen before.
One of them was a Mexican, the other
was edhaired, and had a revolver IN
| his belt.
"Merry, Christmas, Zeken she replied,
! cheerfully, without an instant's hesita-
| ton, although she realized perfectly
that these men had come, knowing of
her fathers absence, to open the Jail
and set free the prisoners Merry
| Christmas s'posed you was down to
! Sacramento"
"Well, wuz," said Zeke, ''but kept
| hankering for mountun air, SO here l be.
| These is two friends of mine come with
me. Walk in, gents, an I'Il make you
| 'quainted with Miss Baxter. Here's
posy card for you, Liz"
AS he spoke, Lizzie came quietly for
ward 20 the kitchen table, which stood
in the middle of the room. Beside her
dish-pan on the table lay the keys of the
Jail.
When Zeke spoke to his companions,
| glancing away from her for an instant,
she carelessly dropped upon the table
the dish towel that hung over one Of
| her bare arms. 1t covered the bunch
Of keys.
She plunged her hands into the soap
suds, and began hastily washing out the
plates. "That's pretty posy card,
Zeke. Much obliged. Stand it up on
the clock shelf for me, won't you ?' she
said, nodding cordially to Zeke's COM
panions. 81 just know not one Of vou's
been to breakfast, SO I'll hurry and get
these dishes cleared away, and set the
table for you"
''Truth is, Liz said Zeke, ''we took
an earlyish breakfast this morning, see
ung we've gOung to have comp'ny to
Christmas dinner. Truth is. we've
come to invite the comp ny to celebrate
with us to-day"
He made significant gesture toward
the door which connected the sheriff
house with the jail.
"I'm cooking the mems dinners N.Y.
self nowadays said Lizzie, with ap-
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 good dinner to-day" she
of relief that she had managed to get
the keys out Of sight in the soapsuds
81 never complained Of the victuals |
had myself under this here hospitable
roof" said Zeke, "but some of the
1ellers inside don't enjoy such retired
life, SO we've come to invite 'em out.
Where's the jail keys, Liz ?'
ooh, Zeke !" Lizzie shook her head
reproachfully. "Do you call this fair
play"
precious time. You trot up to your pas
room, sis, and get us them keys; quick,
now. Skip !" He pulled his revolver
from his belt and pointed it at her.
Lizzie grew pale, but she went on
washing dishes. She dared not go 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 go up and hunt?"
asked Lizzie.
eyes"
She put down the plate she was wip-
ing, and with an air of dignity led the
way upstairs. The men followed.
"You can hunt for yourselves, and
I'll help" said she, when they reached
her fathers room. PA never hides
the keys, though"
"Well, he's nobody's fool, and he
hasn't taken 'em along to-day to hunt
horse borrowers WITH" said Zeke.
eve must hunt fur whur he commonly
hides. Now you ought to know whur
that is, Liz"
'He don't hide 'em," repeated Liz
zie. "He hangs them up nights, and
puts his revolver down on this chair
under them, where he could get in
handy"
well, they amt thur now" broke
in the redhaired man, "and you've got
! To find ,om miss Hunt Eualu