Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-12-20

Jack Billings was on hand and took the |
dust from the men, weighing it on a scale |
TO see il it we're just weight, and then he |
put it away until the time came when the |
bet should be won.
Three days passed by, Mike Field had
not yet returned and it only lacked one
more day before it was Christmas The
committee had completed their work, the
dinner was all arranged for and the meats
and game were being 4 repaired by Pete,
who flew about the camp with an air of
great Importance.
Christmas eve came, the Snagtownites
we're assembled at the Arms and still there
was no sign of Mike Field. The members
of the committee, as well as the others who
had been informed of the Judges expedi-
ton, began TO grow anxious and to fear
that some accident had overtaken the man
Some suggested that a search party be or
gained, but this was squelched bv the
committee, who knew that if any such
thing were undertaken all of their work
would be thrown away.
During the night the clouds darkened,
the moon was obscured and when daylight
dawned terrific snow storm was raging.
One by one the Snagtownites awoke,
peered out at the storm and made their
way from their huts as quick as they
could over TO the Arms. The large room
was filed with the savory aroma of the
cooking, and Pete moved from the kitchen
into the room at frequent intervals, busy
ing himself at setting the table. He was
assisted by Hattie Billings, the pride of
Snagtown and the only daughter of the
honiface, a buxom lass of nineteen, who
was capable of holding her own against
any man in the camp and who would per-
init of no undue familiarity from any of
them. She had come to the place with her
father and was the only woman in the
camp. The boys treated her like queen,
but the only one she looked upon with any
favoritism was Mike Field
at does look, pards, es of tn ledge war
not goin ter keep his promise about tibet
thar turkey" Nate Cummings exclaimed
as he surveyed the decorated table and
smacked his lips at the hot spiced rum he
was slipping. "Wot think yer HAITI
"What do you ask me fori' the girl
asked with a toss of her head as she
hounced out of the room And then com
ing in again she said "lf any of you had
had any sense you wouldn't have let him
go"
'wot has we uns ter do with it, Nate
asked with an offended air
"You had enough How do YOU know
but what the Indians may have waylaid
him"
oval. Hat, eff yer goin to lay tn blame
on us, an eff yer say so wen start off now
an look arter i'm"
This is high time to make such a
proposition"
Pete stood in the doorway during this
spat between Nate and Hattie, and broad
grin spread over his face
"Neber mind, Marse Nate the darkey
exclaimed. ives got de coon, and dat s
Jest es good es turkey any day in de week "
Pete was driven back into the kitchen by
Hattie and the miners were left alone to
discuss the probability OF Mike Field hav-
ing met with some accident. They had
never known the Judge to fail yet in any
thing that he had undertaken, and even up
to one o'clock they still had hopes that
Field would turn up. Nate looked out of
the window and, seeing how the storm vas
raging exclaimed
"Thar's no chance for the ledge now"
Whats that, Mater" Hattie asked, as
she came into the room with large bunch
of evergreens which had been gathered
and which she hung up in the centre of
the room.
81 sed tibet tn ledge mt come ter
time, Nate answered
'What do you want to bet" the girl
said, looking down from the box on which
she was standing.
'I'll bet yer twenty ounces O. gold agin a
kiss tibet he don't an we make our Christ
mas dinner Off coon instead O. turkey"
I'm go YOU Hattie exclaimed, as she
jumped down off the box.
The girl was IN exuberant spirits and
when the other miners offered to make the
same bet with her she accepted every one
of them and made them put up the dust
then and there in the hands of her father
who took particular pains 10 see that the
weight was correct. All Of the Snagtown-
ties considered it huge joke, and that
Hattie was 20 pay the forfeit after the din
ner.
Two o'clock was the hour set at which
the feast was to commence. When that
time arrived the miners were as hungry as
bears and were anxious for the signal to be
given for them to take their places. As
the hands of the clock pointed to the hour
and exclaimed
Boys, stand up and make two lines
with an alley in the centre"
The miners obeyed with alacrity, won
dering what Hattie could be up to and i'm
agining that she had found some luck.
"Stand there now" she said as she re
viewed the line and then darted back int
the kitchen, soon appearing with bis
fowl in her hands. Forward, march,"
} Then with head erect and holding alof
the fowl, she marched down between tn,
} rows. She was followed by Pete, who car
ried a steaming hot coon on large dish
then came Billings with roasted haunch O
venison, and then a sight presented itseli
to the Snagtownites that made them star,
with open mouthed amazement There. il
the doorway stood Mike Field holding up ,
dish on which was one of the largest tur
keys they thought they had ever seen
When did he come. How did he get there
} Where did he get the brdl 1t was deco
rated, too, with cranberries. Were the,
dreaming or awakei
boys, here's the turkey and the Gran
berries, too, Mike Field exclaimed as h.
walked across the room and placed the tur
key at the head of the table.
As the miners crowded to their place
they did not notice that man dressed il
} broadcloth had followed the Judge into tn
room, and they were still more astonishe,
} when Field gave him a seat by his side anC
said:-
"A friend of mine, boys"
The man bowed and took the seat. Tn
turkey was carved and every ones dis
was heaped up with the good things Neve
had the boys had such feast before an
they enjoyed it, caring little how hard tn
storm ragged without. Frequently durin
: the meal Field was asked the question hoV
he came to get the turkey, but he refuse