Milford chronicle., 1910-12-09
By EDWARD PIERCE

/ obliterating all trails that led 10 the
Double Star ranch 1t filed the all
with smothering flying flakes and
plastered the sides Of the bunk house
with a thick white covering The win
dows Of the ranch house a hundred
yards distant were oblongs OF light
that diffused a sickly yellow glow into
the flying snow.
Ducie Case tossed another log on the
blazing hearth and surveyed the silent
crowd with growing disdain At last
he could no longer control himself and
broke forth into violent speech
Say. you mum mouthed dummies.
you long faced, solemn eyed. eood-for-
nothing cayuses, do you know this is
Christmas eveY'
The moody circle about the fire
Strengthened as by one accord and
looked at the speaker with the first
sign Of interest that had been betrayed
since the silent supper had ended
do you know this is Christmas
eve?" repeated Mr. Case impressively
as he brought a pipe from his pocket
and proceeded to clean it with the 7
nervous energy that characterized his
every movement
"Of course we know it." erowled |
Miller from his corner 1--WE didn't /
get any mail today haven't had any
for a week, Excuse-me-Ch Christmas. /
coming. Bahm
you've got a crouch, Miller You're
always kicking about the mail and I've
never seen you get any letters vet
not even one Of them picture postal
cards that Frankie here gets So many
Of"
Ducie Case hustled out Of his chair
and noisily mounted the heavy table,
where he looked down on his com
panions with benevolent smile.
"TonChts Christmas eve. boys. and
I'm going TO confess its the onlikeliest
Christmas eve ever spent
Every one Of you is downright
lomesick. That's what's the matter
with you. l expect you're homeslck ]
very time Christmas comes around. ]
Z you cant get home to your folks 5
md find an old fashioned Christmas ,
Why. I say lets have Christmas right !
Ter in the Double Star bunk house.
All in favor say eye" /
AYE" came forth a mighty chorus ]
rom seven throats. /
Good Now. gentlemen. there amt
ny tree within three miles Of the {
anch except the naples at the big ]
ouse, and they're too large. Can we o
ave Christmas tree:" he asked
II
NIX was the laconic reply. S
''WelI, then. you've an got socks "
lang EN- up here along by the chin
ey. We might as well do this Sanity G
laus business up nice and brown"
The men scattered, laughing to their v
,veral hunks to search their effects o.
II clean socks. When they returned 81
r. Case was ready with hammer ana a
Ills to faSten them to the long shelf.
he first TO 90 up was his own. a huge r,
ne wooden affair with a startling h,
id presented by the Sagging top. T
''Now. what You going to put in tn
M" demanded Miller as he witness Ii
the hammering Of the last nail into le
S own sock. re
'Now. that's up to the rest Of you in pc
way" drawled Mr. Case Indifferent tn
I've started this thing and got lei
e ball rolling nicely. All you chaps
s got to do is to find something 10 bu
{ In those socks. Seems as if you m,
ght find something to give each 70
Ter Just to remember the day and In,
Ike things pleasant" mi
Who feels like being very pleasant no
tn no mail for week ana no pros on
t Of any?' complained frankie, W.
her peevishly 81 thought Christ his
s eve was the time for good things lef
eat and drink. / haven't seen the cor
nix handing out any goodies yet" sin
You go along and work that Christ =
s spirit business / was telling you tho
,ut." commanded Mr. Case. "Sam 80.
h and me viii take care Of the eat 60,
end. Just watch my smoker ,.,a
lie disappeared behind the plank :.
r that shut off the kitchen quar- .
: from the living room, and they Nh
I'd the sound Of his strident voice -
igled with the staccato objections -
he Chinese cook. -
-Orrs stepped forward. slight flush - -
his handsome face. and turned to- ~
d his companions. I'm rather -
AIMED, hoys, that Ducie had to re- ~
d us that It was the night before w
istmas. It's certainly a dull time, W.
I believe we ought to do all we -.
to make it pleasant. even If the lN ~
doesn't come at all Suppose we
e the best kind Of a Christmas we 20
out Of what we've got"
cts" agreed Miller boyishly. 'eu
Dpose we begin with Ducie's meal you
here. He must expect an auter- auy
lie in that. What do you say?" grey
cts give him one" retorted Storrs ~
rfully. q saw one a minute ago" ene
reached for magazine and drew Shri
ife from his pocket He turned to uon
section and cut from "orl
e picture Of a large touring car man
ats the matter with that?' he eaii
ed softly as he slipped It in Du- win
stocking. slali