The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-12-22
CHRISTMAS BY
INJUNCTION
dow Cherokee Played Santa Claus
at Yeilowhammer
By o. HENRY
Copyright, 1907. by the Mcclure
company

f'f*s.S
Cherokee was the civic father Of
Yeiiowhammer. YeIlowhammer was
new mining Sown constructed mainly
OF canvas and undressed pine Cbero
lee was prospector. One day while
bis burro was ca ting quartz and pine
burrs Cherokee turned up with his
pick nugget weighing thirty ounces
He staked his claim and then. hciug
man Of breadth and hospitality, sent
out invitations to bis friends In three
states to drop in and share his luck
Not one OF the invited guests sent
regrets.
When a thousand citizens had ar
rived and taken up claims they named
the town YeIiOwhammer. appointed u
vigilance committee and presented
Cherokee with watch chain made of
nuggets.
Three hours after the presentation
ceremonies Cherokee's claim played
out He had located pocket instead
of vein. He abandoned it and staked
others one by one. Luck had kissed
her hand to him. Never @fterward did
he turn up enough dust in YYowham-
mer to pay his bar bill But his thou
sand invited guests were mostly pros
pering. and Cherokee smiled and CON
graduated them.
Yeilowha MINER was made up OF men
who took OF their hats to a smiling
loser. so they invited Cherokee to say
what be wanted.
"Mey' sai3 Cherokee. "Oh. grub
stakes will be about the thug, J
reckon I'll prospect along up in the
Mariposas."
In May Cherokee packed bis burro
and turned its tho9ghtfui. mouse col
cred forehead to the north.
On the Goth day Of December Badly.
the mail rider. brought Yellowhammer
piece Of news.
What do see in Albuquerque" said
Badly to the patrons of the bar, but
Cherokee all embeflished and festooned
MP like the czar Of Turkey and lavlsbe.'
money In bulk A..
Cherokee must have struck pay
ere remarked California Ed. We'll.
he's white. Fm much obliged to him
for his success"
Seems like Cherokee would ramble
down to Yeilowhammer and see his
friends" said another, slightly aggriey
ed "Buf that's the way. Prosperity
IL the finest cure there Is for lost for
getfuiness."
.You wait" said Badly. I'm comin'
10 $hat Cherokee strikes a three foot
vein up In the Mariposas that assays
trip to Europe to the ton. and De closes
It out to Q syndicate outfit for 100000
hasty dollars in cash. Then he buys
himself baby sealskin overeoat and Il
red sleigh. And what do you think he
takes il in his head to do next?
Bought saloon" suggested Thirsty
Rogers.
Cherokee took me to room" con-
tinued Badly. land showed me. He's
got that room full of drums and dolls
and skates and bags Of candy and
jumping jacks and toy lambs and whis-
ties and such infantiie truck. And
what do you think he's goin' to do with
them inefiicacious knickknacks. Don't
surmise none. Cherokee told me. He's
Goin' TO load 'en up In his red sleigh.
and-wait q minute. don't order no
drinks yet-he's gOin' to drive down
here to Yeliowha and give the
kids-fhe kids Of this here town the
biggest Christmas tree and the biggest
+cryin' doll and little giant boys tool
chest blowout that was ever seen west
s0f Cape Hatteras."
Didn't you tell him?" asked the
sminer called Trinidad
well. no.. answered Rnldy pensive
~. II never exactly seen my way to
II cannot refrain from certain
amount Of SURPRISE said the judge
M be hung his ivory handled cane Oh
the bar, that our friend Cherokee
should possess such an erroneous con
ception of-ah-his as 1t were, own
town"
'sOh. Ii amt the eighth wonder of
the terrestrial world" said Badly.
.-Cherokee's been gone from Yellow
hammer over seven months. Lots OF
things could happen In that time.
How's he tn know that there sfn,t
single Nd In this town.
To rep oR this Christmas tree
spaurge Of cherokee's." went on Badly.
.hs's EoaN' TO give an imitation OF
Santa CiaMs.'
when dees Cherokee allow to come
over with tih truck" asked Trfnidnd
'sNornin' h~fers Christmas. said |
Baldy. And he wants Won folks TO
have q room decd APP and 4 tree hanied
aaA ready
or women tkAre were 1--WE In yellow
hammer s.sayer's wife. the pro-
pvietress OF the flmcky Strike hotel
and 4 lanndress whose washtnb f'sn-
red oas IN otnee Of dsst a day. These
were the permanent fessfinires. The re.
nsAiping twD were the Spangler sis
tNEg. nisses Fanchon ard EEn,a of the
TransconfinentaI Comedy company.