derived his title from the fact that he claimed to have lived
for a time with that tribe in the Indian Nation.

On the twentieth day of December Baldy, the mail rider, brought
Yellowhammer a piece of news.

"What do I see in Albuquerque," said Baldy, to the patrons of the
bar, "but Cherokee all embellished and festooned up like the Czar of
Turkey, and lavishin' money in bulk. Him and me seen the elephant
and the owl, and we had specimens of this seidlitz powder wine [105];
and Cherokee he audits all the bills, C.O.D. His pockets looked like
a pool table's after a fifteen-ball run.

[FOOTNOTE 105: seidlitz powder--a medication made by mixing
powders of sodium potassium tartrate, sodium
bicarbonate, and tartaric acid, used for its
laxative effect or to treat hangovers]

"Cherokee must have struck pay ore," remarked California Ed. "Well,
he's white. I'm much obliged to him for his success."

"Seems like Cherokee would ramble down to Yellowhammer and see his
friends," said another, slightly aggrieved. "But that's the way.
Prosperity is the finest cure there is for lost forgetfulness."

"You wait," said Baldy; "I'm comin' to that. Cherokee strikes a
three-foot vein up in the Mariposas that assays a trip to Europe to the
ton, and he closes it out to a syndicate outfit for a hundred thousand
hasty dollars in cash. Then he buys himself a baby sealskin overcoat and
a red sleigh, and what do you think he takes it in his head to do next?"

"Chuck-a-luck," said Texas, whose ideas of recreation were the
gamester's.

"Come and Kiss Me, Ma Honey," sang Shorty, who carried tintypes in his
pocket and wore a red necktie while working on his claim.

"Bought a saloon?" suggested Thirsty Rogers.

"Cherokee took me to a room," continued Baldy, "and 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 whistles and such infantile
truck. And what do you think he's goin' to do with them inefficacious
knick-knacks? Don't surmise none--Cherokee told me. He's goin' to load
'em up in his red sleigh and--wait a minute, don't order no drinks
yet--he's goin' to drive down here to Yellowhammer and give the
kids--the 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 of Cape Hatteras."

Two minutes of absolute silence t