December 24-25, 1915

For two weeks I have window shopped, considered, and discarded gift options. I walked from E.O. Furlong to Chamberlain-Gray and Corner Drug Stores then on to J. W. Hughes Mercantile. I did buy two pounds of candy for twenty-five cents and a pound of mixed nuts for fifteen cents at Steamboat Novelty to share with my friends. At F.M. Light, I bought a pair of Woolrich trousers and winter boots for me. Then I went to all the stores again being quite the consumer. I shopped Steamboat. No mail order for me. I did not want to buy a woman’s purse. It seemed too personal of a choice. I feared du Bois would laugh at me if I bought him a safety razor. Gifts for Maggie and Angela were tough choices too.  Finally, in the last week, I decided on an Eastman Kodak camera, silk stockings, perfume, which I could not wait to smell on Corina and a foot warmer for her cold feet while nursing little Julius. His gifts were easy; a magic lantern to dazzle him and a stuffed bear for comfort.  I figured the baby would not complain.

I knew Maggie and Angela would love the phonographic records to play on the Victrola and dance to their heart’s content. I gambled on the Icy-Hot Thermos for each. I hoped they liked them. The black leather suitcase for du Bois’s journey to Honolulu seemed like a good choice. He will not be using it. It rests with all the gifts we abandoned under a smashed Christmas tree last night. Du Bois sits with me and our rucksacks in A.M. Gooding’s hunting shelter on Buffalo Pass atop the Continental Divide. We alternate tossing sticks into the stove, warming our hands and drying our clothes. It is Christmas morning. It was too dark and cold to write last night. The deep snow outside made our uphill ski strenuous. Fortunately, we learned about climbing skins and used them. We reached the top of the pass turned south and struggled along the Divide. Luckily, the three-quarter moon rose and guided us to our current humble abode.

We partially packed and planned on coming up here before du Bois’s departure on January 2 in the daylight, to stay the night and return in the daylight. Escaping up here on Christmas Eve, in the dark was never in the itinerary. I will write now how it occurred.

“Julius, you look so handsome in your new suit!” Corina exclaimed. “Let me brush the snow off your hat and shoulders.”

Mistletoe hung strategically above the front door. I passed under it and du Bois paused behind me. Immediately Angela and Maggie stood. They rushed to Anthony and gave him forgiving kisses on the cheeks at the same time. Corina gave me a juicy smack on the lips saying, “I’m not going wait for you to wander under it again.”

Angela wrapped her arms around Charlie whispering, “We’re not going to forget about you, Precious,” and kissed him on the forehead.

Du Bois and I unloaded our gifts under the gaily decorated tree. “Dinner is almost ready. It’s baked ham and your favorite Julius, sweet potatoes and lots more,” Corina chirped.

We spent the evening in a haven of Christmas joy. We ate, sang carols, sipped on wine and all enjoyed the company of friends. Then Corina suggested, “Let’s open one present each tonight.”

She started unwrapping one of my gifts and exclaimed, “It’s a pair of silk...” when Charlie interrupted her with a spin and vicious barking.

“Oh no,” I grabbed his collar. JJ burst through the door totally drunk, waving a white letter and shouted, “I’ve got you now. You are a deserter and a traitor. This letter from France proves it!”

“JJ leave! Do not ruin another evening with my friends. Why must you come here when we are together?” Corina screamed.

It was all I could do to hold Charlie. He lunged at JJ snarling, growling, and pulling me closer to my enemy and the tree.

“You and your dog better keep back, or I will bring charges of assault,” he slurred. Then held the letter with both hands and shoved it in Corina’s face. “See?” She stepped aside.

Then he turned toward us, his back to the tree saying, “Look at this letter. I’m going to the sheriff.” That’s when Charlie broke free and jumped. JJ looked down at the dog and swung his fist. I popped JJ right square on the chin with an upper cut. The blow knocked him into the Christmas tree which bounced him directly back. The drunken man never tried to break his fall and smashed his head on the couch end table. Blood ran on the carpet and he laid motionless.

“Is he dead?” Corina inquired.

“What are we going to do?” Angela asked with panic.

“Cut ‘em in small pieces and then grind ‘em up,” Maggie answered.

Du Bois was on his knees and placed two fingers on JJ’s neck. “He is not dead,” he stated.

“Damn,” Maggie replied.

Charlie charged at the front window, leapt, and barked at the white face of the private dick watching through the partial open curtains, the face immediately disappeared.

Du Bois jumped up and said, “I’ve got to go,” he paused, looked at us and finished with, “now.”

“Where are you going to go?” I asked.

“Out of the country. I’ve got to get to a train station.”

“There isn’t a train on Christmas.”

“Then I’m going to A.M. Gooding’s shelter and maybe to Oak Creek or Hot Sulphur Springs in a couple days.”

“It’s dark and snowing. You can’t do that alone, I’m going with you,” I said.

“No, no…” Corina cried. “I just knew the bastard would wreck our lives. Why Julius?”

“Duty and honor, the detective knows du Bois deserted and maybe saw everything through the partially open curtains. The law for assault is very vague. Will JJ remember it was me who hit him or think it was the dog?” I speculated out loud. “Is it I, not Gus who migrates to a warmer biome?”

“Oh Julius,” Corina wept. The hazel flecks in her eyes floated in a pool of tears. “Help Anthony get to the Hot Sulphur train station. I’ll write to your Uncle Thomas and let you know what the sheriff intends to do.”

“He’s drunk, stumbled and smashed his head. I saw it,” Maggie avowed.

“Me too, he was afraid of Charlie,” Angela added.

“You would perjure yourselves?” I asked.

“Yes!” the three women confirmed.

“Corina, if we must go to Honolulu, I’ll write to you. I hope you will reply to my letters.

“Of course, I will,” she sobbed and looked at sad-eyed Charlie. It seemed he thought it was his fault. “It will be like Penelope and Odysseus’s dog, Argos, waiting for their master’s return.” She brushed the tears from her cheeks. “We’ll wait for all the time we are given.”

My partner in crime and I received hugs, kisses, and good wishes. I assured Corina of my love. Then we ran, constantly looking for the detective, to my house and finished packing our rucksacks. With skis, poles and skins braced on our shoulders, we raced to the Spring Creek Road and into the darkness.