THE INTRUDER

Because Adam Cartwright had noticed a stranger and was being held by him Ben, Hoss and Little Joe went up to him with sheriff Roy Coffee.

At a deserted piece of land they saw a cabin and a sleigh standing.

Little Joe said, “There won’t be living Santa Claus, won’t he? He has come much too early.”

“Then he is at least in time for once”, reacted Hoss.

“We go to him”, Ben said determined.

So said, so done.

The Cartwrights and Roy dismounted and looked at the sleigh.

“It is red so he belongs to Santa Claus”, said Hoss.

“Hoss, have you become loopy? Santa Claus never comes in July”, was the reaction of Little Joe.

“That I become loopy comes because I hang around with you too much”, said Hoss.

This answer made Little Joe so furious that he didn’t say nothing anymore.

Meanwhile Ben and Roy had walked to the cabin and Ben had knocked at the door. Carefully the door went open and a man in a red suit answered it.

“Ho, ho, ho. What can I do for you?”, he asked.

“My son Adam Cartwright was seen here for the last time. Is he inside perhaps?”, Ben asked calm.

“He is here but I keep him here until it is Christmas”, said Santa Claus.

“Mr Santa Claus or whoever you are, holding someone is a crime”, said Roy.

“Yes Bye”, said Santa Claus.

He tried to shut the door but Ben was already inside. In a corner was a bed and there was Adam tied up.

“Adam!”, said the rancher.

He ran to him and untied his son.

“Pa, that guy claims to be Santa Claus and held me hostage. Now I really don’t believe in Santa Claus anymore”, answered Adam.

“Mr Santa Claus, hereby you are under arrest for intruding on private property and holding hostage of an innocent man”, said Roy.

He put the handcuffs on by Santa Claus and took him down to Virginia City.

Riding on the way home Little Joe said, “I could tell you right away that it wasn’t the real Santa Claus because there is no snow here. And he only comes here when there is snow.”

“This is the evidence that he is in the country all year through”, said Hoss.

“For my concerns he doesn’t have to come anymore this year”, Adam reacted sober.

His father agreed with him.