The Portland daily press., 1869-02-06
Selected story
From the Overland MOnrhiy'l
The Outcasts Of Poker Fiat,
A story of Life in California.
By F. B. HARTE.


1SoO, he was conscious of change in its
moral atmosphere from the preceding night
Two Or three men, conversing earnestly to-
gether, ceased as he approached, and ex-
changed significant slances. There was
Sabbath lull in the air, which, in settlement
unused to Sabbath influences, looked omin-
Gus.
Mr.. Oaxhulst's calm, handsome face be-
trayed small concern at these indications.
Whether he was conscious Of any predis-
posing cause, was another question, 81 reck-
on they're after somebody he reflected; I;
likely it's me-" He returned to his pocket
the handkerchief with which he had peet Eat
whipping away the red dust OF Poken Pokiearaad nedp
from his neat boots, and quietly ai'o7N
his mind Of any further conjectmr .o, aooo.
In soint of fact, Poker rIaC was ailef
sompbody.n II had lately suffered the loss OF
several thousand dollars, t"0 faiuapie horses.
and a prominent citizeh' II was eXperlenc-
inc snasm of virtuous reaction, quite as
lawIess and ungovernable as any OF the acts
that had provoked it. A secret committee
had determined TO rid the town of all i'm.
proper persons. This was done permanently
In regard of two men who were then hanging
from the boushs of d sycamore tree in tae
guch, and temporarily in the Punishment oil
certain other Objectionable characters. re-
gret to say that some OF these were ladies'
1t is but due to the SEX however to say that
was only in such easily es abished standards
OF evil that Poker Flat ventured to sit in
Judgment.
Mr.. Oakhurst was right in supposing that
he was included in this category. few of
the committee had urged hanging him as
possible example, and a sure method oil re-
imbursing themselves from his pockets ofthe
sums he had won from them. "Its Rgin JUS
tice," said jim Wheeler, sto let this yer
young man from Roaring Camp-an entire
stranger-carry away our money! But
crude sentiment OF equity residing in the
breasts Of those who had been fortunate
enough to win from Mr.. Oakhurst, overrued
this narrow local prejudice.
A body OF armed men accompanied the de-
ported wlckedness of Poker Flat to the out
skirta of the settlement. Besides Mr. Oak
hurst, who was known to be a coolly desper-
ate man, and for whose intimidation the
armed escort was intended, the expatriated
party consisted of young woman familiarly
known as "Tne Duchess" another who had
gained the in:eIicitous title of 'Mother Ship
ton" and "Unce Billy" suspected sluice-
robber and confirmed drunkard The caval-
cade provoked no comments from the specta-
tors, nor was any word uttered by the escort
Only when the gulch which marked the
uttermost limit of Poker Flat was reached,
the leader spoke briefly and to the point. The
exiles were forbidden TO return at the peri
of their lives
As the escort disappeared their pentup
feelings found vent in a few hysterical tears
from 1.-The Duchess" some bad language
from Mother Shipton, and a Parthian volley
OF eXpletives from Uncle Billy. The philos-
ophic Oakhurst alone remained silent.
The road to Sandy Bar lay over steep
mountain range. 1t was distant days Sc
we're journey. In that advanced season, the
party soon passed out of the moist, temper
ate regions OF the foothills, into the dry,
cold, blacing air OF the Sierras. The trail
was narrow and difficult. At noon, the Ouch
eSs. rolling out of her saddle upon the ground,
declared her intention of going no further
and the party halted.
The spot was singularly wild and impress
i've. A wooded amphitheatre, surrounded
on three sides by precipitous cliffs OF naked
granite, sloped gently toward the crest of an
other precipice that overlooked the valley.
1t was undoubtedly the most suitable spot
for a camp, had camping been advisable. But
Mr.. OakhuTst knew that scarcely half the
journey to Sandy Bar was accomplished, and
the party were not equipped or provisoned
ior Delay. This fact he pointed out to his
companions curtly, with Dhilosophc COM
mentary on the folly of 'throwing up their
hand before the game was played out" But
they were furnished with liquor, which in
this emergency stood them in place Of food, |
iuei, rest, and prescience. In spite of his re-
monstrances, it was not long before they were |
more or less under its influence.
Mr.. Oakhurst did not drink. 1t nterfered |
with profession which required GOODNESS,
impassiveness and presence of mind, and in
his own language he couldn't afford it," As
he sazed at his recumbent felloW-exiles' the
loneliness begOtten OF his psrah- trade, his
habits OF line, his very vices, tor the first time
seriously oppressed him. He bestrred him.
sell in busting his black clothes. washing his
hands and face and other acts characteristic
OF bis studouly neat habits, and for mo-
ment forgot his annoyance. The thought OF
deserting his weaker and more pitiable COM
panlons Gever perhaps occurred to him. Yet
he could not help feeling the want of that ex-
cilement, which singu ally enough was most
conducive to that calm equanmity for which
he was so notorious.
A horseman slowly ascended the trail. In
the fresh, open face of the newcomer, Mr.
Oakburst recognized Tom Simson, otherwise
known as The Innocent OF Sandy Bar. He
had met him some months before over slit
tie game" and had, with perfect equanmity
won the entire fortune-amounting to some
forty dollars-of that guileless youth. After
the game was finished, Mr.. Oakhurst drew
the youthful speculator behind the door and
thus addressed him: "Tommy. you're good
little man, but you can't gamble worth a cent.
Don't try it over again." He then handed
him his money back, pushed him gently from
tue room, and so made a devoted slave of
Tom Simson.
There was a remembrance of this in bis
boyish and enthusiastic greetings of Mr.. Oak
hurst. He had started, he said, to go to Pok-
er Flat to seek his fortune "AIone ?v No, not
exactly alone; in fact-a giggle-he had run
away with Piney Woods. Didn't Mr.. Oak |
hurst remember Pineye She that used to |
wait on the table at the Temperance House? |
They had been engaged a long time, but old
Jake Woods had objected, and so they had
run away, and were going to Poker Flat to be
married, and here they were. And they
were tired out, and how lucky it was they had
found place to camp and company. All
this The Innocent delivered rapidly, while
Piney-a stou', comely damsel of fifteen
emerged from behind the pine tree, where
she had been blushing unseen, and rode 20
the side of her lover.
Mr.. Oakhurst seldom troubled himself
with sentiment. Still less with propriety.
But he had vague idea that the situation
was not fclicitous. He retained, however,
his presence OF mind sufficiently to kick Un-
Gle Billy, who was about to say something,
and Uncle Billy was sober enough to recog
nize in Mr.. Oakhurst's kick superior po Rer
that would not bear trifing He then en-
deavored to dissuade Tom Simson from de-
laying further, but in vain. He even pointed
out the fact that there was no provision, nor
means OF making camp. But, unlucl1y
The innocent met this objection by assuring
the party that he was provided with an ex-
ira mule loaded with provisions and by the
discovery OF rude attempt at log house
near the trail. "Piney can stay with Mrs.
oakhurst," said The Innocent, pointing to
the duchess, "and can SHIFT for myself"
Nothing but Mr. Oakhurst's admonishing
foot saved Uncle Billy from bursting into
roar OF laughter. AS it was, he felt compelled
to retire up the canon until he could recover
hls gravity.
AS the shadows crept slowly up the noun
tain, slight breeze rocked the tops of the
pine ices, and moaned through their long
ami gloomy aisles. The ruined cabin. patch.
ed and covered with pine boughs, was set
apart for the ladies' AS the lovers parted.
they unatfectedly exchanged a parting kiss,
so honest and sincere that it might have been
heard above the swaying pines. The trail
duchess and the malevOlent Mother Shptun
were probably too stunned to remark upon
this last evidence Of simplicity, and so turned
without word TO the hut The fire was re-
plenished, the men lay down before the door,
and in a few minutes were asleep.
Mr. Oakhurst was a light sleeper Toward
morning he awoke benumbed and cold As
he stirred the dying fire, the wind, which
was now blowing strongly, brought to his
cheek that which caused the blood to leave
lt-snoWl
He started TO bis feet with the intention of
awakening the seepers, Tor there was no time
" lose' But turning to where Uncle Billy
nae Deen lying he found him gone. A sus-
Pcio1 leaped to his brain and a curse to his