The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1870-07-01
Outcasts Of Poker Flat.
fraak Bret Ras,s n ~ o,ssA,d xosthIy.

ASNr. John Oakhurst. gambler, steppet
Into the main street Of Poker Fat on th,
mcrning of the twenty third OF November
1850, 10 WINS conscious of change in III,
moral atmosphere from the preceding night
TWO or three men. conversing earnestly to
kether, ceased % he approached. and OK
cI'nnfed significant glanccs There waa
Sabbath lull in the air. which, in settle
ncnt unused to sabbath influences. looked
Mr.. Oakhust's calm, handsome face he
tMycd email concern of these indications
Whether he was conscious Of any predispos
INK cause, was another question. II reckon
they're after somcbody." he reflected: ''ike
" tts me-" He returned to his pocket the
Handkerchief with which he had heen
from his neat boots. and quietly discharged
his mind Of nnv further conjecture.
In point of fact. Poker Flat was latter
somebody" II had lately suffered the lose
Of several thousand dollars. two valuable
horses and prominent citizen. It was ex.
pericncing : spasm of virtuous reaction.
Quite a. lawless and ungovcrnahle - any ct
The acts that had provoked it. A secret
committee had determined 70 rid the town
of oil improper persons. This was done
permanently in regard of two men who
were then hanging from the boughs Of 4
sycamore In tho gulcl,. and temporarily In
the Punishment OF certain ether objection.
able chNrnctcrs Ircgrct to ssy That some
of these were ladies' It Is but due to the
sex. however. to state that their impropri.
ETY. Was professional. and It was only in
.auch easily established saapdards 1T evil
that Poker Fiat ventured 70 sis In judgment.
Nc Oakhurst wAA right In suppsaiSg that
h. fs>n l3,x3s .>n A R>.w rf
the committee had urged iAangiag him 40 4
lpburaing themselves from his pockets 1T
the sums he had won frnm them. ITS
vgin justice" said Jim Wheeler, to let
tbis yer young man from Roaring Camp
an entire stranger-carrv away our money"
But crude sentiment Of equity residing in
the breasts of those who had been fortu.
mite eneuRh to win from Mr. Oakhurst,
ov0ru3od ibis narrower heal prsjudice.
Mr. Oaj<hurst received Ms sentence with
phslooophlc ealmness, none the less coolly.
Inst jhf WA aMArs nj the .hAeitetion of his
judges. lie was tho much Of . gambler not
20 actcrt Fate. With him life WAS At hest
IN uncertain game. aud he recognize d
the usual percentage in favor Of the dealer.
q A. body 1t armed men accompanied the
departed wickedness of Poker Flat 10 the
outskirts Of the settlement. Besides Mr.
Oakhurst. who was known 10 be coolly
desperate man. and for whose intimidation
the armed escort was intended, the cxpa-
tri"ted party consisted Of young woman
Familiarity known . Tho Duchess; "anoth.
''Mothcr tSlipton." and Uncle Billy
drunkard. The oayalcade provoked no
comments from the spectators. nor was my
word uttered by the escort. Only when the
Gulcll which, nsassgsd the uttermost limit Of
Poker Flat WAS reached, the leader spoke
briefly and to tho point. The exiles were
forbidden to return at the peril of their
:. Al the escort disappeared their pent.up
feelings found vent in few hyster1cal tears
from ''1hs Duchess" some bad language
from Mother Shjpton, and Partheian vol.
ley of cxp,etives from Uncle Billy.
The philosephic Oakhurst alone remained
silent. He listened ca,I,ly to Mother Ship.
tons desire 10 cut somebody's heart out. 10
the repeated statements OF Tito Duchess"
that she would die In the road, and to the
alarming oaths that seemed to I've bumped
out Of Uncle Billy ~ he rode forward.
With the easy good humor Characteristic OF
his class. he insisted upon exchanging his
own riding horse. 'Fivc Spot" for the sor.
~ mule wliclithe Duchess rode. But even
this act did not draw the party into any clos
er sympathy. The young woman rc-adtust'
feeble. faded coquetry: Mother Shipton eyed
the posecssor 1T Five Spot" with rinlcvo-
lcnce. and Uncle Billy included the whole
party in one sweeping anathcma. -
The road 10 Sandy Bar-a camp that not
having yet experienced the regencrn'ing In.
ducnoes of Poker. Fiat. consequently seem
ed to offer some Invitation to the emigrants
lay over steep mountain range. 1t was
defiant days severe journey. In that al.
vanccd season, the party soon passed out OF
the moist. temperate regions of the foot hills
into the dry. cold. bracing cir Of the Sierrns.
Tho trail was narrow and difficult. At
noon the Duchess, rolling out of her saddle
upon the ground, declared her intention of
going no further. and the party halted.
The spot was ngularly wild and imprrs:
eive. A wooded amphithsatre. surrounded
on three sides by precinitous cliffs Of naked
granite. sloped gently toward tho crest OF
another precipicc that overlooked the valley.
It was undoubtedly tho most suitable spot
for = camp. had camping been adviseblc.
But Oakhurst knew that scarcely half the
journey to Sandy Bar w1s accomplished,
and the party were not equipped or proyis.
Toned for delay. This fact he pointed out
70 bis companions cnrtly. with q philoso'
phic commentary on the folly If 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. fuel. rest and prescisnce.. In
spite of HE circumstances. It was not long
before they were more Or less under IT. In
HyNnQn nSNUp va~onMA nnvHfA0N $eNSaS