Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-11

From the volume of sketches of sThe Luck of
roaring Camp" published by James r. Osgood
& Co.
As Mr.. John Oakhurst, gambler, STEP
ped into the main street of Poker Flat, on
the morning of the twenty-third of Novem-
Der, 1880, he was conscious of change
in its moral atmosphere since the preced-
ing night. Two or three men, conversing
earnestly together, ceased as he approach
ed, and exchanged significant glances.
There was a Sabbath lull in the air, which.
in "a settlement unused to Sabbath-full in
fiuences, looked omnous.
Mr.. Oakhust's calm, handsome face be-
trayed small concern in these indications.
Whether he was conscious of any predis-
posing cause, was another question II
reckon they're after somebody" he re-
flected; 'likely it me- He returned to
his pocket the handkerchief with which
he had been whipping away the red dust
of Poker Flat from his neat boots, and
quietly discharged his mind of any further
conjecture.
In point of fact, Poker Flat was latter
somebody" 1t had lately suffered the loss
of several thousand dollars, two valuable
horses, and prominent citizen. 1t was
experiencing a spasm of virtuous reaction.
of the acts that had provoked it. A secret
committee had determined to rid the town
of all improper persons. This was done per-
manently in regard of two men who were
then hanging from the boughs of a syca-
more in the gulch. and temporarily in the
banishment of certain other Objectionable
characters. regret to say that some of
these were ladies' 1t is but due to the sex,
to state that their impropriety was profess
ional, and it was only in such easily estab-
lished standards of evil that Poker Flat
ventured to sit in judgment.
Mr.. Oakhurst was right in supposno
that he was included in this catagory. A
few of the committee had urged hanging
him us a possible example, and as a sure
| method of reimbursing themselves. from
his pockets of the sums he had won from
them. 'lts agin justice" said Jim
Wheeler, ''to 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 Alr. Oakhurst oyerruled this narrow
er local prejudice.
Mr. Oakhust received his sentence with
philosophc calmness. none the less coolly
that he was aware of the hesitation of his
judges. He was too much gambler not
to accept Fate.
With him life was at best an uncertain
game, and he recognized the usual per-
centage in favor of the dealer A body of
armed men accompanied the deported
wicked of Poker Flat to the outskirts of
the settlement. Besides Mr. Oakhurst,
who was known to be a coolly desperate
man, and for whose intimidation the
armed escort was intended, the expatriat-
ed party consisted of young woman IA
miliarly known as "The Duchess:'' an
other, who'had won the title of Mother
Shipton;" and Uncle Billy" suspected
sluice-robber and confirmed drunkard
The cavalcade provoked no COM
ments from the spectators, nor was
any word uttered by the escort. Only,
when the gulch which marked the utter
most limit of Poker Flat was reached, the
leader spoke briefly and to the point. The
eXiles were forbidden to return at the peril
of their lives. As the escort disappeared,
their pent-up feelings found vent in few
hysterical tears from the Duchess some bad
language from Mother Shpton, and Par
THAN volley ofeXpletives from Uncle Billy.
The philosophic Oakhurst alone remained
silent. He listened calmly to Mother Ship
tons desire to cut somebody's heart out, to
the repeated statements of the Duchess
that she would die on the road, and to the
alarming oaths that seemed to be bumped
out of Uncle Billy as he rode forward.
With the easy good-humor characteristic
OF his class, he insisted upon exchanging
his own riding-horse, Give Spots" for
the sorry mule which the Duchess rode.
But even this act did not draw the party
into any closer sympathy. The young
woman re-adiusted her somewhat drag
gled plumes with feeble, faded coquetry ;
Mother Shipton eyed the possessor of
Five Spot with malevoence, and Uncle
Billy included the whole party in one
sweeping anathema.
The road to Sandy Bar--a camp that,
not having as yet experienced the regen-
Grating influences of Poker Flat, conse-
quently seemed to offer some invitation to
the emgrants-lay over steep mountain
range. 1t was distant . days severe
travel. In that advanced season, the par
ty soon passed out of the moist, temper
| ate regions of the foothills. into the dry.
cold 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 farther and the party halted
The spot was singularly wild and i'm
pressive, A wooded amphitheatre, sur
rounded on three sides by precipitous cliffs
of naked granite, sloped gently toward
the crest of another precipice that over
looked the valley. 1t was, undoubtedly,
the most suitable spot for camp, had
camping been advisable. But Mr., Oak
hurst knew that scarcely half the journey
to Sandy Bar was accomplished, and the
party We're not equipped or provisioned
for delay This fact he pointed out to his
companions curtly, with a philosophic
commentary on the folly of Throwing up
the hands 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 pre-
science. In spite Of his remonstrances, it
was not long before they were made more
or less under its influence. Uncle Billy
passed rapidly from bellicose state into
one of stupor the DuchaSs hacap,a maud