The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1914-12-09

pTeSSlNe. HOOCeQ dupuiIuedLeT SUI
rounded on three sides by precipt
tous cliffs Of naked granite sloped gen.
thy toward the crest OF another preci-
pice that overlooked the valley. 1t
was undoubtedly the most suitable
spot for a camp had camping been ad-
visable. But Mr.. Oakhurst knew that
scarcely half the journey to Sandy Bar
was accomplished and the party were
not equipped or provisioned for delay.
This fact he pointed out to his COM
panions CURLY. with a philosophic
commentary 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. fuel. rest
and prescience. In spite OF his remon-
strances it was not long before they
were more or less under its influence.
Uncle Billy passed rapidly from belli-
cose state into one of stupor. the
Duchess became maudlin and Mother
Shipton snored. Mr.. Oakhurst alone
remained erect. leaning against rock
calmly surveying them.
Mr. Oakhurst did not drink. 1t inter
fered with a profession which required
GOODNESS. impassiveDess and presence
of mind and. in his own language, he
couldn't afford it, AS he gazed at
his recumbent fellow exiles the lone
illness begotten OF his pariah trade. his
habits of life. his very vices for the
first time seriously oppressed him. He
bestirred himself in busting his black
clothes. washing his hands and face
and other acts characteristic of his
studiously neat habits. and for the mo-
ment forgot his annoyance. The
thought of deserving his weaker and
more pitiabie companions never per-
haps occurred to him. Yet he could
not help feeling the want of that ex-
element which, singularly enough. was
most conducive to that calm eQuanim-
ity for which he was notorious. He
looked at the gloomy walls that rose
1000 feet sheer above the circling pines
around him. at the sky. ominously
clouded; at the valley below. already
deepening In shadow. And. doing so,
suddenly he heard his own name
called.
A horseman slowly assembled the
trail. In the fresh. open face OF the
newcomer Mr.. Oakhurst recognized
Tom Simson, otherwise known as 1.-The
Innocent OF Sandy Bar. He had met
him some months before over little
game" and had, with perfect equa-
nimity, won the entire fortune
amounting to some $40-of that guile
less youth. After the game was finish
ed, Mr.. Oakhurst drew the youthful
Iofa hnh hn nd
addressed him: Tommy. you're a good
little man, but you can't gamble worth
a cent Don't try 1t over again" He
then handed him his money back.
pushed him gently from the room. and
so made devoted slave Of Tom Sim
son.
There was a remembrance Of this in
his boyish and enthusiastic greeting OF
Mr. Oakhurst- He had started. he
said. to go to Poker Flat to seek his
fortune. "Alone?" No, not exactly
alone. In fact "a giggle), he had run
away with Piney Woods Didn't Mr..
Oakhurst remember Piney? She that
used to wait on the table at the Tenn
perance House? They had been en-
gagged 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 limo
cent delivered rapidly, while Piney,
stout, come;y damsel OF fifteen. emery
ed from behind the pine tree. where
nd
rode to the side of her lover.
Mr.. Oakhurst seldom troubled him
self with sentiment. still less with pro-
priety. but he had a vague idea that
the situation was not fortunate. He
retained. however. his. presence of
mind sufficiently to kick Uncle Billy.
who was about to say something. and
Uncle Billy was sober enough to recog
nize in Mr. Oakhurst's kick a superior
power that would not bear trifiing.
He then endeavored TO dissnade Tom
Simson from delaying further. but in
vain. He even pointed out the fact
that there was no provision, nor means
Of making a camp. But, unluekly, the
Innocent met this objection by assur-
ing the party that he was provided
with an extra mule loaded with pro-
visions and by the discovery of a4rude
attempt at a loghouse near the trail.
"Piney can stay with Mrs. Oakhurst."
said the Innocent. pointing to the
Duchess. land can shift for myself"
Nothing but Mr.. Oakhurst's admon-
fishing foot saved Uncle Billy from
bursting into a roar OF laughter. AS 1t
was, he felt compelled to retire up the
canyon until he could recover his grav-
ity- There he conf1ded the joke to the
tail pine trees. with many slaps Of his
leg. contortions Of his face and the
usual profanity But when he returned
to the party he found them seated by
a fire-for the air had grown strangely
chill and the sky overcast-in appar-
emily amfcable conversation Piney
was actually talking in an impulsive,
girlish fashion to the Duchess, who
was listening with an interest and AMI
nation she had not shown for many
days. The Innocent was holding forth