Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-06-16

- the 23d Of November, 1S5U, ne
was conscious Of Il change in Its moral
atmosphere since the preceding night.
Two or three men. conversing earnest,
ly together, ceased as he approached
and exchanged significant glances.
There was Sabbath lull in the air.
which. in Il settlement unused to Sab
bath influences, looked ominous.
Mr.. Oakhurst's calm. handsome face
betrayed small concern In these indica-
tions. Whether he was conscious of
any predisposing cause was another
question. 81 reckon they're after some
body" he reflected, likely it's me"
He returned to his pocket the handker-
chief with which he had been whip
ping away the red dust Of Poker Flat
from his neat boots and quietly dis
charged his mind Of any further con-
lecture.
In point Of fact, Poker Flat was
"after somebody" 1t had lately suf-
fered the loss of several thousand dol
lars, two valuable horses and q promi-
nent citizen. 1t was experiencing a
spasm Of virtuous reaction, quite as
lawless and ungovernable as any Of
the acts that had provoked it. A Sc
cret committee had determined to rid
the town of all improper persons. This
was done permanently in regard to
two men who were then hanging from
the bOughs Of sycamore i'll the gulch
and temporarily in the Punishment Of
certain other Objectionable characters.
l regret to say that some Of these were
ladies'. 1t is but due to the sex, how
ever, to state that their imprOpriety
was professional and it was only In
such easily established 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 rs possible example,
and sure method of reimburSing
themselves from his pockets of the
sunls lie had won for them. Its aain
justice" S;id Jim Wheeler. Ito let
this yer young man from Roaring
Camp-an entire Stranser-carry away
our money But crude sentiment
of equity residing in the breasts of
those who had been fortunate enough
to win from Mr.. Ohkhurst Overruled
this narrower local prejudice.
Mr.. Oakhurst received his sentence
with philosophic calmness. none the
less cuolly that he was aware Of the
hesitation of his judges. He was too
much Of II gambler not to accept fate.
With him life was ut best an uncer-
tain game. and he recognized the usual
percentage in favor of the dealer.
A body of armed men accompanied
the deported wickedness Of Poker Flat
to the outskirts OF the settlement. Be-
sides Mr.. Oakhurst, who was known
to be a coolly desperate man and for
whose intimidation the armed escort
was intended, the expatriated party
consisted Of young woman familiarly
known as THE Duchess another,
who had won the title Of Mother Ship
ton," and "Uncle Billy" suspected
sluice robber and confirmed drunkard.
The cavalcade provoked no comments
from the spectators, 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 ut
the peril of their lives.
AS the escort disappeared their pent
up feelings found vent in few hyster-
ical tears from the Duchess. some bad
language from Mother Shipton and a
Parthian voiley Of expletives from Un-
Gle Billy. The philosophic Oakhurst
alone remained silent. He listened
calmly to Mother Shipton's desire to
cut somebody's heart out, to the re-
peated statements Of the Duchess that
she would die in 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
Of his class he insisted
upon exchanging his own riding horse,
Five Spot. for the sorry mule which
The Duchess rode. But even this act
did not draw the party into any closer
sympathy. The young woman read
justed her somewhat draggled plumes
with feeble. faded coquetry, Mother
Shipton eyed the possessor Of Five
Spot with malevolence. and Uncle Bill
ly included the whole party In one
anathema.
The road to Sandy Bar-a camp that,
not having as yet experienced the re-
influences Of Poker Flat,
seemed to offer some in
to the emigrants-lay over a
steep mountain range. 1t was distant
a days severe travel. In that ad-
vanced season the party soon passed
out Of the moist. temperate regions OF
the foothills into the dry. cold, bracing
air of the Sierras. The trail was mar
row and difficult. At noon the Duchess,
rolling out of her saddle upon the
declared her intention Of going
no farther, and the party halted.
The spot was slngularly wild and I'M
pressive. A wooded ainphitheater sur
rounded on three sides by precipi-
tous cliffs of naked granite sloped gen.
tly toward the crest Of another preci-
pice that overlooked the valley. 1t
was undoubtedly the most suitable
spot for 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
panlons curtly, with a philosophic
on the folly Of throwing
up their hand before the game was