The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1914-11-04

Il Il
IL Poker Flat on the morning of
the 23d of November 1850. he
was conscious of a change in its moral
atmosphere since the preceding night.
Two or three men, conversing earnest
" together. ceased as he approached
and exchanged significant glances
There was Sabbath lul in the air.
which, In settlement unused to Sab
bath influences. looked ominous.
Mr.. Oakhurst's calm. handsome face
betrayed small concern in these indica-
tons. Whether he was conscious Of
any predisposing carse was another
question. IL 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
fered the loss of several thousand dol
lars. two valuable horses and 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
hp of n inn
was done permanently in regard to
two men who were then banging from
the boughs of a sycamore in the gulch
and temporarily in the Punishment of
certain other Objectionable characters
/ regret to say that some of these We're
ladies. Ii is but due to the sex. how
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 surprising
that he was included in this category.
A few of the committee had urged
hanging him as a possible example.
and sure method of reimbursing
themselves from his pockets of the
sums he had won for them Its agin
justice" said Jim Wheeler TO let
this yer young man from Roaring
Camp-an entire stranger-carry away
our moneX," But crude sentiment
OF equity residing in the breasts or
those who had been fortunate enough
to win from Mr.. Oakhurst oyerruled
this narrower local prejudice.
Mr.. Oakhurst received his sentence
with philosophic calmness. none the
less coolly that he was aware Of the
hesitation of his judges He was too
much of gambler not to accept fate
With him life was at 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 familiariy
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
cd nffRrmOSt
limit of Poker Flat was reached tue
leader spoke briefly and to the point
The exiles were forbidden to return al
the peril Of their lives.
As the escort disappeared their penn
up feelings found vent in few hyster'
Teal tears from the Duchess. some oau
language from Mother Shipton ana
Parrhian volley OF explosives from un'
Gle Billy. The phllOsophic Oakhurst
alone remained silent. He hsteheo
calmly TO Mother SYMPTOMS desire 10
cut somebody's heart out. to the re-
peated statements Of the Duchess 'na'
she would die In the road ana 10 tne
alarming oaths that seemed TO pe
bumped out OF Uncle Billy as he RODE
forward. With the easy good humor
charac .eristic of his class he insisted
upon exchanging his own riding horse
Five spot, for the sorry mule whicn
the Duchess rode But even TINS ae'
did not draw the party into any closer
sympathy. The young woman reso'
tusted her somewhat dragged plumss
with a feeble. faded coquetry' motner
shipton eyed the possessor OF rive
Spot with malevolence. and Uncle BIZ
~ included the whole party m one
sweeping ansthema. AZ.
The road to Sandy Bars camp mat