Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-10-05
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
THE OUTCASTS OF POKER FLAT
BY BRET H.ARTE,

tFranci. Bret Harte, famous American San
writer of Western stories was born in 1852
and died in 1902. He was the son OIL a
nrofessor OF Greek. In California ne vas
exUress messenger, miner, teacher and editor.
Among his best known short stories Is tle
present one and The LUCK Oh hoa''"s
Camp
On the morning of November %.
1850. John Oakhurst, gambler, was
aware that something was up In Poker
Flat. In point of fact, the hamlet had
lately lost several thousand dollars ana
had begun a campaign OF reform. MI
Oakburst expected that he would be
expelIed with other wickednesS; some
even advocated hanging him. But Jus
tice prevailed. and he was eXlled' es
corted with others to the outsklrts Oh
the settlement. Besides Mr.. Oakhurst,
who was known to be a coolly des-
perate man, the expatriated party con-
sisted of a. young woman famllarly
called The Duchess: another called
Mother Shipton." and Uncle Billy,
q suspected robber of the gold siulces
and a confirmed drunkard. 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 at
the peril of their lives.
The road to Sandy Bar-a camp
that, not having as yet experienced
the reforming craze of Poker Flat,
consequently offered a refuge to the
emierants--lay over a steep noun
tain range, fully a days severe traEel
distant. In that advanced season the
party soon passed into the dry-coid.
bracing air OF the Sierras. The trall
was narrow and difficult. AT noon the
duchess, rolling out of the saddle upon
the ground, declared her intention or
90, ~, ND I7a
The spot was singularly wild and
impressive. A wooded glen, surround
ed on three sides by precipitous cliffs
OF naked granite, sloped gently toward
the crest of another precipice that
overlooked the valley. 1t was. undoubt-
edly, the most suitable spot for
camp-btM Mr.. Oakhurst knew that
scarcely half the journey to SANDY
Bar was accomplished, and the party
was not equipped or provlsloned Tor
delay. But his companions were 1ur-
nished with liquor, and in spite OF his
circumstances it was not long before
they were more or less under its IN
fiuence. Uncle Billy passed rapidly
from a bellicose state into one OF stu
nor. the Duchess became maudlin and
Mother Shipton snored. Mr.. Oakhurst
alone remained erect, leaning against
rock, calmly surveying them. Mr.:
OaKnUrSL u1Q IlOL ~ ihSSAASh ~
with a profession which required cool
ness. inconsistencies and presence OF
mind. and. in his own language, he
rouIdn't afford it, Yet the thought
Of deserving his weaker and more pitt
able companions never perhaps occur
red to him.
horseman assembled the trail and
recognized Mr.. Oakhurst. 1t was Tom
S;mson, known as 1.-The Innocent. OF
Sandy Bar whom Oakhurst had be-
friended. lie was on his way to Poker
Flat to seek his fortune. Alone? Not
exactly. for he had run away with
piuey Woods. who came blushins
from behind tree and rode to the
side of her lover.
Mr.. Oakhurst seldom troubled him.
self with sentiment. still less with pro-
priety; but he had vague idea that
the situation was not fortunate. lie
retained, however, his presence of
mind sufficiently to kick Uncle Billy,
who vas about to say something, and
Uncle Billy was sober enough to rec
ognize in Mr.. oakhurst's kick SUI
perior power that would not bear
rtifiing. lie then endeavored to per-
suade Tom Simsen not to delay, but in
vain. The Innocent even met the OBJ
lection of no provisions by offering
his extra mule loaded with provisions
and by the discovery of rude log
house near the trail
"Piney can stay with Mrs. Oak
hurst" said the Innocent, pointing to
the Duchess, land ! can shift for my
self"
Nothing but Mr.. Oakhurst's ad
monishing foot saved Uncle Billy from
bursting into a roar of laughter. But
he had to retire into the woods until
HI ~ rrhnro u e
confided the joke to the tall pine trees
with many slaps of his leg. When he
returned to the party he found them
seated by q fire-for the air had grown
chill and the sky overcast--in amiable
conversation. Piney was talking In
1mpulsive girlish fashion to the
duchess, who was listening with ar
interest and animation she had not
shown for many days. The Innocent
WAS holding forth, with equal effect, tC
Mr.. Oakhurst and Mother Shipton
who was actually relaxing INTO anna
biIity. as this yer damne picnic?'
said Uncle Billy, with inward scorn, n:
Ire surveyed the group, the Glancine
freight and the tethcred animals il
the foreground.
The rude cabin that night was Sc
aside for the ladies. The lovers part
ed with q kiss so honest ana slncer'
that it might have beer heard abov'
the swaying pines. The frail Duchess
and the malevolent Mother Shlptoi
were probably too stunned TO renlari
upon this latest evidence of simplicity
md so turned without Il word TO III
hut.
That night Uncle Billy disappeared
md with him the mules. SNOW ha
fallen, and tracks told the sad taie
MFR. Oakhurst discovered the loss. bu
did not awaken the sleepcrs. The IL
nocent slept peacefully and the virgil
Piney slept beside her frazier sister
as sweetly as though attended D
angels. Mr.. Oakhurst looked over tn
valley and summed up the present an
future in two words: Showed in.'
Provisions within the hut had es
capped Uncle Billy's thieving fingers
but even at that they could last bll
10 days longer. Mr.. Oakhurst ret 1t b
thought that Uncle Billy had gone 70
more, but the storm might prevent hi