| Show f r. r t r p W Or orld's d Greatest J Short Stories 1 ti No VIII w J THE OUTCASTS OF POKER FLAT FLA i By B BRET BR ET K HARTE TE TEi E. E H H t i i Twenty four famous authors we 1 l t asked recently to name the L L. L short story in the English Richard Harding Davis and W V r W lace Irwin named The Outcasts r Poker Flat by Bret Harte whew whew- complete works are published publish l b the Mifflin Houghton-Mifflin Co Company J q a RICHARD HARDING 7 t T r DAVIS i Ir U PART I. I S Mr 1 John Oakhurst gambler S h AI stepped Into the main street of Poker Flat on the morning of ot I. I the of ot Nove November ber 1 1850 be he f I was WIK conscious of ot u it change In Its ts moral the thc preceding night sro or 01 three men mess ly lr together ceased as he be approached quad Iud exchanged significant glances r There wan teas a II Sabbath lull In the air Si which In u a settlement unused to Sabr Sabr Sab- Sab r r Math hath ii s looked ominous Mr Ir Oakhurst's calm hand handsome o e face J. J betrayed small all concern In these thes Indica indica Indica- A dais Whether hether he hc was conscious of ti any 1111 predisposing lI l cause was another I 1 reckon they're after some some- r. r Luu h he d body budy i reelected ejected likely its it's me lie ilu 1 to his pocket th the handkerchief i. i chief chic with which which he be had had been whipping whip whip- f ping away 11 the r red d dust of Poker 1 Flat lat t 1 his hili neat neat- lIea boots and quietly discharged dis dis- charged U L-U his ISIS r ibind of or nay any further conj conf con con- f j Je jer lure ture S 'S 7 s i In III K of ot fact Poker Flat was after somebody It had lately suffered suffered suf sur- the loss of ot several se thousand dol dol- dollars rr lars two valuable horses aud a prominent t r nent citizen it was experiencing a p. aTy 5 o of virtuous reaction Ty t y spasm quite as as' as J- J lawless lc s and and- ungovernable as ns any of th the acts that had provoked pro it A secret sec se se- c Fret cret committee hi id h determined to rid tin the town of or all 1111 Improper persons This was done doue permanently in fu regard to two men who were then theu hanging from rum the boughs houghs ofas of a sycamore in Iu the gulch 7 and temporarily in th the b banishment of Lei certain tain other objectionable characters r 1 regret regret ct to bay II that Home powe of these were i lr y lu ladles les Jt It It Is s but t due t to the the sex sex b however however how how- v- v t ever to state e that their Impropriety S. S t 1 was wag professional and und it was o wily only ll In fn i t such BUCU easily t. t established standards s of or 1 evil that lok r Flat ventured to sit in Judgment rt f Mr Ir Oakhurst was right in supposing that he be was included In this category T A few rew of the thc committee had had urged hanging banging nging him as as asU u a U possible c exampleS example example- S and a u sure sure method method of reimbursing themselves from his pockets of or the he heminis I sums minis he ho had won for tor them Its agin Justice said J Jim m Wheeler to let lett t f. f this yer yet young Joung man from Roaring Camp nu Camp-au au entire stranger stranger-carry stranger carry away aw away t 11 our mont money Y But a crude sentiment of equity residing in the breasts of or those who had been fortunate te enough gh to win from Mr Ir Oakhurst overruled It this narrower harrower local prejudice Mr r. r Oakhurst received his rite le sentence o with philosophic calmness is none the the less les lOuIl coolly that bat he be was aware of th they the y h hesitation of ot Isis his judges He lIe was too much of u a gambler not to accept fate fute With him life Ufe was at best bes an uncertain tain taht game ame and he re recognized d the usual n percentage In favor of or the dealer A hoet body laudy of or armed u men accompanied I the deported wickedness of Flat Flatto to the tile outskirts of ot the settlement BeSides Be Be- jt Sides Mr I Oakhurst who was known S 5 a to be u at coolly desp desperate man alU and aud I. I for whose Intimidation the armed aimed escort l clr was intended the expatriated party consisted of u a young woman familial familiarly ly I known sis us The Duchess another who had hud won the title of or Mother Shipton Ship Ship- toll ton tOil and Uncle Billy a II SU suspected l sluice rubber robber and und continued drunkard i 5 The cavalcade ca provoked d no comments N t from the spectators n nei nor t Wilt watts soy any II word when the thc uttered tittered by the Only t gulch Ich which marked the thc uttermost limit of ot Poker Flat hat was reached the thc 0 leader spoke briefly and aud to the point lIt J The exiles were forbidden to return at nt atthe t the peril of or their lives liveR 1 As s the thc I escort ort disappeared their pent i up feelings found vent ent inn Ipa few fete hj hyster- hyster ter- ter tears s lh the thc Duchess Some bad lan language from Mother other j n and a II I f Parthian volley of ot expletives expletive from Uncle Uncle Un I cle Il Bully Billy The TIll philosophic Oakhurst t alone attune r silent I lie He Ii listened calmly It to Mother dl desire to t eat cut somebody's lI fI heart out to tu i r It l 4 statements of lit the Duchess that than ii she hc would die In In III the road fOllet line and to tu tit tin alarming oaths that seemed to tn he be w bumped out nut of Uncle Billy as he hc rode foie 1 forward With the ell easy good IIII humor tl i characteristic of his class elass II f lit he Insl pd upon ext exchanging its his 5 own u riding hO horse I O Ilvo Ih Spot fur for III the tilt sum sorry mule male II It u which the rode hut Hilt I oven even this t ju-t did not mint draw the party ii any ty laser closer sympathy The Iho woman n readJusted read read- ad v f her somewhat t It'd plumes with M II feeble faded Mother I J yeti eyed t the hI possessor III of rive 11 v Spot with malevolence and Uld Uncle Billy Ill Bil Fr ly Iy Included the whole party In on one 1 u sweeping anathema f L The Tb road roRd tp ti nn f. f Bar n r I Ic c camp ii f. f J a r 1 not lIot Inning having a as yet jet et exi the regenerating re rw generating influences of ot Poker Flat consequently seemed to offer some invitation in In- to the emigrants lay emigrants lay over a steep mountain range It was distant a days day's s severe vere tra travel el In that advanced advanced ad lid season the party soon passed out of ot the moist temperate regions of the foothills into the dry cold bracing air of the Sierras The trail was narrow narrow narrow nar nar- row and difficult At noon the Duchess rolling out of her saddle upon the ground declared her intention of ot going no farther tarther and the party halted baIted The spot was singularly wild and im Im- A wooded amphitheater surrounded surrounded surrounded sur sur- rounded on three sides by precIpitous precipitous precipitous tous cliffs cUtts of ot naked granite sloped gently geny gen by toward the crest of ot another pr precipice precipice preci preci- cJ pice that overlooked the valley vaHey It was undoubtedly the most suitable spot for tor a camp had camping been advisable ad ad- But But Air Mr Oakhurst knew that scarcely half the Journey to Sandy Bar was accomplished and nd the party were not equipped or provisioned ned for or delay This fact f fact ct he pointed out to his bis companions companions com corn curtly 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 sto stood d them in In place of food fuel r rest st and prescience In spite o of his remon remon- it was not long before they were were more or of less under its in influence Uncle Billy passed rapidly from a bellcase bell beUl- cose case state into one of ot stupor the Duchess became maudlin and Mother Shipton snored Mr 11 Oakhurst alone remained erect leaning lenning against a rock calmly surveying the them Mr Oakhurst did not drink It interfered interfered inter Inter- with a u profession which required coolness impassiveness eness and presence of mind and in his own language he her couldn j afford It it as As S he be gazed at athis athis h his s recumbent teli fellow w exiles the lone- lone s begotten of I tics his ls pariah trade hIs habits of life Ute his bis very vices Ices for the first time seriously oppressed him He b bestirred himself in dusting his black clothes lothes washing his hands and face race and other acts characteristic of his studiously neat habits and nd for the moment mo mo- ment went fo forgot got h his s annoyance J n ne e. e The thought of deserting his weaker and more pitiable companions never perhaps per per- hl imps haps ps occurred to him Yet he could coull not help feeling reeling the want of that excitement excitement ex ex- which singularly enough was most conducive calm ity It for which he was WIlS notorious He looked at lit the gloomy gloom walls willis that rose roseI I 1000 feet leet sheer above the circling pines around him at nt the tile sky ominously clouded lit sit the valley below already I f I deepening in shadow And doing so a s suddenly he heard his own name called culled A horseman slowly ascended th the trail In III the fresh open face ruce of the newcomer Mr MI Oakhurst recognized Tom Tom wise known as the Innocent ent of or sun Sandy 13 Bar a 1 lie had bad met him some sume mouths months ls 1 Before over O u a little game and hUd had with pith Ith perfect equanimity equa equa- won wun the entire fortune- fortune amounting to some gome 40 of 40 or io-or of that guileless guile Julle- guileless l less ss youth After fter the game was finished finish finish- ed ed Mr Ir Oakhurst drew diew the youthful speculator till behind t the w door dour and thus I addressed him Tomm Tummy Tommy youre you're a good little man lUan but hut y you u cant can't gamble worth it I cent Dont Don't try it over ovel again He then handed him his money back pushed him film J. J gently from the room and und so gO m made le a II de devoted ott s slave a of Toni Tom Simeon Sim- Sim ton eon There e was a Ii remembrance of ot this in Ills boyish and enthusiastic greeting of ot Mr Ir Oakhurst lie III hud hind started he said to go o to tu Ioler Flat Fiat to seek eek his fortune Alone Nun No Xo not exactly alone lE In fact u giggler El he had Irad run runaway run runaway n away a with Piney Woods I Didn't Mr rRt remember Piney Pincy She that u Used cd to wait on the the- table at ut the Tem Tern I perance House The They land had been engaged en ell- a a ItI long lg time hut hot old Jake Woo Woods s sI I hand had objected and w t tilt they bad had run runaway runn n away and were going to Poker Flat Flatto to tu lu he married aud here they were And Alit they the v re were tired out how lurk lucky lucky lucky-It It It was tho they land had found a Ii plaice place to magi camp surd and company All 11 this rids the Innocent innocent Inno inno- cent ent dc delivered rapidly while Piney a stout comely damsel cl of fifteen erner emerged ed Ill from froni behind the thc pine tree where she had been blushing unseen and rode to t the hI side of her lover tr Mr Ir Oakhurst seldom troubled himself him self with sentiment l still less IeS with propriety pro pro- hut hit ho he 1181 a 1 vague Idea Iden that the situation Wt was sis not fortunate lIe He retained however r. his his' presence of ot mind to kick Uncle Billy who nho was 11 about to IIII say something and Uncle nUl Billy wn was sober enough b to reo recognize recognize nize In Mr MI Oakhurst's kick a It superior power that would not boar bear trifling 1 He then r en endeavored to dissuade Torn Tom I i IV i. i r from il further r flirt but In Ii vain vale Ho ile even 11 pointed 1 out outtie tie the fact mt that there theren was bras no provision iso iro nor means mean tl l of a II camp But unluckily the tin Innocent met tW title objection objection by assuring assur lug ing the till party art that he be was provided with nil an extra mule loaded with pro provisions provisions pro pro- visions and h. h by the discovery er of a ru rude l' l attempt at sit sita a II near the trail tn 1 can 85 stay with Mrs Oakhurst said ald t the le Innocent l pointing minting to the Duchess and I 1 tail coin can shift for myself Nothing but hilt Mr Ir Oakhurst's Oakhurst A admonishing admon admon- I hlll foot t saved Uncle Billy from Ming bursting into to a n roar 1011 of laughter As it was he lie felt compelled to retire up the canyon until he be could recover his grav- grav It ity There he ho confided the Joke juke to the tall tull pine phi trees with ninny many slaps ships of r hIs bis leg contortions of ot his bis face race and aud the usual profanity But ut when he be returned to the till party he found them Rt seated by byn bya n a fire fire fur for the air had bad grown strangely chIlI chill and tand the sky overcast overcast overcast-In in apparently I m lUtI amicable conversation Piney was 1111 I actually talking In an impulsive girlish fashion to the Duchess who was Wilt listening with an un Interest and animation animation ani- ani ant ani mation she bad had not shown for far many lays days The Innocent was holding forth apparently with equal effect t to Mr Ir Oakhurst and aud Mother Shipton who was Willi actually relaxing Into amiability Is this yer er n a d d-d d d picnic said Uncle Billy with inward scorn as he be surveyed sur the sylvan group the glancing firelight and the tethered animals Inthe in inthe inthe the foreground Suddenly an idea mingled mingled min min- with the alcoholic fumes tb that tbt t disturbed dis turned 1 his bis brain It was apparently of or ofu ofa u a jocular nature for he felt impelled Impell d t to sl slip slap IJ his leg again and cram his fist st into his mouth As All the shadows crept slowly up the mountain a slight breeze rocked the tops of the pine line trees and moaned through their long and gloomy aisles The ruined cabin patched and covered with pine boughs was set apart for forthe forthe forthe the ladies As s the lovers parted the they unaffectedly exchanged a kiss so honest hon lion est and und sincere that it might have e been heard above the swaying pines Th The frail Duchess and the malevolent Mother Mother- Shipton were probably too stunned to ren remark rk upon this last evidence evi evl- evidence den dence e of simplicity and so turned without a n word weird v rd to the hut The fire was was replenished the men lay down before before be bet be- be t fore re the door and in a few fen minutes were asleep Mr Ir Oakhurst was a light sleep sleeper r. r i Toward morning he be awoke benumbed and old cold As he stirred the dying lire fire the thc wind w which l t was now blo blowing strongly bi ought brought to his cheek that i which caused the blood to leave It- It s snow ow It-I It lIe He started to his bis f feet et with the int intention interi- interi nUon n- n Uon tion of ot awakening the sleepers for COI there was no notime time to lose But turning turning turning turn turn- ing to where Uncle Billy had been ly lying ly- ly ing fug he be found him gone A suspicion leaped to his brain and a curse to his lips He Ho ran ran to the spot where the mules mule had been tethered red They were no longer there thre The tracks tracks tracks' were al- al ready rendy rapidly disappearing IIi in the snow snot Th The momentary ry excitement brought Mr Ir Oakhurst back buck to the fire with i I usual calm lIe He did not waken th the I sleepers The Innocent slumbered peacefully with a smile on his good humored freckled freckled face the virgin PIlley Pi- Pi uey ney slept beside her frailer sisters rs as sweetly as liS though attended 1 by ce celestial i guardians a and d Mr Oakhurst drawing his his' blanket over ov over r his Ills shoulders str stroked ked his mustache and und waited for lor th the i dawn It came came slowly in a whirling mist of ot snow snowflakes ales that dazzled d' d and confused ed |
