The Outcasts of Poker Flats
Outcasts 11/23/1950
Mr. Oakhurst - gambler
The Duchess - young woman
Mother Shipton - young woman
Uncle Billy - suspected sluice-robber, drunkard
The Outcasts were escorted out of Poker Flats and was traveling to Sandy Bar.
Young couple going to Poker Flats from Sandy bar.
Tom Simson "The Innocent" of Sandy Bar
Piney Woods - waitress and engaged to Tom
Mr. Woods did not approve of the marriage, therefore the couple was traveling to Poker Flats to get married.
Both groups were tired and stopped to rest for the night, Tom and Piney stayed with the "Outcasts' in a cabin, during the evening Uncle Billy took the mule and left the group and never returned. Snow trapped the group in and planned to stay until it was safe to travel. The group had about a weeks worth of food. After a week, Mother Shipton, died from starving herself and left her food for Piney.
Mr. Oakhurst convinced Tom to leave the group and go to Poker Flat and if he did Piney would be safe. Mr. Oakhurst left the cabin with Tom and did not return. The two woman, "The Duchess" and Piney held each other and went to sleep. They died in each other's arms. Their bodies were found by some "law" from Poker Flats, they also found Mr. Oakhurst, who killed himself with a bullet to his heart. "..he who at once the strongest and yet the weakest of the outcasts of Poker Flat."pg 225.
To me the theme of the story is no matter how bad of a person you are, a person can always change.
The two woman were outcast of the town, yet once they met young Piney, they took care of her. Mother Shipton starved herself and gave up her life for the young Piney. "You've starved yourself," said the gambler. That's what they call it."pg 223. "The Duchess" stayed with Piney and they died in each others arms and gave each other peace during the time of them freezing to death.
Mr. Oakhurst, was a strong man but in the end took his life because he was weak and could not freeze or starve to death.
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