A Gang of Three

A Tale of a Summer Episode at Hardacre Flat

by Jennie Davis Burton

It would be hard to find three rougher-looking men than the trio who slouched into Hardacre Flat at the close of a June day and took possession of a deserted cabin there; and had it not been for a fourth in their company, a mere smooth-faced youth, who created a favorable impression on the Hardacre men, it is likely that they would have received an order to march on before the sinking sun withdrew his last red tinge from the snow-capped peaks which bounded the horizon. Indeed, Digby Allison, who took it on himself to interview the strangers, afterward said as much.

“We’re a new camp, hyar, an’ hain’t got no organized perlice force nor city charter goin’ yet, but we know how to keep cl’ar of troublesome company,” he explained to these doubtful visitors. “Only las’ week we run out the two Carters for jumpin’ stumpy Treat’s claim agin law an’ reason, an’ fore that a Chinee who’d been spookin’ round our tools an’ fixins’, an’ jes the day ‘fore yistiddy, ole Sol Loomis what had this ’ere cabin hyar, he went to start a graveyard up thar on the hill for raisin’ a rumpus in Jule Starr’s barroom, ’kase Jule he’s swore that he’ll run a quiet, peaceable place ef he has to plant all his customers. Thet’s the sort o’ congregation we air, strangers, an’ ef yer minded to turn in an’ be good citizens, I dunno as thar’ll be ary objectin’ on the part of the boys.”

“We on’y calkilate to rest over a day or two,” spoke one of the gaunt, unshorn trio, but the boyish member of the party came easily forward and took the words out of his mouth.

“My pardners here hev had a hard time of it. Go shet in by the snow lastfall, an’ had a winter all to themselves in the mountains; mos’ starved to death, but pulled through on jerked b’ar meat—jerked the b’ar… Read More