Meanwhile, Oakhurst encounters young runaway couple, Piney Woods and Tom Simons, heading to Poker Flat to get married. After hours of traveling, Oakhurst’s companions get tired, and despite his remonstrances they decide to stop and rest. The four characters get together and leave Poker Flat, heading for a one day’s journey to a nearby camp. The party consists of Duchess, a saloon girl Mother Shipton, a madam Uncle Billy, a local drunk and thief and John Oakhurst, a poker player, who won a lot of money from the people sitting on the secret committee.
This committee decides who will be killed and who expatriated. Consequently a secret committee is elected. They have lost a lot of money and the morals of people are thought to be sinking.
Certain inhabitants of Poker Flat feel that the community is going down the hill. The story is located in Poker Flat, a small Californian community.
