3,596 words (15–20 minutes)
Genre(s): Western, Tragedy
First published: The Overland Monthly, 1869

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In a lawless California mining camp, two unlikely friends—Tennessee, a reckless gambler, and his quiet, steadfast companion known only as Tennessee's Partner—navigate the harsh moral codes of frontier justice. When Tennessee is arrested for robbery, his loyal friend embarks on a quiet, moving campaign to save him, challenging the hardened views of the camp. Bret Harte’s classic tale is both a character study and a poignant meditation on friendship, sacrifice, and the hidden nobility within the roughest of men.