The loot of the Lazy A

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

78028

Title

The loot of the Lazy A

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In a rain-swept San Francisco, rugged cowboy Cultus Collins rescues a shivering stranger from a predatory man, only to discover she is Mary Smith, a runaway with a mysterious past. As Cultus helps her recover, a deadly feud between rival ranches erupts in Oreana City, involving stolen cattle, a murdered rancher, and a stolen girl. With guns drawn and secrets revealed, Cultus must navigate a web of deception to expose the true villains and find love amidst the chaos of...

Summary up to 500 words

Set against the backdrop of a foggy San Francisco night, W. C. Tuttle's *The Loot of the Lazy A* introduces Cultus Collins, a rugged cowboy from Cuyamac, who rescues a shivering, destitute girl named Mary Smith from a harasser. Mary reveals she fled an arranged marriage in New England and is now homeless. Cultus offers her shelter and food, learning of her tragic history before they are taken in by Dude Wheeler and his father, Eph, at the Star X ranch in Oreana City. Tensions are high due to a long-standing feud with the rival Lazy A ranch. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when it is revealed that Mary is actually Mary Ault, the daughter of Jud Ault, who was disowned for marrying a gambler. Cultus is identified as Miles Lane, a man from Oklahoma who has been protecting her. Chaos erupts when Idaho Breen and his crew from the Lazy A arrive, claiming Mary was stolen in a runaway accident that they assert killed her. A violent confrontation ensues in the town saloon, leaving Cultus wounded and Miles Lane injured defending him. As the dust settles, the truth emerges: Idaho Breen and Miles Lane had conspired to steal the Lazy A ranch by forging a will signed by the deceased Jud Ault. It is also revealed that Jack Keene, associated with the Lazy A, was actually killed by Idaho Breen, not as claimed. Mary is alive and the rightful owner of the Lazy A ranch. With the villains exposed and the feud resolved, Cultus recovers from his wounds. He confesses his feelings for Mary, but she chooses to marry Dude Wheeler, whom she has grown to love and respect. Cultus accepts this, realizing he is better suited as a best man at a wedding than in a gunfight. The story concludes with the two ranch gangs working together, the Lazy A cattle returned, and Cultus finding happiness in a new role, having saved Mary and exposed the crooks who threatened them all.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Local file path

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Categories

• Adventure fiction
• Western Fiction