Wanted—?

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

76804

Title

Wanted—?

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this classic Western tale, Ranger Ware's Kid investigates the murder of cowman Eph Carson. While initially suspected, the true killer is revealed to be a local rancher, Simeon Rutter, who frames Dell Spreen. Ware's Kid must navigate a web of lies, confront a ruthless outlaw gang, and ultimately choose between justice and protecting an innocent young woman from the stigma of her father's crime.

Summary up to 500 words

In Eugene Cunningham's *Wanted—?*, Texas Ranger Ware's Kid arrives in Dallas with a mission to capture Dell Spreen, a man accused of murdering cowman Eph Carson and robbing him of seven thousand dollars. The trail leads Ware's Kid to the O-Bar ranch, where he meets owner Simeon Rutter and his daughter. While investigating, Ware's Kid discovers significant inconsistencies in the evidence against Spreen, noting that the shooter's height and the lack of horse tracks near the crime scene do not match Spreen's profile. His suspicions are confirmed when he is ambushed by a gang led by the notorious Sam Bass. During the shootout, his deputy, Bos' Johnson, is wounded but reveals himself to be the actual murderer, Dell Spreen. Spreen had framed himself to avoid the death penalty for a past crime involving his brother's money. Ware's Kid spares Spreen, recognizing his innocence regarding the specific murder of Eph Carson. Returning to the crime scene at El Castillo, Ware's Kid finds a pearl-handled pocketknife belonging to Simeon Rutter. Later, while camping at the Huecos, Ware's Kid and Rutter are ambushed by Apaches. In the ensuing gunfight, Rutter is mortally wounded. Before dying, Rutter confesses to the murder and robbery, admitting he killed Eph Carson to steal the money for himself and his family, and that he had tried to frame Spreen to protect his reputation. Ware's Kid holds the confession but faces a moral dilemma: publishing it would clear Spreen but brand the innocent daughter of the confessed murderer. Ultimately, Ware's Kid decides to protect the girl's future by withholding the confession from the public, while officially clearing Spreen with the adjutant general. He then leads a posse to hunt down the remaining Apaches who attacked him and Rutter, choosing to shield the young woman from the stigma of her father's crime.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/76804.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg76804.epub

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Categories

• Regional Fiction
• Western Fiction
• Mystery Fiction