A scheme there was

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

78842

Title

A scheme there was

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In the dusty West, Sheriff Buck Brady defends the innocent against the corrupt rule of Dave Skinner and Charley Eley. When a young couple is driven from a mining town, Buck uncovers a sinister plot involving false accusations and forced labor. A tale of justice, whittling, and moral courage.

Summary up to 500 words

In W. C. Tuttle's *A Scheme There Was*, the narrative centers on Sheriff Buck Brady of Mohave Wells, a man of quiet demeanor and slow speech who is obsessed with whittling pine. Despite his deliberate nature, Buck possesses a deadly draw, a skill that contrasts sharply with his peaceful hobbies. His jurisdiction is overshadowed by the criminal duo Dave Skinner and Charley Eley, who rule the nearby mining town of Lone Mule with an iron fist. Skinner, a keen gambler, and Eley, a powerful bouncer, exploit the desperate, forcing honest workers into servitude or driving them out. The story follows Harry and Gladys Nestor, a young couple from the East seeking honest employment. They are quickly targeted by Skinner and Eley, who coerce Gladys into working in a saloon and fire Harry from the mine. After being discharged and stripped of their meager savings, the Nestors are forced to flee Lone Mule on a stagecoach, battered and terrified. Upon arriving in Mohave Wells, Skinner accuses Harry of murdering Eley, a claim Buck immediately suspects is false. Buck takes Harry into protective custody, shielding him from Skinner's gang while investigating the truth. Through careful questioning, Buck learns that Harry did not shoot Eley. Instead, a drunken Eley attacked Harry, who defended himself, accidentally causing Eley's death. Skinner had orchestrated the event to frame Harry and seize Gladys. Although Skinner and his men linger in Mohave Wells, feigning repentance and attempting to draw Buck into a trap, the Sheriff remains vigilant. When Skinner returns to the office, pretending to offer to question Gladys, he attempts to draw his gun. Buck reacts instantly, knocking Skinner unconscious and securing him. With the immediate threat neutralized, Buck reveals that the villains' presence was part of a calculated scheme to trap the innocent. The story concludes with the Nestors safe at Buck's home, having escaped the predatory grip of the desert's underworld. Buck reflects on the darkness that still threatens the frontier, noting that while he has defeated this specific plot, the inherent dangers of the lawless West remain. The tale highlights themes of justice versus corruption, the resilience of the innocent, and the Sheriff's unwavering commitment to protecting the vulnerable against overwhelming odds.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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