Tangled trails

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

79145

Title

Tangled trails

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In the rugged Sun Dog County, Sheriff Brick Davidson investigates a series of crimes centered around a stagecoach holdup involving counterfeit money. As he uncovers a web of deceit involving local cowboys, bank officials, and saloon keepers, Brick must navigate a landscape of violence and corruption to solve the murder of Grant Dale and expose the masterminds behind the elaborate con.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in the rugged landscape of Sun Dog County, W. C. Tuttle's 'Tangled Trails' presents a gritty Western mystery centered on Sheriff Brick Davidson and his investigation into a complex web of counterfeit currency and murder. The narrative begins with the false accusation of Romeo Kendall, a stagecoach driver blamed for a holdup where the money taken was revealed to be counterfeit. Brick, aided by his eccentric hired hands Silent Slade and Harp Harris, uncovers that the fake bills were used to launder real cash stolen during an actual robbery that resulted in the death of Detective Grant Dale. The investigation leads the trio through saloons, ranches, and bank offices, encountering a colorful cast of characters including the wealthy Soapy Caswell, the cunning Klein, and the bank officials Nestor and Malvene. Tensions escalate as a posse forms, culminating in a chaotic shootout at the bank where several key figures, including Felix Bray and Klein, are killed. Through careful deduction and confrontation, Brick reveals that the initial holdup was a staged event designed to facilitate the circulation of counterfeit money. The story blends action, humor, and classic Western tropes to deliver a satisfying resolution. Brick exposes the roles of Nebraska Yocum, Snookie Duggan, and others in the plot. The narrative culminates in a dramatic confession where the true killer of Grant Dale is identified as Klein, who struck him with a quirt before he drowned in a horse trough. The counterfeit operation is fully exposed, revealing that the money sent to the Whipoorwill bank was worthless. The tale straightens out the tangled trails of crime, justice, and deception, leaving the sheriff with a clear path to justice despite the chaos and loss of life.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Local file path

data/epubs/pg79145.epub

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Categories

• Western Fiction
• Mystery Fiction