This is another short story written by Louis L’Amour about the ways and customs of the west, were they reflected the chivalry exhibited in the writing of Sir Walter Scott. This story is a snapshot of a day or two in the life of Red Clanahan, one of those western characters that Louis L’Amour is able to create that reflects, some of the people of the time who lived and died in the west during the time the country was growing up. Red had become a bad man in terms of words because events had placed him in situations where doing the right thing placed him on the wrong side of the law and the swiftness of his gun hand had allowed him to stay alive and inherit a reputation of being a bad man.
This is a story about a good bad man who comes to the rescue of a young woman. Elaine McClary who is given an inheritance, of a mining claim. She is expecting to see a friend who has this claim. Her father and she both believe the claim is very valuable while the truth is its value is in what the truly bad guys think it is worth.
The whole story revolves around a potential kidnapping and how the good bad man inserts himself into the situation to aid the troubled daughter. The day is saved and the truly bad men get their just deserves.
