In a bustling Wild Horse Valley, Sheriff Henry Harrison Conroy and his eccentric team, including Judge Van Treece and Oscar Johnson, face a crime wave fueled by new gold strikes. The influx of unsavory characters challenges their comedic yet effective peacekeeping. Amidst this chaos, a murder mystery unfolds when Old Ben Todd, a prospector, is found dead, leaving behind a will naming saloon girl Violet La Verne as his heir. However, the will is dubious, as Ben couldn't read or write, and his supposed gold strike remains unrecorded. As Henry investigates, he uncovers a web of deceit involving high-grade ore theft from the Yellow Warrior mine. The plot thickens with the involvement of local figures like Pete Gonyer, a potential sheriff replacement, and Professor Fossil, an alleged archaeologist with questionable knowledge of geology. The professor's escape from custody and the discovery of stolen ore on pack horses reveal a criminal conspiracy led by Gonyer, with Stickler and others as accomplices. Henry's team, through a series of misadventures and confrontations, manages to capture the culprits, unraveling the mystery behind Ben Todd's murder and the ore thefts. The resolution restores order to Wild Horse Valley, affirming Henry's unconventional yet effective approach to law enforcement.
By W.C. Tuttle · First published 1968 · Genre: Children's Literature, Adventure, Science Fiction