Brick Davidson, the sheriff of Sun Dog County, is dealing with a wave of crime that includes stagecoach robberies and a bank heist. The county commissioners, dissatisfied with Brick's progress, hire a professional detective, Santel, to solve the crimes. Meanwhile, Brick and his deputy, Harp Harris, investigate the robberies, suspecting multiple gangs are involved due to varying descriptions of the culprits. The story unfolds with Brick and Harp discovering that the robberies are linked to a group of conspirators from Idaho, including Sam Leach, Hank Stagg, and others, who have infiltrated Sun Dog County. They orchestrate fake robberies and manipulate events to discredit Brick and gain control of the county's resources. As Brick delves deeper, he uncovers that Baldy Malloy, a stagecoach driver, was murdered to silence him, and his son, Whizzer, was kidnapped. The investigation leads Brick to Mostano's ranch, where he finds Whizzer and evidence of the gang's activities. A confrontation ensues, revealing Santel's involvement and his personal vendetta against the gang for killing his brother, Baldy. The climax occurs in a saloon where Brick confronts the conspirators. A shootout results in the deaths of Leach, Santel, and others, while Brick is wounded. The story concludes with Brick ensuring Whizzer's safety and reflecting on the resolution of the crimes that plagued Sun Dog County.
By W.C. Tuttle · First published 1972 · Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Western