In the latest Objective Standard, I look at the new anthology of Elmer Kelton's short stories, Law of the Land, just published by Forge Books. It's the fourth volume of Kelton's stories that Forge has published in recent years. Excerpt:
Kelton’s first novel, Hot Iron, appeared in 1956, and more than fifty books followed, including a memoir and a collection of news articles. But it was in 1971 that he achieved greatness, with The Day the Cowboys Quit. Also based on a real-life incident—an 1883 cowboy strike against five Texas ranches—that novel’s main character is a foreman named Hugh Hitchcock who initially sides with his boss, Prosper Selkirk, to put down a labor dispute. Selkirk has always treated his men fairly, Hitchcock thinks, and he decides their demand for higher wages is unfair. But when the strike ends, Selkirk dispatches ruffians to kill its leaders, and Hitchcock feels betrayed. He announces his candidacy for sheriff, and, once elected, brings charges against Selkirk and his allies. In the end, Hitchcock explains, it does not matter much whether they are convicted: What matters is that he has stood up for a principle.
One detects a foretaste of this magnificent novel in “In the Line of Duty,” a 1967 story included here, in which Texas Ranger Duncan McLendon must hunt down a friend and fellow ranger named Litt Springer, who has abandoned his duties as a lawman and is now simply murdering criminals. When McLendon learns that a third ranger, Billy Hutto, has been helping Springer, he confronts Billy:
“I thought you were a Ranger.”
“I am. But I’m a friend of Litt Springer’s, too.”
“Right now you can’t be both. . . . You better go to Austin, Billy.”
Billy was incredulous. “And leave you?”
“I don’t want a man with me unless he’s with me all the way. You took an oath, Billy. If you can’t live up to it, you better turn that badge in.”
After McLendon finishes the awful task of dispatching Springer, he immediately turns to his next job: finding and arresting the criminals his dishonored friend was pursuing.
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