This would appear to be from one of the seemingly unending Longarm series of western novels by "Tabor Evans" (actually super-prolific romance/adventure writer Harry [Benjamin] Whittington, born 1915, who also wrote under the names Ashley CARTER; Robert Hart DAVIS; Whit HARRISON; Kel HOLLAND; Harriet Kathryn MYERS; Blaine STEVENS; Clay STUART; Hondo WELLS; Harry WHITE; and Hallam WHITNEY), which now numbers almost 250 volumes. Pick one! Sorry I can't be more specific. Chris J.-Andersen, Regional Archaeologist Ministry of Citizenship, Culture & Recreation Heritage & Libraries Branch, Heritage Operations Unit 400 University Avenue, 4th Floor Toronto, Ontario CANADA M7A 2R9 Tel.: 416-314-7159 Fax: 416-314-7175 e-mail: [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Cathy Spude [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: December 1, 1999 10:44 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Who was Longarm? HISTARCHers: I'm an archeologist writing up a report of some excavations that were done under a ca. 1898-1916 saloon in Skagway, Alaska. One item that was found was a page out of a paperback western novel. I was hoping someone on the list who enjoyed this genre might recognise the passage and be able to give me the title, author, and possible dates of publication. The following passage was on pages 23 and 24. You can reply off-line to [log in to unmask] Thanks in advance, and please excuse the cross-postings. ...said, when Longarm told him of his choice. "'Course, everyone complains because she's a mite old and not as sassy as the younger mounts. But she's a Morgan." He shook his head. "Some people just don't know nothing' about horses." "She'll do fine, " Longarm told the man. Then he mentioned the shoe and asked him to clean out the frogs thoroughly. "You didn't have to tell me," the man protested. "I wouldn't let a horse leave my stable what wasn't in perfect condition." Longarm smiled at that, and was about to go back to take another look at the Morgan, when he heard shouts erupting suddenly in the darkening street. He stepped out through the stable door and saw four mounted men dragging four Indians at the ends of ropes. The men were riding at such a brisk trot that the Indians were unable to keep their feet for any length of time. They were, in fact, almost totally exhausted. Their appearance was wretched. Their hair was matted with sweat-caked alkali and their knees and elbows were raw and bleeding. The horsemen pulled up in front of the Silver City Saloon with guns thundering into the sky. The Indians collapsed forward onto their knees. Longarm shook his head in disgust as loggers and gunmen poured out of the saloon to dance in glee around the sullen, prostrate Indians. With some satisfaction, Longarm noted that not one of the Indians had uttered a single cry. They were as silent as vengeance as they lay, sprawled in the dust, looking up at their tormenters. "Now that's real excitement, ain't it?" the old man said, his tone betraying the contempt he felt for those four riders. Longarm glanced down at the old cowpoke. His hair was almost gone, and what was left was fine-spun cotton. He had the squinting look of men who have spent too many years looking long distances under a glaring sun - and the bulbous, cherry-red noes of the inebriate. The bulge of a flask was clearly visible on his hip. "You don't approve?" Longarm asked him. The man thrust his chin forward indignantly. "No, sir. I don't. After all, them Indians is just Diggers - poorest damn excuses I ever saw for a red man. They ain't no bother. All they do is kill jackrabbits and eat pin nuts." Then he shook his head. "But there ain't nothing I can do about it. If I was to go agin' that bunch, they wouldn't pay me no more heed than a steer does to a cobweb. I'd have as much chance as a wax cat in hell." He turned and started back into the livery. Longarm looked back and watched as the four men dragged the Indians - still roped - into the saloon. Abruptly, Longarm started across the street. He worked for the federal government. These Digger Indians were wards of that government. It was part of his job to see to their safety.