Evil Deeds at Red Cougar

Introduction

“Evil Deeds at Red Cougar” is a humorous and action-packed tale by Robert E. Howard featuring Breckinridge Elkins, his popular mountain man character from Bear Creek. First published in Action Stories in June 1936, the story blends slapstick violence, frontier justice, and mistaken identities. Told in the distinct voice of Elkins himself, it captures the rustic absurdity and chaotic energy characteristic of the Bear Creek series. The story unfolds in the corrupt and treacherous mountain town of Red Cougar, where Breckinridge’s well-meaning interference leads to a whirlwind of brawls, shootouts, betrayals, and unlikely justice.

Summary

Breckinridge Elkins, while avoiding the town of Red Cougar due to its notorious reputation, encounters a young woman named Sue Pritchard fleeing from a supposed gang of desperadoes. After defending her from six armed men by lassoing their horses and disarming them, she thanks him and invites him to visit her in Red Cougar. Captivated by her beauty and charm, Breckinridge heads into town.

There he finds Red Cougar under the informal control of outlaw Buck Ridgeway and his gang. While stopping in a saloon to freshen up before calling on Sue, Breckinridge unintentionally provokes Jeff Middleton—one of Ridgeway’s lieutenants—into a bowling contest that quickly turns violent. After defeating Middleton repeatedly, the encounter escalates into a full-scale brawl, resulting in Breckinridge demolishing much of the bowling alley and flooring several gang members.

Saloon owner Badger McVey, claiming to be a victim of theft, hires Breckinridge to recover gold dust allegedly stolen by Three-Fingers Clements, a hermit outlaw hiding in the hills. Breckinridge agrees and stops by Sue’s house to inform her of his errand. Sue, feigning interest, gets him to reveal Clements’ exact location. She then secretly dispatches two of Ridgeway’s men—one posing as her “cousin,” Jack Montgomery—to trail Breckinridge and ambush him before he reaches the cave.

Montgomery lures Breckinridge with a false sighting of gold in a pool and attacks him with a broken rifle stock. The blow fails to harm Breckinridge, who is merely confused by the outburst. Montgomery, terrified by Breckinridge’s resilience, flees screaming, prompting Breckinridge to subdue him and tie him up for his own safety.

Breckinridge finds Clements injured outside his cave. After reviving him, Clements claims Ridgeway’s gang ambushed and stole his gold. Furious at being manipulated, Breckinridge pursues Ridgeway to a remote hideout cabin. A firefight ensues, culminating in Breckinridge collapsing the chimney with a boulder, which causes the cabin to catch fire. Amid smoke and confusion, he defeats the gang in hand-to-hand combat and prevents Ridgeway from escaping with the gold by triggering a landslide.

Just as Breckinridge apprehends Ridgeway and retrieves the stolen gold, Clements and a group of deputized lawmen arrive—revealing themselves as the same six men Breckinridge had earlier stopped on the road. It turns out they were after Ridgeway the entire time. Clements verifies that the gold was his all along, and that McVey was the real villain, plotting to use Breckinridge to rob Clements under false pretenses.

Ridgeway escapes again, and the group learns that Sue Pritchard, far from being innocent, was Ridgeway’s lover and a conspirator in the scheme. Her betrayal devastates Breckinridge, who rides off heartbroken, bloodied, and scorched, vowing to stay far away from Red Cougar ever again.

Characters

  • Breckinridge Elkins – The narrator and protagonist, a brawny, naive, but well-meaning mountain man from Bear Creek with a sense of justice and a tendency to cause havoc.
  • Sue Pritchard – A beautiful and deceptive young woman who manipulates Breckinridge into revealing Clements’ hideout. Secretly in league with Buck Ridgeway.
  • Buck Ridgeway – Outlaw leader and de facto boss of Red Cougar. Charismatic and dangerous, he manipulates others to do his dirty work.
  • Badger McVey – Saloon owner and schemer who lies to Breckinridge about the ownership of a stolen gold stash to get him to rob Three-Fingers Clements.
  • Three-Fingers Clements – A reclusive old miner who actually owns the gold dust and was ambushed by Ridgeway’s gang. Has a missing finger on his left hand.
  • Jack Montgomery – Introduced as Sue’s “cousin,” he is actually a member of Ridgeway’s gang, sent to ambush Breckinridge in the hills.
  • Jeff Middleton – A violent and competitive gang member who provokes Breckinridge in the saloon and ends up severely beaten.
  • Kirby – Lawman and apparent leader of a deputized posse pursuing Ridgeway. Initially misjudges Breckinridge’s motives but later supports him.
  • Yaller Whiskers – One of Kirby’s men, wearing a deputy badge. Initially involved in chasing Sue but turns out to be working to capture Ridgeway and his gang.
  • Tom Grissom – Another member of the Ridgeway gang, defeated by Middleton in bowling before Breckinridge’s arrival.
  • McVey’s Bar Patrons – Various unnamed gang members and toughs who get embroiled in fights with Breckinridge in the saloon and bowling alley.

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