Six-Gun Interview

Introduction

Six-Gun Interview,” an unfinished (4200 words) and untitled story by Robert E. Howard, estimated to be half to two-thirds complete, is a tale set in the Western genre, likely written in 1931. The story, tentatively titled “Six-Gun Interview” by Glenn Lord, appears to be an adaptation of Howard’s Sailor Steve Costigan stories to a Western setting. The tale appears to be a precursor to the Breckinridge Elkins series.

The story, though unfinished, showcases Howard’s ability to blend action, wit, and suspense in a Western setting, and it provides a glimpse into what might have been a precursor to his later works in the genre.

Story

The narrative follows Bill Kirby, a deputy to Sheriff Yucca Mullarney in Lazy Horse, Arizona. Kirby confronts Jim Lamark, a spiteful character pressing Sheriff Mullarney for the repayment of notes, threatening to ruin Mullarney’s retirement plans. Lamark, a nasty gunman, is engaged in government work and is indifferent to Kirby’s threats.

At a bar in Tijuana, Kirby encounters Joey Manson, a reporter for the Los Angeles Tribune, who is on a dangerous assignment to interview Juan Zapojos, a notorious bandit. Manson, fearing for his life, enlists Kirby’s help for $100, citing Kirby’s border expertise and Spanish fluency.

Kirby sets out to find Zapojos, but his inquiries about the bandit’s whereabouts in the towns of La Paz and Autlan result in hostile encounters with Zapojos’ secret supporters. After a series of violent clashes and misunderstandings, Kirby learns from Jose Lopez, one of Zapojos’ lieutenants, about Zapojos’ camp. Kirby outwits an ambush by Lopez and forces him to reveal the camp’s location.

On his journey to the camp, Kirby engages in a gunfight with Hernando Mentez, another lieutenant, whom he mistakenly believes to be Zapojos. After subduing Mentez, Kirby continues to the camp and confronts a man he believes is Zapojos. In a dramatic twist, the man is revealed not to be Zapojos but another of his lieutenants. The story ends with Kirby trying to extract information from the bandit under duress.

While incomplete, the draft establishes Bill as a capable lawman able to handle himself in dangerous situations as he pursues the interview with the outlaw Zapojos. But without an ending, there are still many open questions about how Bill’s encounter with Zapojos will ultimately play out.

Characters

  • Bill Kirby: The protagonist, a deputy sheriff, determined to help Sheriff Mullarney and tasked with interviewing Juan Zapojos.
  • Jim Lamark: A spiteful man pressing Sheriff Mullarney for note repayment, involved in government work.
  • Yucca Mullarney: The sheriff for whom Kirby works, facing financial pressure from Lamark.
  • Joey Manson: A reporter for the Los Angeles Tribune, seeking Kirby’s help to interview Zapojos.
  • Juan Zapojos: A notorious bandit, the subject of Manson’s assignment and Kirby’s pursuit.
  • Jose Lopez: One of Zapojos’ lieutenants, attempts to ambush Kirby but is outwitted.
  • Hernando Mentez: Another lieutenant of Zapojos, mistakenly thought to be Zapojos by Kirby and subdued in a gunfight.
  • Cap’n Kidd: Bill Kirby’s buckskin mustang, a faithful and agile horse that plays a significant role in the action and movement of the story. This Cap’n Kidd is distinct from the horse in “Six-Gun Interview,” showcasing Howard’s penchant for reusing memorable names in his works.

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