Introduction
This untitled synopsis, later realized as Evil Deeds at Red Cougar, is part of Robert E. Howard’s Breckinridge Elkins Westerns. It blends rugged action, deception, and betrayal with the humor and brawling energy typical of the series. The story centers around a mistaken outlaw hunt, a duplicitous romance, and Breck’s brutal but effective frontier justice.
Summary
Characters:
- Breckinridge Elkins – The protagonist; a massive, quick-tempered but well-meaning frontiersman who becomes entangled in a setup involving gold, outlaws, and a duplicitous romance.
- Sue Pritchard – A young woman who deceives Breck by feigning distress and later misleads him into a trap; ultimately revealed to be Buck Ridgeway’s girlfriend.
- Buck Ridgeway – Leader of a young gang of outlaw cowpunchers; antagonistic toward Breck and ultimately responsible for robbing Clements.
- Badger McVey – Owner of the Jackrabbit Saloon and bowling alley; employs Breck to recover stolen gold after his property is wrecked in a fight.
- Old Man Clements – A miner falsely assumed to be an outlaw; turns out to be honest and under the protection of a special escort.
Published in:
- THE ADVENTURES OF BRECKINRIDGE ELKINS VOLUME 1, REH Foundation Press, August 2016