Textual identity is not textual authority. “Catalogue primary/default” selects the default catalogue representation; it does not mean that this wording is automatically Howard’s most authoritative text.
Characters in this exact text
Blink WiltshawBlink Wiltshaw — War Paint acquaintance of Breckinridge; miner hiding his gold in Teton GulchOn Pagefirst: First Cuts: Rough Trails 2, p. 210Breckinridge ElkinsBreckinridge ElkinsOn Pagefirst: First Cuts: Rough Trails 2, p. 209Cap’n KiddCap’n Kidd — Breckinridge Elkins's horseOn Pagefirst: First surviving occurrence: First Cuts: Rough Trails 2, p. 213Dolly RixbyDolly Rixby — woman from War Paint courted by Breckinridge and married by Blink WiltshawOn Pagefirst: First Cuts: Rough Trails 2, p. 209Jake RomanJake Roman — yellow-whiskered gunman in Rattlesnake Harrison's gangOn Pagefirst: First surviving named reference: First Cuts: Rough Trails 2, p. 213; first surviving on-page recognition: p. 216Rattlesnake Harrison / posing as “Reverant Rembrandt Brockton”Rattlesnake Harrison — outlaw chief operating around Teton GulchOn Pagefirst: First named: First Cuts: Rough Trails 2, p. 211; first on-page appearance under disguise: p. 214
Surviving manuscript evidence
The records below describe surviving physical typescripts, carbons, manuscript material and documentary catalogue evidence for this exact textual state. TSS numbers identify physical catalogue units; they are not story or draft IDs.
Draft 2 — surviving Howard typescriptHoward typescript
Extent9 pagesCompletenessIncomplete
Physical extent: Originally 12 pages; pages 5–7 are reported missing (nine pages expected to survive)
TSS: 92347–92358
Untitled original typescript. First Cuts describes pages 5–7 as missing, while also citing the full TSS range 92347–92358.
Additional documentary notes
- Missing page: Pages 5 through 7 are reported missing from the originally 12-page Draft 2. (Original pages 5–7)
- Conflicting completeness evidence: First Cuts reports pages 5–7 missing but cites TSS 92347–92358 (12 catalogue numbers). The discrepancy is retained as documentary evidence rather than reconciled by assumption. (Page extent versus TSS citation)
- Handwritten Revisions: Howard made multiple pencil revisions: inserted “the Yavapai country” while striking the typed Oregon-line phrase; changed “three” to “five”; struck an entire sentence; inserted “today”; and struck “night and day.” (First Cuts pp. 209–211)
- Anomalous Pagination Marker: The phrase “Page 6” appears inserted mid-paragraph even though typescript pages 5–7 are absent; First Cuts says it is unclear whether this is a pagination error or placeholder. (First Cuts p. 213 / typescript 'Page 6' marker)
- Later Insertion: “It wasn't saddled.” appears to have been added later, slightly higher than the surrounding line, and may have been intended to replace the preceding sentence. (First Cuts p. 215) · Probable
Source: First Cuts: Breckinridge Elkins — Rough Trails 2, Cupid from Bear Creek, Editorial Notes p. 197; Draft 2 transcription