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Exact textual stateDraft

A Gent from Bear Creek

Part of A Gent from Bear Creek

StateDraft 2Surviving witnesses1TSS catalogue units5

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

Breckinridge / Elkins / IBreckinridge ElkinsOn Pagefirst: Rough Trails 4, A Gent from Bear Creek Draft 2, pp. 77–82 BuckBuck — one-name member of Wild Bill Donovan's men in A Gent from Bear CreekMentionedfirst: Rough Trails 4, A Gent from Bear Creek Draft 2, pp. 77–82 Cap'n KiddCap’n Kidd — Breckinridge Elkins's horseOn Pagefirst: Rough Trails 4, A Gent from Bear Creek Draft 2, pp. 77–82 GloryGlory McGraw — Bear Creek woman loved by Breckinridge; daughter of Old Man McGrawOn Pagefirst: Rough Trails 4, A Gent from Bear Creek Draft 2, pp. 77–82 HurleyHurley — one of Donovan's fake stage passengers/accomplicesMentionedfirst: Rough Trails 4, A Gent from Bear Creek Draft 2, pp. 77–82 JalatinJaphet Jalatin — Donovan accomplice in the novel; Draft 1 also calls him Japhet Rickby/HickbyMentionedfirst: Rough Trails 4, A Gent from Bear Creek Draft 2, pp. 77–82 Jim Harrigan / old Jim HarriganJim Harrigan — older stage passenger/victim shot in Donovan's frame-upMentionedfirst: Rough Trails 4, A Gent from Bear Creek Draft 2, pp. 77–82 JoeJoe — one-name member of Wild Bill Donovan's men in A Gent from Bear CreekMentionedfirst: Rough Trails 4, A Gent from Bear Creek Draft 2, pp. 77–82 JacksonJudah Jackson — one of Donovan's fake stage passengers/accomplices; initials J.J.Mentionedfirst: Rough Trails 4, A Gent from Bear Creek Draft 2, pp. 77–82 papRoarin' Bill Elkins — Breckinridge's fatherOn Pagefirst: Rough Trails 4, A Gent from Bear Creek Draft 2, pp. 77–82 SladeSlade — one of Donovan's fake stage passengers/accomplicesMentionedfirst: Rough Trails 4, A Gent from Bear Creek Draft 2, pp. 77–82 TomTom — one-name member of Wild Bill Donovan's men in A Gent from Bear CreekMentionedfirst: Rough Trails 4, A Gent from Bear Creek Draft 2, pp. 77–82 DonovanWild Bill Donovan — cowpuncher/outlaw-like leader pursuing Cap'n Kidd with five menOn Pagefirst: Rough Trails 4, A Gent from Bear Creek Draft 2, pp. 77–82

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 — five surviving Howard typescript leavesHoward typescript

Extent5 pagesCompletenessIncomplete

Physical extent: Five surviving leaves: manuscript pages 263, 264, 269, 272 and 273

TSS: 53096, 21782–21783, 53097, 21784

Untitled, incomplete Howard novel typescript represented by five isolated/sparse surviving leaves.

Additional documentary notes

Sparse Survival: Only manuscript pages 263, 264, 269, 272 and 273 survive. (whole witness)

Source: First Cuts: Breckinridge Elkins — Rough Trails 4, Editorial Notes p. 47; Draft 2 pp. 77–82

Published in

Breckinridge Elkins - First Cuts: The Drafts and Fragments - Rough Trails 4REH Foundation PressMarch 2026 (Collector's Boxed Set)↗

First Cuts: The Drafts and Fragments Breckinridge Elkins: Rough Trails Volumes 1-4 4 Volume Collector's Box SetREH Foundation PressMarch 2026↗