It's 1867-the United States is gripped in yet another new battle after that of the Civil War years, auguring in a whole new era and folks are struggling to come to terms with peace and trying to rise out of the economical depression brought about by the devastation of war. Survival is with the opportunist and the need to make a quick dollar is high on the agenda and the methods pounce on are not always legal and many shady characters lie in wait for the ignorant and unsophisticated. Frank Cotter is a drunken washed up journalist, who is thrown a lifeline by his friend of the pre-war period, opportunist Dr. Lester Lomax. Cotter realizes this could be his last and only chance to redeem himself and regain some measure of respect and health. Lomax was aware of the scribe's slide to the bottom of the keg and this was his reason for helping the man; however Cotter's benefactor laid down the law and ruled that the ex-newspaperman dry out and endeavour to remodel himself into the man he once was. Dr. Lomax heads a business syndicate in Junction City who are offering the Pawnee people on the government reservation the chance of a lifetime, in the form of an elixir developed by him which the doctor claims will save the Pawnee from annihilation by the white man's illnesses of smallpox etcetera that is spreading throughout their community. The Department of Indian Affairs in Washington DC have their suspicions about Lomax and his syndicate and have them under investigation by the Army. Cotter's task, is to convince the US Government and the public by the power of the pen, that Lomax and his cronies aren't the bad boys bureaucracy thinks they are, which is a group of con men out to bleed the Pawnee dry of their gold, with false claims of this cure-all. Washington had forbad Lomax to experiment with the drug on the Indians but he clandestinely went ahead with his treatment of the indigenous folk with his unproven medicine that in some cases brought about crippling, grotesque results. The Pawnee took matters into their own hands and a wild bunch of Pawnee rebels raided Junction City where only the innocent folk paid the price - leaving the air full of fear of that of an Indian War - the Army stationed a day's ride from the town looked its only salvation. Even the might of the powerful Cattleman's Association who normally ruled the district with an iron fist knew they were inadequate. Cotter's life took a dramatic turn when he boarded the stage west-headed for the harsh frontier where he would witness first hand its untamed lifestyle before he even arrived in Junction City. It was as if an unknown hand had turned on a faucet and its flow was unstoppable. For upon arrival in the burgh he was greeted with news of the accidental death of Lester Lomax which stranded him out on a limb, he can't accept the benefactor's accident as being just that, as readily as the good citizens and the law of Junction City. In his bones - he feels things aren't Kosher. He sets about to find the truth and unwittingly opens a can of worms - not withstanding the fact that he finds himself drawn to the lovely stage actress and ward of Lomax's, Miss Pearl Courtney. But we must ask the question, how genuine is her charm towards Cotter? There is many a diamondback snake hidden in the grass waiting a chance to strike the unwary and who will be next is the big question? Frank Cotter never comprehended what was in store for him and just how large a mystery awaited him when he reached his destination. Army investigators were instrumental in unseating Cotter from his wagon of sobriety, in their efforts to collect evidence against Lomax's good name as they once more drew Cotter back into the alcoholic world he had abandoned out of respect and memory of his benefactor. Once more he was plagued with delirium tremens and haunting ghosts - even though he knew the dead were under six feet of dirt. The town's body count began to climb like a stairway to the sky a
About the Author: Ira Bex is one of four pen names used by this knock about writer, Ron B. Williams, who also writes as K. Ardith and R. Ruby. Born in Australia over sixty years ago he has been an itinerant worker, boundary rider, rodeo rough rider, road navvy, stage-actor, film and TV stuntman, Hospital Orderly and Medical Purchasing Officer. This man has traveled a wide percentage of the world in the course of his writing career, writing and making television documentaries etc; most of his works have only seen the light of day in Pacific/Asia, and the Southern Hemisphere regions of the our world - but now we have a rear chance to experience the skills this writer has honed over the years through, blood, sweat and tears. Under the name of Ron B. Williams he had been a member of the Australian Writers Guild for thirty-eight years. TV Writing Credits: It's Not a Dog's Life. Documentary on the Victoria Police Dog Squad. Welcome To Our World - South America. Travelogue. It's A Great Life - Introduction to life in the Australian Scouting Ass. Contact: Williams39@optusnet.com.au