Excerpt from Keith of the Border: A Tale of the Plains
The rising sun reddened the crest of the hills, and the rider, halting his willing horse, sat motionless, gaz ing steadily into the southwest. Apparently he per ceived nothing there unusual, for he slowly turned his body about in the saddle, sweeping his eyes, inch by inch, along the line Of the horizon, until the entire circuit had been completed. Then his compressed lips smiled Slightly, his hand unconsciously patting the horse's neck.
I reckon we 're still alone, Old girl, he said quietly, a bit of Southern drawl in the voice....

Why did Bob Hampton refuse to let his ward fall in love with Lieutenant Brant? Why did he have to live in the underworld, and to be known by an assumed name? Why does he make a living by gambling and a reputation by quickness with a revolver? And why, in spite of all this, do the reader's sympathy and admiration go to him at once, and stay with him to the end? Because he is the hero we all like, brave, sure quiet, well-bred, and because we fell that somehow he must be all right, and his punishment undeserved.

Randall Parrish (1858-1923) was an American author of dime novels, including Wolves of the Sea (Being a Tale of the Colonies from the Manuscript of One Geoffry Carlyle, Seaman, Narrating Certain Strange Adventures Which Befell Him Aboard the Pirate Craft "Namur"). Early life: Parrish was born in the city of Kewanee, the only son of Rufus Parker and Frances Adeline (Hollis) Parrish. He was born in "Rose Cottage" on June 10, 1858, at what was later the site of the city's Methodist Episcopal church. The old family home was at Gilmanton, New Hampshire, but the parents removed to Kewanee from...