His brother's keeper

By W C Tuttle

In a scorched desert valley, the badge can become more than a symbol of law: it can become a claim to absolute moral authority. Sheriff "Duty" Deming is a hard-bitten lawman whose uncompromising devotion to office governs his treatment of suspected criminals and strains the claims of family loyalty. This western short story places that conviction under pressure, asking where justice ends when duty admits no doubt. Feverish but unwilling to abandon his pursuit, Deming follows Red Cowan, accused of murdering a rancher, through lava beds and towards an abandoned ranch. The stark terrain narrows the action to a solitary contest between an ailing sheriff, a wanted man and the uncertain truth behind an accusation. Rather than presenting frontier justice as simple or assured, the story tests the dangerous ease with which legal power can be mistaken for moral certainty. Deming's badge-worship gives this sheriff western its distinctive tension. Law enforcement is not merely the machinery of the plot but the source of its central conflict, set against family bonds, human frailty and the unpredictable pressures of fate. Compact in form yet sharply focused, the narrative draws its force from a lawman compelled to confront the consequences of treating duty as an unquestionable command. This book was out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions. It has been restored for today's and future generations. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9309335076
• ISBN13: 9789309335075
• Release Date: January 2027
• Publisher: Alpha Edition
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.13 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"