by J. T. Edson
If you enjoyed the westerns of J. T. EDSON, you may also enjoy the westerns of
BEN BRIDGES and MIKE STOTTER:
BEN BRIDGES:
APACHERIA SERIES:
Apacheria
Lockwood’s Law
ASH COLTER SERIES:
Gunsmoke Legend
Ride the High Lines
Storm in the Saddle
COMPANY C SERIES:
Hit ’em Hard!
To the Death!
HELLER SERIES
Heller
Heller in the Rockies
JIM ALLISON SERIES:
Rattler Creek
Blood Canyon
Thunder Gorge
JUDGE AND DURY SERIES:
Hang ‘em All
Riding for Justice
Law of the Gun
Trial by Fire
Barbed Wire Noose
Judgment Day
MOVIE TIE-INS:
Day of the Gun
O’BRIEN SERIES:
The Silver Trail
Hard as Nails
Mexico Breakout
Hangman’s Noose
The Deadly Dollars
Squaw Man
North of the Border
Shoot to Kill
Hell for Leather
Marked for Death
Gunsmoke is Gray
Cold Steel
Mean as Hell
Draw Down the Lightning
Flame and Thunder
THREE GUNS WEST (Writing with Steve Hayes):
Three Rode Together
Three Ride Again
Hang Shadow Horse!
WESTERN LEGENDS (Writing with Steve Hayes):
The Oklahombres
The Plainsman
THE WILDE BOYS SERIES:
The Wilde Boys
Wilde Fire
Wilde’s Law
Aces Wilde
STAND-ALONE WESTERNS:
Ride for the Rio!
Back With a Vengeance
Blaze of Glory
Tanner’s Guns
Coffin Creek
The Spurlock Gun
All Guns Blazing
Cannon for Hire
Montana Gunsmoke
Starpacker
Cougar Valley
SHORT STORIES:
Five Shots Left
MIKE STOTTER
McKINNEY WESTERNS:
McKinney’s Revenge
McKinney’s Law
BRANDON AND SLATE SERIES:
Tombstone Showdown
Tucson Justice
STAND ALONE WESTERNS:
Death in the Canyon
Vengeance is the Spur
SHORT STORIES:
Six Trails West
CAP FOG 3: THE JUSTICE OF COMPANY ‘Z’
By J. T. Edson
First Published by Transworld Publishers in 1980
Copyright © 1980, 2018 by J. T. Edson
First Digital Edition: April 2019
Names, characters and incidents in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information or storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.
This is a Piccadilly Publishing Book
Cover image © 2018 by Tony Masero
Check out Tony’s work here
Series Editor: Mike Stotter
Text © Piccadilly Publishing
Published by Arrangement with the Author’s Agent.
But the adventure doesn’t end here …
Join us for more first-class, action-packed books.
Regular updates feature on our website and blog
The Adventures continue…
Issuing new and classic fiction from Yesterday and Today!
More on J. T. EDSON
1
‘Right as the Indian side of a horse’: cowhands’ expression meaning ‘absolutely correct’. It was derived from the discovery that the Indians mounted from the right side and not, as they did, at the left.
2 ‘Main-line’: to take ‘hard’ narcotics such as cocaine and heroin intravenously.
3 ‘New England’: the North-East section of the United States of America, including New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
4 Details of the career and special qualifications of Mark Counter can be found in the Floating Outfit series.
5 Details of the career and special qualifications of Deputy Sheriff Bradford ‘Brad’ Counter can be found in the Rockabye County series, which also covers the duties, equipment and operations of a present day sheriff’s office in Texas.
6 Details of the career and special qualifications of James Allenvale ‘Bunduki’ Gunn—whose sobriquet is derived from the Swahili word meaning a hand-held firearm of any kind—are recorded in Part Twelve, ‘The Mchawi’s Powers’, J.T.’S HUNDREDTH and the Bunduki series.
7 The first appearance of Alvin Dustine ‘Cap’ Fog in print, based upon events much later in his career—after, in fact, he had become the youngest man ever to hold rank as captain in the Texas Rangers, hence his sobriquet, ‘Cap’—was in: ‘CAP’ FOG AND J.G. REEDER.
8 Details of the career and special qualifications of Captain Dustine Edward Marsden ‘Dusty’ Fog, C.S.A., are given in the Civil War and Floating Outfit series.
9 ‘Cap’s’ black hair was inherited from his paternal grandmother, who was—prior to her marriage—Lady Winifred Amelia ‘Freddie Woods’ Besgrove-Woodstole. How she met Dusty Fog, q.v., and their association progressed is told in: THE MAKING OF A LAWMAN, THE TROUBLE BUSTERS, THE GENTLE GIANT and THE FORTUNE HUNTERS. She also makes guest appearances in WHITE STALLION, RED MARE: THE WHIP AND THE WAR LANCE and Part Five, Belle ‘the Rebel Spy’ Boyd, in ‘The Butcher’s Fiery End’, J.T.’S LADIES.
10 ‘Cap’s’ instructor in the employment of, among other aspects of the Japanese martial arts, ju jitsu, karate and the yawara stick, was a nephew of Tommy Okasi, a samurai warrior who acts as valet for General Jackson Baines ‘Ole Devil’ Hardin, C.S.A. Details of the career and special qualifications of the General and Tommy are given mainly in the Ole Devil Hardin series. More information regarding the history and use of the yawara stick can be found in: OLD DEVIL AND THE CAPLOCKS.
11 Although as yet no details have been forthcoming with regards to the activities of Jackson Marsden Fog in his capacity of sheriff of Rio Hondo County, Texas, he makes a guest appearance—based upon an incident while he was serving with the American Expeditionary Force in France towards the end of World War 1—in: Part Two, ‘Jubal Branch’s Lucky B.A.R.’, ALVIN FOG, TEXAS RANGER.
12 Some authorities give pride of place as the best combat pistol shot of the period to Ed McGivern of Montana, author of—among other works—FAST AND FANCY REVOLVER SHOOTING AND POLICE TRAINING, Follet Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1938.
13 One occasion when Dusty Fog proved his excellence as a cowhand in competition with his peers is recorded in: GOODNIGHT’S DREAM.
14 In addition to the first four titles listed in Footnote 9 above, which refer to his early association with Lady Winifred Besgrove-Woodstole, further information pertaining to Dusty Fog’s activities as a peace officer are given in:. QUIET TOWN, THE TOWN TAMERS and THE SMALL TEXAN.
15 The complete story is given in: MASTER OF TRIGGERNOMETRY.
16 Although Betty Hardin is generally referred to as being the granddaughter of General Hardin, q.v., speculations have been raised with regards to their exact relationship upon which the present day members of the Hardin, Fog and Blaze clan decline to comment. She appears in: Part Five, ‘A Time For Improvisation, Mr. Blaze’, J.T.’S HUNDREDTH; Part Four, ‘It’s Our Turn To Improvise, Miss Blaze’, J.T.’S LADIES; KILL DUSTY FOG!; SIDEWINDER; McGRAW
’s INHERITANCE; Part Two, ‘The Quartet’, THE HALF BREED; THE BAD BUNCH; THE RIO HONDO WAR and GUNSMOKE THUNDER.
17 Told in: Part One, Dusty Fog in ‘The Schoolteacher’, THE HARD RIDERS.
18 Details of the career and special qualifications of the Ysabel Kid are given in the Civil War and Floating Outfit series.
19 Originally produced as: Chapter Three, ‘Sam Ysabel’s Son’, in THE TEXAN, it is renamed OLD MOCCASINS ON THE TRAIL.
20 Details of the career and special qualifications of Miss Martha Jane Canary can be found in the Calamity Jane series, also; Part Six, ‘Mrs. Wild Bill’, J.T.’S LADIES and Part Seven, ‘Deadwood, August the 2nd. 1876’, J.T.’S HUNDREDTH. The two incidents are revised and enlarged under the titles, CALAMITY, MARK AND BELLE and CUT ONE, THEY ALL BLEED. Other meetings between Miss Canary and Mark Counter are recorded in: THE BAD BUNCH, THE FORTUNE HUNTERS and GUNS IN THE NIGHT She also makes a ‘guest’ appearance in: Part Two, ‘A Wife For Dusty Fog’, THE SMALL TEXAN.
21 Told in: Part One, ‘The Bounty On Belle Starr’s Scalp’, TROUBLED RANGE and Part One, ‘Better Than Calamity’, THE WILDCATS.
22 Volstead Act: the colloquial name for the Eighteenth (Prohibition Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America). This defined intoxicating liquors as those containing more than one half of one percent alcohol and made illegal the manufacture, transportation and sale of such liquors for beverage purposes. Introduced by Representative Andrew J Volstead of Minnesota, the act was ratified—over the veto of President Woodrow Wilson—on October the 18th. By the time it was repealed in 1933, it had inadvertently paved the way for the rise of organized crime.
2323 George Manfred, Leon Gonzales and Raymond Poiccart were the surviving members of the “Four Just Men” organization, the fourth having died before their first recorded adventure was published. Although the following volumes do not cover the lecture tour in the United States see chronologically THE FOUR JUST MEN, THE COUNCIL OF JUSTICE, THE LAW OF THE FOUR JUST MEN, AGAIN THE THREE and THE THREE JUST MEN by Edgar Wallace.
24 Before questioning a suspect, a peace officer is required to carry out the following procedure and say, the exact wording differing slightly between enforcement agencies: In keeping with the Supreme Court’s decision in ‘Miranda versus Arizona’, I am not permitted to ask you any questions until you are warned of your right to counsel and your privilege against self-incrimination.
First; you have the right to remain silent if you choose.
Second; you do not have to answer questions asked by myself or any other peace officer if you don’t want to.
Third: if you decide to answer any questions, the answers may be used against you. You also have the right to consult with an attorney before or during questioning. If you do not have the money to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to consult with you.
Between each item, the officer has to ask whether the suspect understands what it means. Should the suspect be of an ethnic origin which does not claim English as its first tongue, an interpreter must be produced to ‘read the rights’ in the appropriate language as they may be ruled invalid on a claim they were not understood.
25 One of Denton County’s claims to fame is that, prior to becoming an outlaw in the mid-1870s, it was the ‘stamping ground’ of the train robber, Sam Bass. He makes a ‘guest’ appearance in: Part Two, ‘The Quartet’, THE HALF BREED.
26 ‘Man killer’: underworld term for any penal institution which imposed an exceptionally strict or brutal control over its inmates.
27 Information regarding two earlier heads of the family, Coleman and his son, Rameses ‘Ram’ Turtle, can be found in: OLE DEVIL AND THE CAPLOCKS—which, along with the other volumes of the Ole Devil Hardin series, covers various aspects of the Texians’ struggle to obtain independence from rule by Mexico—SET TEXAS BACK ON HER FEET, BEGUINAGE and BEGUINAGE IS DEAD!; also, by inference, in: Part Four, ‘Mr. Colt’s Revolving Cylinder Pistol’, J.T.’S HUNDREDTH and THE QUEST FOR BOWIE’S BLADE.
28 ‘Snoozer’: underworld term for a thief who specialized in robbing hotel rooms.
29 How Miss Martha “Calamity Jane” Canary, q.v., benefited from hearing the key pushed from the lock of her hotel room door is described in: WHITE STALLION, RED MARE.
30 Other sobriquets given to a person who is born with the left hand stronger and more dexterous than the right are: ‘Port-Sider’, ‘South-Paw’, ‘Wrong-Armer’, or ‘Leftie’.
31 As opposed to usage in the British Isles, it is the custom in the United States of America that the section of a multi-story building which is at street level is referred to as the ‘first’ and not the ‘ground’ floor.
32 ‘Mac’ another name for a pimp, or procurer. ‘Blacksmithing’ in this context, to live off the earnings of prostitutes.
33 The sharp toes of the cowhand’s hoots were intended to permit him to slip his feet into and free from the stirrup irons quickly in an emergency and the high heels were designed to dig into the ground, offering a more secure footing, when he was roping cattle or horses while on foot. Another use to which the heels could he put is described in: Chapter Ten, ‘I’m Relying Upon You-all’, THE GENTLE GIANT.
34 ‘Bay rum’; originally made by distilling rum with the leaves of the bayberry tree, Pimenta racemosa, but now consisting mainly of alcohol, water and essential oils. It was and still is used for inclusion in medicines and cosmetics, but is not intended for drinking as a beverage.
35 Although no evidence came to light to substantiate his supposition, Alvin Dustine ‘Cap’ Fog believes the British master criminal ‘Old Mad’ John Flack was the organizer of the fake accident. As is recorded in: ‘CAP’ FOG AND J.G. REEDER, he and Flack met at a later stage of his career. Further information regarding Flack can be found in: TERROR KEEP, by Edgar Wallace.
36 How the report of the wound came into being is told in RAPIDO CLINT.
37 ‘Barabbas’ (Hebrew, ‘son of Abbas’’), the thief whom the people wanted freed instead of Jesus. See Bible, Matthew, 27 16-21.
38 The respective magazine capacities of the Winchester Model of 1876 ‘sporting rifle’—having a twenty-eight inch barrel—‘Express’—twenty-six inch barrel—‘musket’—thirty-two inch barrel—and ‘carbine’—twenty-two inch barrel—were, twelve, eleven, thirteen, and nine.
39 A more detailed description of this particular bluetick coonhound can be found in: Case One, ‘Alvin Fog’s Mistake’, ALVIN FOG, TEXAS RANGER.
40 Information regarding the various breeds of hounds used for hunting ‘big game’ animals and how they are employed is given in: HOUND DOG MAN.
41 Alvin Dustine ‘Cap’ Fog claims that the mispronunciation of words by Sergeant Jubal Branch was merely a pose intended to make miscreants in particular assume he was far less intelligent than was the case. We are inclined to believe this. Certainly all of Branch’s reports which ‘Cap’ allowed us to examine were written in a far more legible hand than our own. Furthermore, the grammar and spelling is impeccable.
42 ‘Make wolf bait’ means to kill. The term was derived from one method used in the Old West for dealing with carnivores, not necessarily just wolves, which preyed on livestock. An animal would be killed and, having been injected with poison, the carcass was left on the range to be eaten by the predators.
43 ‘Cowtown’ is the colloquial name for Fort Worth, seat of Tarrant County, Texas.
44 As is recorded: .44 CALIBER MAN and A HORSE CALLED MOGOLLON, Tam, paternal grandfather of Sergeant Colin Breda, had preceded him as a peace officer in Texas.
45 The Winchester Model of 1897 twelve gauge, five shot, tubular magazine pump action shotgun, as modified for use in the trench warfare of World War I. The barrel was reduced to a length of twenty inches, given a radiating cooling sleeve to permit a rapid rate of fire and equipped to take a bayonet. The ‘trench gun’ proved to be an exceptionally effective weapon for use at close, or in confined, quarters; particularly when loaded with buckshot. After they were used
to break up a mass infantry attack, the Germans—who had already employed poison gas, including the especially vicious ‘mustard’ variety—complained it was an inhumane and barbaric way of waging war. As is told in the Rockabye County series, classified as ‘riot guns’, firearms of this kind are still used by modern law enforcement agencies.