by J. T. Edson
lxiii The circumstances are described in GUN WIZARD.
lxiv When manufacturing the extremely popular Winchester Model of 1873 rifle—which they claimed to be the “Gun Which Won the West”—the makers selected all those barrels found to shoot with exceptional accuracy to be fitted with set triggers and given a special fine finish. Originally, these were inscribed “1 of 1,000,” but this was later changed to script: “One of a Thousand.” However, the title was a considerable understatement. Only one hundred and thirty-six out of a total production of 720,610 qualified for the distinction. Those of a grade lower were to be designated “One of a Hundred,” but only seven were so named. The practice commenced in 1875 and was discontinued three yean later because the management decided it was not good sales policy to suggest that different grades of gun were being produced.
lxv Told in SIDEWINDER.
lxvi Told in HELL IN THE PALO DURO and GO BACK TO HELL.
lxvii How Annie Singing Bear acquired the distinction of becoming a warrior and won her “man-name” is told in IS-A-MAN.
lxviii Told in WHITE INDIANS.
lxix Told in Part Two, “The Poison and the Cure,” WANTED! BELLE STARR.
lxx Told in WHITE STALLION, RED MARE.
lxxi Mark Scrapton, a grandson of the Ysabel Kid, served as a member of Company “Z,” Texas Rangers, with Alvin Dustine “Cap” Fog and Ranse Smith—grandsons of Captain Dustine Edward Marsden “Dusty” Fog and Mark Counter, respectively—during the Prohibition era. Information about their specialized duties is given in the Alvin Dustine “Cap” Fog series.