President Hayes sent U S Marshal M D (Shorty) Thompson to Kelly, New Mexico Territory to check on why so many mine owners are turning up dead. And why ore samples don’t match the ore quality when it gets to U S Government Mints in California. During his investigation, while riding down Burns Gulch, Shorty is shot in the head and is in a coma for well over a month. When he comes to, he has no memory of who he is, or why he’s there.

A black cavalry unit (Buffalo Soldiers) blows the front off the Iron Lady saloon just to give Shorty a hand. The only banker in Kelly is found in front of his open safe with the side of his head blown off. All the town’s money, gold and silver is scattered over his body in plain sight. A note pinned to the banker’s shirtfront tells a tale of greed and murder, while a half honest town drunk takes all that is his. He’s paid in full.

Dunhill is found on a riverbank, staked spread-eagle and naked. He had been scalped and his eyelids were cut off along with small strips of skin that had been pulled from his shoulder blades to his ankles. He had simply been skinned alive. Dunhill’s loot of gold, silver, paper money and mine deeds were scattered about like a wild woman shit in the woods. It was here, there and everywhere.