The bells of San Carlos and other stories

the long version

This volume of Max Brand's short fiction continues to make available stories and novellas long out of print or never printed in their entirety. At first publication, the stories often suffered from editors' cuts to make them fit available page space. Editor Jon Tuska has returned to the original manuscripts to restore Brand's full texts. "Cayenne Charlie," a novella first published in 1930, tells the story of Charlie Bird, a red-headed cowpoke so accustomed to trouble he can treat jail like a hotel. "The Bells of San Carlos" first appeared in 1938. It introduces Fray Luis, one of the most formidable members of the clergy in all of Max Brand's fiction. The novella "Between One and Three" was first published in 1922. It is part Western, part mystery, a story of counterfeiters who elude detection. First published in 1921, "The Gift" introduces Happy Jack, one of Brand's most fascinating characters. Happy Jack isn't happy about Sandy Crisp, outlaw chief, whose crimes include shooting one of Jack's friends.