Summary
In the untamed, dust-choked expanse of Glory Hole, a nascent frontier town teetering on the precipice of lawlessness, arrives Truthful Tulliver, a journeying newspaperman whose moral compass is as unyielding as the Western sun. Accompanied by his steadfast compositor, Silver Lode Thompson, Tulliver aims to cultivate order through the printed word. Their arrival coincides with the insidious influence of York Cantrell, an Easterner whose mining interests are inextricably linked to the town's shadowy underbelly, specifically the notorious Forty Rod saloon, a den of iniquity clandestinely owned by Cantrell and overtly managed by the nefarious "Deacon" Doyle. The fragile peace of Glory Hole shatters when two sisters, Grace and Daisy Burton, become targets of crude insults from Doyle's unsavory patrons. Tulliver, a man of action as much as principle, intervenes, igniting a bitter feud with Doyle. His newspaper, a beacon of truth, soon declares war on Doyle's corruption, culminating in a daring, almost mythical confrontation where Tulliver, with a masterstroke of frontier ingenuity, lassoes Doyle and his cronies from horseback, expelling them into the unforgiving desert. Yet, the serpent of discord returns; Doyle, seeking vengeance, fires upon Tulliver from Cantrell’s room. Unaware of the profound wrong Cantrell has inflicted upon Daisy Burton, Tulliver banishes both men. The true depth of Cantrell’s transgression is unveiled through Daisy’s confession to Grace, prompting Grace to seek out Tulliver. A poignant misunderstanding ensues, as Tulliver, mistaking Grace’s concern for Cantrell as personal affection, pledges to retrieve the disgraced Easterner. His resolute pursuit leads him to the railroad, where he intercepts Cantrell, compelling his return. As the layers of deceit and misunderstanding peel away, the truth surfaces: Cantrell, now contrite, desires to marry Daisy and embrace a reformed life. The narrative culminates in a deeply moving tableau of redemption and burgeoning affection, as Grace, witnessing Cantrell’s marriage to her sister, turns to Tulliver, whose eloquent gaze meets hers, sealing a silent promise amidst the communal blessing, his arm drawing her close as a new chapter for Glory Hole begins.
Synopsis
Truthful Tulliver, a Westerner and a journeying newspaperman, followed by Silver Lode Thompson, printer and compositor, arrives in Glory Hole to start a newspaper. He is visited by York Cantrell, an Easterner, whose mining interests keep him in the vicinity. They stand at the office window watching two sisters, Grace and Daisy Burton. The girls are insulted by men hanging around the Forty Rod saloon and dance hall, run by "Deacon" Doyle and secretly owned by York Cantrell. Tulliver rushes to their assistance and incurs the enmity of Doyle. The next day Truthful states, under big headlines, that Doyle must go, and the following morning finds a notice on his door that Doyle will be in the Forty Rod Saloon at ten o'clock, and there is not a pen pusher in Arizona that can run him out of town. Truthful surprises Doyle and his henchmen by coming into the saloon through a rear door, and. from his horse, lassoes and pulls them out into the desert, where he tells them never to return to Glory Hole. That night Truthful is shot at from York Cantrell's room by Doyle, who has returned. Truthful then drives both from town, not knowing that York has wronged Daisy Burton. Daisy confesses to Grace, and Grace finds Truthful, who, misunderstanding, thinks she is the one who cares for Cantrell. He promises to bring him back, and reaches the railroad, intercepts Cantrell, and forces him to return. Then understanding comes. Cantrell wants to marry Daisy and live a new life, and Truthful comprehends his mistake. Grace turns toward him, with her thanks and relief, and sees him watching her with such eloquent eyes that hers fall for a moment. Then she comes to him and with happy faces, hands clasped, they see York Cantrell married to the sister, and as the priest blesses them, Truthful clasps her close.
