The stirrup brand a western story
(Book)

Regular print version originally published in the U.S. by Five Star.

First published as a four-part serial in Short Stories in 1949.

"After Fred Vance's father died, his mother married an ineffectual alcoholic named Milt Hurd. When his mother died, the Stirrup Ranch was left to Fred but with the provision that Milt Hurd be supported. Rather than stay on the Stirrup with Hurd, Vance left to seek his fortune in the New Mexico Territory. Now Vance has returned, summoned by Hurd, who confesses that the Stirrup has nearly gone to ruin under his stewardship. Hurd wants Vance to sign a lease allowing Jim Kirby of the Box ranch to use the Stirrup range. Vance refuses, but Kirby is a U.S. Senator and a very powerful man and he will not accept that. Then Hurd is murdered. Kirby accuses Vance of the crime and has him jailed, telling him that the charges can be dropped if Vance agrees to the lease. Instead, Vance escapes jail and becomes a fugitive, but not without resources. He can count on his old friend, Josh Hawkes, a wolfer, to help, and Tom Demmler, his best friend from years ago, and Rita Kirby, the Senator's daughter, who has reason to know that Vance is innocent. But with the law on his side, Jim Kirby is a formidable adversary."--,Provided by publisher.