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A Man in a Black Derby Hat

The first chapter, "Bartholomew and the Fair Maiden," takes the reader into the real and tragic love story between William “Bat” Masterson and Mollie Brennan. The story conveys an everlasting memory of a courageous act of ones sacrifices in the name of love.

​In chapter two, "Boardwalks from Hell," Bat Masterson is returning to Dodge City in 1877 after being away for two years. He gets thrown in jail for protecting Bobby Gill and considers running for Sheriff of Ford County. He and his brother, Ed, encounter a street shooter and are criticized by the local papers on their handling of the incident. Bat Masterson is elected as Sheriff of Ford County as he continues to protect his brother, Ed, from any evil doings. But tragedy strikes quickly at the Lady Gay Dance Hall.

Chapter Three, "Battle of the Plaza," is the retelling of the gunfight between Bat Masterson, A.J.Peacock, and Al Updegraff. The Battle of the Plaza is told from the first-person perspective of a man named Cimarron George and takes the reader deep into the conflict surrounding the feud between Jim Masterson and A.J. Peacock over the Lady Gay Saloon. The story provides a first-person account of a perpetual conflict between the Mastersons and the leading citizens of Dodge City.

Chapter four entitled “Get the Hell Out of Dodge” begins at the end of a trail drive just outside of Dodge City at Saw Log Creek on November 3, 1877. A man by the name of Bob Shaw enters the Saw Log Creek campsite looking for a man by the name of Texas Dick. Shaw not finding Texas Dick at the drover camp stays for an evening meal and tells the story of the lynching of an innocent man. The next day the Bob Shaw finds Texas Dick in the Long Branch Saloon ending up in a stand off with gunplay between Ed Masterson and Bob Shaw. The story is a true account based on an article from the Dodge City Times entitled Frontier Fun.

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