Gordon Craig

'Gordon Craig' is a great story written by Randall Parrish. It's full of adventure, action, and romance, all put together in a clever manner. Excerpt: 'I had placed the lumber inside the yard as directed, and was already rehitching the traces, when the man crossed the street slowly, switching his light cane carelessly in the air. I had noticed him before standing there in the doorway of the drug store, my attention attracted by the fashionable cut of his clothes, and the manner in which he watched me work. Now, as he rounded the heads of the mules, I straightened up, observing him more closely. He was forty or forty-five, heavily built, with a rather pasty-white face, a large nose, eyes unusually deep set, and a closely clipped mustache beginning to gray. His dress was correct to a button, and there was a pleasant look to the mouth which served to mitigate the otherwise hard expression of countenance. As I faced him in some surprise he looked me fairly in the eyes.'

Randall Parrish (1858-1923) was an American lawyer, journalist, and writer, in particular, author of dime novels, including Wolves of the Sea. He wrote popular potboilers and historical novels and was trained as a lawyer. He also spent many years as a newspaper journalist, with a stint as a railroad worker and sheep driver in between. His experience on the road from Las Vegas and Albuquerque informed his Western romance writing style.