Marshal Henry Flatt - The Crooked Path

By John J. Law

Listen up! Listen up! Come far an' round! I've got a tale to tell and believe me, it begins an' ends with a man on the ground.
The story is quite sad, truth be told, even a little bitter. An outlaw turned lawman, and outlaw again. His badge lost a lot of its glitter.
This is the tale of one Henry H. Flatt, a man that almost had it all.
His love for his wife, that is what led to his fall.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.C. Hulsey Books
• Release date: Dec 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223600893

Book preview

Prologue

Listen up! Listen up! Come far an' round! I've got a tale to tell and believe me, it begins an' ends with a man on the ground.

The story is quite sad, truth be told, even a little bitter. An outlaw turned lawman, and outlaw again. His badge lost a lot of its glitter.

This is the tale of one Henry H. Flatt, a man that almost had it all.

His love for his wife, that is what led to his fall.

CHAPTER ONE

The Enigma

As stated before, the sad tale of Henry H. Flatt begins with a man on the ground. Most tales of the Wild West often do. It was in the notorious town of Wildchild where Flatt's tale of woe began. Wildchild was a cowtown known for all kinds of trouble. Because the town was situated right in the middle of a key trail to Wichita, many cowboys with their cattle stopped over at the town for some much needed R&R. When the local railroad extended its line to Wildchild, investors began to quickly notice. There was a lot of money to be made in the once small, trading post. A town company was formed, and they made a pretty penny selling lots for $130. The city was soon incorporated, and promoting it became much easier. The population spiked, and the town saw an influx of all sorts of nasty characters, and the trouble they brought with them.

With the money that the railroad brought in, saloons, brothels, gambling dens, and just about any place to start a ruckus sprouted all over Wildchild. Wildchild knew that her main clientele were mostly weary cowboys from the trail, notorious outlaws trying to evade the law, and anyone in-between. She was more than happy to provide the means of recreation that these general miscreants needed. Oh, there was a small chapel where a faithful Methodist community convened, in the town. Still, many often considered Wildchild as a Godless place where nothing but trouble was abound.

It was here in this ornery town that Henry H. Flatt's tale began. Actually, it began in another time and place, but I'll get to that later. Suffice to say that Henry was passing by Wildchild when fate and destiny beckoned. He was with his longtime partner Ben Wilson when it happened.

The two men were about to enter one of the town's many brothels, but it was just Wilson who planned to indulge himself with a soiled dove. Ben was bristling with excitement at his potential conquest.

Just look at them dames, Henry! This is going to be a great night! You sure you don't want to get one, too?

Henry somberly shook his head. "I told you, Ben. I'm done with all them vices. We've both had our fair share of them, and it don't do a man good. But I can't do nothin' if you still want to dip your hand in 'em. It's