The Tale of Two Gunfights and One Crazy Mule is an authentic story base on the first-person account of Emanuel Dubbs. Emanuel Dubbs's story takes place on August 20, 1871, when he arrives in Newton, Kansas. The story opens when Dubbs and his wife enter town-witnessing excitement in the streets. Dubbs takes it upon himself to explore a recent Hyde Park gunfight between Mike McCluskie, a burly local man who had worked in Newton as a night watchman, and a Texan named Billy Bailey. Dubs and his wife do not stay long in Newton, and Dubbs takes a job grading track for the Santa Fe Railroad. Then, during the spring of 1872, Dubs traveled with Mr. Wiley to the Arkansas River. Mr. Wiley, a head contractor, and Dubbs were to scout out a location for a new supply depot. Dubbs riding on his favorite mule named Marie, travel up the line from Fort Larned over what was then known as the Dry Ridge trail. They came off the trail in sight of the beautiful Arkansas valley about two miles above where old Fort Dodge stood. Dubbs describes the panorama view just minutes before he charges down an embankment to shoot a buffalo.After completing his work for the railroad, Dubbs decides to take in buffalo hunting, and while in Dodge City, he encounters a lawless character by the name of Billy Brooks. During this encounter, he witnesses a revenge gunfight between two Berry brothers from Hayes City over the killing of their brother.