SYNOPSIS

In the mining town of Echo Springs, Bret discovers local silver baron Phineas King's secret for being unbeatable at poker. He cheats. Once King realizes that Bret is on to him, he tries to have Bret either run out of town or killed to protect his reputation. Bret decides to fight back honestly, and forms an alliance between the smaller mines in town to challenge King's domination over them.

ENCYCLOPEDIA MAVERICANA

ace-deuce • Apex Law • Arthur • Bella Union Hotel • Bixby, Richard • bluff • Boston • Buffalo Gals • call • Chance • check • Chicago • Chinese joint • Clark, Ep • Connors, Elbert • Crane • cut • double or nothing • Echo Springs • Fennelly • Fremont Street • Harris • Hinkey • hotel clerk • Jackson, Walter • King, Phineas • Kriedler • Lawson • Maverick, Bret • McComb, Big Mike • McComb’s • Natchez • Natchez Herald • natural • New Hope Mining Company • open • opener • Pioneer Hotel • poker • run one •  Salt Lake City • San Antonio • Silver Lady Mine • Stoller, Edie • Stoller, John • ten full • Thayer, Joshua • thousand-dollar bill • Union Pacific Railroad • Utah Central Rail Road • Utah Territory • Western Union Telegraph Company • Western Union telegrapher • Willy

Listings in italics are not specifically mentioned by name in the story, but are inferred through other contextual references.

FURTHER READING

The War of the Copper Kings: Builders of Butte and Wolves of Wall Street,
C. B. Glasscock, — Grosset & Dunlap, ©1935

All Veins, Lodes, and Ledges Throughout Their Entire Depth: Geology and the Apex Law in Utah Mines, William T. Parry — The University of Utah Press, ©2004