Written by T.T. Flynn, Valentine Easton is regarded as the top agent for American Intelligence who tackled the dreaded Black Doctor’s espionage threats in 5 stories published between 1932 and 1935 in the pages of Dime Detective, the prestigious crime pulp second only to the legendary Black Mask in its impact on the genre.
Wade and Clay Candleman were identical twins, at least in looks. As boys, they had often traded places as a prank or to help them out of a tough spot. But Clay liked fun and excitement while Wade was the more serious of the two. Some would say Clay was wild and reckless while Wade was steady and dependable. Some time ago, Clay had decided to strike out on his own and Wade hadn't heard much from him since.
In "Death for Double-O Neighbors," Tom Lucas is deeply indebted to Old Bob Hurley, who raised him and helped establish his ranch, the Wagon Wheel. Lucas loves Hurley's granddaughter, Marcia, who has just returned from the East. Hurley calls a meeting of small ranchers, warning them of an impending range war due to the theft of his yearlings. Lucas finds himself torn between loyalty to Hurley and the small ranchers. His loyalty is further tested when his ranch is burned, and he and his partner are falsely accused of cattle theft by Hurley. In "Out Trail," Stanley Blanton, an engineer surveying mineral resources, injures his ankle after crashing through a snow bridge while traveling 250 miles from food and shelter amidst a blizzard. Just as hope seems lost, a sled team appears, but they pass him by, ignoring the North's code of helping those in distress. "Powder for Santa Anna" follows Court-martialed Cass Morgan, who has been living recklessly shipping freight between Africa and Mexico. With the war against Mexico escalating, he becomes entangled in a web of deceit involving rumors of blockade running and smuggling. In "Hunted Wolf," Tom Buckner leaves Hal Stafford's Cross-T Ranch, only to be pursued and left for dead in the desert with a wounded horse and a single cartridge. A scrawny wolf appears, offering a chance for survival and revenge if Buckner can outsmart it.