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King colt
Johnny Hendry was an unusual lawman for the West - he didn't believe in violence. He believed that living by the gun could only end in dying by it - and winding up in an early grave. Then Johnny learned that the man who had been like a father to him all of his life had been murdered. Pick Hendry, on his way to register his claim on the gold mine he'd been working, had been cruelly shot in the head. Johnny's philosophy no longer mattered. All he cared about was destroying the man who had killed Pick - and making that killer suffer for his crime.
391 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1937
28 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Luke Short
126 books36 followersLuke Short (real name Frederick Dilley Glidden) was a popular Western writer.
Born in Kewanee, Illinois Glidden attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two and a half years and then transferred to the University of Missouri at Columbia to study journalism.
Following graduation in 1930 he worked for a number of newspapers before becoming a trapper in Canada then later moved to New Mexico to be an archeologist's assistant.
After reading Western pulp magazines and trying to escape unemployment he started writing Western fiction. He sold his first short story and novel in 1935 under the pen name of Luke Short (which was also the name of a famous gunslinger in the Old West, though it's unclear if he was aware of that when he assumed the pen name.)
After publishing over a dozen novels in the 1930s, he started writing for films in the 40s. In 1948 alone four Luke Short novels appeared as movies. Some of his memorable film credits includes Ramrod (1947) and Blood on the Moon (1948). He continued to write novels, despite increasing trouble with his eyes, until his death in 1975. His ashes are buried in Aspen, Colorado, his home at the time of his death.
Born in Kewanee, Illinois Glidden attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two and a half years and then transferred to the University of Missouri at Columbia to study journalism.
Following graduation in 1930 he worked for a number of newspapers before becoming a trapper in Canada then later moved to New Mexico to be an archeologist's assistant.
After reading Western pulp magazines and trying to escape unemployment he started writing Western fiction. He sold his first short story and novel in 1935 under the pen name of Luke Short (which was also the name of a famous gunslinger in the Old West, though it's unclear if he was aware of that when he assumed the pen name.)
After publishing over a dozen novels in the 1930s, he started writing for films in the 40s. In 1948 alone four Luke Short novels appeared as movies. Some of his memorable film credits includes Ramrod (1947) and Blood on the Moon (1948). He continued to write novels, despite increasing trouble with his eyes, until his death in 1975. His ashes are buried in Aspen, Colorado, his home at the time of his death.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 5, 2014
Pretty good. I didn't find it a real page turner but it kept me interested throughout. The basic plot is that a good guy has to turn outlaw temporarily to prove who the real criminal is.
May 23, 2022
Enjoyed this one from of the best in the genre. An easygoing young deputy who after the death of the man who raised him grew up quick. He campaigned for Sheriff so he could clean up the town and find the killer. However after winning, everything went bad and he ended up an outlaw but with the same goals.
Highly recommended. Only minor complaint is that Short writes his women to be unsympathetic. Really not sure why either of the men that was trying to win the hand of the love interest wanted her.
Highly recommended. Only minor complaint is that Short writes his women to be unsympathetic. Really not sure why either of the men that was trying to win the hand of the love interest wanted her.
January 30, 2021
Just finished another of Luke Shorts westerns and for me thoroughly enjoyable. I got my start in the western genre from Zane Grey’s Wetzen, Betty and Jonathan Zanes series that took place in Ohio. Very enjoyable for me and my hunger for the settling of the west and Luke Short’s continuing with his different style of western. Definitely a Win, Win for me. My thanks to both authors for their efforts.
July 21, 2021
I have no idea why this has this name. Johnny Hendry is no gunman. He has just plodded through life until the man that raised him. He is a Deputy Sheriff and runs against his boss the Sheriff. His girlfriend leaves him and even though he is elected Sheriff under a law and order platform. Suddenly votes for his opponent show up. Supposed friends are enemies. It is an interesting tale and a good Western.
June 28, 2017
Good western as easy go deputy decides to run for sheriff to clean up the town. A frame up and a crooked election put him on the hunted trail. He almost loses his girl to another good guy, but in the end he gets the job and the gal and he gets to keep his horse. Recommended to western fans.
May 27, 2021
Great Western! This book had all the elements of old Western movies.
March 22, 2025
King Colt
I really enjoyed this book. It kept me motivated to read more and more. This book is worth reading, I dare you to give it a try.
I really enjoyed this book. It kept me motivated to read more and more. This book is worth reading, I dare you to give it a try.
October 9, 2018
A Luke Short Western About A high minded man who believed that right was before night and the line should never be crossed. The man is a sheriff and believes that the law must be observed until the person he sponsored in a search for golf, finds the gold, but is then murdered for the claim information. Then our man changes his mind and seeks vengeance. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews