search for the shooter and finds himself caught in a new evil coming to his town. Tearing down illegal whiskey stills was easy work compared to the trouble caused by these new drug traders. Meanwhile, the kids, Top and Pepper, are satisfying their curiosity about, Ted Bell. Thus the adventures and goosebumps begin!!

Once again, Wortham combines, mystery, thrills, humor, and good old fashioned story telling as his characters get into, and barley out of, trouble. Red River is still a distinctly segregated place, but the main characters are a mix of whites, blacks, American Indians, and Mexicans who defy these boundaries within their communities to work and love together, as God intended. The misadventures of Top and Pepper add a rich element to the story as well. ThisTexas, which leads to some difficulties for the folks trying to adjust. With Constable Cody Parker laid up, first in the hospital, then undergoing physical therapy, his uncle Ned, former Constable, is brought out of retirement and deputized to help investigage the case. In the aftermath of being ambushed for no apparent reason, Cody was saved by a mysterious new neighbor, Tom Bell, who becomes a major figure in the unfolding story.

The omniscient narration changes abruptly at certain points to a first person point of view by Ned's grandson, Top, now age 10 or so. It doesn't always work so seamlessly, at least not for me. I also found the final chapter stretched the limit of my suspension of disbelief, but other than that, it was a exciting