- The Virginian, trying to calm a rampaging boy, shares the story of Trampas' gambling father who reformed. That father tried to reform Trampas before Garth was forced to kill him in self-defense, setting Trampas on a quest for vengeance.
- The Virginian tells how Trampas came to Shiloh as a flashback to another young man in a similar situation. Trampas and his father, Frank, lived as gamblers. When Trampas was arrested, his father promised the court they would start new lives as ranchers on a ranch he bought. Judge Garth came into town to buy cattle and horses and offered to buy cattle from Frank if they were healthy. Frank and his son unknowingly had rounded up mavericks which had hoof and mouth disease infecting his whole herd. When Frank learned the news he thought he was being conned and Judge Garth had to kill him in self-defense. Trampas learns what happened and that the man had a fancy gun with a big S on it (for Shiloh), so he goes after Judge Garth. They meet when Garth rescues Trampas from a river but Trampas does not realize who Garth is as he has lost the gun. When Trampas arrives in Medicine Bow his carefree way gets him into trouble with the law but Garth allows him to work off the fine. However, his less than stellar work habits get him into deeper trouble when he allows a co-worker to be injured. He then learns who the Judge is and their true relationship.—Anonymous
- The Virginian reminisces for the benefit of a young and vengeful Lon Mortison about how Trampas came to Shiloh as a young, self-centered, liar and cheat out to find the man with a fancy gun with an "S" on the handle that killed his father.
Trampas and his father Frank Trampas, lived as gamblers. When Trampas was arrested, his father promised the court they would start new lives as ranchers on a ranch he bought. Although young Trampas was reluctant to adjust o the new life, they tried. To expand the ranch they rounded up mavericks and added them to their herd Frank purchased with the ranch.
Judge Garth came to town to buy cattle and horses and offered to buy cattle from Frank if they were healthy. Frank and his son unknowingly had rounded up mavericks which had hoof and mouth disease infecting his whole herd. When the man Garth sent to inspect the herd reported the problem, Frank thought he was being conned by the Judge and the man who sold him the ranch. Judge Garth had to kill him in self-defense after he shot some other men. Trampas learns what happened from the deputy who returned his dad's body to him and that the man had a fancy gun with a big S on it (for Shiloh), but not the Judge's name. Trampas decides to go afther the rancher whose name begins with S and has the fancy gun.
They meet when Garth rescues Trampas from a river but Trampas does not realize who Garth is as he has lost the gun and his name doesn't start with a S. When Trampas arrives in Medicine Bow, his carefree way gets him into trouble with the law but he tells the Sheriff he knows Garth who allows him to work off the fine. However, his less than stellar work habits and crooked gambling get him into trouble with his fellow ranch hands. When he allows a co-worker Faraway to be injured by wolves after leaving his post and letting the protective fire burnout to go to town, he finally realizes his ethics can hurt other people.
He tries to make amends to Faraway by hunting the wolves but only puts himself into danger and having to be rescued by Garth and The Virginian from the wolves. Garth shoots the wolves with the replacement gun he had made (the original was a gift from the ranch hands) and Trampas realizes the man who has been trying to help him is responsible for his father's death.
This leads to a change in Trampas and he continues as the closest friend The Virginian has at Shiloh as the Top Hand.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content