Three Guns for Tonto: The Complete Tales of Sheriff Henry, Volume 7 is another wonderful collection of W. C. Tuttle stories. W. C. Tuttle was a prolific writer back in the Pulp Era and Steeger Press is in the process of reprinting all the Sheriff Henry Harrison Conroy adventures. This Volume 7 in the series collects two short novels.
Henry Harrison Conroy used to be a vaudeville comedy star. But his career was upended and Conroy headed to Arizona to claim an inheritance of a ranch. Conroy, based apparently on W. C. Fields, is elected Sheriff as a joke. He turns the joke on the town by remaining in office. Although Conroy knows nothing of the law, he solves mysteries and brings some justice to a lawless land. Conroy’s supporting cast includes his deputy – a retired lawyer who stays with him drink for drink, his jailer – a big goofy Swede, and a woman who likes him, but not his alcohol consumption.
In “The Shame of Arizona,” $35,000 in diamonds moves from place to place with bodies along the way. Two suspicious murders, the theft of horses, some Border irregularities, all mix together in an action-filled adventure with plenty of humor. GRADE: B+
In “Three Guns for Tonto” Sheriff Conroy is under heavy pressure by his rivals who want to see him turned out of office. The robbery of the Scorpion Bend Bank and two mysterious murders make Conroy look ineffectual. But, the Sheriff slowly puts the puzzle pieces together to decipher the crimes and show once again he’s the smartest man in Arizona. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
The Shame of Arizona — 1
The Guns for Tonto — 115
As you know, I’ve been reading a batch of Tuttle’s books lately, mostly Hashknife Hartley and Sleepy Stevens! I’ve also read some of the Sheriff Conroy books and stories! Good, solid, entertaining tales with humor and nice whodunnit angles! I still have to wonder how a book can call itself “Complete” when the works are scattered over seven volumes, but I’m not complaining!
Bob, I’m a big W. C. Tuttle fan! The Sheriff Conroy stories are fun and entertaining!
Sounds like my meat, but I’d have trouble fitting it into my TBR bookcase.
Dan, when Steeger Books publishes a W. C. Tuttle volume, it goes to the top of my TBR stack!
Interesting choice. I’ve read one of Tuttle’s books, the title of which totally escapes me now, though I do remember that I enjoyed it. As a big W> C> Fields fan, I’d probably enjoy these too.
Jeff, I like the mix of comedy and mystery in Tuttle’s Sheriff Conroy stories. You would find them excellent Summer Reading material!
Checking the FictionMags Index, THREE GUNS FOR TONTO appears to have been the last Sheriff Henry story to have been published in ARGOSY; it was followed by seven additional tales in SHORT STORIES. Let’s hope that Steeger’s ARGOSY Library goes on to reprint those non-ARGOSY stories. there’s enough there for two more volumes!
In this age where the western novel is cluttered by the W. A. Johnson Fiction Factory and little else, it is refreshing to see some of Tuttle’s work back in print, even if through a small specialty house.
Jerry, I’m supporting Steeger Books with purchases of these W.C. Tuttle titles. I’ll keep buying as long as they keep polishing!
I almost certainly have a skewed view of Tuttle, as I’ve only read his salvage-market (Lowndes magazines) stories from the end of his career. Shall try some better Tuttle eventually.
Todd, I can highly recommend the Sheriff Conway stories. Tuttle had a long and prolific career.