Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A killing and robbery in a large eastern city force the gang to leave. They board a train seeking refuge in a small Idaho town.

City Killing — A killing occurs in a major eastern city before the gang leaves. Location: Big city back east
City Robbery — The gang follows the killing with a robbery. Location: Big city back east
Gang Leaves East — The gang departs the eastern city to avoid immediate consequences. Location: Big city back east
Train Journey West — The gang boards a train toward a small western town in Idaho. Location: Train
Search For Shelter — The gang travels west intending to hide until the eastern trouble cools down. Location: Train
Town Arrival — The gang arrives by train in the Idaho town. Characters: Sue Vancey Location: Small western town in Idaho

The town receives the newcomers warmly, believing they are wealthy capital investors. The gang settles in while appearing respectable.

Town Arrival — The gang arrives by train in the Idaho town. Characters: Sue Vancey Location: Small western town in Idaho
Warm Civic Welcome — Citizens warmly welcome the newcomers. Characters: Sue Vancey Location: Small western town in Idaho
Investor Assumption — The citizens believe the newcomers are capital investors with money to spend. Characters: Sue Vancey Location: Small western town in Idaho
Hideout Settled — The gang establishes a temporary refuge while eastern attention fades. Location: Small western town in Idaho
Town Vulnerability Noted — The gang leader decides that the town is ripe for taking. Location: Small western town in Idaho
Reinforcement Message — The gang leader sends word for reinforcements. Location: Small western town in Idaho

The gang leader decides that the town is vulnerable and calls for reinforcements. Successive trains bring more men into the community.

Reinforcement Message — The gang leader sends word for reinforcements. Location: Small western town in Idaho
First Reinforcement Train — A train arrives carrying additional suited men. Location: Train station
More Men Arrive — Further trains unload more men in suits and narrow-brimmed hats. Location: Train station
Gang Presence Expands — The repeated arrivals visibly increase the gang's presence in town. Location: Small western town in Idaho
Welcome Turns Threatening — The newcomers abandon their respectable appearance and become rough with the town. Characters: Sue Vancey Location: Small western town in Idaho
Sheriff Targeted — Sheriff Posey Meed becomes the target of the gang's violence. Characters: Posey Meed Location: Small western town in Idaho

The newcomers turn rough and kill Sheriff Posey Meed. The citizens become enraged, while Brad Farley recognizes the danger and leads resistance.

Sheriff Targeted — Sheriff Posey Meed becomes the target of the gang's violence. Characters: Posey Meed Location: Small western town in Idaho
Sheriff Meed Killed — The gang kills Sheriff Posey Meed. Characters: Posey Meed Location: Small western town in Idaho
Citizens Roused — The sheriff's killing riles the citizens and creates resistance. Characters: Brad Farley, Sue Vancey Location: Small western town in Idaho
Brad Sees The Threat — Brad recognizes the gang leader as dangerous through his behavior toward Sue. Characters: Brad Farley, Sue Vancey Location: Small western town in Idaho
Citizens Follow Brad — Brad leads the riled citizens against the gang's takeover. Characters: Brad Farley, Sue Vancey Location: Small western town in Idaho

Story Breakdown

Eastern Crimes — The story begins with violence and criminal activity in a major eastern city.
- City Killing — A killing occurs before the gang leaves the East.
- City Robbery — The gang also commits a robbery before fleeing.
Westward Flight — The gang travels by train to find temporary safety in Idaho.
- Train Departure — The gang leaves the eastern city by train.
- Hideout Plan — They intend to hide until the trouble cools down.
False Respectability — The newcomers gain acceptance by appearing to be wealthy investors.
- Town Welcome — Citizens greet the newcomers with open arms.
- Investor Belief — The town assumes they have capital to spend.
Expansion Of Power — The gang shifts from hiding to planning control of the town.
- Town Vulnerability — The gang leader decides the town is ripe for taking.
- Reinforcement Trains — Additional men arrive on successive trains.
Violent Takeover — The gang abandons its friendly façade and uses violence against local authority.
- Rough Treatment — The newcomers become openly rough with the town.
- Sheriff Meed Killed — Posey Meed is killed during the takeover.
Citizens Resist — Bloodshed reveals the threat and unites the town around Brad Farley.
- Brad Reads Danger — Brad recognizes the gang leader's intentions through his behavior toward Sue.
- Brad Leads Resistance — Brad leads the riled citizens against the gang.