Posted by Larry on May 26, 2001 at 17:16:55:
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the Kid at the Crossing legend in Flint may have been based on an actual event-Newton's General Massacre in Newton, Kansas Aug 20, 1871. That was a revenge shooting similar to Flints killing. I think that Flint is some of LL's best writing ever. Can't you picture the hideout? Can't you feel the pull of emotions as the characters try to decide if he's the old Flint? Does the old Flint remind anyone of Tom Horn? Tom Horn was a hired gun for the big cattelmen, hanged for shooting a young boy-old Flint was gunned down for being the same kind of man. Kettleman is not the upright hero like Tell or Tyrel. He's much more complex. LL built his legend carefully, listen.."I must know. Who are you? Kettleman hesitated.For the first time since that night he spoke of it. 'I was the Kid at the Crossing.' 'God! The gambler was excited. He started to rise, began to speak, then he died." Excellent buildup of drama! And again- "The man he had shot sat very still, then slid from the saddle and hit the ground with a small thud. Flint looked at them through the curl of smoke from his gun. 'All right. Who's next?' " The people figured him tough. "I'd say that was pretty much of a man,' Rockley said. 'I don't know where he come from, but wherever it is they cut them wide and deep." Whether it was hate, revenge or his sense of justice, Flint carried many deep emotions. "It is the man who makes the name', she said. 'I am glad Flint is the name you will keep.' He thought then of a cold and bitter dawning and a lonely boy who sat on the edge of a splintery boardwalk, huddled against the chill, and of a tall man in a sheepskin coat. " I think I owe him that,' he said." EXCELLENT. My copy was passed down to me from some old fishermen who loved LL books. It cost 60cents. The cover has a man who looks alot like Van Williams-the actor who played the Green Hornet with Bruce Lee. The same man is on the cover of Radigan. I hope you pass on your copy of Flint some day when you are done with it, it is one of Louis's greatest books.
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