The Red Well — Max Brand

Bad News for Bad Men is just that for the Burwell clan when Jimmy Jones arrives in town to take
over the Jasper Journal. Jones s uncle has given him the small-town newspaper because Jimmy s
life so far has been divided into two equal halves: In the first twelve years you were a small child
and a schoolboy. In the last twelve years you have tried to raise hell continually. Now, instead
of being called a gunfighter, Jimmy can be called an editor. His uncle warns Jimmy that there is
no news in Jasper except bad news, so Jimmy should be right at home. Notwithstanding, the rival
newspaper prints only good news. Jimmy changes that from the start by stating that an act of
heroism was actually a murder and that the Jasper Journal will tell readers how it happened and
who committed it.


The Lion's Share is what Bill Genniver claims is his to his partner, Jerry Garlan, after the stagecoach
robbery they have just committed. In the robbery Garlan had to shoot a horse in the team to stop
the stage, but Genniver shot and killed one of the passengers, the one carrying money. That split
is unacceptable to Garlan, who regrets the robbery and having to shoot the horse. To settle the
dispute Garlan kills Genniver, but then he does a very strange thing: he decides to return the
money.


The Red Well is called that by Jerry Finnegan when the water in the well on his ranch turns that
color. Finnegan asks Charlie Kimball to help him defend the ranch and protect his wife Sarah and
young son from the threat of death by Slade and his gang. Slade wants the ranch and will murder
to get it if Finnegan refuses to sell. For Charlie Kimball the reason driving Slade can only be the
red water in the well.