The Trail Beyond — Max Brand

Peter Quince was a fighter born and bred. Orphaned at a young age, he remembered an old woman saying that he was a bad one and would cause a lot of trouble in the world. Others claimed he had bad blood and it would show up sooner or later. But Bill Andrews felt a connection with the boy, took him home as raised as one of his own despite his wife's misgivings. Peter soon learned he could manipulate people by withholding his true feelings -- showing and telling them what they wanted to see and hear. Peter had learned that battles should be won by cunning and strength, with cunning being far more important. But when he beat his foster brother in a fight over a girl named Mary, Peter knew it was time to strike out on his own. In his travels he would seek out those with skills he needed and learn from them until he was able to master his teacher.