Laramie, Wyoming Territory, 1888
John Gorman is back in action. The Easterner turned rancher in the Wyoming Territory returns from a travel to Kansas City to sell his cattle, when a series of unexpected events changes his day to day life. First, a woman he met in the train becomes his guest for an indefinite time, as her plan of going west to San Francisco is changed and she has to stop in Laramie. Then, a young family living in a cabin on John's land is attacked and shot dead by men hired to kill them. And finally, he meets in town a mysterious woman who believes that John is a gunslinger guilty of crimes he didn't commit.
John's fictional adventures are woven on the background of a real frontier town, with robbers and outlaws who attack banks, trains and isolate ranches. However once the transcontinental railroad is built, the town shows signs of progress. Gaslamps are replaced by electric lights, the old trading posts and mercantile give way to modern shopping centers like the Trabing Commercial Co., a two story building that had a large variety of merchandise.
Historical Note
- Elmer Floyd Lovejoy was a real-life character who lived between 1872 and 1960. Born in Illinois, he moved with his family in Laramie in 1884 and lived here most of his life. As a businessman he had a general repair shop called Lovejoy Novelty Works on 2nd Street in Laramie and was an active member in the Laramie Bicycle Club. As an inventor he worked for years to design and build a steam-driven automobile, animated by the idea of a horseless carriage. Before the turn of the century, Lovejoy could be seen driving his car on the streets of Laramie and on good roads it reached the astounding speed of ten-twelve miles per hour to the surprise of the onlookers. Regarded first as an unconventional character, Elmer Lovejoy brought the anticipation of the new century with his inventions. His bicycles and the first automobile he built were seen on the streets of Laramie even before they were adopted in other cities all over the country as well. Unfortunately, because Lovejoy didn't have enough money, he had to sell some of his inventions to another car company. Some of his patented inventions are still in use today, the automobile steering gear and the automatic door opener.