Prologue

I
The Hustlers

In Which George W. Rhine Takes My Measure 10

Stay Out of Swappin' Deals, Bernie 14

The Beverly Hillbillies 17

Old Joe 21

A Fish Story 28

The Night We Gigged Frogs 30

II
King Con

Son of the Western Prairie 33

Wakies 34

Death of a Salesman 36

Federal Court Number Two 38

Double Bucks 42

Miss Lonely Hearts 45

Elephant Walk 47

Dugout Doug Loses His First Battle 50

Ida M. Dow 52

Of Red Lights, Dancing, and Storms at Sea 55

III
Ducks In A Row

The Arkansas Traveler 61

Another Friggin' Frog Story 64

I'm All Shook Up 66

St. Louis Blues 67

French Armoires 69

Ka-Boom! 71

IV
Robbers Roost

The Brickmaster's House 74

How Aaron Burr Met His Demise 75

A Free Ride 78

A Pirates' Den 80

I Been Workin' (on) the Railroad 82

Never Be a Sucker For Your Own Racket 84

Y'all Come, Ya Hear? 86

How George W. Rhine Subverted the West Point Military Academy 88

V
Part Of The Deal

Year of The Great Blight 92

American Kibbutz 94

Easy Rider 97

The Sound of Music 98

"Off We Go Into The Wild Blue Yonder" 100

Green Grow The Lilacs, Oh! 102

Who-l-l ... gi' me a ten-na...a ten-na... a twen-ny dollah bill? 105

VI
Final Gig

Gen'l Wooster's New Neighbors 109

The Hole in the Wall Gang 111

Poor Little Willie 112

"On the Road Again" 113

Zen and the Art of Building Permits 115

Mom's Bow Window 116

"Roll Me Over Real Easy, Boys...The Bullets They Hurt Me So..." 118

The George W. Rhine Tool Collection 120

The Night We Stole Bruckner Boulevard 121

VII
Movin' On

The Gatekeeper's Kitchen 124

How Chuck Found His Replacement 126

Passing of a Giant 128

Epilogue

| Home | American Gothic |