"A Cathcart or a Riggs?"

"A Cathcart or a Riggs?" by Roy Norton is a story set in a rugged Western mining town in the early 1900s, where a strong-minded woman named Pearl Brown runs the Alamo, a local entertainment spot. The story revolves around Pearl and her interactions with Horace Ring, a newspaper editor with dreams of cleaning up the town. After a series of clashes, Pearl and Horace start to understand each other better, revealing their underlying motivations and pasts; as their lives connect, the narrative evolves through conflicts, societal observations, and changing relationships, leading to Pearl’s self-acceptance and Horace standing up for what he believes in. The story culminates in a transformation for both characters that reflects themes of redemption and mutual understanding, signaling a new beginning for them and change for their community.