A Border Ruffian / 1891

The collection presents interlinked tales contrasting life on the frontier and in eastern society, following travelers whose journeys through New Mexico expose them to rugged landscapes, train‑station incidents, and encounters with lawless figures. Characters of various social backgrounds—an urbane young woman, her relatives, and wayfarers—observe and react to the exhilaration and dangers of the West while later episodes shift attention to eastern settings and manners. Scenes emphasize vivid travel descriptions, tonal shifts between humour and tension, and sketches of regional character that probe adaptability, social pretension, and the collision of civilized habits with frontier realities.