A Shot Heard 'Round

Gunfire Shatters A Peaceful September Afternoon In The Small Iowa Town Of Apology As A Drunken Durham Petler Pursues His Rooster Down Main Street Blasting Away At The Bird With A Pistol As The Residents Dive For Cover. The Petler Brothers Live In A Ramshackle Cluster Of Buildings Just Outside The City Limits Immune From Legal Recourse By The Town. The Brothers Are Deadly Shots And Earn Their Living By Shooting Competitively At Matches Around The State But Disturb The Peace By Practicing At All Hours Of The Day And Night. When A Survey Crew Discovers That Their Property Is Actually Within The Town The Town Father'S Attempt To Force The Brothers To Abide By The Town Laws Including Restrictions On Firearms Discharge. After A Series Of Compromises Involving The Brothers And Sheriff Everett Hiram The Problem Appears To Be Resolved Until Mayor Owen Fuller Is Shot While Trying To Disarm Durhaman Odd Parade Of Characters Awaits The Reader In A Shot Heard 'Round. Roguish Sheriff Everett Hiram Runs The Small Iowa Town Aided By His Use-Only-When-Desperate Deputy Old Duke. Grocery Store Owner Merle Oaken So Convinced He'S Going Blind That He Obtains A Very Inexpensive Guide Dog And Parades Down Main Street Attempting To Train The Mutt. Olaf Clancy Is Out Of Favor With Some For Bopping Wife Zelda To Kingdom Come With A Piece Of Two-By-Four. Weak-Eyed Fisherman Flem Frederickson Finds A Wife Who Can Find Nightcrawlers In The Dark. Unkempt Brothers Deke And Durham Petler Live In A Ramshackle House Just Outside The Small Iowa Town Of Apology And Constantly Disturb The Peace By Target Practicing All Hours Of The Day And Night For Shooting Matches Where They Make Their Living. When A Survey Shows That Their Property Is Actually Within The City Limits The Town Council With Help From Sheriff Everett Hiram Places Restrictions Their Shooting. Just As The Problem Appears To Be Resolved Mayor Owen Fuller Is Shot While Trying To Disarm Durham Leading To A Total Gun Ban Wit