Plummer was the leader of the band, but, arch-hypocrite that he was, he managed to keep his own connection with it a secret.

His position as sheriff gave him many advantages.

He posed as being a silver-mine expert, among other things, and often would be called out to "expert" some new mine.

That usually meant that he left town in order to commit some desperate robbery.

The boldest outrages always required Plummer as the leader.