The Hen-punchers of Piperock

When Ike and Magpie Simpkins are driven half-mad by a craving for ham and eggs, they discover Piperock is out of eggs—and Magpie, as usual, sees opportunity where others see trouble. His grand "cinch" scheme to get rich quick launches a comic frontier business venture involving hens, razorback hogs, and the promise of easy money, while Ike watches with dry skepticism as Magpie turns every absurd notion into a solemn plan. But when a stagecoach arrives loaded with mixed livestock, chaos follows: hogs spook the team, the coach crashes, chickens explode into the street, and the town is plunged into farce. From there, the egg business spirals into a battle over range rights, stolen hens, and damaged property, with rival seller Tellurium Woods joining the fray. Arguments become brawls, legal complaints collapse under the weight of wandering hogs, and even the judge is drawn into the uproar. Dirty Shirt Jones, rattled by drink and fear, opens fire at the charging animals, and Jimmy Peyton finally ends the crisis by shooting the hogs and hauling them off. By morning, coyotes have likely finished the hens, and the whole venture ends in comic ruin—until Jimmy turns the disaster into a new business, selling outrageously priced ham and eggs in true frontier style. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.