Old Slowpoke

Old Slowpoke by Howard E. Morgan is a Western short story written in the early 20th century. It centers on a laconic lion hunter, his plodding but faithful hound, a bitter romantic rivalry, and a manhunt sparked by murder and robbery.

Rall Hollidge, a slow, gentle lion hunter, dotes on Old Slowpoke, a loyal but seemingly inept hound. His rival, the slick Lew Rines, vies for the favor of ranch heiress Jane Saunders, whose father rejects Hollidge. After a tense confrontation, Hollidge leaves, and that night Rines murders Joel Saunders, steals his cash box, and wounds Jane as she tries to intervene. Jane, bleeding, sets out to find Hollidge, while the sheriff later locates Hollidge with Rines already under arrest. With the posse stymied, Hollidge unleashes his dogs to trail the missing woman across a maze of sun-baked rock and blind canyons. Time and again the pack loses the scent, and each time Old Slowpoke patiently recovers it, finally leading Hollidge to Jane wedged in a narrow cleft. She is saved, and the unlikely hero of the day is the steadfast old hound.