The Dead Ride Alone

East of the Keystone Ranch territory is North Platte, Nebraska, where "Buffalo Bill" Cody and others organized a Fourth of July celebration in 1882. Now an annual event called the North Platte Independence Day Blowout, it was one of the earliest Western rodeos. The Keystone cowboy they call "Link" rides south for an extended leave and comes upon a strange stone tower inhabited by a trio of odd characters: a stonemason, his daughter, and a hunchback who drives an empty hearse and spends his days digging graves for women who have not died.

After some time with these strange folks, Link is physically changed, and decides to ride to the Fourth of July Blowout. He plans to disguise himself and challenge his Keystone cohorts. But what will he do about the young woman who has fallen desperately in love with him?