In owing a favor to the town sheriff Dave Quinn, Paladin, after reading about the violence, heads to Big Spur, Colorado to offer his services to Quinn for free to resolve the lawlessness that has emerged in the once friendly town, and that Quinn, as one man growing older and wearier by the day, feels incapable of managing on his own. The problems stem from a dispute between the Texas, Colorado and Overland Railroad and the Continental Divide Railroad, with the General Agent for each side, Charles Foster and John Sukey, having hired gunmen to guard what each feels is rightfully his company's. Foster has gone further in having hired a "deputy agent", Ralph Coe, who, in reality, is Foster's chief gunman. Upon his arrival, Paladin learns the specific source of the dispute is that the former has leased the right-of-way to the latter over Raymond Gorge to and from town - this stretch part of the transcontinental route - but has kept control of the depot, meaning that any Continental Divide rail car using the track under the lease has nowhere to stop to load or unload. The gunfire and lawlessness has led to law abiding citizens leaving in droves turning Big Spur almost into a virtual ghost town. Working from the inside partly in order for someone literally to pay for his services, Paladin thinks he has a way to resolve the issue ultimately to the satisfaction of both sides. That compromise will only work not only if all parties agree, but if they keep to the bargain, which may be easier said than done.
—Huggo