The Blaze of Noon

Dan Mora had once worked for the US Department of Interior. His detection of a superior's illegal profit making scheme lead to this man's removal and imprisonment. Instead of being praised, Mora was eventually fired on false charges and blackballed. Dan moves to Arizona to try his luck at prospecting. A rattlesnake bite almost proves fatal had not a freindly Tarahumara Indian named Quanto come along and treated him. Quanto attaches himself to Mora but Dan does not know why since he can not speak Spanish which the Tarahumra seems to understand. A brush with two Apache warriors sends the friends back out into the desert to escape any other hostiles that may be in the area. Dan heads for the village of Tuson where he he hopes to take passage on the next stage to Sand Tank Station. Mora secures his ticket but is unable to do the same for his Indian friend. Lyle Coopersmith, an Englishman purchases Quanto's ticket and the trio board the stage for Sand Tank. Arriving at the stage stop, Mora is re-united with an old friend. Lila Strunk manages the station and also speaks Spanish. Through Lila's interpreting, Dan learns that Quanto hopes Mora can help him secure a job with the Southern Pacific Railroad. He and his people are poor and could use the money. Dan suggests that Quanto work at the station as a hostler. Lila already has a no account Mexican Angel Rivera doing that job. Lila is ever watchful of Rivera. With Mora by her side, Lila fires Angel and sends him on the next stage to Yuma. This brings an immediate hatred of the two whites by the Mexican. With a loan from Lila, Dan re-outfits himself and heads back to the desert to resume his prospecting. In the Castle Dome Mining District, Mora discovers an old mine with the bones of two men. It appears the remains have been in the old mine for possibly hundreds of years. Mora also finds a rich depost of gold. The old prospector is a wealthy man. At Yuma Prison, Hugh Deraux is serving time for stage robbery. The prison is a harsh environment where many do not live out their sentence. Only three ways out of this hell hole exist. Release, death or escape. And so it is through the confusion of several prisoners attempting to escape that allows Deraux to gain his freedom. In the town of Yuma, Deraux and another prisoner stumble in to a cantina. Briefly taking refuge inside, the two prisoners collect canteen's of water for their treak to the mountains and hopefully the water tanks in those mountains. Not knowing which way to go, they force a Mexican to guide them. This man is non other than Angel Rivera. The three men eventually find themselves at Sand Tank. From Lila they learn of Mora's discovery. Revenge against Mora motivates Rivera and the thought of what the gold can do for them drives the prisoners. The trio make their way to the Mora Mine. It is here where scores are setteled. Who ever survives this encounter will come away a wealthy man. You can feel the heat as Tim Champlin spins this tale of str