To rescue a kidnapped princess, Jim runs into a booby-trapped doorknob and a fully armored man wielding a mace.

An attempt to assassinate President Grant is foiled at the last minute by West and Gordon. However,there seems to be more going on than a simple assassination,as the weapon used in the attempt was one stolen in recent raids on government and territorial armories. The President refuses to cancel a trip to Dever,leaving Jim and Artemus only 36 hours to uncover who is responsible and stop them before it's too late.

Agent West is summoned by a note from agent Gordon to the local barbershop. While waiting for Gordon, West decides to have a shave and is promptly anesthetised by a hot towel from one of Dr. Loveless's assistants, working in disguise. When he wakes up, he finds himself in a carnival funhouse where he encounters dazed-looking Justice Alonzo Fairlie. Before he can get any information from the judge, he is attacked by a quartet of gunmen. He quickly dispatches his adversaries but Justice Fairlie disappears in the confusion, leaving behined a strange clue.