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Paul Scallen

The marshal assigned to take Jim Kidd to the jail in Yuma, and the protagonist. Scallen is quite young, in his mid- to late twenties. He is married with three young children. He is one of the law enforcement officials of the town of Bisbee, though not the most senior-ranking. It is his job to escort Kidd to Yuma while the senior marshal and some other deputies take another train with another prisoner disguised as Kidd, as a ruse. This means that Scallen is alone against any possible threats as long as Kidd is in his custody. Prompted by Kidd’s questioning, Scallen finds himself wondering if the dangers of his job are worth the monthly salary of one hundred and fifty dollars he receives. He admits that he didn’t truly become a deputy out of any passion for the law, but rather for the money.

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Jim Kidd

A young outlaw arrested in connection with the ambush and killing of Wells Fargo driver Dick Moons. Kidd is very young, only in his early twenties. He is part of a posse of outlaws that is led by Charlie Prince, and he is one of several people who was involved in the shooting of Dick Moons. He is the only one of the posse members captured alive, and a witness in the courtroom says that he was not the one who actually killed Dick Moons. He is convicted for his role in the robbery and shooting, and he is sentenced to serve five years in the Yuma jail. In his life as an outlaw, Kidd admits that he makes a lot of money sometimes, and sometimes not a lot, but he has enough money to buy anything he wants.

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Mr. Timpey

The Wells Fargo manager who puts Scallen and Kidd up at a hotel to wait until the train to Yuma comes. Timpey is weak-willed and reluctant to get involved in anything that does not directly concern him, or to take on any roles beyond his work with Wells Fargo. He disobeys Scallen’s orders not to tell anyone that Kidd is in Contention, and leaks that information to Dick Moons’ brother, who comes to the hotel seeking revenge. 

Charlie Prince

One of Jim Kidd’s fellow posse members. Prince has tracked Scallen and Kidd to Contention with the intention of killing Scallen and freeing Kidd. 

Bob Moons

The brother of Dick Moons, the deceased Wells Fargo driver. After Mr. Timpey leaks information to him that Jim Kidd is at the Republic Hotel, Moons comes to the hotel with his gun and orders Mr. Timpey to take him up to Scallen and Kidd’s room so he can kill Kidd. Moons also threatens to kill Scallen if he gets in the way. 

Posse members

The other armed men who show up at the hotel, and then the train station, with Charlie Prince as Scallen and Kidd are preparing to leave.

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