BAR-20, a western novel by American writer, CLARENCE E. MULFORD, marks the first appearance of HOPALONG CASSIDY and other colorful characters from the Bar-20 ranch. The first edition was published in 1907 by THE OUTING COMPANY of NYNY, While the Hopalong Cassidy of film and TV (portrayed by the silver-haired, avuncular William Boyd) was clean-cut and polished, Mulford’s original Cassidy is rough-and-tumble and foul-mouthed, thriving on brawls and gun-fights. Bar-20 depicts Cassidy as he was originally conceived, fierce and free-wheeling, and matches the cowboy hero up against Slim Travennes, the violent head of a vigilante gang. Hopalong Cassidy was a combination of irresponsibility, humor, good nature, love of fighting, and nonchalance when face to face with danger. His most prominent attribute was that of always getting into trouble without any intention of so doing.