In this sequel to Kurt Burke's acclaimed novel, Sailor Story: John Carlile returns from British North America, determined to make his fortune following the end of the Civil War. Finding employment with the trans-continental railroad, he soon discovers that the industrialist elites in control of post-war America are determined to continue collecting the government revenue that they enjoyed while equipping the Army of the Republic. Calling attention to the felonious business and accounting practices being used to further enrich the new American aristocracy leaves John with few friends and many powerful adversaries, determined to cover up their misdeeds. A woman with connections tries to protect him by engaging him to assist the Internal Revenue Service in locating distillers attempting to evade paying their taxes. John just still can't get past the ghosts from his past with the Confederate Secret Service and the secrets he carries from those times. In the era becoming known as the Gilded Age of America, John must outwit the rich and powerful, former Confederates, government agents, hostile Native Americans, and even beautiful women in order to accomplish his own scheme and make his way to safety.