Character Analysis
Newman, Enders, and Yantis ("the oldest and brainiest" [30.16]) are rough-and-tumble, good-for-nothin' bullies. Maybe it's because their names sound a little funny (especially Yantis, which sounds like Praying Mantis). No wonder they're so mean.
As opposed to Tom, who works hard and honestly for everything he has, the Flanchers "lived the way they liked to. If they wanted beef, they would help themselves to a cow or young steer from anybody's herd. People who had tried to pin the killing on them had had bad luck. A barn burned down. A water trough got poisoned. The linchpin of their wagon was filed nearly though to break coming home with a load of feed. Or else the Flanchers would get hold of the man himself" (30. 15).
Yikes.
They're set on finding the Breen money, and they destroy the inside of the home looking for it. Tom is able to use his skills and smarts to uncover the money, a lesson that the right kind of ethic will be rewarded, while the wrong kind of character will be punished. And the Flanchers do get punished by the end of the novel, landing in jail for assault and trespassing. If that makes you sigh with relief, the rest of the town is right there with you.