Famous Western, April 1948

About this issue

This April 1948 issue of Famous Western contains three gold-rush novelets and seven short stories set during and after California's gold rush. Lee Floren's "Gold Tickets to Boothill" depicts saloon owner Big John Matthews breaking up a violent card-game dispute between miners Les Cowan and El Gibbs over alleged cheating, with house-man George Denham preventing further gunplay. James Blish's "Bonanza in Lead" involves a character named Ballinger assisting young Tommy, complicated by questions of possible murder. Robert Turner's "Satan's Golden Ounces" concerns competitive treasure-hunting. Additional fiction includes Ed Schater's "Saddle the Right Horse," William Tenn's humorous "Gotham Joins the Gold Rush," and Chuck Martin's "Fighting Blood," examining unexpected cowardice in a fighter named Bill Black. The issue also features a "Wild West Howl" department by Idaho Bill and miscellaneous short works.