Hap Hazard Comics #15

When Hap Hazard accidentally ruins Babs' new dress, a well-meaning busybody named Mrs. Grumble twists the story into wild accusations of violence, setting off a chain reaction of misunderstandings that lands both fathers in jail. Now Hap and Babs must work together to clear their families' names and expose the real troublemaker behind all the chaos.

Slug decides to enter the Daily Star's fifty-dollar photography contest and prove her skeptical friends wrong—but while she's struggling to find a decent shot, her pal Hap manages to snap a picture of a laughing baby that seems like a sure winner. When the contest results are announced the next day, Slug's triumphant arrival with prize money in hand leaves everyone shocked, forcing Hap to confront what his supposedly perfect photograph lost to.

Hap Hazard, stuck without a working pen in the middle of the night, sets off on a surprisingly creative hunt for a replacement—only to decide a feathered hat is the perfect solution. With a bit of whimsy and a whole lot of imagination, he turns a fashion accessory into a makeshift quill, proving even a broken pen can spark a brilliant idea.

Stella the Starlet dreams of escaping the B-picture grind when she meets Broadway star Howard Brooks, who's been hired for a major studio production—and gets to choose his own leading lady. Determined to land the role, Stella pursues him on horseback with disastrous results, but a chance meeting leads to a private ride that seems to be her big break. Her hopes take an unexpected turn when Howard reveals exactly who will be playing opposite him in the picture.

Hap stumbles into the middle of a scheme when a society dame named Deborah Dale and her press agent Steve attempt to stage a fake jewel heist in a small town hotel—complete with a real crook they've hired to play the robber. When Hap innocently helps carry their luggage upstairs, he finds himself caught in the crossfire of a plan that goes hilariously wrong, leading to an encounter with an actual criminal the police have been hunting for months. What starts as a simple favor for a couple of city slickers turns into something far more unexpected for this local kid.

Hap Hazard tries to enjoy a comic book in peace, but Humphrey won’t stop interrupting. When Hap tells him to find someone else to bother, Humphrey shoots back that his only friend hates him—leaving Hap to wonder if he’s the one who’s really in trouble.