Hopalong Cassidy #42

Hill Billy's raccoon-hunting expedition takes an unexpected turn when a passing train gives him a brilliant idea in this lighthearted romp from 1950. With nothing but enthusiasm and questionable judgment, he sets out to turn his nighttime hunt into a business opportunity—though the train's conductor may have other feelings about his sales pitch. A one-page comedy that proves sometimes the best-laid plans are the ones that stop traffic.

When crooks Polecat, Torchy, and Skiff attempt to seize land on the Taconda Indian Reservation, Hopalong Cassidy intercedes on behalf of the tribe—and earns their gratitude with an invitation to an honorary ceremony. But the scheme runs deeper than a simple land grab: the criminals stage an ambush disguised as ceremonial braves, intending to eliminate the sheriff and clear their path to drive out the Indians for good. Bound and left to burn, Hopalong must use his wits to turn the tables on men who underestimated a lawman without his guns.

Whitey Whiskers stumbles upon an old friend, Hank Ralton, who now owns a circus but desperately needs an elephant to make the act complete—and Whitey, spotting easy money, boldly claims to be the world's most famous elephant hunter willing to go to Africa to catch one. When pressed to explain his hunting methods, Whitey spins an outlandish tale involving a blackboard, opera glasses, and tweezers that reveals he's a complete charlatan with no idea what he's doing. What follows is a comedic reckoning as Whitey's elaborate con unravels in the worst possible way.

When Mesquite accidentally insults Widow Jones and finds himself in her doghouse, the lovesick deputy spots a chance at redemption: a pigeon race with a hundred-dollar prize. He buys a supposedly unbeatable bird from a man named Hobbs for his last fifty cents, but things don't go quite as planned when the bird starts flying in circles. Illustrated by Charles Quinlan, this 1950 western comedy follows Mesquite through a series of mishaps as he tries to win back his sweetheart's affection—with some unexpected help from a dizzy pigeon.

Brad Boar, a terrible actor with big ambitions, corners Mr. Thespy at the old opera house demanding a starring role in his show. When Patty Pistol-Packin' intervenes, she delivers a perfect punchline about Brad's actual track record on stage.

When Big Bow lands a job on a chicken farm, he convinces his pal Little Arrow to join him—but the boss makes it clear they can only keep two eggs apiece for themselves. What follows is a comedy of errors as Little Arrow's clumsy attempts to collect and prepare his eggs result in cracked shells, spilled yolks, and escalating chaos that threatens both their positions. By the time the furious farm boss arrives on the scene, the damage is done, and the two find themselves out of work once again.

When stage driver Melville's recklessness gets him fired, Hopalong steps in to help new hire Otis get his shot at the job—but the young driver's coach mysteriously plunges off Precipice Pass that very night. Hopalong's investigation hints at foul play, and when a threatening note from the supposedly dead Otis arrives at the stage company, Melville finds himself gripped by fear, unsure whether he's being haunted or hunted. What really happened on that treacherous mountain road, and why does a dead man seem to have unfinished business?