Leading Comics #12

In "Million Dollar Challenge!" from Leading Comics #12 (1944), the Law's Legionnaires answer a mysterious newspaper ad that warns them off the estate of Darrel Weldon—only to find themselves invited to dinner instead. There, Weldon sets them a daring test: solve his clues to uncover five hidden treasures, and claim a million dollars for any charity they choose.

In "Chap II: The Cache in the Canyon!" from Leading Comics #12 (1944), vigilante Vig heads west to a remote mining claim owned by Darrel, tracking a hidden cache of valuables—only to collide with a gang of outlaws determined to kill him. As he uncovers the treasure, he discovers the truth: the outlaws were operating illegally on Darrel’s land, making their violent pursuit personal.

In "Chap. 3: The Power of the Press!" from Leading Comics #12 (1944), the Avenger and Wing follow a cryptic clue to a local newspaper office, where they uncover a surprising twist: Darrel once clashed with the paper and later bought it outright. With the treasure hidden inside an antique newspaper press, the duo must now face off against gangsters who claim ownership of the press—and the fortune it holds.

In "Chap. 4: The Safe from the Sky!" from Leading Comics #12 (1944), Green Arrow and Speedy arrive at a museum with a daring claim: they’ve been granted permission to retrieve a meteorite loaned by Darrel, convinced it holds the key to a hidden treasure. Their confidence turns to shock when museum guards arrest them on the spot, turning their quest into a high-stakes mystery they must unravel before justice—or the real treasure—slips away.

In "Chap. V: The Puzzle of the Pyramid!" from Leading Comics #12 (1944), the Shining Knight follows a trail to a mysterious metal pyramid by the Hudson River, drawn by rumors of treasure from Darrel's. When he hears a cry for help, he intervenes to stop a gang of crooks trying to frame him for theft—only to find the real prize is far more unexpected: a pair of infant's shoes and a collection of children's toys.

In "Chap. VI: Murder in Miniature!" from Leading Comics #12 (1944), the Kid and Stripesy follow a cryptic clue to a hidden grotto tied to Darrel’s past, where they uncover a tiny, intricate city—complete with a bank holding the treasure they’re after. The discovery sets the stage for a mystery as clever as it is unexpected, nestled within a world scaled down to the size of a dream.

In "Chapter 7 [Conclusion]" from Leading Comics #12 (1944), Jo and the others confront the man claiming to be Darrel, only to learn he’s an impostor who’d sent others after the same treasures—yet hesitated to trust them with the spoils. The revelation throws their mission into new uncertainty, as loyalty and deception blur in the shadow of hidden motives.