Monte Hale Western #29

Riding into a Nevada ghost town for shelter, Monte Hale stumbles onto a dark mystery—the abandoned settlement of Sierra was cleared out by terror, and now a grizzled prospector named Sourdough Simms reveals the truth: a ruthless gang led by Carson and Blackie has been using supernatural tricks to drive off the townspeople and claim the rich silver deposits beneath the town. When Monte and Sourdough discover the gang's secret mine shaft and attempt to escape with news of the operation, they find themselves trapped underground with a dwindling air supply and a clever gang determined to keep their scheme hidden.

When Big Bow and Little Arrow spot a moose in the woods, hunger wins out—but the Pale Face game warden is hot on their trail, and hunting is strictly forbidden. Little Arrow devises a clever plan to get around the law, leading Big Bow on a wild chase that turns the tables in the most unexpected way. This 1948 western humor tale proves that sometimes the smartest solution comes from thinking like a fox.

When a railroad trestle explodes over the San Pedro Mountain Range, Monte Hale arrives just as J.B. Benson's construction crew faces sabotage—and the death of Hale's old friend Bill Jeffers. Determined to find who dynamited the locomotive and stop the gang terrorizing the railroad's progress, Hale joins forces with Benson and his foreman Tom Coyle to fight off repeated attacks, but clues suggest the real enemy may be working from the inside. With the track nearly complete and the opposition growing more desperate, Monte must outthink the saboteurs before they can finish what they've started.

When a stranger named Monte Hale rolls into Cactus Flats, an angry mob mistakes him for the outlaw Wichita and nearly lynches him—until Sheriff Flint Daly cuts him loose. But Monte quickly discovers the sheriff isn't a hero; he's in league with the real Wichita, and he's just sprung his partner under cover of a "phony escape." Thinking fast, Monte stages a daring con to expose the corrupt lawman's schemes and prove his own innocence, leading to a rooftop showdown where everything hangs in the balance.

A cocky young man walks into a saloon demanding an elaborate bathtub setup for his horse—because his uncle back East keeps asking what's new, and he needs something wild to report. It's a quick, absurd frontier joke that delivers exactly what you'd expect from a half-page humor strip in 1948.

Li'l Buck's music appreciation class takes an unexpected turn when his teacher tries to correct his terminology—and the eager student has his own creative logic to back up his answers. It's a quick lesson in how a sharp mind and sharper wit can make a point, even when the facts might not be on your side.

When Daniel Boone Jr. stands up to the bully Gruffy over a stolen peppermint stick, Whitey Whiskers encourages him with the motto "right makes might"—a lesson that gets put to the test when unexpected complications arise. This humorous western tale shows what happens when a young fighter discovers that doing the right thing doesn't always guarantee a simple victory, especially when size and authority get involved.