Monte Hale Western #64

When a cheerful visitor named Gus shows up at Old Slick's place with nothing but complaints and doom-and-gloom talk, Old Slick decides he's had enough of the sour mood—and hatches a humorous way to send him packing. This lighthearted 1951 tale delivers a quick Western comedy punch that proves sometimes the best medicine is a well-timed joke.

Sheriff Slim and his aide Bodkins listen as Gabby Hayes spins a tall tale about a headless horseman around the campfire—but a gang of outlaws overhears and hatches a plan to rob the stage while the lawmen are distracted. When both Bodkins and Gabby decide to play pranks on each other by dressing as the very phantom from the story, their charade accidentally sends the Black Brothers into a panic that leads to an unexpected capture.

When J.P. Farnum offers to add Monte Hale's iconic six-gun to his traveling Curio Caravan collection, the generous cowboy doesn't realize he's just handed over the perfect frame for a deadly scheme. After being knocked unconscious at the caravan and accused of murdering Farnum for the contents of his safe, Monte must prove his innocence—and uncover the twisted blackmail plot before he finds himself at the end of a rope. With nothing but his wits and a discovery in the darkened wagon, Monte has to outwit a cunning partner before the caravan rolls away with the evidence.