Real Western Hero #70

Sheriff Hopalong Cassidy investigates the mysterious disappearance of Banker John Sloan after a dynamite explosion rocks the Twin River Bank, uncovering a plot by rancher Zach Harper to seize Northern Valley land by sabotaging the bank and framing Sloan. As Cassidy follows the trail, he finds Sloan hiding in a cave, trapped by Harper’s men, and must devise a daring escape to expose the land grab before the ranchers lose everything.

Chief Gray Matter arrives at Tom Fitchum’s cabin demanding repayment of a long-owed debt, only to be met with an excuse about a sprained back. When he insists he’s there for money, not wrestling, Fitchum reveals a photo of his young nephew Otto, who can spell his name backward—a feat that impresses Chief Gray Matter.

Calm settles over the Truefeather tribe’s camp until the treacherous outcast Black-Moon and his followers launch a brutal attack, slaughtering the people and mortally wounding the old chief. As the chief dies, he entrusts Young Falcon with the sacred tribal totem, urging him to reclaim it from Black-Moon. With his father gone and the tribe destroyed, Young Falcon must find a way to break free and begin his quest to restore his people’s honor.

A young man named Cactus Brain tries to give the sheriff advice on running his office, only to be thrown out the window when the sheriff takes his critique too literally. Back home, his mother calls him in for dessert—only to serve him a gelatin treat that’s shaking so much it looks alive.

Monte Hale, a weary rider seeking rest in San Pedro, is drawn into a desperate pursuit when a bank robbery by the elusive outlaw known as the Coyote disrupts his sleep. With the town’s residents too afraid to act, Monte takes charge of a posse, using his wits and experience to track the cunning outlaw across the desert, where the Coyote’s tricks and swift escapes test every rider’s nerve.

Li'l Buck accidentally breaks the dishes after doing his chores, leading to a humorous moment where he tries to explain by saying he "picked up the pieces." Meanwhile, Muscle Hedd rushes home in a panic, not from danger, but to water his garden before it rains.

In a lighthearted western showdown, Whitey Whiskers proudly claims his mule is the smartest animal alive, proving its brilliance by acing an arithmetic challenge and dazzling the crowd with a flawless dance routine—only to reveal the mule’s clever trick in winning the prize. Daniel Boone Jr. is amazed, but the mule’s final move leaves him stunned in a comical twist.

In the wake of a fiery attack on the Dry Gulch settlement, Tom Mix must protect the homesteaders while confronting the growing threat of cattle ranchers who see the settlers as a threat to their land. As tensions escalate, he faces a moral test when a masked raiding party returns, forcing him to choose between defending the community and confronting a powerful enemy who may be behind the violence.