Tex Ritter Western #22

Sagebrush plays a clever prank on Dimwit Dinny by spinning a sad tale about a terrible accident at the Browns' house—one that deliberately sets up the listener to jump to the worst possible conclusion. It's a quick-witted setup and payoff that relies entirely on misdirection and a groan-worthy punchline.

When old Ben Bartlett is gunned down on the road to Saddletown and his prize herd mysteriously dies from poisoned water, Tex Ritter races to solve a case that quickly spirals into suspicion and violence at the Diamond B ranch. With two men vying to buy the property and fingers pointing in every direction, the prairie ranger must separate rumor from fact before another tragedy strikes. Stan Campbell's artwork brings the tension to life as Tex zeroes in on the truth behind the murder and sabotage.

Slim Pickens hatches a clever scheme to get a new suit without cash by involving the local baker and clothing shop owner in an unexpected scheme—but his plan backfires spectacularly when the two businessmen catch on to his trickery. What starts as a battle of wits quickly turns into a slapstick showdown that leaves Slim facing legal trouble instead of fashion troubles.

Tex Ritter receives a mysterious map fragment in the mail with no explanation, but when he learns that outlaws Larson and Bolt are after the complete map to old man Harmon's buried diamonds, the ranger realizes something doesn't add up about their story. Racing against time to uncover the truth, Tex must track down young Tom Harmon and stop the criminals from claiming a fortune that was never rightfully theirs.

Hill Billy tries to sell his lackluster cow at the county fair, but when a smooth-talking friend steps in to close the deal, he spins a completely different story to the buyer—one that's so good, Hill Billy believes every word and immediately regrets letting the animal go.

Cowboy Cal's friend Pete is in a panic over his cousin's arrest and lack of legal representation, but when Cal offers to connect him with his lawyer buddy, the punchline proves that "suspended sentence" means something very different than Pete hoped. A quick dose of Western humor that lands its jokes right on the money.