Black Diamond Western #17 (1950)

When a mysterious stranger is caught prowling a woman’s home, Bob Vale—known to the world as the Black Diamond—uncovers a wartime secret tied to a lost Confederate gold wagon and a hidden cave in Whispering Mesa. With the help of a rescued Indian youth named Quick Ax, who claims to know the location of the ancient treasure, the duo sets out on a perilous climb to the mesa’s peak, where the truth of the gold’s final resting place may finally be revealed.

In "The Cowboy and His Equipment," a lone rider named Jo travels through the dusty frontier, each page highlighting a different piece of his gear with practical, no-nonsense commentary on its use. From his trusty lariat to his worn chaps and spurs, the story presents a portrait of a man deeply connected to his tools, each one essential to survival in the harsh West.

In the lawless town of Giverra, the feared Carlin brothers—Abner, Zach, and Simon—rampage through the streets, terrorizing townsfolk and evading justice until a daring sheriff named Garland outsmarts them. When the brothers abduct the elderly Mike Robbins and take him to the treacherous Eagle Point, Garland makes a reckless solo climb to rescue him, confronting the outlaws in a tense showdown atop the mesa.

In the lawless reaches of Devil's Valley, the Black Diamond and his loyal companion Bumper infiltrate the fortress of tyrannical land baron Case Barron, only to be captured and thrown into a hidden pit meant for brutal entertainment. There, Bumper must face a terrifying man-eating cave bear in a fight for survival, while the Black Diamond races against time to free him and expose Barron’s reign of terror.

Sheriff Muddle is jolted awake by the news that the notorious outlaw Snake-Eyes has robbed the Bank of Gruesome Gulch, prompting a frantic chase across the frontier. As the sheriff struggles with a stubborn horse and a series of comical mishaps, he finally corners Snake-Eyes in a showdown that ends with the outlaw captured and the stolen money recovered.