Kid Colt Outlaw #73
Dead on his Feet!
A man comes stumbling into a saloon looking for Kid Colt for help but collapses before he can say what he wants. Unfortunately, the man dies before the town doctor can come and get on the scene. Checking the man’s gun, Kid Colt discovers that it is unloaded and wonders why. Kid Colt takes the gun to the local gun shop owner and he identifies that it is an army issue .44 caliber pistol and that it has never been fired. Looking at the numbers engraved on the weapon he also knows that the gun was manufactured in Hartford. That’s when a rough-looking man comes in and says he needs a new gun and the weapon they’re looking at fits the bill. Kid Colt says that the gun is his and it is not for sale. The man tries to buy it off Kid Colt but refuses all offers saying he can buy a similar gun from the gun dealer at the regular price. When the man threatens to get violent, Kid Colt draws and shoots the man’s guns out of his hands before he has a chance to use them. Before leaving the man tells Colt that he’ll live to regret ever seeing that .44.
They both realize that there is something about this particular gun and the Kid decides to find out what that is. However, when he tries to go out the front door he gets shot at and has to sneak out the back way. He then goes to the local telegraph office to send a message to a nearby fort. However, as they are waiting for a reply the telegraph attendant notices the line has gone dead. With no other choice, Kid Colt gets on his horse and rides out for the fort. Along the way, he comes across a wrecked stagecoach that appears to have been looted. Examining the shattered crates, the Kid discovers that the wagon was carrying army ordinance.
Meanwhile, in a nearby abandoned mine, a gang of outlaws are planning on using their stolen munitions to take over a section of land that Arizona intends to annex and claim it for their own. When Kid Colt finds them he begins shooting the supports in the mine causing the entrance to collapse, trapping the outlaws inside. That’s when the army arrives, having finally gotten Kid Colt’s telegraph. Learning what has happened, Kid Colt is thanked for his help in recovering the stolen weapons.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
With a Gun at His Back!
With lead flying all around him, Kid Colt is being forced to run the coach with a shotgun in his back. As he pushes forward he thinks about how he got into this situation…
It all started at the railroad depot in Quicksilver Creek where Kid Colt recognizes a number of outlaws just hanging out and wonders what’s going on. That’s when two of the crooks approach him and tells the Kid to get lost. They get into a scuffle until the sheriff intervenes. When Kid Colt points out that his town is full of outlaws, the sheriff already knows this, but he can’t arrest them unless they do something against the law.
Heading back into town, he spots Blast Johnson coming out of the telegraph office and asks the owner what the outlaw was doing. The telegraph operator says that Blast has been sending out invitations to other criminals. Examining the messages they determine that most of the invitees are coming on the Southwest Express. Riding out to catch the train, Kid Colt holds all the crooks at gunpoint and orders the train conductors to tie them up. He demands to know what Blast Johnson has in store for the town and is informed that Blast is attempting to take over the town of Black Star. When the train passes through Quicksilver Creek, only Kid Colt gets off the train. The gathered outlaws then ambush Kid Colt and force him to ride their stolen stagecoach as they storm Black Star. Expecting the invaders, the law in Black Star begins opening fire…
… By this time, Kid Colt has figured out how to stop the outlaws. Moving quickly, he cuts the reins loose so the wagon begins running out of control. While the outlaws panic, Kid Colt leaps into a nearby tree just moments before the wagon crashes. After Blast Johnson and his men are rounded up the local law enforcement thanks Kid Colt for his help.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
Gantlet of Hate!
In the town of Bighorn, Kid Colt steps out into the middle of two men preparing to duel and forces them to stop by shooting their guns out of his hand. He understands why such lawlessness is allowed when he sees the local sheriff back down from a gun-toting outlaw. Following the sheriff to his office, Kid Colt tells the sheriff his guns won’t do much good if he keeps them hanging up. When he realizes he’s dealing with Kid Colt, he figures he’s getting more trouble. Instead, Kid Colt surprises him by asking what the problem.
The sheriff says that his guns have been nothing but bad luck for his family, that his father died with the guns in his hands. Listening to all of this, Kid Colt says that he knows where the guns used by the legendary Streak Jeffrey and is willing to give them to the sheriff in exchange for his old family guns. Afterward, Kid Colt goes down to the local saloon and warns the outlaws to clear out or else. Later, thinking he has Streak Jeffrey’s guns, the sheriff faces down the gang leader in the street and easily outdraws him.
After the crooks are run out of town, the sheriff thanks Kid Colt for brining him Streak Jeffrey’s guns. That’s when Kid Colt reveals that they aren’t Streak Jeffrey’s guns at all, but the same guns his family used for generations, saying that there is no such thing as magic guns, cursed or otherwise.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
