Wild Western #44

The Hunters!

Answering a letter from his friend Charlie Jenson, owner of the Mesa Mining Company, Kid Colt is attacked by a gang of outlaws that have been hired to keep him away from the mining company, however Kid Colt proves to be a superior shot to them and drives them away. Arriving at the mining company Kid Colt is shocked to find that Charlie is seemingly dead. The men who attacked him earlier then get the drop on him and knock the Kid out and set the place on fire, leaving the Kid to burn alive. However, a passing prospector sees the fire and rescues Kid Colt from the flames.

Meanwhile, at the office of Leroy Garson, Charlie's lawyer, Garson learns how his men eliminated Charlie and seeming killed Kid Colt in the process paving the way for him claiming the entire mine for himself as Charlie had no other surviving relatives. However they hear a noise outside and Leroy sends one of his men out, Kid Colt jumps him and then confront Garson and his other men. When Kid Colt accuses Leroy of the plot he denies it until Kid Colt tells him that Charlie survived the attempt on his life. Panicking, Leroy attempts to grab for a gun, but Kid Colt easily knocks him out just as the sheriff arrives to arrest the outlaws. The next day, Charlie -- suffering only a wounded arm -- thanks Kid Colt for saving his company.

Recurring Characters

• Kid Colt

• Steel

The Accused!

Riding through a town the Ringo Kid hears a gunshot coming out of the Express Office and goes in to investigate. He finds the clerk killed with a piece of paper clutched in his hand. As the Ringo Kid recovers the slip someone pistol whips him from behind. When the Kid comes to the sheriff and a local who accuses the Ringo Kid of killing the Express Office clerk and is arrested for the murder of Don Hopkins.

Meanwhile, Ringo Kid's father Cory Rand wonders what is keeping his son to meet up with him and decides to ride into town to learn what happened. Hearing how his son has been arrested, Cory Rand busts his son out of jail and the pair flee town. Setting up camp, Ringo Kid explains to his father what happened. Trusting that his son is innocent, Cory takes the slip of paper and tells his son to turn himself in while he searches for evidence to turn himself in. As Ringo surrenders to the sheriff, Cory arrives at the murder scene and finds the evidence he needs in one of the floorboards.

Cory then consults with one of his old colleagues from his days as a lawyer and gets him to pull some strings and allow Cory (clad in a mask to conceal his identity due to his outlaw status) to represent his son in court. During the trial the witness testimony all points to a guilty charge for Ringo until his father presents the evidence: A bullet from the Ringo Kid's gun a .45 bullet that was shot in the floor to make it look like Ringo Kid shot Hopkins, he then produces the slug found in the body a .44. He then presents the slip of paper showing that a man named Frank Leech owed Hopkins money and is the killer. With his secret exposed Leech attempts to shoot Cory, but misses and he is quickly subdued by the guards. Clear of murder charges the Ringo Kid is released and he and his father ride out of town together.

Recurring Characters

• Ringo Kid

• Arab

The Gauntlet

The Black Rider watches in horror as a tribe of Comanches giving the peace sign is being shot at by a bunch of men and steps in, forcing the men to stop shooting. He learns that the Comanches are all infected with Cholera and that is why the men were shooting at the Native Americans in order to avoid getting infected. The Black Rider sends them away, disgusted that they would rather exterminate the sick instead of trying to treat their illness.

The Black Rider extends an offer to help the Comanches fight off the infection telling them that he can get them a doctor that can help cure them. The Black Rider rides to the Lathrop ranch where he tells both Jim and Marie to go to the Comanches and help prepare for the arrival of Dr. Matthew Masters arrival. As the Black Rider rides off, Marie considers that the Black Rider was giving medical orders much like Masters would. Meanwhile, the Black Rider returns home and changes into his alter ego and loads up with medicine and rides out to treat the Comanches.

Needing to also treat the Comanches back at their tribe, Masters leaves the ill Comanches in the Lathrop’s care again and rides off, running into two of the men he encountered earlier as the Black Rider who hold him at gun point and tell him to turn back, not wanting him to cure the Comanches. Held to his Hippocratic oath Masters turns around, only to secretly change back into the Black Rider. The Rider stars a stampede to get the outlaws out of his way and makes it to the tribe, changing back into Matthew Masters along the way. He then treats the Comanche tribe and leaves them with medicine to continue their treatments. Riding back home Masters comes across the dead bodies of the men who tried to stop him who have all ironically succumbed to Cholera.

Recurring Characters

• Black Rider

• Marie Lathrop

• Jim Lathrop

• Comanches

• Satan