Bill Boyd Western #21

Windy, nursing a swollen finger, visits a quack doctor who insists on hot water treatments—only to find his condition worsening with each visit. Desperate, he follows his young nephew’s advice to use cold water, which miraculously clears up the swelling, leading him to confront the doctor in mock outrage. The tale ends with Windy’s exaggerated story earning him a five-dollar reward and a hearty laugh.

Bill Boyd follows a trail of gold dust left by the escaped henchman Cutter, leading to a remote shack in the hills that quickly turns into a trap. With the shack set ablaze and the door sealed, Boyd and the sheriff must find a way out—before they’re burned alive.

Bill Boyd stumbles into a hidden tunnel beneath the jailhouse, uncovering the stolen loot and realizing the fugitives—Storm and Mills—had used it to escape while he and the sheriff followed a false trail. As he investigates further, he discovers a second tunnel leading to the graveyard, where the outlaws are preparing a daring escape by substituting corpses for themselves and blowing up the jail. With the fugitives cornered and one by one subdued, Bill Boyd outwits their final plan before sealing the tunnels and turning the criminals over to the sheriff.

Hamlet Hambone returns to town after two decades, boasting of his triumphant tour as a self-proclaimed great actor, director, and playwright. He enthusiastically recounts his latest performance at Podunk Music Hall, where even the audience’s age is a source of confusion, and his fan mail—though plentiful—is oddly unflattering.