Gabby Hayes Western #29

In the dusty frontier town of Hide-Out, where outlaws rule and honest men are barred, Gabby Hayes tracks down the thief who stole his powerful gun—Hoot Holler, now holed up with his gang in a lawless sanctuary. With Sheriff Slim Daggle’s help and his trusty horse Corker at his side, Gabby confronts the corrupt town’s twisted justice, determined to reclaim his weapon and restore order, no matter the danger.

Young Falcon, tracking a partridge for a gift to the Onanta Camp, stumbles upon the wanted poster for Craig Carson—only to find the fugitive himself, who forces him to surrender his bow and the bird. As Falcon follows a trail of molting feathers through the woods, he devises a plan to outwit Carson, ultimately subduing him and preparing to turn him in.

Pistol Packing Pattie chases a fleeing Cass, accusing him of cowardice, only for Cass to defend himself by claiming his caution is a virtue—especially when it comes to avoiding trouble. The story plays on the contrast between fear and prudence in the Wild West, with Pattie’s sharp tongue and Cass’s quick wit keeping the pace light and humorous.

Chief Gray Matter is called upon to settle a dispute over whether Old Perkins is a liar, and after a thoughtful pause, he delivers a clever, humorous verdict by pointing out that Perkins can’t even get his own hogs to respond without help.

When a traveling photographer named Tim Type sets up shop in town, Gabby Hayes and Hettie find themselves trapped in a series of increasingly absurd poses, resulting in a series of hilariously distorted photos that soon become a local sensation. As the comical images spread and Tim begins profiting from them, Gabby vows to track down the trickster and reclaim their dignity.

Gabby Hayes arrives at the Bar Nothing to take on the role of foreman, only to face off against the intimidating Porky Quill, a man whose stiff, needle-like whiskers make him nearly invincible. As tensions rise and even the assistant foreman Fred Larsen is felled by a single bristle, Gabby must think fast to outwit the human porcupine before he takes over the ranch.

Loco Lew, a self-proclaimed expert on frontier logistics, tries to convince a bewildered newcomer that walking to town from the remote depot is out of the question—despite the absurd distance. The man, shocked by the setup, agrees to pay fifty cents for a ride, only to question why the depot was placed so far from town. Loco Lew delivers a deadpan explanation that leaves the newcomer utterly stunned.

Gabby Hayes finds himself trapped in a tree as Donuts Duncan’s rustler gang prepares to raid the Bar Nothing, while his young sidekick Tippy races to rally help. With his gun stuck and ammunition dwindling, Gabby enlists the unlikely aid of Bushy, the squirrel, who helps distract the gang by stealing their doughnuts and sabotaging their horses.