Hopalong Cassidy #28

When Hopalong Cassidy investigates the sudden disappearance of a friend and a strange shift in the behavior of the Savajo tribe, he uncovers a conspiracy led by a rogue leader known as Red Dust, who plans to destroy Twin River. As the sheriff races to stop the impending attack, he finds himself captured and forced to confront the truth behind the uprising—before the town falls to violence.

Hopalong Cassidy races to intercept the fugitive Smirk Taggart, who has evaded capture by hiding in Twin River under a disguise. As the sheriff and his deputy maintain a watch on the town’s two exits, Taggart manipulates the deputy into surrendering his gun, forcing him to choose between duty and survival. With time running out, Hopalong must act fast to stop Taggart before he escapes—or worse, harms an innocent.

Hopalong Cassidy and Hillbilly share a brief exchange about Hillbilly’s plans to write letters, prompting playful banter about his literacy. The moment takes a sudden turn when Pistol Packing Pattie arrives, warning of the notorious outlaw Bad Jim Crowley, whose arrival sets the stage for a tense standoff at the bank.

Whitey Whiskers schemes to sneak into the rodeo for free by impersonating a woman, using Mrs. Oakley’s dress dummy as a disguise, but his plan unravels when he’s caught in the act and forced to face the consequences. The story follows his misadventures with humor and a touch of frontier justice, all while staying true to the lighthearted spirit of the western frontier.

In the dusty town of Twin River, Hopalong Cassidy encounters J. Whitford Gullible, a traveling salesman with a knack for outwitting the gullible—starting with a fake gold bracelet sold at a steep price. As the town prepares for its masquerade ball, Cassidy must unravel a web of deception when the bracelet’s true worth is revealed and a masked figure impersonates Widow Jones, leading to a chaotic confrontation at the party.

Pistol Packin' Pattie, disguised as a stagecoach driver, tries to outwit a wanted outlaw by luring him into a trap at a general store, using exaggerated boasts and clever misdirection to keep him off guard. The tension builds as the outlaw, convinced he's cornered, grows increasingly nervous—though his real danger may be more from his own overconfidence than from any gun.

Tumbleweed Jr. tries to end a feud between the Sioux and LavaJoe tribes over a creek by inventing the "Peace Dance," a simple routine meant to bring them together. As he teaches the steps to each group, the tribes' clumsy attempts at dancing only escalate their bickering—until the entire situation spirals into a farcical, chaotic mess.

In the quiet frontier town of Twin River, Hopalong Cassidy confronts Buffalo Bayne, a seasoned hunter now at odds with a new law banning buffalo kills. When Bayne’s nephew, Ward, appears desperate for money and suspiciously unbothered by his uncle’s sudden death, Hopalong uncovers a web of deceit that leads to a shocking twist.