Lash La Rue Western #61

A young man and a cowboy share a moment of camaraderie as they exchange tales of peculiar frontier oddities, from bucking horses and saddle-eating porcupines to the curious habit of tipping hats as a sign of trust. The story weaves in quirky historical facts about cowboy life, highlighting the strange and often humorous realities of the western frontier.

In the dusty frontier town of Diamond, a stagecoach races wildly into town after being hijacked at the fork outside, leaving the driver dead. Lash La Rue, the sheriff, stays behind when the townsfolk form a posse, suspecting a trap—his hunch proves right when he uncovers a conspiracy involving the stagecoach passengers and a bank heist orchestrated by Jed Mobray.

Pudgy, teased by Grocery for his size, insists he’s still a fighter despite his softness, claiming he once battled the champion of an African tribe—though he can’t quite recall what the tribe was called. Grocery challenges him to prove it, leading to a series of increasingly absurd boasts and a final suggestion that the only real exercise Pudgy needs is to push himself away from the dinner table three times a day.

In the annual rodeo, Lash La Rue wins the bullwhip contest, sparking fury from Mike Butcher, who protests the result and vows revenge. After being framed for stealing gold from a mining claim, Lash tracks Butcher across frontier camps, confronting him in a tense showdown where the real thief is finally exposed.

Beggs and Cole argue over Cole’s cousin Esmeralda, with Cole furious about Beggs kissing her at a party. When Beggs defends his actions by claiming she’s the gal of his dreams—though only in nightmares—Cole insists Esmeralda is too young and points to her veil and her father’s false teeth as proof she’s not as she seems.

Dopey Danny Dee tries to impress a friend by showing off his French skills at a French restaurant, only to struggle hilariously with the language when the waiter arrives. His flustered attempts to order in French lead to a comical misunderstanding, prompting a quick-thinking friend to step in and save the day.