Lash LaRue Western #18

Bud Prescott claims his father, ex-sheriff Pop Gaynes, has been moved to Bucktown for his health, but when the mayor and townspeople grow suspicious after Pop vanishes without a word, they summon Lash LaRue to investigate. The detective uncovers a web of lies when he finds no doctor’s orders and discovers a hidden room in the old house, leading to a tense confrontation with Prescott, who confesses to imprisoning Pop to keep collecting his pension.

In a brief, lighthearted moment at a bank, Molasses Mouth insists black cats bring bad luck—only to contradict himself by claiming he once found a five-dollar bill after one crossed his path. His logic quickly unravels when someone points out that the cat might have actually brought him good fortune, leaving him flustered and defending his superstitious belief with a flimsy excuse.

Wagonwheels, proud of his new role as master of ceremonies at the old opera house, is ordered by a dismissive customer to fetch a cigar. The man’s insult about Wagonwheels being a “mastoid of cere-monies” only fuels his pride, leading to a comedic showdown of egos in the dusty frontier town.

Dusty, after receiving a dirty sweater and questionable cookies from a well-meaning friend, is persuaded by Lash LaRue to hunt a nearby wolf pack to prove himself a hero. Though skeptical and wary of past mishaps—like accidentally shooting himself and needing a dog’s blood transfusion—he’s tempted by the promise of gifts, including suits, food, and even flowers. As he sets off, the story leaves his fate unresolved, with the promise of a showdown hanging in the air.

In a remote frontier town, the roving marshal Lash LaRue investigates a string of robberies targeting widows, suspecting a cunning outlaw disguising himself as a traveling saleswoman. When he corners the thief at Widow Sanders’ home, he discovers the suspect is not who she seems—and the real mastermind is still at large, setting a trap in the treacherous quicksand near Ciderville.

A young man, known only as Squinty, claims to be the King of Cellmania after being robbed, tricking a weary traveler into helping him by promising knighthood and money. As the impostor's scheme unravels and creditors close in, the real King makes a dramatic escape—only to be caught by Lash LaRue, who returns the stolen goods and restores order.