Monte Hale Western #53

Gabby Hayes takes pride in his horse Corker, who's been honored with a statue in Rawhide, but his boasting catches the attention of some dangerous criminals planning a theft. When a robbery attempt puts both Gabby and Corker in harm's way, the loyal horse must prove he's worth all the fuss.

When a daring bank robbery leaves behind a single clue—a tiny gold locket—Monte Hale follows the trail to the San Pablo Mission, where he discovers the keepsake belongs to the Dallas Kid, a wanted outlaw with a young daughter. A tense confrontation at the mission sets off a deadly chase into the Skyline Hills, but when Monte saves the girl's life, the Dallas Kid must decide between his loyalty to the ruthless Henshaw Gang and the chance to become the father his daughter deserves.

Slim Pickens runs a general store with a no-nonsense approach to business—until a persistent character named Gun-Shy Pete wanders in looking for money, sword-swallowing gigs, and every imaginable item under the sun, each request more ridiculous than the last. What unfolds is a rapid-fire battle of wits as Slim's patience gets worn thinner with each absurd question and joke, from fake sword-swallowing acts to wearing green sunglasses while eating yellow pea soup. In this 1950 Monte Hale Western tale, it's a race to see which runs out first: Slim's temper or Gun-Shy Pete's supply of wisecracks.

Bronko Betsy challenges Paw with a classic riddle: which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of iron? When Paw insists the iron is heavier, Betsy decides to settle the debate the hard way—by dropping both from the roof to prove her point. This lighthearted western romp puts a frontier spin on an old puzzle, with plenty of slapstick humor to match.

Monte Hale rolls into Prairie City exhausted from six days on the trail, only to be roped into a three-event challenge against Tex Mabie, a boastful Texas tough who claims he can outmatch any man in the West—but the prize money is going to build a hospital, so Monte agrees despite his desperate need for sleep. Through a flapjack-eating contest, bronc-riding competition, and final wrestling match, the drowsy cowboy faces off against the giant Texan in a battle where staying awake might be just as tough as winning.