Rocky Lane Western #76

Rocky Lane arrives in a frontier town where a corrupt land agent, Cyril Bearde, has swindled settlers out of their money by selling them worthless desert land. When the deceived settlers rally behind him, Rocky investigates and uncovers the truth: Bearde sold the same land to multiple people and falsified government records.

Rocky Lane, the roving marshal, encounters Shirley Adams and her injured father after hearing a cry near the trail, unaware that the man’s attack was orchestrated by Anse Holman and his gang. When Shirley reveals her family’s discovery of a hidden gold mine—uncovered when her father followed a lost horse into a remote canyon—Rocky realizes the outlaws are desperate to protect their secret, setting the stage for a tense showdown in the mine.

In the Texas border town of Alamillo, Marshal Rocky Lane races to stop a series of cattle raids tied to the elusive outlaw known as El Jefe, whose gang vanishes across the Rio Grande after each heist. Though the ranchers suspect a local traitor, Rocky uncovers a shocking truth when the trail leads back to the Double R Ranch—and to the man he least expected.

Black Jack demonstrates various types of western saddles used on the range, explaining their unique features and purposes, from the sturdy Double-Cinch Texas Rig to the specialized bucking contest saddle and trick rider rigs. He proudly showcases a hand-tooled, silver-and-gold saddle meant for special occasions, highlighting the craftsmanship and practicality behind each design.

Slim Pickens runs a struggling general store in the frontier town, drowning in debt and barely surviving on nuts picked off wallpaper. When a customer returns a ridiculous hat that supposedly came all the way from Australia by boat—only to claim it’s seasick—Slim tries to defend his wares, but ends up trapped in a series of increasingly absurd exchanges that leave him outwitted and out of options.

Charley worries about his goldfish during a drought, fearing he won’t have enough water to keep it alive. Gopher Face reassures him with a bizarre solution involving a damp rag, claiming the fish loved it so much they wagged their tails furiously.