Apache Kid #4
The Stagecoach Massacre!
An army stage coach carrying gold is robbed and the soldiers murdered by what appears to be Apache warriors. Captain Bill Gregory calls in his friend Aloysius Kare and demands he make a confession. Knowing the Apache people are innocent of wrong doing, Kare denies his people were involved. Gregory then shows him a number of arrows collected from the murder scene and tries to put Kare under arrest. Aloysius refuses to be captured and manages to escape from the Fort before any of the soldiers can capture him. With Kare gone, Gregory orders his men to get ready for an attack on the Apaches.
Meanwhile, Kare changes into the Apache Kid and warns his father Red Hawk of what is happening. Believing that his people have been framed, Apache Kid convinces Red Hawk to keep the American army at bay while he tries to find the real killer. Deciding that answers can be found in town, Apache Kid disguises himself and enters a local saloon. There he overhears a man named Blackie Grimm offer to buy everyone drinks with his newly obtained wealth. Grimm notices that a Native American is in the bar, and after telling Apache Kid that the Apaches will never spend the stolen $5000 tosses him out of the bar.
Having heard enough, Apache Kid doffs his disguise and returns to the bar, accusing Blackie Grimm of stealing the gold and framing the Apaches, pointing out that Blackie and his men know too much about the robbery. When Blackie's men draw their guns, Apache Kid kills one of them with his throwing knife. Before he can do anything else, Captain Gregory gets the drop on him and orders Apache Kid to surrender. When the Kid tries to explain to Gregory that Grimm is responsible for the robbery, Blackie tries to silence him but his aim is off and he only hits Apache Kid in the shoulder. Blackie then has his gun shot out of his hand by Gregory. As Apache Kid explains the whole story, Blackie and his men hold them at gun point. Apache Kid whistles for his horse Nightwind who rushes into the saloon sending the gang sprawling. Blackie manages to rush to the upper level of the saloon but is wounded by one of Apache Kid's arrows. He then tries to throw an oil lantern at them, but Apache Kid knocks it out of his hand and slays Blackie with a swarm of arrows. With Blackie dead and the Apaches cleared of wrong doing, Gregory apologizes to Apache Kid for accusing his people.
Recurring Characters
Apache Kid
Bill Gregory
Red Hawk
Nightwind
The Eagle Shrieks
Aloysius Kare is riding the range when he spots a massive eagle carrying off one of his Apache people. He rushes to where a number of other Apaches are herding sheep. With his rifle, he manages to wound the eagle, sending its captive falling to the ground. However the eagle quickly gets out of range of Kare's bullets. The herders tell Kare that the eagle has been plaguing them for some time now, having stolen many of their sheep. Kare decides that this is a matter he must get involved in and slips off to change into the Apache Kid.
Apache Kid returns to his tribe and informs the people that he intends to hunt and kill the eagle. However the tribal medicine man warns Apache Kid against hunting the creature, telling him that his magic is the only way to banish the eagle. Apache Kid refuses to stand down and rides off to eliminate the eagle. Fearing that he may be discredited, the medicine man decides to try and stop the Apache Kid with his faithful panther. They follow Apache Kid as the hero locates the eagle's nest. They watch as the Kid scales down to the nest by rope. The medicine man then cuts the rope trapping Apache Kid on the cliff side nest with no way to escape.
Ironically, the eagle returns and attacks the medicine man instead. Apache Kid shoots the eagle with an arrow, killing it and sending the medicine man falling to his death. Fixing his rope, the Apache Kid climbs up the cliff and is attacked by the medicine man's panther, but the hero throws his knife into the large cat and sends it falling off the cliff as well. With the eagle dead, the Apache people celebrate Apache Kid's victory.
Recurring Characters
Apache Kid
White Swan
Nightwind
Claws of Death
Apache Kid wins yet another fight against his chief rival, Running Moose. Furious over this latest humiliation, Running Moose once more begins to plot against the Apache Kid. He talks to his friend Timber Snake and learns that the great bear, Big Claws, has returned to the area and is living in a near by cave. Before Timber Snake can warn Red Hawk of this, Running Moose tells him to hold off, having formulated a scheme to eliminate Apache Kid.
Learning the location of Big Claws cave, Running Moose goes to scout the area and finds that Big Claws has returned with a mate. He then returns to the tribe and challenges Apache Kid to eliminate Big Claws by using only one arrow. To this end, he hopes that Apache Kid will use his only arrow against one of the bears leaving him open to attack from the other.
Arriving at the cave, Running Moose deliberately wounds Big Claws sending the bear fleeing back into it's cave. Apache Kid follows the beast inside and is attacked by its mate, he then kills it with his arrow. Big Claws returns for another attack, and during the fight Apache Kid pulls the arrow out of Big Claw's arm. While Running Moose is cowering and asking Apache Kid to protect him, the Kid kills Big Claws with the liberated arrow.
As Red Hawk and the other tribes members arrive to see the victor, Running Moose warns Apache Kid of Big Claw's mate, implicating his treachery. As punishment, Red Hawk orders Running Moose into exile and banishes him from the tribe. As he leaves in disgrace, Running Moose vows to get revenge against the Apache Kid someday.
Recurring Characters
Apache Kid
Red Hawk
Running Moose
Nightwind
