Kid Colt Outlaw #69
Tinhorn Sheriff!
Kid Colt arrives in the town of Copperhead just as the town sheriff, Jeff Crandall getting tossed out of the local saloon. Surprisingly, Crandall gets up and tries to go back in only to get thrown out again. Seeing that sheriff is outnumbered, Kid Colt lends a hand with the unruly patrons. After Jeff thanks Kid Colt for his help and decides that explanations are in order. He tells Kid Colt that he is a peaceful man and that’s why he doesn’t carry guns because he figured the pen is mightier than the sword. Before he became the town sheriff he was a reporter for the local newspaper the Copperhead Sentinel. His time in as sheriff taught him that trying to clean up the town without guns is easier said than done. However, Kid Colt believes that Jeff can run the newspaper and keep law and order in town and offers to help. Delighted by the offer Crandall hires Kid Colt and they begin working on putting out a new edition of the paper.
Some of the local outlaws’ word of this and decide to pay Crandall a visit but they don’t expect Kid Colt to be there and the outlaw hero quickly runs them out of the building. The next day, Kid Colt goes into town to sell advertising space for the Sentinel. He also goes around town and gets news stories and as well as arresting crooks. Eventually, the lawless element grows fed up with the interference from Jeff Crandall and his newspaper. They all decide to pay Crandall a visit at the newspaper office again. When they force their way inside they find the office empty. Suddenly the door shuts behind them and locks tight. This is followed by a bunch of skunks being dropped down the chimney. When the crooks are finally let out, Jeff Crandall and a posse are there to arrest them. With law and order restored to Copperhead, Jeff thanks Kid Colt who tells him that the pen is only as good as the sword that helps defend it.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
Phantom Ambush!
Kid Colt accidentally wanders onto a Mandan burial site and can’t help but feel like someone is watching him. When he hears something behind him, the Kid whirls around to face it with guns drawn. As he does so he thinks back to the events that led him here….
Earlier that day, Kid Colt was breaking down his camp in the Salt Lick Badlands when he suddenly a large shadow looms over him. It turns out to be Drakul, his Native American outlaw. Drakul tries to warn the Kid but he collapses from wounds that appear to be caused by a cougar attack. Realizing Drakul needs immediate medical attention, Kid Colt takes him into a nearby town. The doctor later tells Kid Colt that Drakul is expected to survive and asks what happened. Kid Colt explains that Drakul was the son of the chief of the Mandan Native Americans but went rogue and later became a hatchet man for the Wolf Sabine Gang. Kid Colt thought that Drakul was coming to kill him after he recovered some gold that was stolen by Sabine and his men. When Drakul begins coming around they decide to question him. Drakul explains that Wolf Sabine lied to him and after he discovered that the gold they stole was going to be given to his people for a land sale, Sabine betrayed him. Kid Colt assures him that the gold will get to his people and tells Drakul to rest. Kid Colt, however, decides to bring Wolf Sabine and his gang to justice.
At that moment, Wolf Sabine is informed that Drakul managed to escape but they figure he is done for. Still, Wolf wants to make sure the Native American is dead. However, when they arrive at the spot where they last saw him they discover that he’s gone. They follow the trail to Doctor Driscoll’s home and force him to hand over Drakul. They tell him that if Kid Colt wants to see Drakul alive again they’ll meet him at the old Mandan burial ground.
… Finishing his recollection, Kid Colt spots Wolf Sabine and his gang and decides to use the masks and headdresses at the site to scare the outlaws into thinking the area is haunted. This allows Kid Colt to get the drop on them. With the outlaws subdued, he discovers that Drakul is safe and tells him that his people will welcome him back.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
Shoot Fast or Die!
While attempting to enter the town of Red Creek for supplies, Kid Colt is stopped by the sheriff who tells the outlaw that he’s not welcome in their town. When Kid Colt asks why the sheriff explains that there is a man in town who claims he’ll get Kid Colt if he lays eyes on him. However, Kid Colt isn’t looking for any fights and offers to turn over his guns if it helps keep the peace while he resupplies himself. The sheriff agrees to this suggestion and takes Kid Colt’s guns away.
At that moment, in the local saloon, some of the patrons are amused by the young man who has vowed to take down Kid Colt. They decide to place bets on who will win and goads the young man to go out and confront Kid Colt. Outside, the sheriff is escorting Kid Colt to the local shop and orders the young man to stand down. He asks what his gripe with Kid Colt is and he says he’s got nothing against the Kid, he just wants to face him down to earn a reputation. The sheriff will have none of this and forces the young man to hang up his guns along with Kid Colt’s at the sheriff’s office.
That evening, someone breaks into the sheriff’s office and takes the Drake’s guns. When the sheriff sees this in the morning he wants to bring Drake in, but Kid Colt asks to handle the situation his way. Kid Colt agrees to duel with Drake and even allows him to take the first shots. When Drake fires, he misses. Kid Colt then stands down and approaches Drake to show him something. He knew the young man would disobey orders and skirt with death and wanted to teach him a lesson. The Kid reveals that he bent the sights on Drake’s guns so he’d intentionally miss. Drake insists that he could have hit Kid Colt if his guns weren’t tampered with. Kid Colt shows him the contrary by showing him that his guns weren’t even loaded.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
Dangerous Game
Kid Colt stops a young man named Stark before he can rob a stagecoach. Stark is furious that the Kid stopped him, reminding him that they are old family friends and his father would be disappointed that the Kid interfered with his robbery. However, Kid Colt knows that Cabe Stark would not approve of what his son is doing. That’s when the young man tells him that his father was framed by the two men in the stagecoach, men by the name of Jake Penning and Carl Miller. Kid Colt tells the kid to tell him all about it over lunch and after hearing how they frame Cabe a bank robbery, Kid Colt promises that he’ll help free his father as long as they do thinks his way.
Meanwhile, Penning and Miller are at the Tribe Hill Bank, securing a loan by posing as men buying cattle for which they will sell to the government for an inflated price, swindling local ranchers out of any real money. Kid Colt shows up for the cattle sale and tells Miller and Penning that he has a more cattle than they have money to pay for. He convinces them that he can get the cattle by crooked means. Falling for the trap, Kid Colt gives them a phony bill of sale and after the two swindlers hand over the money, Kid Colt and Stark round them up for the authorities. After returning the stolen money to the governor, he agrees to release Cabe Stark.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
