Kid Colt Outlaw #71
Silver Ghost Showdown
A flaming cart is rolling out of control from the Silver Ghost Mine sending it on a collision course with the town of Hardwater below. As everyone stands frozen in terror, Kid Colt mounts his horse and races up the mountain road. Catching up with the speeding cart, the Kid shoots the spokes out of the wheels causing the wagon to veer off course and crash, saving the town.
As Kid Colt is being hailed as a hero, the local Marshall asks to speak with him in private. At his office, the Marshall tells Kid Colt that some outlaws have been trying to take control of the Silver Ghost Mine and if they act fast, they can catch them as they return to their camp.
Meanwhile, the outlaws return to their leader, Trip, and tells him that they succeeded. However, none of them stuck around long enough to see the wagon reach the town. However, they come upon Kid Colt who is walking his horse through the pass. They ask him about Hardwater and he tells them the entire town is on fire. Believing Kid Colt, Trip and his men figure they can take the Silver Ghost Mine for themselves and offer the Kid a cut if he helps them dig. When Kid Colt asks them if they have a legitimate title to dig the mine, Trip laughs in his face. That’s when they notice that Hardwater is perfectly fine and realize they have been tricked.
When they turn to get Kid Colt, he draws and shoots the guns out of their hands. At the same time, the Marshall and a posse emerge from the mine to take them all into custody. With Trip’s gang in custody, the Marshall thanks Kid Colt for all his help.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
The Last Notch
While on the Socorro Trail, Kid Colt suddenly finds himself under fire.. But with some fancy acrobatics, he manages to twist himself around on his horse to shoot the guns out of the shooter’s hands. Unfortunately, Kid Colt’s luck runs out when Steel gets tripped on a snare wire sending his passenger falling to the ground. As Kid Colt recovers from his fall his attackers surround him.
Taken prisoner, Kid Colt is brought to a man named Mustang Ivy who has heard all about Kid Colt’s prowess wth a gun. He then shows off his own guns, particularly the handles which are covered with notches that denote how many gunfights he has won. He then says that his guns have room for one more notch and wants that to be from defeating the legendary Kid Colt. He doesn’t want to fight right then and there but when next they meet. Kid Colt promises he’ll be around and to give a demonstration of what Ivy will have to compete with, Kid Colt quickly draws his guns and shoots the weapons out of his minion’s hands. Mustang is impressed but vows that Kid Colt will lose against his guns.
Word quickly spreads about Mustang Ivy’s challenge against Kid Colt and as a result, Kid Colt is turned away from many towns in the area. Eventually, he settles in the town of El Segundo. Word quickly reaches Mustang Ivy who heads out to face Kid Colt. Back in town, Kid Colt is met by a man who is very interested in the upcoming duel. He sheds some insight on Ivy’s motivations, saying dueling is in his blood and suggests that while Mustang his hunting down Kid Colt, someone may be hunting Mustang.
When Mustang finally finds Kid Colt, they agree to duel. However, before either man can shoot, the stranger that talked to Kid Colt earlier comes rushing out of an alleyway so he can outshoot Mustang Ivy. Quickly, Kid Colt shoots the guns out of both men’s hands, saving their lives. Kid Colt then points out the ridiculousness of it all saying that this way of life only means you’re always the last notch of some other gunfighters gun. Thanking Kid Colt for teaching them the errors of their ways, the three outlaws part company.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
The Rebel
While out on the trail, Kid Colt spots a man pointing a gun at the local Marshall. Quick thinking, Kid Colt shoots the gun out of the man’s hand, prompting him to flee. Before any more shots can be fire, the Marshall orders Kid Colt to stop shooting. As it turns out the man with the gun is actually the Marshal’s own son who has gone bad. Hearing his plight, Kid Colt offers to help and begins tracking the young man.
The next morning, Kid Colt pretends to try and rob the young man. The youth tells Kid Colt that he is also on the run from the law and suggests they work together. The Kid likes this idea, but the Marshall’s son admits that he lost his guns recently but assures his new partner that he can pick up another pair soon. That’s when Kid Colt says he has a pair of guns and produces the guns that the young man was forced to abandon the night before. Kid Colt explains that he took them off a Marshall the night before and left him tied up. When the Marshall’s son asks if he left him with food and water, Kid Colt scoffs at this idea. Later, they run into an elderly man in the desert who asks them for food and water. Feeling bad for the gentleman, the young man gives him some food and water. Kid Colt then tells the kid that he needs to harden up if he wants to be an outlaw.
Hearing this convinces the young man that he no longer wants to be an outlaw and offers to ride the old man back to town. As they ride away, Kid Colt is glad that his plan worked. When the boy returns home he unties his father unaware that this entire ordeal was just a scheme to put him back on the straight and narrow.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
Gunhawks Not Wanted
Kid Colt happens upon a rancher named Rowan who is having his cattle taken by a man named Graham. The rancher pleads with Graham not to take the cattle as he needs them to keep his family alive. Kid Colt shoots the guns out of their hands and tells the men to stop, but Graham says that he has a legal right to the cattle because Rowan owes him money and the cattle will settle his debts. When he learns that Rowan only owes sixty-five dollars and interest, Kid Colt decides to pay it. However, he dumps change onto the ground and makes the men pick it up. When Graham complains it is a dollar short, Kid Colt says that Graham owes him a dollar for wasting two bullets earlier. The ranchers thank Kid Colt for his help but soon the local sheriff comes to talk to him. Kid Colt explains what happened and says he’ll only be in town long enough to get a job and earn money for fresh supplies and then he’ll be on his way.
However, Kid Colt finds this easier said than done when he gets to town as most shopowners aren’t interested in hiring a gunslinger like Kid Colt. However the town changes their tune when some outlaws arrive in town, the sheriff quickly comes to Kid Colt for help running them out of town. Kid Colt agrees to help and runs the outlaws out. This makes him a hero in the eyes of the locals who vow never to judge Kid Colt from his reputation again.
Recurring Characters
Kid Colt, Steel
