Tales of Wells Fargo

Just following the close of the Civil War, a group of diehard Southerners are ostensibly giving a ball in a mansion near New Orleans. Actually, the ball is only a mask for a daring raid on a nearby steamer in which, though there is plenty of money to take, only one item has been stolen: an item marked Casket 7.3.

More than anything else in the world, Jim Hardie wants to capture a magnificent black stallion, who roams with his herd in the vicinity of Jim's ranch. However, one day as he and Beau are out tracking the stallion, Jim is shot at and wounded by an outlaw named Purdy.

A heavily guarded coach rolls into the little town of Cinnabar. Jim Hardie, together with Beau, a guard, are relieved to see that no trouble has yet been encountered.

Jeb has a surprise package arriving on the train and it is met by Jim and Jeb. While taking delivery, they see young Davie Heweitt, a badly scarred outlaw who is sensitive of his face, being kicked off the train.

Jim Hardie and Beau McCloud arrive in Indian country to be met by a hostile brave, Red Knife. Disarmed, they are taken to Chief Pochalo, who learns his daughter, Tanoa, will soon finish the white man's school.

On a train approaching Gloribee, the conductor has difficulty in communicating with a famous clown, a Mr. Mute (Signori Muto). On the same train are LaPorte and Hull, who knock out the man in charge of Wells Fargo, take $50,000 and secrete it in Mute's trunk, secure in the knowledge that he is routed through to Denver.

When outlaw Jeremiah Logart goes to raid a town with his gang, he is met by Hardie, backed up by other guns. Jeremiah escapes, and Beau and Hardie go after him. Hardie sends Beau on, the latter not knowing he is about to be shot by Jeremiah.

Gloribee is all excited when the stage arrives bearing The Frisco Kid who, during his two-week stay there, will challenge all corners. Joe Dooley accompanies, and also on the stage is Lucy Croydon, operator of a fashionable restaurant in San Francisco.

Hardie and Beau track down Matt Blackner, an old man, Blackner is wanted for having stolen $48,000 from a stagecoach, but has double-crossed his own gang. To recover the money, and because he knows this man, Hardie agrees to allow Blackner, who is a heart attack victim also, to visit his family, whom he has not seen in many years.

Hardie and Beau go to a station to fire an old-timer, Frank Dane. Dane does not want to quit work, even though he is being offered a pension.

Coleman Flagg, an old mule-skinner, is taking three saloon ladies, one of which has witnessed a killing out of the state for the murder trial. He is followed by Kalo, who is a boyfriend of one of them, and it is to his advantage that the girls do not reach their destination.

Hardie and Beau await at a camp site the arrival of Jamie Coburn, a member of the Morgan Gang. After Hardie gives Jamie $5,000, the latter surrenders and as part of the deal start for the town of Calico.

Two thugs, Coley and Joe, tie up Gus, relay station keeper, and attempt to rob the stage of a packet in the mail. They are foiled, with the help of Roger Montclair, who first helps Beau outwit the outlaws, then slugs Beau and takes the package.

Wally Lambert, a youngster, rides into his outlaw brother's camp, Frank. The latter is furious when he hears that a Wells Fargo agent, Jim Hardie, has been at the ranch that morning, for Frank knows that Hardie has probably tailed Wally, which is exactly what has happened.

As the story opens, in the time of Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, we see that a Colonel Navarro and his two aides are cold-bloodedly murdered by a Capt. Navarro and his two men, Lucera and Scorpio. Peralta takes Navarro's papers and a little later arrives in San Francisco, masquerading as Navarro.

Ella Congreve returns to San Francisco from a triumphant European tour wherein not only did she break records with her singing but collected a magnificent set of jewels from wealthy and titled men.

As the story opens, Sgt. Gaine talks to four troopers in the guardhouse of Ft. McKee. They are there on a sentence of death, because, as Simon puts it, they know that the commanding officer, Col. Bledsoe, receiving orders not to fight the Piutes, has done so.

Katherine Murdock, daughter of a wealthy industrialist, and a writer in her own right, comes west to write about what it is really like. On the train she meets rough and crude Nathan Chance.

As the Wells Fargo stagecoach moves toward San Francisco, it carries an unarmed Jim Hardie; Flo Healey, ex-prostitute travelling with her fiance, Arthur King, from New Jersey; and Duke Tolliver, a professional gambler.

As the story opens, Poderio, a grandee in the landed gentry style, is searching for an American portrait painter, Mel Akins. With Poderio, is Lopez, to whom Poderio gives a letter, knowing that Wells Fargo will place on it the forwarding address.

When three drovers, from a nearby herd of cattle which is awaiting certification, arrive in town, they molest a lady who is wearing a bird hat. When Jeb attempts to prevent this, he is in turn set upon by the drunken drovers, but Hardie Jeb, by shooting the gun out of the hand of the drover, injuring him.

When Brad Axton, middle-aged school teacher, leaves a small school, the students in appreciation, give him a book on Socrates. All this is watched by two hard cases, Sunderman and Morgan, who speculate as to Axton's next move.

In the middle of a heavy mountain blizzard in the Sierras, a stagecoach pulls into a deserted town. It being impossible to go on, the passengers enter a deserted hotel. These are the drivers, Hardie, Tina and Jeb.

As the story opens, Chuck (Chauncey) Evans senselessly pumps shells into an already dead jackrabbit. His uncle, knowing the maniacal tendencies throws the boy out of the house and tells him never to return, for he has lived in terror of Chuck's rages for the past ten years.

Hardie, Sheriff Maxon and a posse besiege a shack in which some stage robbers have held up. Eventually, one of them, Telly Sherman, surrenders but another one, Jeff Callan, attempts to run.