Best Western#59(1949)

In the western town of Hatter's Gap Hook Creech is confronted by Frank Jepson the man from Wells Fargo who demands that he turn over his sheriff's badge because he has not been elected into the position. Hook refuses to do so as he is determined to capture the outlaw who calls himself the Mad Monk. The situation almost turns out into a full on fight when one of the old drunks tries to tell off Hook and is kicked told to leave by Jepson. Jepson reminds Hook that he has to stop the Mad Monk because the outlaw has robbed four gold shipments. The old drunk rides out of town and sets up camp for the night, when he is confronted by someone he recognizes and is killed. Kid Colt rides by and comes across the dead body. He is spotted by Frank Jepson catches Kid Colt, and explains that he wants to take the Kid in as a witness since the drunk's head was bashed in just in a way that Hook threatened to do at the saloon earlier that day. Kid Colt refuses, pulling his guns on Jepson and managing to escape, however Steel's front leg is grazed by a bullet requiring immediate attention. Kid Colt is forced to take his horse into Hatter's Gap. Entering the town he is confronted by Hook Creech who also demands to know what Kid Colt is doing. Kid Colt shoots the gun out of Creech's hands. Kid Colt recognizes Creech from the days when he ran with "Killer" Farnam's outfit. Learning that Hook has gone straight and become sheriff of town, Kid Colt agrees to help him hunt down the Mad Monk. Kid Colt tells Hook about his run in with Jepson who accused him of being the Mad Monk. Before they can discuss things further they hear gun shots and run out to find out the source. They witness as the Mad Monk and his men flee the town after successfully robbing the bank. Hook rushes to gather a posse while Kid Colt gets his horse look at by a vet before retiring for the night. While resting in bed, Kid Colt realizes that there is a connection between Jepson and the Mad Monk and that's why the old drunk was killed. When Hook returns he tells him as much and prepares to leave to follow Jepson's backtrail. However as he is getting ready to leave, Kid Colt is shot at from the window by the Mad Monk himself, who manages to get away before the Kid can shoot back. When he rushes downstairs, he finds Jepson in the saloon having found the Mad Monk's hood and is blaming Hook Creech of being the Monk. No longer certain of the identity of the Monk, Kid Colt and Hook follow Jepson's backtrail from the camp. The trail leads them to a hill with a tapped rock at the top. Dismounting their horses and crawling up, they find a cabin which Kid Colt assumes is the Mad Monk's hideout. Suddenly Hook pulls a gun on him and explains that both he and Jepson were both posing as the Mad Monk in order to make people question the true identity of the Monk. However, upon learning that Jepson was accusing him of being the Mad Monk, Hook realizes that there is something going on. Suddenly Jepson arrives and shoots the gun out of Hook's hand. He then orders Kid Colt to stand down. The Kid whistles for Steel who distracts Jepson long enough for the Kid to shoot him dead. Suddenly Hook lunges at him and demands that he drop his guns. The Kid complies, but shoves Hook back into the tapped rock causing it to tumble down crushing the hideout and killing Hook Creech in he process. With the mystery of the Mad Monk solved, Kid Colt rides out of town.