Random Happenstance

My Cowboys just lost again, which doesn't narrow down when I wrote this, but we might as well squeeze in another issue of this one: From 1973, Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery #50.

"Legend of the Totem" is a fun enough yarn: a vacationing family visit an Indian Native American tourist trap and hear a legend of a lizard god versus a bear one. The language may be a bit dated, but it felt like it was trying: "Zaqui Zeke," the proprietor of the tourist trap, was an authentic native but had gone to Wharton business school. Back when that meant something...Art by Jack Sparling.

"Taking Care of Business" is of a line of horror/suspense stories that's largely defunct with the advent of cell phones: a couple on vacation, lost, stumbles into trouble. In this one, the couple find shelter in a secluded house, but keep seeing glimpses of a too-tall face. Still, don't always assume the worst. (Art by George Roussos.) In "The Raging Sands," a prospector finds a potentially valuable statue, but it seems to be getting heavier and heavier as he tries to take it through the desert. (Art by John Celardo.)

Finally, in "Live Bait," two men are left on an island surrounded by piranhas and with a giant man-eating lizard. They have a knockout powder that could maybe take out the lizard, but one of them would have to be the bait. (They had plenty of powder: both men could've loaded up on it, split up, and at least they would both have a chance.) As usual for this style of story, somebody has to try and cheat; but that usually insures they'll get theirs. (Art by Jose Delbo.)

A random selection of old Gold Keys, and I feel like I've typed the names Delbo and Celardo more than a few times. And probably will again!