The Bully of Dry Gulch — Epilogue
by Tom Nichol

Based on the episode of the same name from the
Adventures of Superman (1954)

[AUTHOR’S NOTE—Although this is one of the supposedly “lighter” episodes in the series, the villain in this story, along with his literal “partners in crime,” actually committed some very real and very serious criminal offenses, which are explained in this epilogue.]

A week had passed since Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen had encountered a town bully known as “Gunner Flinch” in a town known as “Dry Gulch,” where they had gotten stuck when their car had broken down. Because Gunner had threatened to kill Jimmy, as well as making ‘goo-goo eyes’ at Lois, Superman, in his guise of Clark Kent, had intervened. The result had been that Gunner and his gang had chosen to leave Dry Gulch, never to return.

Although the incident had initially seemed more funny than serious, both Clark and Perry White, owner and publisher of the “Metropolis Daily Planet,” felt otherwise, and Perry had discussed the matter with several of his law enforcement contacts. He was now relaying the results of those discussions with Lois, Clark, and Jimmy in his private office.

“I just got through talking with the U. S. Attorney’s office for the territory that ‘Gunner’ and his gang resided in,” Perry reported. “The entire gang has now been arrested by the FBI, and is now in Federal prison, awaiting trial.”

“Why did the FBI get involved, Mr. White?” Jimmy asked in surprise.

Clark explained, “Because Dry Gulch was not the only town that ‘Gunner’ and his gang operated in, Jimmy-- only the latest. As it turned out, they carried out their bullying in a number of small towns and villages in several states. That being the case, the FBI naturally took over the investigation.”

“Yes, and as a result,,’Gunner’ and his literal ‘partners in crime’ will be facing a number of criminal charges, including extortion, criminal intimidation, criminal retaliation, and assault with a deadly weapon,” Perry went on. “To make a long story short, by the time the courts get through with them, ‘Gunner’ and his gang will most likely be facing sentences of life imprisonment without parole, especially given the sheer number of charges against them, which legally will result in all of them being declared what the law calls ‘habitual criminals’—which by itself carries an automatic, mandatory life sentence—again, without parole!”

“WOW!” Jimmy said softly.

“You need to remember, Jimmy,” Clark concluded, “that although ‘Gunner’ and his cohorts might not have seemed like it, they were in fact common criminals. Although they may have thought that they were above the law, they’re now going to find out the hard way how thoroughly wrong they were!”

As Jimmy and Lois nodded their concurrence, the meeting came to a close.

Posted: August 16, 2024
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