DEAD OR ALIVE

Western plus -- in a tall tale of a youth who sticks by his pal in a fight to the death -- only to find his pal is yellow and he is charged with murder. Yarn-spinning humorous Lanky comes to his rescue, saves him from a lynching, and together they foil a gang of ruffians and gain the hero's pardon. Romance to boot. Brand seems able to get away from patterned Westerns and to write a rousing tale as well.