The Cavalier

ORIGIN
A portrait frowns...a man gasps a last message...and Rance Raleigh casts aside his modest identity to become the CAVALIER!

POWERS/ABILITIES
The Cavalier has no special powers other than the Duc De Chantrey’s portrait which warns him of evil afoot. He is, however, a fine fighter and athlete in the swashbuckling tradition.

HISTORY
One day Jake Miles is run down by an automobile and brought into RANCE RALEIGH’s curio shop where he tries unsuccessfully to tell Rance something and then dies. But Rance's assistant Rocky sees the ancestral portrait of the Duc De Chantrey frown and Rance knows its time to go into action as the CAVALIER. It turns out that Jake Miles was the ace reporter for the Messenger. Rance assumes his alter ego as the CAVALIER to investigate.

Rocky checks out the munitions plant that the dead man was reporting on. But some hoods jump Rocky and hold him captive. Meanwhile the CAVALIER discovers an important clue at the Messenger’s offices and is fired upon. A crook warns him that he will be killed if he doesn't quit the case. The CAVALIER pursues the gunman who took a shot at him. He finds the assassin at the munitions plant where the CAVALIER is confronted by thugs. The mastermind, not wanting to set off the plant’s explosives, tells his men not to use their guns inside the plant. Meanwhile Rocky frees himself and joins the CAVILER in the battle. Amazingly, Miles’ killer turns out to be his best friend Marc Carver! Miles had learned that Purvis, the owner of the munitions plant, was sabotaging his own business to collect the insurance money. Purvis' henchman Carver befriended Miles and then killed him on Purvis's orders. The CAVALIER turns over Carver to the police who have also picked up Purvis. Both will be tried for treason! Thus ends one of the CAVALIER’s three known cases.

Last Known Legal Copyright Holder:
Better/Standard-Nedor Pines Publications 1948