Material weapons-- like pistols-- are of very little use against the Phantom Stranger, my friend! 
The Phantom Stranger #3 is an issue of the series The Phantom Stranger (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1953. It was published on October 22, 1952.
Synopsis for "Ghosts for Sale!"
When a magician's assistant really vanishes from a cabinet after a disappearing act, the Phantom Stranger arranges to undergo the trick himself and find out where she went. As a result, Stranger finds himself in what seems to be a different dimention, where the lady and another man have fallen.
Phantom Stranger soon notices something odd and finds out that the whole thing is a ruse by a couple of con artists, who blackmail the victims' relatives so that they could pretend to use mystic powers and return them to them. Stranger defeats the criminals and the magician's reputation is cleared.
Appearing in "Ghosts for Sale!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Greystone (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Al (Single appearance)
- Tabor (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Marcia Mitchell (Single appearance)
- Mrs. Mitchell (Single appearance)
- Phillip Mitchell (Single appearance)
Synopsis for "Dead Man's Hand!"
Hank Wheeler, rodeo rider is entertaining fans with stories about the old West. He recants the story of legendary gunfighter Wild Bill Hickock and how he was gunned down in a card game while holding a pair of aces and eights. This becomes known as the dead mans hand. As he heads back to his hotel room, Wheeler hears two gunshots and finds that the bullets have hit a nearby deck of cards. He also finds a pair of looped pieces of rope that resemble the number 8. Wheeler finds these events to be unnerving but he decides to proceed with his plans to participate in his rodeo event. As he climbs the bull for his competition, he notices that that it has the number 8 on its side. The bull throws him off but Wheeler is rescued by the Phantom Stranger before he is trampled. Hank relays the events of the past few hours to the Stranger and admits that he feels jinxed. The Stranger assures him that he is not jinxed and that he will prove it before the night is over and then disappears. Wheeler walks back to a locker room where he finds the rest of his fellow competitors. All of a sudden the Phantom Stranger appears and asks if everyone would like to play a game of cards. A competitor by the name of Jim Pomeroy picks up his cards and finds that he has two aces and two eights, the deadman’s hand. He panics and takes out a gun. The Stranger quickly subdues him and Pomeroy confesses that he was the one who made Wheeler believe that he was jinxed. He did this to make Wheeler nervous and improve his own chances of winning the rodeo championship. The stranger is asked how he knew that Pomeroy was guilty. He admits that he had no idea until he dealt the same dead mans hand to everyone in the group to see who would panic. The Phantom Stranger disappears and Hank Wheeler goes on to win the championship.
Appearing in "Dead Man's Hand!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Hank Wheeler (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Jim Pomeroy (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Wild Bill Hickok (Flashback only)
Synopsis for "The Man Who Craved Death!"
Look at how sad this is making Batman. You did this.
Appearing in "The Man Who Craved Death!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Day of Destiny!"
News of a man's dream come true convinces a businessman to sell his oil company, but the Phantom Stranger shows the businessman "the dreamer"'s folly.
Appearing in "The Day of Destiny!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Jayson Adams (Single appearance)
- Mister Linton (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Leonard Hall (Single appearance)
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Phantom Stranger Vol. 1.
- "Dead Man's Hand" is reprinted in Adventure Comics #419.
- This issue includes a one-page Morris Waldinger story entitled, "How to Spot a Witch" and a text-only story titled "The Eerie Eddys" by Jack Miller.
- This issue includes a Superman / UNICEF public service announcement.
- Greystone the Magician from "Ghosts for Sale" is likely based on Harry Blackstone, Jr. a popular stage performer from the 50s and 60s.
- The story, "Dead Man's Hand", refers to the hand of Poker cards held by the esteemed gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok, when he was shot in the back by Jack McCall in Deadwood, South Dakota in 1876. A Dead Man's hand comprises two aces and two eights - commonly referred to as "Aces & Eights".
- Wild Bill Hickok has also made appearances in the Kents and Jonah Hex: Two-Gun Mojo.