bash script:

#!/bin/bash
/bin/echo -en "HTTP/1.1 200 OK\r\n"
/bin/echo -en "Content-Type: text/plain\r\n"
/bin/echo -en "Content-Length: 26\r\n"
/bin/echo -en "\r\n"
/bin/echo -en "Puppetmaster is running.\r\n"

xinetd:

service hc-server
{
        disable         = no
        flags           = REUSE
        socket_type     = stream
        protocol        = tcp
        port             = 9999
        type            = UNLISTED
        server          = /root/hc-server.sh
        user            = root
        instances       = UNLIMITED
        wait            = no
        log_type        = SYSLOG daemon debug
}