m ROGER HIRSCH was a 1 1 2 lb. 6 ft. WEAKLING. Look at him NOW— A MOVIE-STAR HE-MAN from Head to Toe as YOU , can be f soon » !; if you're n-ager, in your 20's or 30’s or over; if you’re short or tall, or what work you do. All I want is JUST 10 EXCITING MINUTES in your home to MAKE YOU OVER by the SAME METHOD I turned myself from a wreck to a Champion of Champions. BOTH FREE FOR QUICK ACTION! 1. Photo Book of STRONG MEN j ~ “*■ 2. MUSCLE METER ] Dept . ff 29 YES! You'll see INCH upon INCH of MIGHTY MUSCLE added to YOUR ARMS. Your CHEST deepened. Your BACK AND SHOULDERS broadened. From head to heels, you’ll gain SOLIDITY, SIZE, POWER, SPEED! You'll become an ALL-Around, ALL-American HE-MAN, A WINNER in everything you tackle-or my Training won't cost you one solitary cent. Develop YOUR 520 MUSCLES Gain Pounds, INCHES, FAST! Friend, I’ve traveled the world. Made a LIFETIME STUDY of every way known to develop your body. Then I devised the BEST by TEST, my "5-WAY PROGRESSIVE POWER” the only method that builds you 5-ways fast. You save YEARS, DOLLARS like movie star Tom Tyler did. Like champ Roger Hirsch did. Like MANY THOUSANDS like you did. SO Mail coupon NOW! MAIL COUPON IN TIME FOR FREE OFFER BUSTER CRABBE No. 6 September Published bi-monthly by Famous Funnies Publications, 500 Fifth Ave., New York 18, N. Y. Copyright 1052. by "Buster Crabbe Enterprises, Inc." Yearly subscription. United States, 60y, plus 154 for mailing, total 754. Single copy: 104 in United States. Editorial and circulation offices. 500 Fifth Ave., New York 18, N. Y. Advertising representatives, Gilman. Nicoll & Ruihman. 19 West 44th St., New York 18, N. Y. Branches — Boston. Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco. General Office: 23 Commercial Street. P O. Box #1630. Waterbury 20. Conn., U.S.A. William J. Pape. President: James H. Darcey, Treasurer. Printed by The Eastern Col ,t Printing Co., Waterbury 20. Conn. Covers printed and magazines bound by The Curtiss Way Corp., Meriden, Conn. PRINTED IN U.S.A. ... . , , . . . The incidental characters in this magazine are fictitious. If the name of any living person or institution is used, it is a coincidence. Buster crabbe and whiskers ride into THE TEXAS PORT OF GALVESTON ON THE GULF OF MEXICO, AND STRAIGHT INTO THE MOST DANGEROUS ADVENTURE OF THEIR ACTION-PACKED CAREER WHEN THEY MEET.. - THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE fff JSSgl Coast Guard "'^jo found sh'P mtss-mq S n S. logmen's 0 rs have Vessels found X yet t>ee i this i . ieen found. ANOTHER SHIP GONE DOWN f v WHUT YUH MAKE OF IT, I BUSTER? _\ ( YOUR GUESS IS T *TIS THE AS GOOD AS MINE ./WORK OF THE WHISKERS. 1 — f DEVIL, THAT'S v y V what it is r. BE THE WORK OF THE DEVIL. . SPEAK OF THE DEVIL, [ DO YOU SEE WHAT J HUH? I SEE, WHISKERS? J WOMAN WE SAW IN CORPUS CHRISTI TWO MONTHS AGO- BOARDING THE mermaidia/a A few hours later at the U.S. Coast Guard office-. HEY, WHOA? I AIN'T MESSIN 1 'ROUND WITH NO . SPOOKS/ , THE MERMAIDIA VANISHED, REMEMBER? THERE WERE i SUPPOSED TO BE NO SURVIVORS/ WE'RE J GOING TO LOOK INTO THISf T THAT SHIP 1 /LEAVES TONIGHT. WE'LL INVESTI-^ GATE IMMEDIATELY. WE FOLLOWED HER AND DID SOME CHECKING. SHE BOOKED PASSAGE ON THE S.S. GULFSONION FOR^ TAMPA, FLORIDA, UNDER THE \ NAME OF ELISA ROMSTEDT. A WE'VE CHECKED ELISA ROMSTEDT'S PAPERS THOROUGHLY. SHE CAN'T POSSIBLY BE THE SAME WOMAN YOU SAW IN CORPUS CHRISTI. SHE WAS IN > T UTAH AT THAT TIME. ) FWAL.WE DONE r ALL WE COULD-- THE REST’S UP TO NTHE COAST GUARD. SHE'S GOING " I M l ABOARD. ..I*VE GOT HUNCH THE S.S. GULFSONION IS GOING TO BE VICTIM NUMBEI Later, as the S.S.Gulfsonion takes to seo f WAL, THAT’S THAT. WE WUZ WRONG FER ONCE. Jl f I STILL THINK SHE’S THE SAME WOMAN/ WHISKERS, WE’RE GOING FOR A BOAT RIDE f YOU SHORE ARE A STUBBORN GALOOT, BUSTER/ THIS IS THE CRAZIEST THING WE J s^EVER did/ r WHY? IF NOTHING COMES OF IT, AT LEAST WE GET A LITTLE . VACATION. J Suddenly. AND JUST WHAT IS THIS ALL , ABOUT? DON'T TRY TO REACH YOUR GUNS, GENTLEMEN- OR we'll PUMP YOU ^ FULL OF LEAD/ M good / now tie them upJ . AND GAG THEM/ J YOU HAVEN'T been tailing me and making 41 INQUIRIES ABOUT ME WITHOUT REASON. BUT ] YOU GOVERNMENT AGENTS HAVE REACHED THE Moments later, armed men swarm over the deck of the ship... In the dim light of dawn a black hulk slides slides silently up from the depths and sur- faces near the steamer,.. Buster's tremendous strength finally Meanwhile, Buster strains mightily at triumphs over the rope his bonds Buster and Whiskers, discovering the ship is FIRST GET ME AN ASPEH/M~ OOO, WHUT A HEAD A THEY TOOK OUR GUNS — BUT WE'VE STILL GOT OUR FISTS.' WE'LL GET THEM t A in the hands of pirates, run for the radio room, but— } Y0U again ? i'm afraid you ^ ESCAPED A LITTLE TOO LATE, MY FRIENDS, |L NOTHING can save THE SHIP now — A >■ OR YOU r After lootin g the ship and passengers.the pirates wreckoll the lifeboats except those they reserve for their own use... (a=ja-«. — ' cheer up.folksi you still have = — rnrir=-Tji=f=^ — l the life-preservers— ano thejwmks LIFE PRESERVERS?)THEY DON’T MEAN \| BUSTER.' SHARKS? DO THEY J ANYTHING ELSE, ^WHUT YUH MEAN TO SINK CAPTAIN. "DEAD MEN 'M30IN 1 TO THE SHIP? /tell NO TALES'; IS AN \DO? A OLD PIRATE PROVERB, A \f I'D RATHER If DIE IN THE k WATER TRYING 'y TO GET MY -< HANDS ON THOSE CUT- THROATS, THAN JUST WAIT HERE, DOING NOTHIN 6 f/ BUSTER?// GQL DURN THAT DANG FOOL/ j HE'S HELPLESS < WITHOUT ME AN' * X CAN'T SWIM/ J THERE GOES THE TORPEDO ' r AND the s.s. gulfsonion j JOINS OUR OTHER BENEFACTORS! AT THE BOTTOM OFTHEGULF--] AND THE NEWSPAPER HEAD-J ^ LINES f I'VE GOT TO SWIM LIKE I NEVER SWAM BEFORE TO- OH-OHr WHAT’S THAT * GOT IT f NOW IP I CAN DETONATE IT, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO SAVE THE PEOPLE ABOARD THE J . SHIP f T— BETTER YET, MAYBE I CAN TURN THIS INFERNAL THING OFF ITS COURSE SO IT. WILL M/S3 THE SHIP f THAT'S BUSTER f LOOK? THE YAH OOf RIDE 'EM, . COWBOY f . TORPEDO IS m TURNING f SOME THING'S ON ref you're ON 'em RIGHT COURSE ,NOW, TORP, OLD BOY.' YOU WON'T NEED ME ANYMORE i A few days later. . ]£ MR. CRABBE, as. INTELLIGENCE HAS L0N6 WANTED TO KNOW THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE NAZI U-BOAT COMMANDERrOEVIL" VON DIATCH-^ HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE, KNOWN AS THE "DEVIL'S' DISCIPLE" WAS ALSO MISSING. . .THANKS TOr- YOU, WE NOW KNOW WHERE THEY ARE, WHICH ) IS JUST WHERE THEY BELONG— AT THE J BOTTOM OF THE SEA.' r- — ^ IF ANYBODY ELSE SEES W HUT I SEE THEY'VE GONE PLUMB LOCO, TOO/ WHUT TH* DING-DONG BLAZES ??? THAT CRAZY VARMINT OF A BOX MIGHT BE DANGEROUS f IT COME FROM TH* DESERT, AN' X RECKON THAT'S WHAR IT'S AHEADIN' BACK TOf IT MUST OF TURNED TH' BOX k OVER ON ITSELF, WONDER WHAR TH’ CRITTER COME FROM? I LOOK A KANGAROO RAT / ml: i is ^7 yW They say th' Whoppers THERE WUZ LOTS OF LOTS 1 OF WILD INJUNS IN TH* OLD -J DAYS, BUT TH’ WILDEST AN 1 /\ WORSEST WUZ TW' WHOPPERS' , I HATED THEM BLOOD- ^ THIRSTY WHOPPERS, AN’ WITH GOOD REASON? A • THAT REMINDS ME OF TH TIME I WENT AFTER TH' WHOPPER INJUNS...^-— wuz peaceful peaceful people in my Gran'pap's time. He wuz a trader. Used to trade th' Injuns bullets fer pelts... EYERYTHING REMINDS YOU OF SOMETHIN'/, OH -OH, ANOTHER STORY COMIN’ UR.. And every time I went out I wuz < — « But somethin' happened to make them Whoppers mean an* fierce. I remem- ber as a child how they wuz always at tackin' th' ol‘ home- S,ead • * -JmT OH, DEAR, HE HAS N ANOTHER ARROW THROUGH HIM. I'LL . PULL IT OUT. / Some childhood I had... I couldn't even go outside to play without being armed to th’ teethf ambushed by th‘ Whoppers! SOf FIGHTING V WELL, GEE AGAIN.' DIDN'T I \WHIZ.MOM-- WARN YOU TO STOP / THEY TRACKING BLOOD J STARTED V ALL OVER MY IT? L CLEAN FLOORS.'/-^, WHUT'S > THAT BRAT. CRYING A ABOUTHp NOW ?F~[j They lived on a rock "island* surrounded by deep chasms* Tworn't no waytno how, to git at 'em when they pulled th' bridges up OH, FIDDLESTICKS* FOILED AGIN* * THEM WHOPPERS WUZ TH‘ SCOURGE OF TH' OL' WEST* TH' VARMINTS WOULD SNEAK OUT TO ROB AN' MURDER US < PEACEFUL LAW-ABIDIN' WHITES AN' 'TWARN'T NUTHIN' WE COULD DO — fcJHEIR VILLAGE WUZ INVULNERABLE... But them Injuns proved their own undolnjwhen — CAN T DO THAT. HE MIGHT WAKE UP* THEN NIM^d KILL US AIL. Til YOU SCALPUM HEAD. ME SCALPUM ill FACE. . JMZ UGH.' A CAPITAL SUGGESTION zfc, I didn't know it then, ^£%Tbut when they robbed w me like that, they signed their own death certificates... WE STEALUM W HORSE, GUNS, W FOOD, WATER. ML HIM DIEUM THIRST IN DESERT. WHEN ' GOOD AND DEAD, THEN SCALPUMij to make it back without &■ a horse. . . I f iggered my time had come... my tuck had run out... ' WHY THEM BLANKETY-BLANK . NO- ACCOUNT ORNERY BLANKETY- BLANK POLECATS' r ^ Then allot a suddint, I sees a Kangaroo hippity- hopping across th* desert Wai,sir,Ilit out after th' critteran’afore he'd gone a mile I catched Anybody's who's ever rode a wild kangaroo will attest to th' fact that breakin' one's harder'n breakin 1 an outlaw bronc i But I needed trans- portation.,. whoa, THAR.' WHOA/ Wo I, I'm oheodiitT bock to town on my kangaroo when I run smack-dab into th' Injuns whut robbed me? I got that critter broke, trained an' domesticated in o minute flat? WHEEf YORE AS GOOO AS A HORSE ANY DAY, EVEN IF YUH ARE AH . MITE BUMPY f J Rafter 'em, kangy? I’LL TEAR ’EM APART WITH MY BARE HANDS? J But that didn't stop th' kangaroofNo, sirree? He just jumped right across th* chasm, an'— - I chased 'em, but th' donged Whoppers got ocrosst their trick bridge agin? OH.FIDDLE-DEE-DEE- FOILED AG/N'f I won’t bore yuh with details, but •dumped me dab-smack in th' even though I wuz unormed an' them Whoppers fought like wildcats.it didn't take me long to finish 'em off... middle of th* Whoppers’ stronghold: an' that's th* Tyou forgot STORY.. .I'LL ^ ONE THING. NEVER FE RG1T y THERE AIN'T THAT THERE / NO KANGAROOS KANGAROO... I INTHISCOUN- ^ ^TRY'CEPTIN ZOOS' I wuz so happy an' grateful Ja that instead of keepin' th’ kangaroo fer a horse like I was goin' to do,I let him go free... f YOU’VE EARNED YORE LIBERTY,KANGY,OL' PAt! GO BACK TO YORE NATURAL HAUNTS AN' LIVE HAPPILY AMONGST YORE FELLOW-/ 'Swi CRITTERS.' fTfcTH*GOSSIPAL TRUTH i HALPf IP YOU KIN SW/M *”HALF as GOOD AS YOU KIN (JE,ro u won't UH... WAL.THIS ONE MUST'VE * COME CROSS TH' BORDER FROM DOWN MEXICO JJ WAY. . . Y KANGAROOS^ , ABOUT THAT HOMBRE, y WHISKERS. SEEMS LIKE HE AND I CROSSED PATHS BEFORE? . 60 AHEAD, DICK r YOU OLD FAKER! NOTHING WAS .GOING TO KEEP f YOU OUTSIDE, ANYWAY.YOU GET THE TICKETS WHILE I SEE TO kTHE HORSES? . ALL RIGHT, FOLKS? WE'RE ^ READY FOR THE FIRST VICTIM— ( l MEAN, CONTESTANT? REMEMBER' 1 — 1000 DOLLARS TO THE MAN WHO STAYS THREE ROUNDS? A WELL, THAT'S A MIGHTY GOOD REASON FOR GOING INSIDE AND SEEING THE FIGHTS. HOW ABOUT A ^ IT, BUSTER? YOU USED TO DO .SOME BOXING? I RECKON I'LL TAKE A CHANCE? But the first two rounds finds the young cowpuncher still on his feet... g ATTABOY DICK' J STAY W/TH HIM * ONE MORE SOUND/] I'M NOT SO SURE. THE BOY'S PRETTY . GOOD. y IT LOOKS LIKE CRUSHER IS GOING TO EAT THAT s. YOUNG MAVERICK' ' i'll TEAR ’ HIM APART? HE'S TOO FAST FOR YOU. r TO CORNER HIM. THIS ( IS THE LAST ROUND, , SO YOU BETTER OPEN I UP THAT BAG OF TRICKS: the bell rings for the final round. * 9 h \h' r FOUL r HEK/CKED MIN' FOUL ' YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A \ BUNCH OF LOWDOWN, \ SLIMY, ONERY CROOKSf J VfcgJj YOU FOULED H/M, Mi /GEEZERfOR MAYBE .J [ YOU'D LIKE TO TRYSy W FOR THAT THOUSAND J ■^DOLLARS' J HE WAS ROBBED' / | / v . \ l\_ -f 1 # 1 ' r [J( vj.ir 1 / Vi MteM M v. \m /.• j3gy|| S9L 7 ■ fiv km tojIiimsf v yKMjSrtlft DON'T WORRY, I GOT ^ SPECIAL f REASONS FOR TAKING . HIM APART? THAT JASPER IS BUSTER CRABBE, CRUSHER. HE'S PLENTY TOUGH SO GET THIS OVER WITH FAST‘S COME ON, BUSTERf YOU CAN DO trf YEA' BUSTER! But Buster is more than a match for the But as Buster's hammering fists continue to find Crusher's wild swings. CURSE YOU- OH H Hh'\ [But Crusher's foul tactics cause Buster to lash out in fury... THE WINNER- w BUSTER I CRABBE f f YER DERN /wait A MINUTE, WHISKERS.] 1 TOOTIN' ] YOU BETTER LET ME^ V I WILL? / TAKE HIM ON. j L^c w. )/ Iff W YOU CLUMSY FOOL? HE RUINED OUR ACT AND GOT AWAY WITH v OUR MONEY. ) HE DIDN'T GET AWAY WITH IT YET< GET THE BOYS f / HERE'S YOUR THOUSAND BUCKS, CRABBE? THANKS— IT'LL BE SOME THING THAT THE — - ORPHANAGE IN THIS H TOWN CAN USE f When Buster and Whiskers finally come to, they find themselves prisoners... YOU'RE A LITTLE , TOO LATE, YOU \ POLECAT' I ) TURNED IT i OVER TO THE / ORPHANAGE? A I WE WENT X THROUGH YOUR POCKETS, CRABBE, AND COULDN'T FIND IT. WHERE'S THATl MONEY? J Soon afterwards HERE THEY COME GET READY! Suddenly. .recognition comes to Buster. YOU'RE PRETTY TOUGH- WHEN MY HANDS ARE v TIED' NOBODY GIVES THAT MUCH MONEY AWAY?j BUT I'LL MAKE YOU TALK — .' JESS WAIT A MINUTE? I KNEW X SAW YOU SOMEPLACE BEFORE ' v— YOU’RE MfKE CALLOW -« / AND YOU’RE WANTED / ^ FOR MURDER f < HUH? \ I SAID HE WON'T /TALK f WE'RE TAKING THEM DOWN TO THE BEND ON THE RAIL- ROAD TRACKS? THAT WESTERN SPECIAL US DUE ANY MINUTE^ IF HE TALKS, WE'LL ALL SWING FOR THAT LAST JOB? 1 DON'T WORRY? THEY t WON'T LIVE TO TALK ABOUT .IT ? HE RECOGNIZED . YOU f Y SURE --THAT'S HIM, /BUSTER? HE COULDN'T HIDE THAT UGLY FACE UNDER THAT BEARD \ ..HE’S TRYING TO GROW^ YOU BETTER WE'RE LEAVING 1 YOUR NAGS HERE, CRABBEfWE WANT FOLKS TO THINK YOU BOYS GOT ^ CARELESS AND ^ IT WAS AN ACCIDENT' J V^HA.HA? y , START SAYING Wer prayers? /that train > IS DUE ANY \ f MINUTE? 1 'LET'S 60, / . BOYS? / WE'RE DONE ^ FOR, BUSTER? I -I HEAR THE TRAIN COMING— I— I HAVE- TO--GET — ^ CLEAR- ’ roF these- [ ROPES — l (PANT) SEE THEM UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE — AND BY THEN THEY'LL BE CUT SkJO RIBBONS ?J SHUT UP — AND HOLD STILL? ANOTHER . SECOND— SAVE YOURSELF, BUSTER? NEVER MIND ME? rLET'S G0» WHISKERS* WE CAN CUT THEM OFF ON THE RIVER BEND ^ TRAIL f WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT GANG SING — ^AND TO THE SHERIFF.' . WHEEE — I HEARD THE ANGELS SINGING THAT i TIME f I GUESS I'LL i NEVER BE THE SAME' MADE tTf Riding like a streak across the prairie they take the short-cut and soon... THERE THEY ARE-' ^ WHAT A SURPRISE THOSE JASPERS ARE IN FOR AOHHH - .MY HAND /T'S THEM GOOD— THAT'S Later D-DON'T SHOOT! WE QUIT' r START MOSEYING TOWARD TOWN. THE SHERIFF IS GOING TO BE MIGHTY ANXIOUS TO ^ S MEET YOU. J 'YOU'RE entitled TO ANOTHER THOUSAND REWARD FOR CAPTURING THOSE HOMBRE8, BUSTER. / that day, after Crusher and his gang have been jailed- / A THOUSAND I MORE WE CAN I GIVE TO THE^ V, ORPHANAGE? ’ / YOU TELL THE KIDS TO HAVE A PARTY ON ME. < WHISKERS AND ME ARE GOING TO BE KIND OF BUSY HUNTING^ jgH^OWLHOOTs! THE SNOWBALL by Robert Peterson W INTER was setting in fast. The tempera- ture had already dropped to ten below zero, and the biting wind was whipping into blizzard strength, sending white clouds of snow flying across the tundra. Sergeant John Lareau of the Royal Mounted Police, his back to the wind, bent over the pile of bones and articles of clothing in the snow drift, all that the wolves had left of the body. He nodded grimly as he inspected the identifica- tion in the billfold. George Carson, Montreal. Here was his man. The elements and the wolves had proclaimed judgment upon him and executed sen- tence, saving the Dominion the expense of prosecu- tion. Lareau shivered, and stood up. The man hunt had brought him farther north than he had ex- pected, and he was not prepared for the cold. He hoped he could reach Webb's outpost before night fell, or the morning might find him, too, reduced to gnawed and scattered bones. The temperature continued to drop, and it was twenty below and growing dark when at last he sighted the log structures of the outpost in the dis- tance. With a strength and energy he didn't know he had left, he broke into a run, and in less than five minutes he was inside the warmth of Webb’s house. The bewhiskered old trader brought him a large glass of brandy as he thawed out before the roaring fireplace. "Try this. Sergeant.” Lareau accepted the proffered glass and emptied its fiery contents wih one gulp. "Thanks, Webb. I've got my horse outside. Can you bed him down?” "Shore thing.” Webb called his helper, Akku, a half breed Eskimo and Indian and told him to bring the horse to the stable and not spare the oats. "Yup,” observed Webb as Akku went out the door, '"winter did come purty quick. Caught us all off guard. But what brings ya way up here?" "I was trailing a killer — George Carson. But the wolves caught up to him before I did. I found his remains a few hours ago.” He lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. 'Or at least I think it was his remains.” "Ya got any reason to suspect it mighta been someone else?” "Well, no," said Lareau through an exhalation of smoke. "The clothes were certainly his, and identification was in his wallet. But there was no gun, and Carson was never without a gun." 'Hmm, well maybe Injun took it.” Lareau shook his head. "I don't think so. There was money in his wallet, and an Indian would have taken that, too.” He paused, contemplated the ash of his cigarette for a moment and then asked, "Have you had any visitors lately, aside from the regular trappers and men you know? Any strangers?” "Nope. Except a Dr. Mathews who was here a few days back to stock up on supplies. One of them explorer fellows. Studyin' Eskimo life, or somethin’. He had a right fine dog team an’ sled.” "What did he look like?” Webb shrugged. "Same as most every white man you see ’round these here parts. Had a face fulla black whiskers, an’ was pretty big an’ stocky.” "Did he say where he was going?” "Nope, gut he head North.” Lareau was silent for a moment, immersed in thought, then he asked, "Is there any place around here a man could hole up for the winter?” "Nope. The nearest settlement is the Hudson Bay post up near Wager, an’ that's six hundred miles. Course there’s a shack here an' there along the trail that the trappers use. A man could hole up in one of them if he had enough food to tide him over.” Lareau smiled wryly, and tossed his half-smoked cigarette into the fireplace. "I'm almost sorry I asked you,” he said. "Now I’ve got to find that man just to make sure . . The w'ind subsided during the night, but the dawn brought no rise in temperature. A soft thick snow was falling. Sergeant Lareau, wearing a fur- lined hood and coat, and looking like any Eskimo, adjusted the snow shoes to his seal-skin boots, and pulled the straps tight. Webb helped him strap the heavy pack onto his back. It was a sleeping bag in which were rolled four days rations. He said, "You oughta take a dog sled. What if ya git lost? Ya only got four days food.” "I only want to investigate a few shacks. If my man's not there, I’ll postpone it till the Spring thaw and check then.” "Well, I shore hope ya catch up with him so’s ya can close yer case one way or ’nother.” "Thanks.” Lareau shook his extended hand, and then started into the thickly falling snow. In a few minutes he had disappeared inside the white- ness. He slept that night beneath a protruding stone ledge on a hillside. The following morning found the wind rising again, and the temperature close to thirty. He massaged the stiffness out of his limbs, ate, and then plodded on again over the endless ex- panse of snow. He reached the first shack by noon, so covered with snow that he almost passed without noticing it. It was unoccupied, but he remained long enough to avail himself of the stove and firewood to cook a hot dinner and coffee. It was getting dark when he came upon the sec- ond cabin. It was in a valley at the foot of a high hill, and smoke was coming from the chimney. It was a welcome sight, for Sergeant Lareau did not relish another night in the open. Several dogs lay curled together for warmth be- neath an overturned sled outside the cabin. Lareau entered without knocking. A tall black-bearded in- dividual was throwing wood in the fireplace. He dropped the logs as Lareau closed the door behind him, and reached for a rifle leaning against the wall, but it was too late. The police sergeant had his revolver in hand. The man leaned the rifle back against the wall. "Sorry,” he grinned. "You kinda startled me. Make yerself at home. I wuz jus’ makin’ grub. I’m Dr. Mathews.” Lareau slipped the revolver back in his holster. Tm Sergeant John. Lareau of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,” he said. "And you're not Dr. Mathews. You’re George Carson, wanted for mur- der, and you're under arrest." The big man hesitated for a moment, and then ventured, "You’ve got me all wrong, but that name’s familiar. Oh, yeah, I came across a body near Webb’s post with that name in its pocket. As fer me, I got plenty papers with me to prove I'm Dr. Mathews.” "I don’t doubt it. You've got his clothes, dogs and sled, too." "Now, lissen — ” "Save it, Carson. I've got you dead to rights. You met Dr. Mathews on the trail, killed him and exchanged clothes with him. You figured the wolves would make the body unrecognizable, and when the clothes were found, you’d be reported dead, and the heat would be off." Carson shrugged hi* huge shoulders. "Okay,” he said, "so you’ve got me. But let’s eat. The grub’s gettin’ cold.” "All right, Carson,” he said. "But understand one thing. One false move from you and it will be your last. I’ve got orders to bring you back, but not necessarily alive. Do we understand each other?” Carson nodded, and brought out a tin plate and cup from the inverted box which served as a cup- board. Lareau emptied the cartridge clip from the rifle against the wall, and from another gun he found in the man’s pack. "Blowin’ up hard,” observed Carson. "We’ll be snowed in by morning if it keeps up." Lareau removed a pair of handcuffs from an in- side pocket. "You’ll have to sleep handcuffed to the bed post,” he said. Carson scowled. "Brave, ain’t ya?” "I didn’t last this long being careless.” The wind turned into blizzard velocity during the night and piled the snow high against the rear wall of the log structure. The- logs bent under the pressure, but held. The old cabin had withstood worse weather in its fifty-odd years of existence. "You ain't takin’ me back in this storm?” asked Carson. Lareau shook his head. He poured himself a cup of steaming black coffee. "We’ll wait until the wind’s down." Carson lighted his pipe. "Lissen,” he said, "I got a proposition fer ya. There’s four thousand bu^ks in my pack, an’ it's all yours if ya forget ya found me, an’ report me dead. You got a corpse with my identification on it fer proof.” "Forget the angles, Carson. I’m bringing you in.” He raised the steaming cup to his lips. Carson thrust his hand forth suddenly and slammed the cup up into Lareau’s face. The hot coffee splashed over his cheeks, nose and into his eyes. The Sergeant leapt backward, reaching for his revolver, but Carson rammed the table into him, sending him sprawling over the floor. Lareau rolled over and came up crouched against the wall, gun in hand. A table leg knocked the revolver spinning from his grasp. He felt his wrist bone break under the impact of the wicked blow. The table leg came down again, against the back of his skull. He fought desperately against the blackness engulfing him, and tried hard to get to his feet, but then his legs buckled and he sank into the dark arms of oblivion. ... He regained consciousness slowly. He felt very warm, and as he forced open his eyes he thought he was lying in a soft bed between white sheets, and it was several moments before he real- ized he was sprawled in a snowbank. He climbed to his feet with a superhuman effort, for when a freezing man feels warm, the shadow of death is already over him. He shook his head, and swung his numb, almost paralyzed arms about until some semblance of circulation returned to them. He was dressed only in his uniform. He realized then that resistance was futile. It was only a matter of time now, and not much time, that he would die. He looked about. He was high on the hill above the valley, the cabin far below. Carson had carried him here to freeze and die and furnish the wolves with carrion. Lareau started down the hill, but after a few steps his numb legs gave and he fell. He swore beneath his breath. He was helpless. He climbed to a sitting position and started down at the cabin. Killer Car- son had won again. Suddenly his glazed eyes turned bright. He climbed to his feet, and made a snowball. He rolled it down the incline, and with every turn, the ball enlarged. When it was big enough to roll by itself he held it fast for a moment, aimed and pushed. The snowball started down the steep hill, gaining momentum and size as it went. Lareau held his breath as the gigantic white sphere neared the cabin. It was already the size of an ingloo, tons of solid, compressed snow, and expaading fast. It struck the cabin with the impact of a locomo- tive, sending the heavy logs flying like match sticks in all directions. Lareau smiled. He couldn’t save his own life, but at least he had done .his job. George Carson was no more. The bark of a dog interrupted his thoughts and he turned to see a dog team and sled come swiftly towards him. Trader Webb jumped from the sled and covered him with a fur blanket. "Looks like I came just in time,” he said, un- screwing the cap of a brandy flask. ' When that storm blew up, I got worried ’bout ya. Where's, yer clothes? What happened?” "I found Carson. He outsmarted me though, and carried me out here to freeze to death." "Where is the varmint?” Lareau smiled. "He’s dead. I killed him with a snowball." vlore jj^^than money was at Mfmslake when Buster Crabbe^^^O^ Mbit the trail to catch a ruthless band^3 jjm M of owlhoots. A boy's life was at stake- life that teetered between crime and ^^^law and order. And when Buster threw , his six-gun and savvy against overwhelming! odds in a desperate bid for victory, the prairie 1 rang with the echo of THAT'S THE END OF BUSTER CRABBEf NO MAN EVER GOT OUT OF THAT QUICKSAND ALIVE i J . HAfHAfHA f Buster and Whiskers stop to visit the sheriff in Pecos Gulch. WHA-? ARE YOU SURE? I— I HAD TO COME, ) SHERIFF— : .SOB:. YOU I MUST HELP ME. IT’S J MY BOY.JEFF— f -SOB; > HE- HE’S GOING TO HELP KENO AND HIS GANG — -A HOLD URJHE BANKfV* Y WHY— I KNEW TOM MANNING. < HE WAS A FINE MAN. a f WAL— I'LL BE- IT'S THE WIDOW MANNING f HER ‘ HUSBAND LEFT HER THE CIRCLE . T RANCH. J LOOKS LIKE SOME " WOMAN HEADING THIS WAY; SHERIFF — AND J SHE'S WEEPING.^^fl iHVWn** As Buster and Whiskers dash itoward the bank... i AND ‘ \ YOU MEAN YOUNG JEFF IS ) GOING TO HELP HOLD UP | THE BANK ? )' 7 -y Y...YES . HE \ , [( WAS BOASTING TO ME.J f / (thinks it is a great u \ HAS BEEN GOING BAD EVER f SINCE HIS FATHERJ \ DIED, y "T r LOOK... " THERE THEY ARE i J IT’S BUSTER CRABBE f w BLAST H/Mf > YOU WON'T BE \ NEEDING THAT MONEY*- WHERE YOU'RE GOING,. keno. drop / r f A/£££... he SHOT THE GUN RIGHT OUT OF k MY HAND ! J WAIT A MINUTE, SHERIFF. YOUNG ’ JEFF IS KIND OF YOUNG TO BE , SITTING IN JAIL. I KNOW HE ^ DID WRONG --BUT I’D LIKE TO A SEE HIM GET ANOTHER CHANCE. FOR HIS MOTHER’S SAKE— AND *^FOR OLD TOM MANNING. ^ HOLD IT, YOU COYOTES, BEFORE X LET DAYLIGHT JH ROUGH YOU YOU TOLD THEM, 1 DIDN'T YOU? YOU TOLD THEMTi CURSE YOU, YOU YOUNG .J PUP' YOU COULDN’T KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. YOU HAD TO BLAB TO b YOUR MOTHER. ' SO THAT’S HOW THEY FOUNO OUT! r SHUT UP.KENO—N AND START MARCHING TO THE HOOSEGOW? THE REST OF YOU i Ik. CAN FOLLOW. J WHAT HE DID WAS PLENTY SERIOUS, BUSTER. y f I'M GROWN UP NOW AND NOBODY TELLS ME WHAT t- ‘""^TO DO . J / I SHOULDN’T- BUT \ [ I'LL DO IT FOR YOU, N \ BUSTER. IM PUTTING ' HIM IN YOUR CARE— < AND YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE YOUN G CRIT TER.. YOU HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE ' TO MAKE GOOD, JEFF-- AND THAT'S MORE THAN A LOT J OF FOLKS GET. THERE'S N. NOTHING EXCITING OR GLAM- OUROUS ABOUT THOSE OWL- HOOTS. EVERYONE I EVER J MET IS A YE LLOW COYOTE ^ > D0N ' T preach 'JTJS' II TO ME. I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO ^^^^«=a%HELP MEV JTz* J ^\out .r\ PLEASE, SHERIFF- HE'S SO YOUNG- r WHY — THE— ^ THE UNGRATEFUL’ PUP-' HE NEEDS A GOOD FANNING 'i THANKS, SHERIFF. LET ME 60/ MY MIND'S r MADE UP. I'LL WRITE l TO YOU. Later that day at the Manning ^ I'M SORRY, MR. CRABBE— fl-I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOT V INTO HIM. ■ PLEASE, JEFF- YOU CAN'T GO I NEED YOU ] HERE-- TO HELPj ME RUN THE A .RANCH. ranch. I YOU HEARD ME, > ► MA.THAT RANNIE, BUSTER CRABBE. J MADE ME THE <1 LAUGHING STOCK ^ IN THIS TOWN. I'M y TIRED OF BEING TREATED LIKE A } BABY —AS IFI 4 DON'T KNOW WHAT t m doing, WHAT- DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE GOING AWAY? FORGET IT, MA'M/> HE'LL GROW UP AND THEN HE'LL SEE 1 THOSE OUTLAWS FOR WHAT THEY REALLY ' \ ARE. ,JUST SIT TIGHT AND YOU WON’T GET HURT. GIVE ME, THOSE KEYS S^-AND PRONTO. YOU DON'T 1 KNOW WHAT A YOU'RE DOING, SON. THINK--' Shortly afterwords. I'M GOING TO GET YOU AND THE BOYS OUT. GET READY— y I'M COMING IN. H i NOW | YOU'RE TALKING. f WHAT DO ’ YOU WANT? DIDN'T YOU GET US IN ENOUGH 4 k. TROUBLE? ] PSSST — KENO. ^ I WANT TO TALK TO YOU. A r ATTABOY, KID/S IF HE MAKES A MOVE FOR HIS I. SHOOTING IRON, N. BLAST HIM ijt f /TS KENO AND HfS GANG f THEY BROKE JA/L f j THE HORSES ARE OUT FRONT BOYS Hours later, as Buster and Whiskers pick up the trail of the outlaw band J IT'S MY FAULT, \ V SHERIFF. I MADE' ) THE MISTAKE IN GIVING HIM THE \ CHANCE TO DO IT. /BUT X’M GOING ^ AFTER THOSE X l POLECATS AND I \ I WON'T BE BACK i UNLESS X BRING j VTHEM ALONG, f RIGHT YOU ARE, > 3US... f SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE HEADING . FOR THE HILLS.v' THAT'S IT, WHISKERS. ^ AND ACCORDING TO THOSE HOOFPRINTS, THEY PASSED HERE NOT LONG AGO. X'O^ SAY THEY WERE FRESH PRINTS. _ X KNEW HE > HAD GONE HOG- WILD, BUT X \ NEVER FIGGERED HIM TO THROW J DOWN ON ME A AND GET THAT\ BUNCH OF OWL-i , HOOTS FREEV "jT wait a minute. ^ f THERE'S SOME QUICKSAND 1 BACK THERE A PIECE 1 AND THAT GIVES ME AN IDEA. COME HERE, BOYS? YOU STAY WHERE YOU ^ X . A ARE, KID.jM^fl A WE’LL NEVER j 'throw that ^ l HOMBRE OFF. HE*S 'LIKE AN INJUN ^ [WHEN IT COMES jk 1 TO STICKING TO M S A trail LsU. JjIT'S BUSTER J /crabbe, ALL RIGHT... AND HE'S WITH THAT SIDEKICK OF ^ lHIS. they picked up OUR TRAIL. > W BLAST HIM... % Tl KNOW I T f THE ] ONLY WAY WE'LL 'GET RID OF HIM ^ IS MAKE BUZZARD lMEAT OUT OF J m* him. THROW HIM /Nf After a hurried consultation, the outlaws suddenly lunge for Jeff we don’t need you anymore, KID— EXCEPT AS BAIT TO CATCH BUSTER CRABBE. SEEMS LIKE WE'LL HAVE TO TOSS YOU IN THAT QUICKS AND JUST AHEAD/ WHA— ? 1 YOU DIRTY, DOUBLE- CROSSING SIDE- WINDERS. AND I W THREW IN MY LOT I WITH THE LIKES OF YOU—/ TAKE IT EASY. I'M GOING TO LET YOU IN ON IT NOW., /Breach, crabbe/ f OR I'LL BLOW * YOUR HEAD OFF. WE HAVE THE DROP w ON YOU / Meanwhile... | Helpless before the odds against him, the outlaws toss Jeff into the deadly quicksand. IT'S THE boy / IN QUICK- SAND f ' SOUNDS LIKE A | SHOUT FOR | HELP / LET'S V go/ ^ YOU CAN'T DO \/ QUICK-DUCK THIS TO ME--/ T BEHIND THOSE HELP ME—/ ) BOULDERS.HIS I'M SINKING/J YELUNG WILL BRING CRABBE (hereon the run/ ^/T'S A TRAPr BEHIND YOU / J THAT'S RIGHT, \YOU BLASTED X YOU OLD BUZZARD.) RATTLESNAKES. YOU'RE BOTH .^^GIVE ME MY GUN going in/ W and i'll shoot kw IT OUT WITH YOUfj f WHILE YOU BOYS ARE PLAYING IN THAT MUDHOLE, WE'LL BE HEADING BACK TO TOWN TO CLEAN THAT BANK OUT AGAIN. HAWf HAW?,* " — -.-haw' Y THOSE ’ COYOTES ARE FIXING TO THROW US IN, BUSTER. NOW TIE THEM UP NICE AND TIGHT, f BOYS. WE DON'T / WANT THEM ^4 FLOUNDERING \\ AROUND IN THAT) QUICKSAND. THERE'S NO TIME FOR TALK, I WAS A FOOL, BUSTER. EVERY- \ / NOT YET, WHISKERS. THEY THING YOU SAID ABOUT THEM DIDN'T TIE YOUR HANDS, JEFF. WAS TRUE. THEY'RE NOTHING BUT j TRY TO CLIMB UP ON MY A BUNCH OF YELLOW KILLERS. W . SHOULDERS. I'LL BRACE \ IF I ONLY HAD A CHANCE TO I VMYSELF AND MAYBE YOU J MAKE IT RIGHT-? I GOT YOU A |\.CAN JUMP FOR DRY LAND.^/L ,NTO to,s --- ^noTs T^dneX THIS BLASTED MUCK J IS PULLING ME "V .UNDER. I GUESS WE'RE 1 DONE FORJ WE'LL BE UNDER IN ANOTHER MINUTE. IT'S OUR ONLY ^ CHANCE TO GET OUT. DO AS J il SAY— AND PRONTO? B- BUT— I'LL ONLY PUSH YOU FURTHER DOWN IN « THIS STUFF. AND YOU— YOU CAN'T GET A FOOT- j^^^HOLD— AND— AND— BHfXvI-I CAN'T — ? 'THERE'S NO 1 TIME FOR TALK 1 NOW. WE HAVE * TO GET OUT J VOF TH (Quickly, Jeff follows Buster's \ orders... n nGHTEN l \ / YOUR NECK MUSCLES, \ WHISKERS. START MOV- l 1 IN6 THAT HORSE VERY J SLOW-LIKE, KID. MAKE/ SURE THERE’S NO SUDDEN JERKS.- J J-ET HER GO' J ii Summoning up all his strength, Buster braces himself as Jeff clambers up out of the I MADE IT...' . GET THE LASSO , AND TIE IT AROUND THE HORSE'S SADDLE AND THEN TOSS IT ^ v AROUND OUR NECKS.] HURRY.' J deadly quicksand. THAT'S IT? NOW JUMP FOR DRY LAND AS SOON , AS YOU FEEL MY SHOULDER H EAVEffi g* — t READY... /''DID YOU SAY NECKS? THAT >-WOULD'BE.LIKE A NECKTIE PARTY, BUSTER. WE MIGHT AS WELL GO THIS . V — ■xts-t WAY. gulp: S THAT'S GUUU W YIPPEEE... ENOUGH. X HAVE^WE'RE GOING AN EXTRA SIX TO CATCH GUN IN MY SADDLE) UP TO THOSE " BAG. just TAK^/ DRYGULCHERS US TO THATWL AFTER all? HIDEOUT, / mart ij V JEFF. / : i (SShH T THEY'LL HEAD 1 FOR THEIR HIDEOUTV AFTER THE JOB.d BUSTER... AND X « Vi KNOW WHERE IT W X RECKON WE'RE 1 r TOO LATE TO CATCH UP TO THOSE COY - -J OTES AND STOP ^ THEM FROM ROB BIN G/ SJHE BANK. YOWEE...NOW 1 X KNOW WHAT 1 IT MEANS TO BE THE GUEST OF HONOR AT l A LYNCHING / . PARTY .^3- Soon afterwards... after spurring their horses at breakneck speed... | THAT’S IT— THAT CAVE JUST . AHEAD. Haven’t shooting IRONS— STAY BEHIND ME. DON’T MAKE ANY NOISE. WE WANT TO ^ kCREEP UP ON THEM J 'A/EET thet-T pretty live^ THEY’RE /GHOSTS, YOU 1 ALIV E f ^ POLECATS. DGN’tJ 1 ANYBODY ELSE ^ H MAKE ANY MOVE FOR I THEIR GUNS, OR I'M D^Hk_AIMING POR YOURJ ^ *N MIDDLE f ■ 9 HOSTS' TAKING THAT BANK WAS A CINCH WITHOUT CRAB BE AROUND. JUST LOOK AT ■ ^ THAT HAUL— WE'RE GOING TO DO THE GET- TING NOW, KENO GET TNE—fi OOOFf >( ALL RIGHT-UP ON YOUR FEE! (THE SHERIFF STILL HAS - 'that CELL WAITING FOR YOU. YOU DON’T lJF I’M GOING TO HAVE Tb WORRY\BE LIKE ANY- f ABOUT HIM ANY- I BODY FROM NOW MORE, MA’M. HE’S/ ON- IT'S GOING GOING TO BE TO BE BUSTER/ - LaLL RIGHT' CRABBE f/ HEREIN ARE 'TORIES Of TRULY HEROIC MEN AND WOMEN CHOSEN BY THIS PUBLICATION FOR THEIR DARIN'S ACTIONS IN HAZARDOUS TASKS. GREAT WESTERN TELEVISION STAR BE A MEMBER OF THE BUSTER CRABBE WESTERN CLUB * - and mail with 25c in coin and you will re- ceive an autographed photo and an Official Badge as a Member ot Why Of$judaL — At rs. Win. 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