Rod Cameron western THl oum w ROD CAMERON WESTERN I'm RlDlNG ftFTeRTHENV ; BMBRW W* SHERIFF'S CONVENT!'— - UNTH. THIS ftFTEl ROD CAMERON WESTERN IT'S GETTIUS CHILLY IN V put stmi wow in Tut iTove^^- 11 (i'^j iff: ss§ HOwef.Roo; vjhat^tws ABOUT - BAN* ROBBERY ? •^T 1 /^ W?4M ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WFSTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN .TRQUBLE AT TRAIL'S END By Hank Specter brought those cattle through in fine shape, and it givea me real pleasure to pay you off at the top price." Lannon dug into the side pocket of his coat, and brought out a bundle of greenbacks. With ostentatious care- lessness, he flung the money across the table. "There's twenty thousand dollars there," he said. "You'll want to count it before you sign this receipt." Sid Hampton looked down at the money. It formed a packet, a little over an inch high. There was something about this he didn't like. He couldn't put his finger on the reason for his discomfort. Maybe it was just that he feit ill at ease here in town and couldn't wait to get on the trail again, headed for home. There were all sorts of crooks and bad men in a cow town. The place existed solely for the purpose of taking profits off the range, in one way or another — and some of the men weren't too particular how they got theirs. Now this Lannon fellow — Sid didn't cotton to him at all. The man was short and heavily built, with a bullet head that rested, without evidence of a neck, on chunky shoulders. His eyebrows sloped downward over eyes that were small and expressionless. His voice, also, was carefully devoid of feeling. Sid had heard sing c releas v in just the same level tone which was now conveying congratulations. "Yes sir," Lannon continued. "You've brought me a thousand head of prime cattle, and now your troubles •recover." "Yea, I guess they are," Sid said, reaching doubtfully for the money. He wondered if this expensively-garbed business man could appreciate what it meant to push a thousand head of cattle up the long tra.il. Sid and his boys had nursed those ornery critters through drought and rain, had fought off rustlers, had ' conquered the dangers of swollen rivers and prairie fires and mad stampedes. Yes, those troubles were over, and the cattle were safe now in the railroad pens, waiting to be shipped out. They were off Sid's hands, as attested by the receipt in his shirt pocket. Now, as soon the money, and sign for vould be completed. "Yes, twenty thousand -— it's all here," Sid id. "But this is a powerful lot of money to ! carrying around. Do you have to give me Lannon smiled c this to' Sid persisted, despite the suspicion of con- tempt in the man's voice. "Couldn't you give me a bank draft?" he asked. After all, the money represented so much — he would be unable to draw an easy breath until it was safe in the hands of the boss, back on the home ranch. And from here on, the responsibility would be solely upon Sid's shoulders. The boys were scattered all over the town, seeking re- laxation after the laaig drive. "I can't give you a draft now," Lannon said. "But if you're afraid to handle the cash, you can exchange it at the bank in the morning." Sid's lanky figure unfolded itself from the chair, and he looked down at the man with eyes suddenly gone frosty. "No, I'm not afraid." he drawled. "I'm just being careful." He" stuffed the money into his trousers pocket, picked up the pen, and scrawled his signature n the Lann ript and shook the rider's hand, "it s ceen a pleasure dealing with you, Mr. Hampton," he said. "Maybe I'll be meeting you again here next year." Sid's mind was hardly on what the man was saying. He was thinking about the money, as he left the room, and made his way down the creaking stairs into the hotel lobby. The evening crowd had not yet begun to gather. The place was empty except for the Sheriff, at the bar, and the clerk dozing behind the counter. Sid approached the latter. "Sorry to disturb you." he said. "Can I have a pen and ink? I have some writing to do." He then retired to a writing desk in the jf thej-oom. aid busied himself for I fiflei . No c i to i terrupt him. He then returned the pen and ink, and left 'the hotel. As the door closed behind him. Sid waited for his eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness. The single street of the town was quiet. There was not a rider in sight. He wondered where his boys were. It was too much to hope that they had heeded his advice and returned early to where they were making camp, outside the town. He turned and walked toward the livery stable, where he had left his horse. Halfway up the block, as Sid passed a nar- row alleyway between two buildings, he sud- denly heard, or sensed, a movement bebind him. Before his hand could reach the gun at his belt, a heavy blow upon the head plunged ROD CAMERON WESTERN With agonizing effort, Sid struggled back to an awareness that he was lying on Ihe ground, and that his head was throbbing with pain. His shaking fingers tenderly explored a large lump, under blood-matted hair. It was painful, but nothing serious. Hesitantly, be got to his feet. Then a sudden apprehension flashed through his mind. His hand darted to his pocket. It was empty! The money was gone! Soberly, he took stock of 'the situation. He could not return home without the money. It mattered little whether or not the boss would believe that he had been robbed. The old Sulli- van ranch could not stand the loss of twenty thousand dollars. He just 'had to get that money back, somehow. As Sid retraced his steps to the hotel, his mind raced furiously, weighing out suspicions, working out a plan of action. He did not enter the building, but walked around to the rear, and climbed up onto the wooden awning that" extended out over the sidewalk. Crawling silently, he moved from one lighted window to another, until he came to the room he sought. It was the room he had left just a few minutes ago. There was Lannon, the cattle buyer, still seated at the table. Across from him, now, there was a seedy-looking saddle Sid c Hid I what they were saying, but he could see them clearly through the flimsy curtain. He had little doubt that these men had maneuvered the robbery. No one other than Lannon had known that he was carrying so much money. And now Sid could under- stand why Lannon had paid him off in cash. He wondered where the money was now. If the saddle tramp were to hand it over to Lan- non, that would be the signal for Sid to break in on them. But suppose they had already hidden the money? After all, he could prove nothing against them without actual evidence. The rough-looking character stood up, ap- parently ready to leave the room. Sid could wait no longer. He had to take a chance. He came crashing in through the window and the startled men turned to see him stand- ing amid shattered glass and broken window frame, a gun in his hand. "Don't either of you move," he said warn- ingly. "I've come back for my money, Lannon." Lannon laughed quietly, mirthlessly. "Don't make a fool of yourself, son," he said. "I paid you once tonight. Now get out of here." Sid came closer to the table. "I aim to see how much money's in that drawer," he said. A flicker of apprehension seemed to pass over the cattle buyer's face. "There's plenty of money in that drawer," he said. "Don't you recall my telling you that your little trans- action was only one of many?" Sid sighed with relief. "That's all I wanted to know," he replied. He drew his second gun. and fired two shots behind him, out of the open "What are you trying to do?" Lannon asked. He was answered by the sound of footsteps pounding up the stairs. "What's going on in there?" a gruff voice called. "You in trouble?" "Come on in," Sid invited. The door was flung open, to reveal the hotel clerk, a cowhand, and the sheriff. Lannon hastily arose and turned to the sheriff. "This crazy cow-nurse is trying to hold me up," he said. "I've already paid him, and I have the receipt to prove it. If he's been robbed since then, as he claims, that's no con- cern of mine." "It's your concern," Sid replied, "when your man robbed me, and when my money is in that drawer, right there." Lannon laughed uneasily. "I have some money there, for buying other cattle," he said. "In fact, I have another package of twenty thousand dollars, like the one I gave you. You can't identify this money as yours." "If it's mine, I can identify it," Sid said. "Before I left the hotel, I stopped in the lobby and marked every bill with my trail HE LEAPED forward and shoved Lannon back, as the latter reached into the drawer for a weapon. While the sheriff covered the cattle buyer and his man. Sid took from the drawer a packet of money. "There it is," he said proudly. "There's my JFS brand on every last bank note!" "Sure enough," agreed the sheriff, in awed surprise. "Well. I'll just lock these fellers up, and if you want, I'll take care of that money of yours for tonight. Then, as soon as the bank opens in the morning, you can exchange it for a bank draft, and quit tempting people," THE END RODCAMFRON WESTERN! ' ^--rrry-r- Hi j||| HOftyA MWi An OW Scan #221 S."-! M . ■ >onl OKI 11 «»*»ll , ■ d 14 MP.'. | eg <<,. <01 k ,.,,,. lot ~*i 1 hot hi U.UI umtu CITY .tt 1 MINT !H «(HC o ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN REAL VICTORY, LET ME TELL YOU, FRIENPS' WHY I REMEMBER WHEN BILL JENKINS BOUGHT THAT PAR- CEL OF LAMP, THERE WERE MANY WHO SAID NO- BODY COULD EVER WORK THAT GROUND.' FARMERS HAP TRIED BEFORE, BUT IT'D NEVER YIELDED ANY- THING BUT SMALL CROPS! AND AS FOR RAISING GOOD HEALTHY STEERS AND LIVESTOCK, THAT, THEY CLAIMED WAS IMPOSSIBLE.' .„,„„„-.., BILL JENKINS NEVERSAID SO, THOUGH! I CAN HEAR HIM TELLING ME NOW B ROP, WHENEVER I ©ET DISCOURAGED FARMING THIS LAND, r THINK OF THE BOYS WHO DROVE THE CATTLE POWN THE CHISHOLM TRAIL THROUGH UNCHARTED COUNTRY, TERRIBLE STRETCHES OF SANP AND WITH HOSTILE INDIANS ALL AROUND, ANP STILL THEY MAPE IT/ 1 JUST THINK OF THEM ANP GET TO WORK AGAIN.'" ,„,„, BILL'S WORDS MADE SENSE, TOO, FRIENPSj IF . YOU'VE GOT TO PO SOMETHING, YOU'LL FIND A WAY.' WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY/ AN OLD PROVERB, BUT PLENTY TRUE, I'M THINKING! ^ mt . REMEMBER THAT, SAPPLE-PALS, AWPPON'T BE DISCOURAGED JUST BECAUSE A JOB SEEMS MIGHTY BIG OR A CHORE MIGHTY HARD/ WELL NOW, PARTNERS, I'LL HAVETOBE RIPINSON! BUT THERE'S ONE THING I WANT „ W/TH ALL MY HEART— TO BE SEEING EVERYONE OF YOU AGAIN NEXT MONTH ! TILL THEN, GOOD RiDINGI YOUR RAL, ^JSs&BS •00 CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN KODCAMhRuN WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN a/irai, AT 1 £ nnnCH house .. WHILE YOU WERE WASHING UP, ROB, I TOtP TEX TflPPEN, M> FOREMAN HERE, WHAT HAPPENED J I AGREE TODhY.'TEX MKT T 7MflT N0 HDS5 SHOULD? HQO CAMERON.' / BE KILLEP, BUT LET ME ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN