Rod Cameron western e awfa ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON'S HAND STRCAKS IN A Pi-US Cf= MOVE - WENT AS HE MAKES «» PAiVOU» PASTBST WtAW IW \_ SEE HIW\ CRAW I ROD CAMERON WESTERN WE'RE SOWS TO »JEE0 SOME SUfTUES CM THE HEAVY RiWWG WE'U HAVE TO DO AFTER THE JOB I ANOY, YOU AMD THE NEW MAU «0 twTo town amo get what we wee© . ROD CAMEgON WESTERN MASTER'S CAU-- — W\ ji Wm >^s ^l SwV'l ^kjj ^J ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN Send focfy for Otis Begirfffuf TBfWFIC VALve — \?>fW£A 8£fOR£ OftWtOf SO (ASY TO I _. And what beautle*! Popular two-ton* combina- tion of maroon pin* tie and told tan* metal cap! Pencil i..- re nil in- propel -repel mnvtmsni-bn eraiar mn lr*di. Pan hat nin Urjt | ( ak proof ink *ack, lat.M typa 14K |oid plated 'vari-amivHb" point, tu.ti all writ err. Writ** with ww non-tmvar inkt. Ideal for hoim, ichool, camp; wonderful (fit*. Hurry I Send 10 Smith Brot . Dvpt. L Boa 101, New York 46. N. V JEEPfR* .HOftwextfYl JU5T PECIPEP *^ T Jii.T*?N"w) my unox wasnt OOINCj TO *OSS ME AROUNP -»h «w J mumPvo'ps 9RU1SED r?£C*JjS£ Y(JH PEC1PED VUM VVEMNT *OiN& TO LBT VOf?E I 'MCLr- - »OSft YUM AROUND *MV MORE? ' YESTERIWt' WHEN X^ 1 STARTEP TO WALK. *- DOWN THE STAIRS ^HE 5AIP," BE CAREFUL/ POW'T HALL.'*r— ' SO JUST TO SHOW HIM I WAS THROUGH WITH HIS TELLIAJG, ME WHAT TO VO, I FELL POWW THE WHOLE 1^ ^ FLKbHT OP STAIRS/ j- t7 ROD CAMERON WESTERN TO OO TOMORROW * ="«, VDU KNOW ^E K»j TJgfRE g^Sg^l- TNBR BOTH KNOW ! SwhI STsb thtobsh um breathless: THEN i FRIENDS 1 ON TOP.' OH, OH, HVAX COMES PETE SOS6S, , " BISOEST nosey i — TOWN.f ROD CAMERON WESTERN ( THAT'S A ^COINCIDENCE.' V WHAT'S A "\ A COINCIDENCE^/ St Ml m^ tt\ HI? ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN --IN FACT fUM COUU>) PEAFEN ANYONE i ■* WITHIN A FIFTY-/" — \ ^-^-^ FOOT RAN6E.' 17 W.'l/'^^A ^— , i—- I M/ // WHAT ARE *"> / / ri* no \ A^fiZ WATERPROOF) lf\ fpiiSJl ^^saritone; y -SP^k^ ^k i t jpj*ti~o //Ft£Si§ xlSs^S^^G W^ a ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROO CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN (SB ROO CAMERON WBTWN ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN BULLET WOUND fe M?ROM out of the Black Hilli a lone horse- ■*■ man galloped through tht moonlight. In town, he rode directly up on the board tide- walk and without dismounting began banging on a door. Above the door hung a shingle on which were fading letters spelling out "A. J. Witherspoon, M.D." Upstairs, shutters were thrown open and Doc Witherspoon stuck his night-capped head out. "Who is it? What do you want?" he asked. "Jump into your pants and grab your satchel. Doc," yelled the horseman. "There's been an accident !" It was only a matter of seconds before the doctor, still tucking in his shirt, appeared at the street door. A. J. Witherspoon, M.D., was used to midnight emergency calls and he could get dressed faster than a fireman, "Got a horse for you here. Doc." said the rider, indicating a spare mount he had led. "She's all saddled and ready to go. We'd better make time be- cause I think the kid is dying." "A child, eh? What happened?" "No time to palaver. You'll find out when we get there." Without another word, the doctor mounted ■ and spurred his pony to a gallop matching that of the other man's mount. They followed the stage road for about a mile, then cut north- ward up a narrower trail that rose gradually toward the hills. The trail led into a thick stand of pines and finally ended in a small clearing where stood a weather-beaten cabin. A man with a rifle stood before the door and growled, "You ahould've sung out. Buck. I came dang near plugging you before I rec- ognized you." '^Shucks, Lefty, you weren't expecting any- body else, were you?" responded Buck. "Come on. Doc. The kid's inside." Js" The lamplight revealed the physician's look of astonishment when he saw, not a child aa he had expected, but a full grown man lying oa the bunk, his shirt stained a dark red, "So this is the kid?" The man on the bed replied throa^Hly, "So you recognize me, do you. Doc? Well, then you'll know bette* than to try any tricks with the Killer Kid. And you'd better fix me up because if I croak, you croak too! The boys have got their instructions, savvy?" Calmly starting his examination of the wounded man, the doctor replied, "You don't have to threaten me to make me do all X tan for you. I have taken an oath to do my best to save lives, even the life of a worthless out- law and murderer like you." "Stow the chatter and get that lead out of me," grumbled the patient. "It's making it tough for me to breathe." "You're weak from loss of blood," said the doctor. "We'll have to make a stretcher and move you to the hospital." "You think I'm crazy?" asked the Kid, Tm not going to any hospital where the law can get at me. What's the good of saving my life just to put my neck in a noose?" "I see your point," said the medico. "Well, it's taking a chance, but III just have to oper- ate on you right here by this lamplight, I guess. I'll ride into town and get the nurse to assist me. Then 111 . . ." "You're not going anywhere. Doc,** re- sponded the patient, his beady eyes glinting. "You're going to stay right here with me until I get well!" "But I can't do that!" declared the doctor. "You may be in bed for weeks. I've got other patients who need me. I'll . . ." Doc Witherspoon felt the pressure of steal ROD CAMERON WESTERN •(•last hit back and heard the voice of the nun called Lefty ordering, "You do just what the Kid Mjrf, Doc. To the devil with your other patienta. You're going to stay right here till the Kid gets well. We're not going to take any chance on you tipping off the law that we're holed up here." The physician shrugged. He realized that these outlawi meant business. There were three besides the Killer Kid. Lefty, Buck and one called Faro. They were hard-faced men and doubtless quick on the trigger. The doc- tor would have hesitated to tangle with even one of them and he realized he'd have no chance at all against three. Yet he was the only doctor in the territory and he was aware that several -of hii patients, on the critical list, would aurely die If he were kept out of circu- lation for two or three weeks. He said, resignedly, "You boys hold all the aee*. I reckon I'll just have to go ahead and probe for the bullet without any nurse. But yoo fellows will have to help. One of you boil some water, pronto." Ht reached into his bag and drew out a gleaming scalpel. The Killer Kid frowned and growled, "That knife better not slip into my heart, Doc, or it's curtaini for you!" "Don't worry. It won't Blip," responded the medical man, reaching again into his bag and bringing out a small bottle. "Now listen," he said, addressing the other three outlaws. "We'll all have to wear masks." "Masks? Are you trying to be funny, Doc?" asked Faro. "This isn't a holdup." "It's not a joke," responded the doctor. "It's necessary for the operating surgeon and his assistants to wear breathing masks. Keeps out the germa." "He's right about that," said Buck. "I saw an operation once and by jingo they did wear masks !" L "AH right, let's not waste any more time. Hand me your bandanas and I'll sterilize them." As the big handkerchiefs were handed over, he poured drops of liquid on them froro the little bottle. Then he tied one over the noat and mouth of each of the men. He got out ■ big white handkerchief and tied it over his own face. "That sterilizer stuff sure smells funny," commented Faro, his voice sounding strangely muffled. Without replying, the doctor started probing for the bullet, first taking the precau- tion of moving a pistol the Kid had hidden under his blanket. The Kid protested but the surgeon said, "Either we remove that gun or I refuse to operate." He was busy with his scalpel when Lefty moaned and collapsed on the floor with a thud. "What happened to him?" asked the Kid. "Lots of people faint when they see an op- eration," replied Doc Witherspoon. As if to confirm his words. Buck and Faro collapsed almost simultaneously. Suspicion glinted in the Kid's beady eyes and he tried to rise, but the doctor pushed him firmly down and the weakened man was unable to offer further resistance. The Kid had fallen peacefully to sleep by the time the doctor fastened the final bandage in place. He made no protest as A. J. Wither- spoon. M.D., tied his hands and feet, and then repeated the process on each of his confed- erates. ^ft PERATION was a success." chuckled the doctor as he made his way, un- molested, through the little cabin door. "Now I'll just ride into town and tell the Sheriff where he can find four of the meanest owl- hoots in all the hills. Sure ii a lucky thing for me that none of them suspected I was dousing their bandanas with chloroform. Not enough to kill "em — just enough to knock 'em out I" 3-6 THE END ROD CAMERON WESTERN ROD CAMERON WESTERN HA, HA.' WHEN THE MINERS USE THESE STICKS Of PVNAMITE TO BU»T WITH, TOINM ARE SONS TO HART HAPPE/JINS AROUNP JIPOHT WO WIU/ NOTICE HOW THOSE VEINS Of COIP ORE fiROW 1 THICKER AS THE* HEAP THIS WAV? ACCORPIHff TO THIS J COMPASS IN MY HANP, THE VEINS ARE f RUNNING TOWAEP THE NORTHWEST/ / I RECKOkl RIGHT? j_ jf^ SO, B-BUT- ROD CAMERON WESTERN WHEN THOSE STICKS OF DYHAMITS LOWED WTO swhuhic acib so ore, thevu nu the whole MWE WITH FLMES.' THATU HOT UP WOAK AH? GIVE US THE TLWE WE NEED TO WORK THAT ABANDONEE M1HE NEARBY/ jfflT THAT MOMENT WE RNR TWO-FISTED. STRAIGHT. "" SHCOTiHO ROD CAMERON ASTRIDE HIS SREAT STAUION, WAX PAINT. RACINE TOWARD- TRouate.' ROD CAMERON WESTERN • HUP! HELP! gr MAPtrrt just in Vj W Tl*«,TOO.' THeSB P I KX* MNHIES I'EK / J^aukw poui in.' ^<«j( _/"^ WHAT \ _- f HAPPENED l*-^- 1 \ IN THERE? / W •jpp^uEr' ^ ^W^M |Efe5^SJSH& l | ^e»«»?4/?b1 some owlhoots filled the Mine tunnel with sulphuric, acip fumes anp i aim to j out wwo anp why! 3 RECKON YOU HAP BETTER START PUMPING CLEAN AIR INTO THE TUNNEL TO CLEAR THOSE FUMES OUT BEFORE GOING BACK J—~ -""" - TO WORK.' 7 KEEP VOUR SNOUT OUT I RECKON IF YOU WANT TO QUIT WORKING HERE, THAT'S YOUR BUSINESS, MISTER.' BUT HOW COME YOU'RE SO PLUMB SET ON GETTING EVERYONE ELSE TO QUIT. 7 YOU MUST HAVE A REASON/ ROD CAMERON WESTERN wwy, you up- spouting BEAN-POLE. I'LL BUST VOU INTO HUNKS OF BUZZARD BAIT WITH MVB/WEHANOS.' ROD CAMERON WESTERN A fBN MINUTES LATER, OUTSIDE THE BW£ CHIP GOLD MINE