WESTERN

-^JW^7\W,

YOUR}AVORiTE^m &cffon packed stofks Of

WESTERN STAR '" the wUd and wooly wesfJ

m'lmm

TEX KITTER WESTERN Volume 1. Numbct 2S October. 1954

Publiehed bimonthly by Charlton Comics GrouD. Executive oiticea anu office of publication Cbarlton Building, Derby,
Coppy. Copyright 1954 by Charlton ComicB Group. Designed by Al Fago Studios. Printed in the U.S.A.

TEX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

ANVSODV ENT6EIN' THE
PISTOL SHOOTIN' CONTEST
EIGHT OVEe HEZE ...

\ 4HH...THAT*WHAT

) I CAN be:athi\\

J AT/ JUST WATCH
^^^ ;ME.' ^

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HMMM...FIVE Y LET'S SEE YOU BEAT
OUTOFSIX... I THAT, EITTEE... WITH fl'U.
NOT BAD/ A ONE PISTOL/ A TKV..

THE PEAI ei E EANSEe'S .45 CLEAES HIS HOLSTER
FA6TEE THAN THE EYE CAN SEE/ ONE SHOT
BLENDS INTO ANOTHEE FOE ASINSLE.LONS
BLAST OF SUNFIEE...

TEX RITTER WESTERN

WHEN THE AlECLEAee.NOTMlNSEEMAlNS ON THE
eOCK BUT SHATTEZeD BITS CC GLASS ...

TEX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

MEANWHILE...ATTHE PICNIC.

TEX RiTTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

)m¥mcoH

UNMASKS^
THE GUILTY

When Little Stai^ an indian. dipt,
wdA accused of £iealin^ fur pelis
froai her tribe . hei* innocence
was proven by Youna Fdlcon,
the lone Indian lad and surviving
member of the iHaSSaci'ed True-
feather tribe . The Chief of her
"tribe then askecC him to stay
and find the real thief and Young
Falcon agreed to do 60. 'But now.
manii dav^ have passed and as
vet he haiS not found the guiltg
one I

NO, ei?eAT CHIEF.' y gooq

TELU YOUK PEOPt-E THAT rs BUT
THAT X AW NEARLY i AMOTHEK DAY
CERTAIN WHO THE / OR TWO, _
fiUILTY ONE IS. ^WILLTEIX THE
I WILL REVEAL "KGOOD PEOPLE
HIM BEFORE THE 1 OF OUR TRlftE
MOON IS FULL.

TEX RITTER WESTERN

TM«r nmrr. m ki9 tepee, ^dum^

WUroH.MAIliTMNd A WA.TCMFUU

TEX RITTER WESTERN

BUT TME COOL FOREST GRASS,
WET WITH HEAVY DEW , SERVES TO
REVIVE VOtlMG FALCON .'

' HE SITS CiOi^ aeaoE ME,' r "^
AM CERTAiM HE IS WELL.ARAAEO.
I MUST STRIKE SWIFTLY AND
SUDPENLV .' NVAV THE LUCK OF THE
HOOD BE WrTH ME '

WITH THE SPEBP OP THB BIRD
WH06C NAME HE BEARS. YOUNO
FALCOM SPRtUSe i*tTO ACTtOM .'

WtU, CUT VOUV REST YOUR "T"
IMTO PIECES "StOMSUE, KNAVE.'

TOO eMAUL FOR ] you will meeo

EVEM THE _^ rr TO TELL YOUR
WOLVES *ro y PEOPLE OF ALL-,

TEX RITTER WESTERN

WITH

m lilTTES

HOWDY PARDS,

WHITE FLASH AND I DROPPED IN ATA BIG
RODEO THE OTHER DAY AND SAW A COLLECTION
OF RIGHT FINE BRONC'BUSTERS AT WORK. ONE
YOUNG FELLOW CAUGHT MY EYE. THE CALM BUT
DEFIANT EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE, AND THE DETERMINED SET OF HIS SHOULDERS,
REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING I'D SEEN ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO...

THE INCIDENT I RECALLED TOOK PLACE IN THE CORRAL AT THE SPRAWLING
LA2Y-J SPREAD. THREE TEEN-AGE BOYS WERE THERE. TAKING TURNS AT TRYING
TO BREAK ONE OF THE RANCH'S MOST FIERY STALLIONS. TWO OF THE BOYS WERE
TALL AND BRAWNY, THE THIRD HOMBRE WAS SHORT AND KIND OF SKINNY AS I
WATCHED,THE BOYS CLIMBED ABOARD THAT PASSEL OF FOUR-LEGGED DYNAMITE
ONE AT A TIME_.AND WERE TOSSED ON THEIR EARS! SEVERAL TIMES EACH ONE
WENT DOWN IN A SHOWER OF DUST. THEN THE TWO TALL YOUNGSTERS BRUSHED
THEMSELVES OFF AND LIMPED AWAY TO THE BUNK HOUSE. THE THIN KID DIDN'T
GIVE UP, THOUGH, DESPITE THE BEATING HE MUST'VE BEEN TAKING. AGAIN AND
AGAIN HE PICKED HMSELF UP OFF THE GROUND AND CLIMBED BACK ONTO THAT
ORNERY STALLION. IT WAS DARK WHEN I RODE AWAY, AND THE LAO WAS STILL AS
DETERMINED AS EVER TD STAY ON THAT ROARING, SNORTING ANIMAL.

TEN YEARS LATER THE THREE BOYS WERE STILL TOGETHER. THE TWO TALL,
WELL-BUILT LADS WERE WORKING IN MINOR JOBS DOWN IN THE RING, AND THE
SHORT, SKINNY FELLOW HAD BECOME THE STAR BRONC'BUSTER OF THE WHOLE
SHOW!

CERTAINLY PROVES THE TRUTH OF THE WORDS," IF AT FIRST YOU DON't
SUCCEED, TRY, TRY AGAIN," DOESN'T IT?

YOUR PARD,

TEX RITTER WESTERN

THE BARGAIN

A RED ROAJS Story

THE DAY OF the big race broke bright
and clear. For miles around, farmers
and cattlemen drove their buckboards over
jolting roads to Fargo Flats. A month
before, Rob Raeburn, a young rancher from
Fargo, had entered his stallion. Red Roan,
in the feature mile race against Mace
Barley's fleet racing horse. Whitefoot.

From that day on. men spoke of little
else but the coming race, in Fargo Flats.

In the corralls and barns, in the hotel
and assay office, they speculated about
Raeburn's chances. They all knew the
story of how the young rancher had gone
hunting for a grizzly that had been killing
his steers and how he had been saved from
death at the hands of the bear by the wild
stallion that was known as Red Roan.
They remembered, too. how the straw-
berry horse's foreleg had been ripped by
the bear, and how Raeburn had taken him
home and nursed him back to health.

Standing in front of a main street hitch-
ing pos*:, several cowboys watched the
crowd pour in,

"They say that big red hoss is a mighty
fast cayuse." one of the cowmen said. "But
he'll have to be to keep withm snortin" dis-
tance o' Mace Barley's hoss!"

"Arn't it th' truth." a husky bystander
agreed "Why, Barley's Whitefoot has
licked ev'ry other racin' hoss around these
parts fcr th' last five years. Cain't nobody
beat him!"

"Rob Raeburn must think his can." a third
man spoke up. "Or he wouldn't have en-
tered his hoss against him. Nobody else
even bothered to put a hoss in the race.
They know when they're outcjassed. Why
throw away an entry fee."

"But Rob Raeburn has a durn good
reason for risking his entry fee," put in
another puncHer. "He's got a big mortgage
on his spread and if he doesn't pay if off
by the end of the week, he can pack up and
leave. That grizzly put a big hole in his

purse that's

stock and he can use tB
up for winning the race."

"Well, here's one waddie that'll be root-
ing him home. It's about time somebody
knocked that bragging Barley down a few
pegs. Let's get over to the track." f

That was the way it stood. As hundreds
of ranchers and their families crowded
along the race course that had been laid
out on a level stretch outside of town,
Rob Raeburn stroked the trembling, vel-
vety ear of his great mount.

Resting his head close to the big horse's
ear. Raeburn spoke softly.

"I know you can do it. Red Roan! We'll
take that bluffing Mace down a peg. And
with the money we'll win, we'll be able to
pay off the mortgage on the ranch and then
some. I'm riding you and we'll win. boy!
Just remember that!"

That was another reason the crowd had
for doubting that the roan horse could beat
Barley's big, white-legged chestnut. Since
Raeburn was the only man whom Red Roan
would permit to mount him, he was going
to be his jockey. But Barley had picked
one of his cowhands, a wiry little man
named Creel, to straddle his horse. The
weight advantage was all in Barley's favor I

AS the two horses and their riders wait-
ed at the starting line, the crowd sud-
denly hushed. Raeburn bent over Red
Roan's neck, speaking soothingly to him.
Barley, smoking a big cigar, gave last min-
ute instructions to Creel.

Then the judge stepped forward. He
nodded at Rob Raeburn and his opponent
and slowly raised his Colt revolver. "Now
remember, I'll count three, an' then fire
this. H either hoss starts ahead of the
other. I'll call you both back — // it's before
th' gun goes off!"

He stepped back, raising the gun.

"One! Two! Three!"

With a puff of white smoke, the noise

of the revolver shattered the prairie air.

Accustomed to racing, the big chestnut,
Whitefoot, lunged into a fast start, speed-
ing away. But Red Roan, startled by the
sound, and the smell of gunpowder, buck-
ed, unwilling to go forward. Holding his
seat, Rob Raeburn spoke quietly and urg-
ently.

"Steady, Red, steady! Let*s ride — nowT*

The big red horse sprang into action,
hurtling forward with great, ground-cover-
ing strides. The crowd roared. Red Roan
was thirty yards behind the other horse,
but with Raeburn bent over his neck, he
was coming up fast.

Looking back, little Creel grunted ang-
rily, and dug -sharp spurs into his mount's
sides. Propelled by powerful, steel-spring-
ed legs, the chestnut increased his pace,
until he was galloping with the speed of
a deer. It was not for nothing that he had
beaten every other horse in the territory!
Whitefoot came of fine, Arabian racing
stock. In any part of the country, on any
race track, he would have been an out-
standing entry.

MlUT, head thrust forward, ears flattened
back, long legs working like pistons.
Red Roan would not be denied.

Slowly, yard by yard, he began to come
up to the other horse. As they approached
the tall pine tree that marked the turning
point of the course. Creel reahzed that he
was being overtaken from behind. With
a sudden, unexpected move, as both horses
were streaking around the turn, he yanked
hard on Whitefoot's reins.

The startled chestnut pulled sharply to
the side, his shoulder slamming into Red
Roan,

The strawberry stallion stumbled, break-
ing stride. In that single, terrifying mo-
ment. Red Roan felt a stabbing pain shoot
through his leg— the same leg that had
been so badly wounded by the gruzly, and
that had so recently healed.
^ Rob Raeburn felt the horse shudder and

lurch beneath him — and he knew what the
reason was.

"Is it the leg, boy?" He did not hit or
spur the horse. He did not Urge him for-
ward.

"If it hurts too much, quit! But if you
I can, let's see if we can catch him!"
I Certainly, Red Roan could not under-

1 stand the words. But he caught something
in the tone, knew that it was terribly im-
portant to the man who had healed his
leg, that he keep going, that he catch the
other horse.

Valiantly, though his leg throbbed

mightily. Red Roan sped into full stride
again. It was as if he was out on the
prairie again, wild and free, leading his
herd. Was he not king of the wild horses?
No tame mount could defeat him! His
mighty hooves thundered and he came
down the stretch like a meteor. The crowd
roared, for as he stumbled it had seeme^
impossible for him ever to recover his
stride at all.

But now he was scant yards away from
Whitefoot. His scarlet hide glossy, and
tail and mane floating in the air, he was
soon abreast of him. As the finish line
loomed up, he heaved ahead with a mighty
effort that made him the winner, barely
a head in front of the other horse. The
crowd's roar swelled into a great acclaim
for the most thrilling race, and the finest
horse they had ever seen.

As Rob Raeburn stood by the trembling
Red Roan caressing him, up walked Mace
Barley. His face was a study in disappoint-
ment and perplexity. At last he spoke.

"You won fair an' square. Raeburn," he
said. "I'm sorry my jockey jostled you!'*

Raeburn nodded and shook his hand
hard.

"Thanks, Mace. It might have been an
accident."

But Barley did not walk away. "Listen
to me." he said "I want that boss of
your's. for myself! I'll give you $5,000 fer
him!"

Rob Raeburn shook his head. "No!"

"Well, I'll go $7,500." He waited. "$10,-
000!"

The young rancher smiled.

"I reckon I better tell you the truth.
Mace," he said, "When I found Red Roan
— when he saved my life and got badly
hurt doing it, I made a bargain with him.
The bargain was that I'd take care of him
till his leg was better, and that then Td
let hin^ go free again!"

"Go free ag'in?" The big rancher shook
his head unbelievingly. "But you could
take him East an' race him fer a pile o'
greenbacks. He's worth a fortune!"

661 KNOW." The young man's face grew
suddenly serious. "But we've got a
bargain, the two of us." He looked up at the
great red horse, and his eyes softened.
"He saved my life and my ranch. To-
night, I'm letting him go. Mebbe — mebbe
some day, we'll see each other again."
THE END

TEX RITTER WESTERN

/ NINETEEN EED... \
's I'M AFeAIDVOU r^
f LOSE AGAIN, Me. \
S HOLLISTEE/ jL

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TEX RITTER WESTERN

NOTHING NEW IN
THAT .'WELL, THAT'S
ENOUSH FOE-
TON I SHT... I'VE
PAID THE RENT

roe vou roe

A YEAE .'

TEX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTEtt WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

THAT WAS A SHOT... CZOtf,
THE SECOND PLOOe or THE
HOTEL.' DETTEewAVE

A look:...

VOU HEAE A \ YES, Sie/ 60UNDED LIKE
SHOT UP HERE, 1 IT CAME FEOM EIGHT _
OAD f __--/ ACeOSS THE HALL... IN 1
v,___^ ^ *>-, W0« EI6HT ' __— lY

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SLAO VOUVE COWE,
EANSEE.' I WAS JUST
SOINS ACTEEYOLI
SAM HOLLISTEE'S
BEEN 5H0T TO
DEATH '

HEAED THE SHOT

PEOMTHE STEEET,

MOEGAN,' HOW DID

IT HAPPEN ?

TEX RITTER WESTERN

H0LLI3TEE WAS AT THE SOLDEN 9LIPPEE TONISHT,
PLAYINS'EOULETTE . I'« THE CEOUPIEE THEEE.
BUSINESS WAS ICIND OF DEAD SO WE ClUIT EAELV
ANDCA^AE HEEEFOEADEINK.AND SOME TACK.
COUPLE OF VMNUTES ASO, VOUNS Jl« BEANT
BUSTED IN HEEEAND SAID 60METHIN& ABOUT
HOUIflTEE COMINS OUT TO
HIS PLACE, BOTHEEINS
BEANrseiSTEE...

BEANT HAD HIS GUN IN \
HIS HAND. HOLLISTEE \

TOLD HIM TO PUT IT J

AWAY AND BEANT \n
SHOT HIM... THEN \ V_
HEEANOUT/ 1 7

HmWM... PEETTy
SEEIOUS.MOE&AN.
VOU'EECHAESINS
BEANT WITH OUT-
AND-OUT MUEDEE.'
YOU SEE OE HEAE
ANY OP THIS, DAD?

®^

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NDPE...NOTHIN' BUT THE'SHOT, THAT IST
HEAED THAT PLAIN AS DAY. THE WALLS IS
MISHTY THIN... BUT 1 DIDN'T HEAE NO

ARGUMENT, OE NOBODY EUNN'N'AViAY
AWAY AFTEE THE SHOT...

UH-HUH... THANtS,
DAD. MIND IC I HAVE
A LOOK. AT VDUe SUN,
WOESAN...f

30 AHEAD AND
SMELL THE BOEE,
EANSEE.'IT
AIN'T BEEN
FIEED.'

NOT AT HOLLISTEE, AT ANY
EATE.'THIS OEEEINSEE.
ISTHIETVONECALIBEE

AND HE WAS PLAINLY SHOT

WITH A HEAVY PISTOL.

PeOBABLY A .44 OE 45...

IVE ALEEADV TOLD YOU
JUST WHAT HAPPENED
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'EE WAITIN'ON.'
BEANT'S PEOBABLY
ON HIS WAY OUT OF
THE STATES E16HT
NOW.'

SUESS YOU'EE eiSHT.'
rw GOING OUT TO
THE BEANT EANCH
...EiaHT NOW,' SEE
THAT VOU'EE WHEEE
ICANFIND YOU WHEN

I GET bach;,

MOESAN.'

TEX mTTER WESTERN

TOWAED miDNiSHT TEX UITTEE AKRIVES AT THE EANCH,
AND CINDS THE RANCHEC A.PP eOACH I N6 HgOM TH E.

OPPOSITE DieEcnoN...

EVEMNS, EAMGEE
WHATSeiNSS VOU
CALLINS ATTHIS
LATE HOUe ?

HMH*... C0UT.4*...
VOUVE CieED IT
eECENTl-Y.JlMWY.
IT ItfEUB OC
BUENED POWOEE.'
MIND TELLINS ME
WHAT VOU WEEE
9H0OTING AT ?

SAM HOLLISTEE WAS KILLED TONISHT IN THE
CATTLEMAN'S HOTEL, AND PAT MOESAN
CLAIMS TO HAVE SEEN WU
DO IT/ UNLESS VOU CAN
PEOVE YOU WEEE EIDIN&
rENCE ALL DAY, VOU'LL
HAVE TO COME SACK. TO
TOWN WITH ME...

I DIDN'T SHOOT ANYONE,
EANSEC. SUT I DON'T
KNOW JUST YET HOW
TO PepVE IT,' ONE
THINSSC-OESUEE...
I DON'T AIM TO SIT IN
JAIL WHILE I'M
FISUCINSITOUT...

WOMENTS LATEE, A6THE SOUND OF HOOC-BEATSS

Feow SEANT's HoesE: fades .— iS

ALL EISHT, HE'S
SONS,' VOU CAN
have: my "GUN"

NOW, Me

EITTEE,'

HUMPH.' A LIPSTICK. CASE ,'
PRETTV CLEVEE, MISS BEANT
... MAYBE JUST CLEVEE
ENOUGH TO PUT A NOOSE
AEOUND VOUE BI^OTHEES
NECK..' INNOCENT PEOPLE DON'T
USUALLY eUN FEOW THE LAW.'

TEX RITTER WESTERN

HECAN'TPeOVEHlSINNOCENCEINVOUejAIL, \

Me. EirrEE,' and ir he » suilty oc shootins

THAT N0-SOOC3 DEIFTEE.HOLLISTEi!,HE «UST
HAVE HAD A SOOD EBASON POe DOINS IT.' J
EITHER WAY, I DON'T INTEND TO SEE HIAft
HANSED WITHOUT A CHANCE TO DO SOME-
THINS ABOUT IT/ NOW I SUESS VOU'LL
AEEEST ME FOe HELPING HIM ESCADE.

NO.'Ae A mATTEROPFACT MISS BEANT, I INTENDED
TO LET JIMMY EBCAPE ON THE WAV TO TOWN, ANYWAY.
YOU SEE... I THINK MOKSAN 19 AS MUCH OPA
SUSPECT ASJIM. MAYBE MOEE.' BUT BOTH OP
THEM WILL HAVE TO BE ON THE
LOOSE PDE ME TO PEOVE WHICH
ONE DID IT...

fe

DON'T
NDEBSTAND...^

?3^l

SUESS YOU DON'T, AND I'M SUEE NOTS0IN& TO
EXPLAIN IT TO YOU .' VOU'EE INCLINED TO TAKE
0EA6TIC ACTION, MISS BEANT, AND I'M AFEAID
IF I TOLD YOU WHAT I'M SOINS TO DO, YOU'D
nsuEE AWAY TO TAKE A HAND IN IT.' DON'T
WOEEY... IF JIMMY'S INNOCENT, I'LL SOON
KNOW IT.'

LATE THE POLLOWINS AFTEENOON FINDS TEX
EITTEE IN THE OCTICEOF 'WILD' BILL HICKOCK..
WAESHAL OF ABILENE.'

UH-HUHH... AND AFTEE
YOU LEFT THE HOTEL, WHAT
TH EN ? WENT OUT AFTEE
YOUNS BEANT, I SUESS...

INSTEAD I WENT TO HOLLISTEE'S EOOM TO
CHECK A EUMOE ABOUT HIM. SEEMS HE
WAS SUPPOSED TO CAKEV AMAP TO SOME
BUE1EDA(V3NEY ABOUND ON HIM. HE DIDN'T,
BUT HE DID HAVE SUCH A MAP IN HIS
BOOM... BEHIND THE GLASS IN HIS BUEEAU
MIEEOE.' I LEFT THE MAP WHERE IT
COULD BE EASILY FOUND.

EITHEE BBANT SHOT HOLLISTEE IN A EUCKUSOVEE
CLAI EE, OB PAT MOE&AN SHOT H IM FOE THAT MAP.'
IT'S SOT TO BE ONE OE THE OTHEE.' IF BEANT DID
IT, HE'LL EUN FOE MEXICO AND TEY TO LOSE
HIMSELF...BUT WE'LL EVENTUALLY
SET HIM.'

TEX RITTER WESTERN

ICMOESAN SHOT HIM, HE'LL CAEEY HIS SEAECH
TO HOLLISTEE'S EOOM, 9A^^E AS I DID... AND
HE'LL CIND THE MAP/ HIS NEXT MOVE WILL BE
TO SO AFTEE THE MONEV. THAT MONEY IS
HEEE IN ABILENE ... AND UNLESS 1 MISS
MV eUESS, SO'S PAT MOE&AN/

TEX RITTER WESTERN

COMINS TO WIS FEET, THE PEAlElE EAtJOEE TWISTS
MOeSAN'S LES out FEOm UNDEE HIW, SEND-
ING Hl/W TO THE ALLEV Pl-OOE .'

BUT THE DESPEEATE
KILLEE 16 ON HIS FEET
IN A SECOND ..

TEX RiTTER WESTERN

DENVER nUDD

SKWIIpj^

OH BOY, HYARS UH

WOW ,'AH'LL PULL IT
ON BUSHEY/

WHUT.^YO MEAN YO IS GIVIN'
ME A BOX 0' CIGAFiS ? AH
ALWA>S THOUGHT YO WUS UH

TEX RITTER WESTERN

BUSHEY.YO KNOWS YO IS MAH BEST

FRIEND AN'AH JUST WANTS
TA BE GOOD TA YO, OU' PAL .'
AH HOPES YO LIKES STRONG
CIGARS 'CAUSE THESE f»CK
QUITE UH
WALLOP.'

TEX RITTER WESTERN

(get YOUR GUNS READY MEN
( WE'LL SURPRISE UM /

TEX RITTER WESTERN

.-•IT'S right'

> IN FRONT '

[ OF YOU/ y

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SURE— THAR HE IS-
RIGHT IN FRONT 0'
TH BANK— THAT'S
TH ROBIN AT TH
BANK.'HAH.HAW.'

NEXT MORNING-I |

HMM— THET IS )\
A COUPLE OF \ )
ROUGH LOOKIN' ¥~^-,^
HOMBRES RIDEIN' L f o'*N
INTA TOWN /^^"2^

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srsii

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TEX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

HUH—

UH BOOK.GEE

THANKS MOOSEHEAD-I

HUH-

— WHUTTH-

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