1 YOU WONT GV OFF AS EASILY AS K 1 YOU DID BEfORE.THIS TIME YOlTEE J I GOING TO END UP BEHINO BARS ON ^ | ACHAKGE OF ATTEMPTEO MURDER^ r* 6 r HORSE FOR SALE r B^HE TWO MEN lay flat on their stomachs at the edge of the cliff, watching the swiftly moving cloud of dust on the plain below them. “Mighty fine horse, that one!” grunted Vee Scar, whose name came from the vivid mark of a sabre wound on his left cheek. “If I owned that horse I’d win me a million dollars at the races, I would. Wish I had that horse.” "Then I reckon you'll have it, Vee Scar,” chuckled his companion. There isn't anything you ever wanted that you didn’t get. Reckon you’ll be obliged if I help you out.” He sighted his rifle on the rider- below them. Vee Scar smacked the gun roughly to the side and snarled, "Don’t shoot, Mousey, you fool! That redskin is Little Talon, the son of Chief Flying Eagle! Besides, he’s going pretty fast. You might miss him and hit the horse!” “But how’ll we get the horse?” asked Mousey. “We’ll buy him,” responded Vee Scar. "Buy him?” exclaimed Mousey. “Sure,” said Vee Scar. “We’ll buy him with those greenbacks we printed — the counterfeit money!” “ That money?” exclaimed Mousey, frown- ing. “But we’ve never been able to pass any of that money!” “Use your head, Mousey,” chuckled Vee Scar. “We never could pass the money on a white man, but Indians are dumb. We could fool them easy. And that’s just what we’ll do. We’ll buy that strawberry roan for a bundle of phony wampum!” Little Talon, a straight-backed, bronze- skinned young man, raced his strawberry roan onward across the flat, unaware that the eyes of the two badmen were focussed on him. “You are a fine horse, Papoosey,” he whis- pered into the ear of the roan. "You are faster than the Great Wind. You and I will be com- panions forever!” But when Little Talon arrived in the camp of his people, the home of his father, Chief Flying Eagle, there was bad news awaiting him. "My son, my prince,” said the old Chief. "I have arranged to sell your fast horse, which you call Papoosey, to a pale face. He is our friend. Sheriff Biglaw.” “We have many horses,” said Little Talon. "Could we not sell him another?” “No, son,” responded the chief. “Your horse is the fastest in all the land, and the sheriff wants him. With your horse he will be able to overtake all the wicked palefaces who make trouble for both white and red men in this great west. You should feel honored.” "Yes, father,” said Little Talon. "Besides,” continued the Chief, "he will pay us a fair price for the horse, and with this money I shall realize my great dream — to send you east to a paleface school where you may learn to make writing. You are lucky, my son.” “Yes, father,” said Little Talon. He could not cry; a brave does not weep. He could not protest; even a prince doesn’t argue with the chief. But Little Talon’s heart was heavy as he moved to his teepee. A short time later, Vee Scar and Mousey arrived in the Indian village. After saluting the chief wth proper ceremony, Vee Scar said, "We have come to buy that roan pony, Chief. We’ve got our saddlebags stuffed with wam- pum.” “Oh. My friend, Sheriff Biglaw, has sent you here?” “Sheriff Biglaw? Huh? Oh, yeh, yeh! He sent us. The sheriff sent us to buy the hoss.” "If you are from the sheriff then it is all right. I will sell. For I know that the sheriff will put the horse to much good use and it will never fall into the hands of outlaws.” (Continued on inside back cover ) TEX RITTER WESTERN • willlieberson Editor _ A" C V. WOODS * .AL JETTER SBHUKSUL l^awwasa wSttm WESTERN • HOPALONC^ CASSIDY N ■ SOLCUN* HEROES • FAWCETT MOVIE COMIC • MOTION PICTURE COMICS * TEX RITTER WESTERN • s faswaoi ss-c - B that these cntertair lv ujectfrft)-; *•»•* 'CURTISS REFUSED TO SO ALONG ON THE RUSTLING JOS WITH US. NOW WHAT, OUD ° ^ SINCE VUH TWO /WEN , KINK ^ AND DUD i WORK FER THE RANCHER BILL DAILEY, IT ± SHOULD BE A CINCH FER. VUH TO RUSTLE HIS HORSES L IF YUH LISTEN TO ME, IT WILL BE REALLY WORTH VOUR. ^ ■ . WHILE i i ^ THAR'S V ONLY ONE ^ THINS WE CAN DO SET RID OF HIM / < IT WON'T BE NECESSARY TO HIDE IT— 'IT LOOKS AS IF. WE HIT HIM NOW WHAR CAN WE HIDE HIS V BODY ? ^ tT fcpS to flee UP- me narrow mountain mt.yv |i ^ |* F- 1952 by Fawcett Publications. Inc. Printed in U. 5. A. Place. Greenwich, Conn. Copyright TEX RITTER WESTERN —THAT COLT OF «IS IS SO GUN- SHY ANOTHER BULLET WILL SCARE IT INTO JUMPING RIGHT OFF THE > CLIFF"/ ^ WELL , THIS SHOULD] NOW LET'S GET SACK DO THE TRICK. rV AND FINISH THE JOSi SHORT DISTANCE UP THE MOUNTAIN TT?AIL- ^CSULP.O THAT ^ CRAZY GALOOT MISJUDGED THE CLIFF l HE'S GOING RIGHT OVER IT.' . THAT SOUNDS LIKE GUNSHOTS' I RECKON I'D BETTER SMOTHER THIS FIRE AND HAVE • A LOOK I . ' _ _ r ^- ^WHEN I YANK AT THE ROPE, WHITE FLASH, THAT'S YOUR SIGNAL TO PULL. UP/. - HE LANDED ON A TREE TRUNK.' THAT MEANS THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE HE'S STILL AUVE ' IF I'M GOING TO GET THAT HOMSRE BACK TO TERRA FIRMA, I'M GOING TO NEED YOUR HELP, WHITE FLASH l TEX RITTER WESTERN ff LOOKS AS IF ALLTHIS WAS FOR NOTHING UNLESS MY BOARDING - HOUSE STRETCH— jSuT JUST AS THE PRAIRIE RANGER NEARS THE UNFORTUNATE I CAN FEEL THIS BRANCH STRAIN- ING UNDER THIS UNNATURAL burden: our combined weights MUST BE TOO MUCH FOR IT l I HAVE TO REACH THAT HOM6RE , BEFORE IT REALIY CRACKS OFF^. ''WO WONDER THIS HOMBRE RODE RIGHT OVER THE CLIFF HE DIDNT KNOW ^ WHAT HE WAS DOING f HE'S BEEN SHOT 1 V BUT HE'S STILL BREATHING L I RECKON I'D BETTER GET HIMTO a norma. PRONTO: - S —IS GOOD FOR MORE THAN REACHING FOR JUST MEAT AND POTATOES i X GOT HIM. i NOW TO YANK AT THE ROPE AND HOPE / THAT WHITE FLASH HASN'T A ■ enRfiOTTEN THE SIGNAL l I'M SORRY. BUT IF YUH DON'T LIKE THE WAY X , OPERATE, YUH CAN I TAKE THOSE HORSES and 8eat WHAT 00 YUH MEAN , % YUH'LL PAY US WHEN YUH SELL THEM ? YUH DIDN'T MENTION THAT > BEFORE l WE CANT WAT THAT LONG i WE y NEED THE MONEY^ftl . now ^•EANWHILE.AT TO PD FLINT'S RANCH’ 1 I'LL PAY YUH / WHEN I SELL THOSE HORSES. OKAY, FLINT, WE RUSTLED THE uooccc I 1*1= VI IH ASKED TEX RITTER WESTERN YUH KNOW WE CAN'T \l DO THAT.' BY NOW OUR. \ 3 OSS, BILL DAILEY, MUST' HAVE NOTICED'THAT THE HORSES ARE GONE/ AND I HE MUST HAVE REPORTED/ IT TO THE SHERIFF BUT WHAR CAN WE SO UNTIL THEN . WE SURELY CANT GO BACK T® \ DAILEY'5 RANCH l HE MUST / SUSPECT US BY NOW .' > I RECKON WE'VE GOT NO CHOICE l TAKE THE HORSES ONLY I IF YO'RE WILL- ING TO ACCEPT T PAYMENT / WHEN I , r SELL THEM.' &ATER, AT THE PRAIRIE RANGER'S OFFICE • TOE DEAD CURTISS MAY BE OUR WAY OUT ! COME ON ' YES I THREE OF MY HANDS \ DISAPPEARED THEY 5 , ) MUST BE TIED IN WITH y THE RUSTLING / THEIR NAMES ARE KINK BROWN, DUP BLACK AND BOB . CURTISS i r HAVE YOU ANY IDEA h WHO MIGHT HAVE STOLEN YOUR HORSE S, MR. DAILEY ? ^ OKAY / IF CURTISS COMES TO I'LL CALL YOU PRONTO.' IN THE MEANWHILE, X THINK THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS GO HOME AND GET SOME « REST l BOB CURTISS ? ACCORDING TO THE PAPERS I FOUND IN HIS POCKET, THAT'S THE NAME OF THE JASPER X JUST LEFT AT / THE DOCTOR'S /LEAD ME TO HIM.' OFFICE 1 S I'LL MAKE THAT >**\ t ' T&m RAT TELL ME WHAT \|^HL ME DID WITH MY UW \\. HORSES .' YOU’D BETTER RELAX , DAILEY . CURTISS IS IN A COMA l WHETHER HE EVER TALKS AGAIN IS IN THE HANDS OF THE DOCTOR. NOW i DOC GREEN SAID HE'D LET ME KNOW THE MOMENT HE CAME TO —THAT IS IF HE DOES COME TO/ . ( WELL, I ■ * WANT TO BE THERE THEN, _ 'tooil* TEX RITTER WESTERN | Jfftrr WHEN BILL Dft.lt. EV REACHES HIS SPREAD- KINK I DUDJ I DIDN'T EXPECT .70 F'NO'VUH HYAR L ^ THAT'S THE TRUTH/ l MR. DAILEY J WHEN WE REFUSED TO f HAVE ANYTHING TO \ DO WITH THE DEAL, W308 CURTISS FORCED / I KNOW IT LOOKS V 'PUT \ BAD, BOSS, BUT \ YORE \ YUH GOT TD 8c- 1 HANDS UEVE US L YUH / Lip' J DON'T THINK WE \ _ ' / WOULD HAVE COME 1 \ [7 BACK HYAR IF WE HAD. \ l ANYTHING TO DO / \ \ WITH RUSTLING f I V \ YORE HORSES i A- ' £>- US OUT IN THE /WOODS AND THEN KNOCKED US OUT L. I THINK r'D BETTER GO TELL TEX RITTER THE NEWSly -/the PRAIRIE RANGER ^ ? ) JUST FOUND CURTISS / WOUNDED AND DELIVER- ED HIM TO THE LOCAL DOC] THE HOMBRE HE AIMED TO SELL THOSE RUSTLED HORSES TO MUST HAVE OOUBLE- > CROSSED HIMi IP HE, REGAINS CONSCIOUSNESS I KNOW TEX RfTTER WILL MAKE HIM TELL US WHOM HE SOLD NY HORSES TO] WE CAME BACK \ I'M GLAD YUH TWO AS SOON AS WE \ AREN'T INVOLVED CAME TO i "TO \ IN THE RUSTLING, WARN YUH ! BUT BUT IF CURTISS WE SEE IT'S TOO / HAS THE HORSES LATE J CURTISS \tHEN X THINK I’VE AND THE HORSES \GOT A VERY MUST BE SO FAR 1 GOOD CHANCE AWAY, WE-LL OF GETTING PROBABLY NEVER / THEM SACK i . FIND THEM r\/-T v AGAIN i ( J V GLAD TO SEE YUH ,TEX 1 1 GOT SOMETHING MIGHTY IMPOR- fl&EAN WHILE I TOLD DAILEY -=~ 1 I'D CALL HIM AS SOON AS CURTISS CAME TOiBUT IF YOU SAY CURTISS MIGHT ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES TO LIVE, I CAN'T AFFORD THE TIME* Cgulp.O if CURTISS COMES TO,, WE'RE IN , HOT WATER! TEX RITTER WESTERN ' AFTER THE 0V1NG CURTISS TELLS HIS STORY- NOW X RECKON I'D BETTER SO TELL DAILEY JUST WHAT HAPPENED l ISN'T THAT DAILEY RIDINS. THIS WAY ? CeULPi) HE'S DEAD I WHAT HE JUST TOLD YUH WERE REALLY HIS , LAST WORDSi FOR THAT REASON I'D LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE , . TRUE l ^ Suddenly ■ THAR YUH ARE, \ THAT'S FUNNY, > TEX WE'VE GOT | OAILEY ! I JUST TO 8RINS CURTISS / ABOUT MADE UP TO i HE'S THE / MY MIND THAT HE . RUSTLER l S WASN'T ! YOU TEU- TT — \ ME WHAT YOU FOUND \\\\ VV\Vy( OUT an P ''LL TELL VlAVSJL' V YOU WHAT X FOUND OUT : ^ And after both men EXCHANGE STORIES — ' QUICK! HIT THE FLOOR BEFORE ONE OF THOSE BULLETS HITS YOU.' ^ —AND SO NOW IT'S A ' QUESTION OF WHO'S TELLING THE TRUTH, KINK AND DUD , THERE'S ONLY ONE V i REASON I CAN THINK OF— WHOEVER IS ' DOING THE SHOOTING DOESN'T KNOW HE'S s. DEAD l THAT'S ODD.' THOSE BULLET5 SEEM TO BE AIMED ONIY AT CURTISS, BUT WHY SHOULD ANYONE WANT TO SHOOT A DEAD „ MAN ? -< KINK AND PUD ! X RECKON THAT ANSWERS THE *3 QUESTION OF WHO WAS TELLING THE TRUTH l ^ THEY WOULP HAVE NO REASON TO SHOOT CURTISS UNLESS THEY WANTED TO KEEP HIM FROM s TELUNG HIS STORY l J • TEX RITTER WESTERN COMICS! 6SULPJ) n'S THE .'V X NEVER V PRAIRIE RANGER; \ SAID , HEMUST HAVE BEEN ^ANTTHIN®. INSIDE WHEN WE SHOT I X THOUSHT CURTISS I X THOUSHT / YUH 3>M> VUH SAID THE PLACE / JT WAS WAS EMPTY EMPTY SHTOBaSSs TO THE SALLOWS WITH A CLEAN CONSCIENCE OR NOT . IF YOU DO YOU'LL TELL ME _ WHAT YOU DD WITH THE HOR-, 'WE'U- TALK i THAR'S NO>-| f REASON TO LET FUNT 1 SET AWAY WITH THOSE / // HORSESi HE DIDN'T / / EVEN PAY US l ~ / TEX RITTER WESTERN I TEX RITTER WESTERN WHO ARE YUH . i TALKING TO i RAGWOOD? IM ' RIGHT BEHIND s. YOU i J — OID VUH HEAR ME ? C'MON. LET'S GET GOING I NO ACCIOENT IS \ HEV, RIGHT I THERE'S \ WHAT | PLENTY OF TRACES ARE YOH OF DVNAMITE STILL/ DOING LEFT HERE I BUT /OUT THAR. WHAT '5 THAT LETS OCR T HEAR 3 -<7 UP THE STUFF ANO BEAT rr TrTP*W*i BEFORE ANY- / V one SPOTS __XSs*r us - RANGER AND IF HE GETS A GOOD LOOK AT US i WE'RE DONE >. FER YgULP.') IF YO'REHYAR, DEVON .THEN . WHO'S OUT ON THE PAM ■ j Knocked groggy by the pfpLOSCiN.THE HeLPJMSSr PRAIRIE RAISER OWN- OVER THE EPSE OP THE BLOWN- , HE'S NOT GOING TO LIVE TO 'a GOOD LOOKATUS.' THE EXPLOSION DIDN'T KILL MEiBUT THIS DROP rPBTAINtV WILLI TEX RITTER WESTERN But tex's faithful dog, FURY, HASN'T TAKEN HI6 EYES OFF HIS MASTER FOR A SINGLE SECOND! EX RITTER MANASES TO SUR- /e The FALL) BUT— FURY ! GOOD BOY i YOU HEAD me towards shore and i'll DO MV BEST TO MAKE IT ! MY EYES ! A PIECE OF ROCK LANOED RIGHT ACROSS "THEM! I CAN'T SEE A THING EVEN IF X COULD SWIM AGAINST THE r CURRENT, I WOULDN'T KNOW ) WHICH WAY TO HEAD i NOW YOU'VE SOT TO SET ME TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, FURY! YOU KNOW THE WAY! UNTIL I CAN SEE AGAIN, jYOU'VE GOT TO BE MY EYES ! V &ATER,«T THE DOCTOR'S OFRCE ING THE FORCES OF THE MAN- MADE TORRENT THE PRAIRIE RANGER. FINALLY MAKES IT TO . SHORE ! FOR THE TENTH TIME, TEX, I'M TELLING YUH X DID WARN THE TOWN ABOUT THE CRACK IN THE DAM AND EVERYTHING'S UNDER CONTROL' r- NOW IF |‘M GOING TO EXAMINE YOUR 1/ EYES, YUH'VE, GOT “< A TO RELAX ! y — ( OKAY. DOC l f , I KNOW VUH CAN TAKE f T, TEX, SO ^ I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YUH STRAIGHT. I ^K5 T _S URB ' 8UT THE WAY THINGS LOOK TO ME YUH 'LL NEVER SEE AGAIN l kYORE OPTIC NERVES HAVE BEEN , PARALYZED — **” 'I'M MOT AN EYE SPECIALIST, THOUGH, AND X COULD BE WRONG SO I'M GOING TO . SEND FER THE FAMOUS * EYE SURGEON, DR. HARRIS' MEANWHILE. YUH’D BETTER GET INTO BED AND REST ! J ^GULPjJjfefl THERE'S NO TIME FOR REST! I'VE GOT TO FIND THOSE VARMINTS WHO BLEW UP THE DAM! TEX RITTER WESTERN BUT WHAT CAN YUH DO YUH YORESELF SAID YUH DIDN'T SEE THEIR FACES 1 AND EVEN IF YUH DID, IN YORE < coNOrriON, yuh > . COULDN'T RECOGNIZE J jfrr. THEM BUT X. DID HEAR ONE / OF THEM SPEAK AND /THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH MY EARS' IF I HEARD HIM AGAIN I'D BE ABLE TO PICK HIM OUT OF A THOUSAND.' NO ONE'S FORGETTING • ANYTHING, CLIFF, BUT AS YUH KNCW THE DAM JUST CRACKED UP AND NOW NONE OP US ARE IN A POSITION TO PAY BACK THE LOAN' W£ NEED AN EXTENSION ON ITi ' OKAY i BUT KINDNESS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY -LENDING THEM THE MONEY FER.THE DAM ! DON'T , FORGET THEY AGREED TO PAY BACK MY MONEY WITH A GOOD RATE OF INTEREST OR THEY'D FORFEIT THEIR. / . RANCHES 1 ;ANWHILE,lN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ,ES. DAWSON. 1 ALL THE RANCHERS, WHOM YUH WERE KIND ENOUGH TO LEND MONEY TO SO THAT THEY COULD BUILD THE DAM , ARE HYARl THEY'D LIKE TO TALK TO YUH . Shortly after ■ (gulp!) if that's the WAY YUH WANT IT—. Y RECKON WE’RE licked! j — n; ARE YUH SURE \AS SURE THAT DAM WAS OF IT AS_ WELL.THE ONLY ONE WHO WOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO GAIN BY THAT WOULD BE CLIFF DAWSON i WITH THE DAM DESTROYED THE RANCHERS CANT PAYOFF THE NOTE THEY OWE HIM AND BY THE END OF THE WEEK HE'LL OWN EVERY GOOD SPREAD IN TOWN i AND HE'LL 8E GETTING THEM AT LESS THAN HALF THEIR WORTH i TEX RITTER WESTERN AND WHAT'S MORE, IT ^ WON'T COST TOO MUCH TO SET THE DAM FIXED UP SO HE'LL HAVE THOSE RANCHES AND THE MEANS TO KEEP THEM IN SOOD CONDITION i TOO.' BUT EVEN IF IT WAS DAWSON , HOW COULD YUH RECOGNIZE HIM IN VO RE CONDITION ? Shortly after.at cliff dawson's ranch AS X TOLD THE DOCTOR, , I'D RECOGNIZE HIS VOICE] \ YOU LEAD ME OVER / THERE, M AMOR, AND ' START A CONVERSATION \ WITH HIM ABOUT ANY- ) THING JUST A5 LONG I AS X CAN HEAR HIM , TALK] A I’M SORRY, MAYOR, BUT I JUST CAN'T EXTEND THAT NOTE ANY LONGER.' I'M ALSO SORRY TO hear about moor accident, tex l x hope YUH GET BETTER SOON ] ^ ^ WELL, TEX? WHO SAID THAT? If Yo're right, tex, this ties in CUFF COULD HAVE GOTTEN HIS HIRED HANDS TO DO THE DIRTY WORK FOR HIM J THIS IS YORE TYPE OF WORK.TEX, SO YUH'LL HAVE TO TELL ME WHAT OUR _ NEXT MOVE IS .' y — — — -«s ~i —r — X WE'LL HAVE TO ( TAKE THEM IN FOR . \ QUESTIONING ] J LOOK, RAGWOOD, IT'S TEX RITTER i SOMEHOW HE ESCAPED FROM . THAT EXPLOSION < AUVE i IF HE 1 SAW US BEFORE,/ WE'RE DONE / PER] A. A WHAT DO YUH ! MEAN, IF HE / SAW US ? IF / HE HADN'T SEEN US HE WOULON'T BE HYARi WE GOTTA ACT J FAST J -OOK, DEVON, X HOLD, IT IT'S RAGWOOD, T THAT'S THE ONE OF CLIFF HOMBRE X DAWSON'S HIRED / HEARD UP AT HANDS i WHY ? X THE DAM ! RINSER J And before the mayor can make AMOVE-— ________ ■ — K. KEEP THEM OKAY, YUH TWO, \ COVERED, REACH FER THE ) DEVON ] I'LL 5KY I l'VE_ GOT YUH / GO FER THE X BOSS L SUT AT THE SAME TIME TEX RITTER WESTERN x can't see WH, but x CAN FEEL YOU' 006 OF YORES, TEX . HE JUST KNOCKED DEVON DOWN RIGHT AT YORE FEET ! - I RECKON THEIR \ ACTIONS PROVE YUH WERE RIGHT TEX I THEY MUST B£ THE ONES / WHO BLEW UP / THE DAM WHAT'S THAT? Ino AS RAGWO OP LEADS PAV OKAY. YUH TWO, IF YUH KNOW WHAT'S GOOD ^R YUH, YUH, U JUST PUT YORE HANDS UP . - AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL THIS ! - — YOU'LL FIND HANDCUFFS IN AW , MAYOR ONCE ,uu LL rlNL< BACK POCKET, MAYOR i ONCE yOU set THEM ON THIS TRIO, NOU 'LL HAVE NO MORE K TROUBLE WITH THEM - I DR. JARVIS WAS H RIGHT I YOUR OPTIC NERVES WERE PARA- LYZED BUT IT JUST BUT I ALSO HAVE SOME BAD NEWS- > NEWS_FER YUH^RANCH- ti nu i ONw FOUND .... . ANO HIS MEN GUILry, BUT iuMIN A BETTER POSITIO N THAN YUH EVER WERE _ flil> i ^ BEFORE l CTS' THE JURY NOT ONW FOUND , „ ^ CUFF DAWSON CUFF' HAD * • "O SAID THAT SlNCE CUfH® HAU THE MONEY TO BUILD THE rww\. HE ACTUALW DESTROYED HIS OWN PROPERTY 50 YUH DON'T OWE HIM THING ANY MORE NOW ALL YUH HAVE TO DO IS FIX UP THE DAM AND YOU'LL BE IN A BETTER POSITIO N THAN YUH EVER WERE _ flu t ^ BEFORE i ' * MUCH AS XKNOW I CAN COUNT ON FURY, X KNOW THIS WILL MAKE HIM JUST AS HAPPY A5 IT MAKES MEi^ TEX RITTER WESTERN TEX RITTER WESTERN RlDItfGTHf RANGE a. With- ) ^TEX RITTER l 455 NORTH RODEO DRIVE BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA. HOWO/, FOLKS, NOT LONS- AGO WE SPOKE ABOUT" SOME OF THE QMRWL 6X* , PRES90NS USED BY THE COWHANDS AND ^ANGE^RlDERS OF THE WE9^ TORE'S ONE TERM X RECKON EVERYBOW KNOWS BIH" reWFOLKS KNOW HOW IT GOT STARTED-' I'M TALKING ABOUT TH E WOR P * TENDERFOOT" •' NOW WE ALL KNOW THAT'S THE WESreWJ6R3 evpopaqriM FOR ANYBODY WHO'S NOT USED TO THE ROUGH AND RC^f WAYS OF THE^ST' ACTUALLY, THE WORD FIRST APPLIED ,|OT ™™l 0 SlDTeS?™Fsia as tub ORivess ^™bmos «tSFbot bv THE HEAD BlirWTOEPOlINW T« RANCHMEN THEN RE'-'.LTEO THE "THIN, TOUGH LONGHCWNS DDNT WBGH FUTTIIAU TO fORR'-i ’ . THEY IMPORTED A BREE D OF SHORT- SS8&’, HEAVY AM> liT err-LS TO IMPROVE THEIR «OCjB. MOST OB THEM WERE HEREFORD^ I BROUGHT UP ON SOFT GROUND AND GRe nWi OkDeo'oN THE HARD , ROCKY GROUND OF THE WEST AND ffir.p^SSls, IoCKsT CLOTHING, 8EDDING wjo RWNWEAR* YES, PARTNERS , THE WORD "TENDERFOOT " CAN BE PLENTY REAL IF ^WtR C xSuSTB 6 TRAVELING ON 1 HU. NEST MONTH , FRIENDS, KEEP SMILING ANO GOOD LUCK/T^, ' ^ ' vpUR PARD, 7-®-y TEX RITTER WESTERN v X DIO L I AUH BRING HER THE MONEY AND LET HER INVEST IT FER. YUH ' AND X SUGGEST, MRS . MORGAN , THAT YOU PUT IT ■j- IN THE BANK ! r I'M GOINS TO t • PROVE ONCE AND FOR ALL , MADAME LAGYPPE, THAT YOU'RE A ^PHONY ' WHAT'S THE MEANING OF, THIS ? TEX RITTER WESTERN ' — THE VOICE YOU'VE 1 BEEN HEARING BELONGS TO NO ONE ELSE BUT ) MADAME LAGVPPE'S / \ ACCOMPLICE i y 1 YOU CAN SEE THAT THE SPIRIT OF YOUR DEAD HUSBAND WHOM YOU'VE BEEN TALKING TD IS NOTHING BUT A MASK HELD UP BY A BROOM STICK, AND THAT SMOKE IS MERELY CONDENSED WATER FROM A TEA KETTLE, AND ^ ;) THING WAS NOTHING / BUT A FRAUD.' ALL THEY / WANTED WAS FOR ME TO HAWO MY MONEY OVER TO THEM i EXACTLY J NOW FORGET ABOUT PHONY PROPOSITIONS UKE THAT AND PUT YOUR MONEY IN THE BANK WHILE YOU STILL HAVE SOMETHING LEFT I IN THE MEANTIME , I'LL PUT THESE TWO VARMINTS 8EHIND BARS WHERE THEY BELONG TEX RITTER WESTERN WELL, LET'S SEE IF t CAN OPEN IT i it — 37 — isr ! rrr ' IF EVERVOIJE ! DISLIKE!? * HIM, I CAN J SEE I'LL “ NEEO A MORE SPECIFIC J MOTIVE IF m I'M GOINS S TO TRAP ■ T THE KILLERl A, r X UNDERSTAND THAT TODAY , f WAS PAY OAY, < L WHICH MEANS T THAT ALL YOUR SALARIES WERE IN THE SAFE IN , THE NEW ROOM! DOES ANYONE < HERE HAVE THE COMBINATION ? OF COURSE NOT.' THE BOSS 4 WOULONiT TRUST . ANYONE WITH J YORE A MIND READER, \ HOLD IT.' X AGREE \ PROFESSOR THINK i \ WITH YOU AERIAL • YOU MUST HAVE READ- \ ABOUT THE WAY THE BOSS' MINO ANO . \ AND THE WHY OF GOT THE COMBINATION 1 THE MURDER i BUT THEN , WHILE YUH WERE / IT DOESN'T ONLY j EMPTYING THE SAFE / LOOK BAD FOR / OUT, HE MUST HAVE \ PROFESSOR. / COME IN AND CAUGHT \ THINK YUH IN THE ACT, SO , Bn YUH STRANGLED HIM p-,/ A THAT LOOKS BAD J WHAT DO FER VUH, ^/YUH MEAN, l) PROFESSOR ft AERIAL? ---IT LOOKS BAD FOR ALL OF YOU £ WHAT DO YUH' MEAN ? > WHEN X WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MURDER, X ^ HAD A LOOK AROUND ALL YOUR DRESSING ROOMS BEFORE COMING IN HERE] THE REASON I COULD OPEN WE SAFE SO K EASILY IS THAT X FOUND THE COMBI- NATION TO IT SCRIBBLED SOMEWHERE IN - . EACH ONE OF YOUR /JB V ROOMS : THAT MEANS ANY ONE OF YOU COULO HAVE ^ DONE IT! AND SINCE I DONT EXPECT YOU TO CONFESS, X RECKON I'LL HAVE TO TRY A DIFFERENT WAY TO FIND WHICH ONE OF YOU IS THE MURDERER l X WANT ALL OF VOU TO MEET ME AT MADAME LAGYPPE'S . SALON IN TOWN AT MIDNIGHT! MADAME LAGYPPE ? , /SN'T SHE A MEDIUM ' TEX RITTER WESTStN BUT SURELY VOU DON'T BELIEVE IN MEDIUMS ? THEY'RE ALL PHONlESi THAT'S RIGHT, AND I AIM TO GET HER TO CALL BACK THE SPIRIT OF YOUR BOSS AND HAVE HIM IDENTIFY ^ THE GUILTY PARTY THIS ONE'S NOT PHONY 1 NOW REMEMBER, WE MEET THERE AT MIDNIGHT J . v-C f MEDIUMS ARE PHONIES 1 I'M JUST TRYING A BLUFF WHICH MIGHT WORK J THE TROUBLE IS IF I . RELEASE MADAME LASYPPE , WITH HER HATRED OF THE LAW, SHE , MOST LIKELY WOULD TIP MY HAND: I'VE GOT TO DO SOME THINKING, AND MIGHTY FAST, TOO l . r— NO.' WHY H SHOULD HE ^ COME HYAR? \ HE'S NO FRIEND] OP MINE ! HAS THE 1 PRAIRIE RANGER i TEX RITTER; BEEN HYAR , YET ? ^ 'NO ONE THAT'S WHY I'M HYAR fnirr /-.C -rue /-APtllVAl U//\ WITH PLEASURE WHO 00 YOU WANT ME TO CONTACT IN THE DEAD WORLO ? ^ THAT'S MUSIC TO MY EARS.' HOW WOULD YUH LIKE TO MAKE SOME EASY MONEY, , MADAME LASYPPE ' THE 80SS OF THE CARNIVAL WAS MURDERED AND TEX RITTER j AIMS TO HAVE YUH HOLD A SEANCE TONIGHT TO SET IN TOUCH WITH THE SPIRIT OF I THE DEAD MAN SO HE CAN JH POINT OUT THE GUILTY JSIOUS PARTY, BUT— HM TEX RITTER WESTERN AND WHAT IF I SHOULD SAY NO ? THEN X RECKON I'D HAVE TO MAKE SURE YUH WOULON'T LIVE TO HOLO A SEANCE l --THIS HALF OF THE PAYROLL MONEY IS YORES IF YUH PRETEND TO BE UNABLE TO DO SO ^ TAKE IT EASY X WAS ONLY JOKING * X FISUREO THE GUILTY PARTY WOULO GET HERE EARLY TO TRY TO BRIBE THE MEDIUM NOT TO CON0UCT A SEANCE i AND SINCE I KNEW I COULDN'T TRUST MADAME LASYPPE, X TOOK HER PLACE' NOW THAT I'VE REMOVED MY MASK (IT '5 YOUR. TURN TO DO THE SAME L ^ SUT AS THE MASKED KILLER HANDS OVER PART C" THE LOOT- OF COURSE I'LL TAKE THE MONEY L THAT'S MORE LIKE IT J kNO AT MIONIGHT- JUST AS I THOUGHT ! AERIAL / IT WAS CLEVER OF YOU TO WRITE \ THE COMBINATION TO THE SAFE ON 1 ALL THE DRESSING ROOM WALLS W AFTER YOU'D { CHOKED IT OUT OF YOUR BOSS i gW | BUT MXJ WERE /JUST A LITTLE ■W /,.?«/ BIT TOO ANXIOUS MR — d( / TO AN THE MURDER ■>3y on someone else; THE GUILTY RARTY'5 BEEN CAUGHT 50 YOU CAN ALL GO BACK AND RELAY I THIS CASE IS FINISHED . TEX RITTER WESTERN v uon ay OF A TA5KL ( QililFF . fMFP /;! K /mm, jusrsmLi. the honey coming from THAT BEEHIVE 1 THAR'S NOTHING I LIKE ^ BETTER THAN HOHEV, AND I'M IN LUCK. ! \ THAR AREN'T AW BEES AROUND/ H/AR'S I MAR I SET SOME DELICIOUS HONEY FOR / ^ ^ NOTHING i — BUT AS BUFFALO BULL REACHES INTO THE BEEHIVE FOR THE HOHEV- COMB— W- WON'T TAKE More honev/honest.' I WON’T EVEN TOUCH IT! feULP.O > I CAN SEE THAR'S NO USE TRYING y TO CONVINCE THEM'. THEY DON'T h g* BELIEVE ME • JjJ As « g T T lJ+l SUUP! THAR'S A VI HOLE SY/ARtA OF BEES FLYING RIGHT S-t FERINE! HYAR COME THE FELLOVlS.' THEY KNOW I'M CRAZY ABOUT HONEY AND WHEN THEY SEE ME, THEY'LL FIGURE OUT ► WHAT HAPPENED! THEY’LL RAZZ THE LIFE OUT OF NlE/ IT'LL BE WORSE THAN THE STINGING ! K — -cC AFTER THE MASSACRE IS OVER— — j rfSROAN) r MUST HAVE BEEN STUNG ft MILLION L TIMES ! CG.ROAN) I'VE GOT MORE BUMPS ON I MY FACE THAN A LUMPY MATTRESS. 1 rtS TEX RITTER WESTERN 'm hombrss are just showing HOUR IGNORANCE ©(LAUGHING \a I'VE BEEN TUG MICTIM OF A ^ ^TERRIBLE PLOTAGA'NST NCtJ /HA, Wi! HE Y | MUST HAVE *- BEEN TRYING TO STEAL < l THE HONEY \ f FROM A ) \Be6HIVi/ J YEAH, BUT H£ SHORE DIDNTSETAW WITH IT! HA! ’ HELLO, > BUFFALO BULL... / ’HUH? ’ JEEPERS, LOOK AT l HIS FACE , FELLOWS 1 I HAVE TO THINK OF SOMETHING, PRONTO WAIT! X KNOW 1 I'LL MAKE UP ONE CF MY FAMOUS VARNS AND 4 FOOL THEM! . m WHAT|J (/ everyone knows r like HONE'/ AND THAT'S HON NlY ENEMIES TRIED TO KILL-^ T ME! T 7 — / ITS NOMALARVCeY! ( MY ENEMIES TRIED 1 TO KILL ME! ONlY > THE GREATEST ^ PRESENCE OF MY MIND SAVED ME U ''GOSH, BUFFALO BULL, TELL US ABOUTnY^ fEAH ’WHAT'S THIS MALARKEV ABOUT A PLOT AGAINST / ^YORE LIFE ? j WHAT KIND OF LIE / AREYUH ) SPOUTING/ NOW, < BUFFALO ) .bull ? y TEX RITTER WESTERN yes! r didn't feel anything at first, but 'when i went v OUT TO THE HILLS TO HUNT, X STARTED TO DOUBLE UP WITH^ PAIN ! THEM I REMEMBERED THAT THE HONEY HAD TASTED "S PECULIAR, AND I FIGURED OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED ! BUT • I COULDN'T DO ANYTH ING ! X FELL. TO THE GROUND WITH > AGONIZING PAIN ! X WAS DYING FROM THE POISON * JW''. JUST THEN I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE BRUSH f V IT WAS A BEAR— HE HAD SMELLEDTHE HONEY 7] I HAD EATEN I HE BARED HIS TEETH AND "S. LUMBERED TOWARD ME ! X WASCAUGHT BETWEEN TWO FIRES! iTWftS JUST A QUESTION OF WHICH tr WOULD KILL ME FIRST— THE POISOHORTHE/ *-t — I — ! _T X PICKED UP A ROCK AND BREATHED ON (T SO IT WOULD SMELL OF HOMEY ! THEN WITH THE LASTBtT OF MY STRENGTH, AND JUST AS THE BEAR WAS ^ ABOUT TO POUNCE ON ME, I THREW 'T AT THE J — y ^BEEHW E'jy — ^ JUST THEN X HAPPENED TO SPOT A BEEHWE ABOUT A HUNDRStfPACES AWAY ! QUICK AS A FLASH,r FIGURED JHAR STILL Ml SHT BE A WAY OUT. 1 J* 7 FOR ME ! j—y HAPPENED, BUFFALO ' 7 BULL? 7 IT WAS A BULllS-EYE! I KNOCKED OYERTHE HWE WdI THE BEES SWARMED OUT ! THE HONEY SMELL ON THE ^ ROCK AROUSED THEIR APPETITES ANDTH&') STARTED TO FLY IN THE DIRECTION FROM WHICH IT CAME l -rr£ AS THE BEES FLEW CLOSER THEY SMELLED THE ■ RONEY COMING FROM ME JUST AS THE BEAR WAS ABOUT TO SINK HIS TEETH INTO ME ! ' TEX RITTER WESTERN Yes ! THAT WAS WWW I WANTED*! \T VIRTUE ' ONLY TIME \NNlY UFE I WANTED TO SET \ STUNS! THOSE BEES DRAI N ED EVERT" DROP OF THE POISONED HONEY OUT OF WE ! T WAS < STUNS SOMETHING AWFUL BUT NW UFE^ WAS SAVED ! ) THE STRICKEN BEAR RAM OFF THE BEES WANTEDTHAT SCREAMING, AND THEN THE BEES SOT TO WORK ON ME TO SET THE, HONEY I HAD EATEN ! I ~ Honey in me, so they STUNS- THE BEAR SOMETHIN AWFUL AND DROVE BUA OFF SO THEY COULD SET AT ME ! THE SWARM OF BEES j START EDTO STING Jk vtuh r THEBEffi STUN&THEIA AND 'ER.THE POISON DROVE THEM Y, WILD AND AS THEY FLEW AROUND LOCO-LIKE , AY ENEMIES WHO / TRIED TO KILL ME CAME RIDIN&) UP TO SEE IF X WAS DEAD BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BEES THAT * CRANK THE POISONED XPEY?!^ FROMTHEIR OWN VMA7& , ZGROHH fK- ^ IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FER ME TO BE LAUGHED AT THAN TO SET THIS BEATING' THIS IS THE SECOND TIME TODAY THAT I'VE BEEN STUNG ! v 'YUH GANT TELL WGARR ! WE'LL TEACH " YUH TO MAKE FOOLS OF US' US A LIE LIKE THAT AND GET' . AWAY WITH irL TEX RITTER WESTERN HUH ? WHAT ARE yUH POING AROUNt? I HVAR> LOOM IE bg . LES? T~f^ LOON I e LES *MS/ae AAte ot/TStee M4M!* r EJUT ON THE OVTStee OF **"*<.*.. SO (jy## hue terre# it sai v,*K6TUR//)-,z*Mf y (GASP)/// HUH? IMSIPE . » AMI7 . OUTSIDE y up/ Wf MS/ce of we cerre# fr, , ">>©a MILS r THAT TRAIN SHOULDN'T BE HEADING FOR THE BEND AT ITS PRESENT SPEED / IF THE ENGINEER DOESN'T SLOW IT DOWN THERE’LL BE A WRECK FOR SURE/ MAYBE WE'D BETTER RIDE DOWN "S AND SEE IF WE CAN SIGNAL THE ENGINEER, j j , WHITE FLASH/ .meA N WHILE. /V . YUH HAVE NO RIGHT TO DRINK WHILE YO'RE ON THE JOB ( IF YUH DON'T SLOW DOWN ■ THIS TRAIN BEFORE WE REACH THE BEND, WE’LL ALL BE KILLED/ J SLOW IT DOWN' I AIM TO SPEED ^ IT UP/ ~ wr rf I’LL MAKE YUH SLOW y I'M THE ENGINEERS DOWN, CLINT, IF I HAVE "f OF THIS HYAR TRAIN, TO BEAT YUH TO DO IT/ J HAYS/ YUH JUST -* Bn, Iinjifff -'TTCKin TO yoRE JOB feeding the i apt, FURNACE/ ) TEX’ RITTER WESTERN 'Meanwhile--^ IF YUH PONT LIKE IT, JUMP OFF / BUT I CAN TELL YUH ONE THING. YO'RE NEVER GOING TO MAKE - ME GLOW THIS TRAIN DOWN/ j THAT ENGINEER CAN’T HELP BUT GEE THIS WHITE HAND- KERCHIEF AND REALIZE THAT SOMETHING'S ) — i WRONG / HP&: HE WENT BY ME AS IF I DIDN'T MAYBE SOMETHING'S HAPPENED TO THE ENGINEER/ I RECKON I'D BETTER fepy HAVE A LOOK.' EXIST.' IN FACT, I EVEN THINK THE TRAIN IS PICKING UP SPEED.' , HEX WHAT'S V I'M TRYING TO GOING ON? GET THIS WHILE YOU TWO) LUNATIC TO ^ ARE BATTLING, J SLOW DOWN . THIS WHOLE “< THIS TRAIN , A TRAIN IS HEAD- ) BUT HE WON’ ING FOR A LISTEN TO — WRECK/ ffik ME/ J" WELL, IF HE WONT 5L0W IT^ DOWN, 1 YOU JUST HOLD W OKAY ON TO HIM, I'LL — ATTEND TO THE MfBkm _ REST/ I WARN YUH MISTER IF YUH PUT ONE FINGER ON THAT BRAKE I’LL SPLIT ) YORE HEAD OPEN / 1 TEX RITTER WESTERN OUT iOF MV WAY, HAYS' I'VE NEVER 1 HANDLED ONE A OF THESE THINGS BEFOeE.' YOU’D BETTER TELL ME WHICH IS THE BRAKE .' M COME BACH HYAZ, CUNT-- OOP.' ^ &ATEZ/AT THE RAILROAD , -AND SO IN VIEW OF ALL THE ^ CHARGES AGAINST YUH, DRINKING WHILE ON THE JOB. DELIBERATELY EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT, AND REFUSING TO LISTEN TO REASON, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO LET YUH GO.' YO'RE FIRED, CUNT _ WYATT / AND The next pay-J - — ^ ■"goll/TTsure was ) NICE OF ALL YUH -4 WONDERFUL PEOPLE TO COME DOWN ^ TO WISH ME LUCK ON MY FIRST TRIP AS A FULL-FLEDGED ENGINEER/ ^ IT'S THE ^ LEAST YOUR FRIENDS COULD DO / ' AND I’VE GOT I'VE GOT THE THE TRAIN ENGINEER UNDER CONTROL' UNDER CONTROL' TEX RITTER WESTERN RE THAT ENJOY . THAT ArTcKNOON, AT IHFJUNl.- TION DEPOT DISPArcHJ JF FICE - - -j HAYS SHOULD BB\ ITS'oN’ TIME ' ON HIS WAY BACH I ALL EIGHT, BUT BY NOW IF HE'S WHAT A EE YUH . BRINGING THAT V DOING HYAEf , ' < TEA IN IN ON y T THOUGHT THEY TIME.' T-A ORDERED YUH TO KEEP AWAY FROM ^ TTiff V 1 1 fi THE RAILROAD WHEN y^Tj^j^THEY FIRED YUH! V -I LEFT FEE GOOD; ACCORDING TO THAT CLOCK T STILL HAVE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE EITHER TRAIN SHOWS UP.' THAT'LL JUST GIVE ME ENOUGH TIME TO GO INTO THE NEXT ROOM AND SEE IF I CAN FIND SOME COED TO TIE BEET UP WITH/ AND THATS MAKING S HAYS DOESN'T LIVE T EVEN ONE COMP L “ ROUND TRIP/ THEY DID, BEET, BUT X HAD ONE JOB TO FINISH BE? OR HAYS IS HEADING EAST NOW, BUT AT THE T/ME HE PASSES HYAE THERE'S ALSO A TRAIN PASSING GOING WEST/ ALL X HAVE TO DO IS PULL THE SWITCH AND THEY'LL BOTH BE ON THE SAME TRACK/ WA, WA.' TEX RITTER WESTERN 4 Bur as the prairie ranges! LEAHS OVER TO SEE If HE CAN DO ANYTHING TOR THE UNCONSCIOUS RA/LROAO 'DISPATCHER — IT'S A LUCKY THING RITTER DIDN'T ARRIVE UNTIL I LEFT THE ZOOM ! IF HE HAD SEEN ME HYAE, I WOULDN'T HAVE CAUGHT HIM OFF GUARD y SO EASILY.' T S*&\ u \ WT \ I CAN SEE THE TRAINS —r APPROACHING ! . — ■ r TO--} NON 1 CAN ’-^UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON! CLINT AIMS TO WRECK HAYS' TRAIN - FOR REVENGE/ v ^- 1 THIS IS TERRIBLE 7 HERE I LIE HELPLESS WHILE THE UVES OF ALL THE PEOPLE ON THOSE TWO TRAINS ARE IN PERIL/ \ THERE /MUST BE SOMETHING ) I CAN DO! . JUST PULLING THIS SWITCH % WILL DO THE TRICK! EVEN ./ THOUGH THEY'LL SEE THAT THEY'RE ON THE SAME TRACK AT THE SPEED THEY'RE GOING. THEY'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO < STOP BEFORE THE CRASH / J HA. HA! y — — : I WANT TO GO OUT SO I CAN GET A BETTER VIEW/ TEX RITTER WESTERN AjFMiwae-fTf I'M BEGINNING TO BUDGE r IT/ IF ONLY - - - • AND THIS IS IT/ WHY DIDNT I THINK OF THIS ■ 8EFORE ? THERE'S ONLY ^ ONE r POSSIBLE chance:.. T£X'S EFFORT HASN'T BEEN IN VAIN! X INTENDED GOING BACK TO FINISH OFF THOSE TWO IN THE DISPATCH OFFICE BUT ONE OF THEM ‘ MLlST HAVE GOTTEN FREE AND MANAGED TO PULL THE SWITCH . SO X RECKON I’D J — ^ JUST BETTER VAMOOSE/ TEX RITTER WESTERN M£ANWM/ie- you CAME TO JUST II i ^ TIME, BERT/ SEE IF YOU CAN LOOSEN THESE ROPES EVEN THOUGH YOUR HANDS ARE -BUT THAT WILL HAVE TO WAIT / MY FIE5T.DUTY IS TO SEE IF I CAN ' ‘ FIND THAT LOCO ENGINEER BEFORE HE DREAMS UP SOME OTHER t— ' DEATH TRAP.'. — -gfe I'D LIRE TO TARE THE TIME TO FREE • YOU NOW, 0ERT-- IT J worred: Horse For Sale (Continued from inside front cover) “Never t” asserted Vee Scar, hiding a wicked smile. “Now bring that money over here, Mousey, and hand it to the sheriff’s friend, the great chief!” While Mousey dipped into the saddlebags for the counterfeit money, the chief turned to his son, Little Talon, and ordered, “Bring your horse here, my son, that we may complete the deal.” “He has run away, father,” said the boy. “See! There he is yonder, racing toward the hills." The chief looked and saw the cloud of dust set up by the galloping pony. He stared stern- ly at his son. “It is true that he is running and that he is away, so you have not lied to me. Nevertheless, you have tried a trick. You know your pony will come back to you if you whistle. Now whistle!” Reluctantly the Indian boy obeyed. He pursed his lips and sent a high, piercing whistle out across the plains. Far away the roan halted, picked up his ears, then turned and began galloping back toward the Indian village. As Vee Scar rode away on the roan, the chief held a stack of bills up for Little Talon to see. “My son, I know your heart is heavy for that pony was your favorite. But with this money you will be able to get a fine education and become a smart and great man. You will be a leader of the people. Then you will real- ize that your father acted wisely.” While he was speaking, Sheriff Biglaw came un. “Vr-tAj' Chief,” he said. “I’ve come to buy that horse.” “But I have already sold it to your repre- sentative." “My representative? Who in thunderation is that?” “The man you sent to buy the horse. Be- hold! He has paid us much money.” “Money? Let me take a good luck at that money. Why fury an’ blazes! This money is as phony as a wax apple. Chief, you’ve been swindled. Quick, which way did this horn- swaggler go?” The Indian chief pointed off to the south- west. But even as the sheriff spurred his horse to give chase, the chief said sadly, “To pursue him is useless, Sheriff. For no horse in all the west can run as fast as that roan!” “No doubt you’re right, but I’d hate myself for not trying," said the lawman, urging his horse into a full gallop. He could see dust ahead, where Vee Scar rode the roan. Suddenly he saw the roan turn and head toward him. The sheriff was puzzled. It seemed almost as if Vee Scar had decided to head back and fight it out. Then he realized that horse and rider were having a battle. Vee Scar wanted to go one way, the strong roan had decided to go an- other. Sheriff Biglaw got close enough to let fly with a warning shot over Vee Scar’s head. The latter flopped off the roan and yelled, “Hold your fire. I give up!" Vee Scar was jailed at once and Mousey was tracked down a day later. Sheriff Biglaw visited the Indian village and said, "Chief, I think I’ve figured out a way you can keep the horse and still have money to send the boy to college. You see, there’ll be quite a big reward for these coun- terfeiting hombres and its all yours.” ^■^HE pleased look on Little Talon’s face was like the bursting of sunrise. “Only one thing I don’t understand,” con- tinued the lawman, scratching his head. “How come that horse decided to turn around and come back all of a sudden when the owlhoot was making his getaway?” “Oh, that’s easy to explain,” said Little Talon. “I whistled. Papoosey always comes to me when I whistle!” THE END THE MAGAZINE THAT HAS Everijthing from /\h-h ! to 2owie! ILLUSTRATED AT ALL NEWSSTANDS 15<*