LICAllON w IN THIS ^ ACTION-PACKED ISSUE: panic at diamond 6 £®X. RITTBB WESTERN Volume 1, Number 22 May 1954 • u* Charlton Comics Group. Executive offices and office of publication, Charlton Building, Derby, Conn. Copy- right 1954 by Charlton Comics Group. Designed by A1 Fago Studios Printed in the V.SA. \V/HEN OLD BEN BAZTLETT WAS MU ED EKED ON THE ROAD TO SADDLETOWN AND A HEED OF HIS PRIZE CATTLE WERE RILLED BY DEI N KINS FRO/VS A MYSTERIOUSLY POISONED CREEK., TEX RITTER, THE FAMOUS PRAIRIE RANGER, HAD TO MOVE FAST TO CATCH UP WITH A H IGR SPEED Kl LLER/ THE STACCATO ROAR THE SILENCE OF AND RIDER FALL TEX RITTER WESTERN The following outstanding mogoiinei or* oosily covers by the words / ATOMIC MOUSE * COWltOY WESTERN HEROES * CRIME ANI» JUSTICE « FUNNY ANIMALS EH! cliir this crazy comic « HAUNTED * HOT RODS AND RACING CARS « ZOO FUNNIES LASH LARUE WESTERN « ROCKY LANE WESTERN « RACKET SQUAD « SIX-GUN HEROES ROMANTIC STORY * SCIENCE-FICTION SPACE ADVENTURES • STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES SWEETHEARTS • TEX RITTER WESTERN • TRUE L IKE SECRETS . • TV TEENS* THE THING. K»e»y effect to nod* te insure that These eemir naahaine* h>«he»t gSSliiy Sl^Fholenome entenamm, PANIC AT THE DIAMOND B 0 TEX RITTER WESTERN A DRY GULCH IN’/ THAT HOUSE AN D eiPEU’VE SEEN AMBUSHED/ COME ON... . sues HOPE THE PALAVER ABOUT HIM SELLIN’ OUT IS JUST HOGWASH... A EANNY COULDN’T ASIC FORA > _ BETTER ... , STOW THE CHATTEE/ LOOK.... OVER YONDER/ I’M GONNA HIGH TAIL IT TO PRAIRIE RANGER HEADQUARTERS/THIS IS A JOB roe TEX RITTER/ y IT’S THE BOSS... BEN BARTLETT / SHOT TO DEATH / WHAT SNAKE WOULD WANT TO KILL HIM 9 . AND A LITTLE LATER, AT THE OFFICE OF THE FAMOUS PRAIRIE RANGER... YA HEARD THE TALC. ABOUT THE DIAMOND r -SPOKE TO BEN ABOUT IT JUST YESTERDAY IT’S A UUMOU...HE DOESN’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TEX/ YOU BETTES. COME QUICK-OVER ON THE ROAD INTO TOWN... SHOT... HOUSE AND ALL... MY BOSS... OLD BEN BARTLETT GUNNED DOWN... HORSE ALL SHOT UP, TOO/ THE VARMINT MUSTA USED A WHOLE BOX OF SLUGS ON ’EM ...BULLETS S. ALL ABOUND... > MEBBE THEM TOPOGRAPH ERS THAT WAS LOOKIN’ OVER HIS SPREAD LAST WEEK MADE ^ AN OFFER... SIMMER DOWN/ NOW, WHO DID YOU i FIND DEAD ? / TEX RITTER WESTERN OLD BEN’S MONEY BELT WASN’T TOUCHED, TEX/ EXCEPT FEE ROBBERY... WHY WOULD ANYBODY WANT TO KILL THE > r FINEST MAN IN THE \. VALLEY/:. MAYBE WE CAN FIND OUT AS SOON AS WEVE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK. AROUND/ . LET’S SO... . A FEW MINUTES LATER, NOT A SIGN OF ANOTHER RIDER AROUND ANYWHERE/ AND THESE SLUGS... v STRANGE... . ... AND WE DIDN’l DISTURB NOTHIN/ ^ TEX/ ...THERE ISN’T A TREE OR ANY HIGH GROUND WHERE THE KILLER COULD HAVE STOOD AND FIRED DOWNWARD FOR MILES AROUND HERE/ ...HOW EVERY ONE HIT THE GROUND AT AN ANGLE/ AS IF THEY WERE FIRED V FROM ABOVE /YET... v' LOAD BEN'S BODY ON YOUR HORSE AND BRING IT OUT TO THE DIAMOND*B”..l’LL GO ON AHEAD/ / ...AND THAT’S ABOUT ALL WE KNOW SO FAR, MRS. BARTLETT/ BUT... IF IT WASN’T ■ ROBBERY...WHY DID ANYONE WANT TO KILL UNCLE BEN... f TEX RITTER WESTERN MAYBE BEN DIDN’T WANT TO SELL AND SOMEONE PUT HIM OUT OF THE WAY SO AS ' TO WORK ON YOU TWO / \ HAVE EITHEROF YOU ) L. HAD ANY OFFERS f J WHY... YES/ TWO, AS A MATTES OF FACT/ BUT.. - « NEITHER MAN ^ WOULD... A A AY BE IT WAS ROBBERY, \ MISS AMAN DA . .. BUT POE 01GSER. > STAKES THAN THE CASH IN BEN’S POCKETS/ THERE’S BEEN TALK LATELY OF BEN BELLI NS THE DIAMOND *&*... SOME- ) ONE MAY HAVE DECIDED TO HURRY J . ITALONS... -- — \ ITS SKIP HOLLOWAY’S PLANE, TEX/ HE MADE ONE OF THE ^ OFFERS/ > SUPPOSE WE JUDSE THAT WHEN WE HAVE MORE FACTS/ NOW, WHO MADE MPU THE ^ OFFERS... < WHAT’S THAT f J I MET SKIP OVER IN ^ BUCKSKIN A MONTH AS O... RUNS A CROP DUSTINS OUTFIT. HE’S... WELL... A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE/ ^ I’LL INTRODUCE YOU, . TEX, AND YOU CAN < JUDGE FOR YOURSELF IF HE’S CAPABLE OF THIS TERRIBLE THINS/ . UNCLE BEN AND AUNT LINDA LIKED SKIP THE FIRST TIME THEY MET HIM / HE HELPED THE TOPOGRAPHERS MAKE AN AERIAL SURVEY OF THE RANCH, AND HE OFFERED TO BUY THE PLACE... BUT IT WAS JUST A JOKE/ YES, I WANT TO MEET HIM... AND A COUPLE OF - QUESTIONS FOR 1 WU LATER/ ) LANDING. TEX RITTER WESTERN AFRAID IT'S NO JOKE, HOLLOWAY/ MSS. BARTLETT 19 IN THE HOUSE... IF YOU’D LIKE TO OFFER HER YOUR K CONDOLENCES.- NICE MEETING YOU, RANGES/ ALL THE POLKS HERE SPEAK. HIGHLY OF YOU/ BUT, WHAT’S THIS ABOUT UNCLE BEN... SOME SORT OF JOKE... f NOW, MISS AMANDA YOU MENTIONED TWO - OFFERS... WHO MADE . THE OTH EE... f 'YEAH... THANKS. LEAD THE WAY/ I *VE A HUNCH THE PASTES WE MOVE SIGHT NOW, THE OUf CKER WE’LL CATCH OUSKILLES s. OFF GUARD/ > UNCLE BEN’6 FOREMAN, SANNY / HE’S WORKED HESE FOS YE AES... BUT. ..NOW THAT I THINK. OF IT, HE HAS ACTED QUEERLY LATELY/ HE’S BEEN KEEPING TO > HIMSELF, AND... r— ^ I’D LIKE TO TALK TO HIM/ IS HE ON THE SPSEAD NOWf HE WENT DOWN TO SOUTH CEEEK...TO WATES UNCLE BEN* PSIZEHESDOF _ CATTLE/ r '''HOLD ON... SOMEBODY iS IN N. AN ALL-FISED HUSSY/ LETS SEE J V WHAT’S WRONG... ^ why!.. IT’S ^ ^ SANNY/ MORE’N THE HESD A HUNDRED OF ’EM DEAD/ JUST UP AND DIED/ I... DON’T < UNDERSTAND... ) WHAT/ TEX RITTER WESTERN YOU BEEN LISTENIN’ TO \ W...WHAT? YOU’VE GOT ME WRONG, MISS AMANDA/ I DON’T KNOW WHAT * -7 you’re... SKIP WAS RIGHT / HE SAID YOU’D STOP AT NOTHING ^ TO GET YOUR. ^ HANDS ON THIS W RANCH/ A ...YOU’VE POISONED THE BEST HEED IN THIS PART Of THE COUNTRY/ YOU’LL HANG fOZ THIS... YOU MURDERER/ .X THAT PLY-BOY’S LIES/ BEN BARTLETT AND ME HAVE BEEN FRIENDS SINCE... AUNT LINDA’S BEEN TELLINGME HOW YOU’VE BEEN COAXING BEN TO RETIRE... SO YOU COULD TARE OVER THE DIAMOND *B’Y, ' SO YOU'RE LOOKING PER TROUBLE TOO, ^ HOLLOWAY... HERE COMES SKIP NOW / HE’LL KNOW HOW TO HANDLE YOU/ > TEX RITTER WESTERN CUTOUT THE ROUSH MOUSE. BOTH OP YOU/ A LOT OP WILD ACCUSATIONS AREN'T GOING TO s. SOLVE THIS THING... LATER, " ...THAT I’LL SELL THE DIAMOND *B»? YES, IF THERE’S ANYMORE s. TROUBLE/ y B...BUT, AUNT UNDA/ YOU CAN’T . MEAN... 7 WE’RE GOING BACK. TO THE HOUSE, AND YOU’LL BOTH STAY PUT ’TIL I TELL YOU DIFFERENT... WHILE I TALK TO MRS. < BARTLETT/ NOW... MOVE/ > r I NEVER ARGUE WITH . A. 45/ EAVESDROPPING/ iVE ^ GOT AN .IDEA... TEX RITTER WESTERN BUT... TEX / THAT’S 1 WHAT HE WANTS... TO SCARE ALL OP US OPP THE RANCH/ AREN’T VOU GOINS TO ARREST... A NOT A SHRED OF U, EVIDENCE/ I’LL BE , BACK. IN THE MORNING/ KEEP WUR AUNT CALM. GOOD % , NIGHT... I i’ll so down THE TRAIL A BIT, AND THEN... FOR TWO HOURS THE RANSER CROUCHES SILENTLY ...waiting... r ; ■nTv ' \ / someone coming/ ] \WxHHBi . a V QUIET NOW, bOY... yi\\3 inp ... JUST WAIT TILL SOMEONE MAKES HIS MOVE. THINKING I’M GONE AND THE COAST IS CLEAR/ 1 CAN SEE ALL THE BUILDINGS PROM HERE/ ^ HEADED STRAIGHT PORTHE WATER HOLE/ HE COULD POISON IT AND BE GONE IN A MOMENT/ ID BETTER TAKE A HAND IN A ^ THIS GAME... .riff RAN NY / POSSI BLY ACTI NG ON INFORMATION GATHERED FROM ' EAVESDROPPING ON US /I’LL JUST . LET HIM GO BY AND THEN FOLLOW... _ — ^ TEX RITTER WESTERN BETTER STOP HIM BEFORE ' HE GETS A CHANCE TO POISON THAT WATER ... I F THAT'S WHAT . S. HE’S UP TO/ HE y„. .1.1 m WHAT’S v, THAT? I TOLD ’EM VOU WAS A NO GOOD COYOTE... BUT THEY WOULDN'T . LISTEN/ HE’9 TURNING ON HIS CROP DUSTING APPARATUS/ RIGHT OVER THE WATER... SO THAT’S HOW THE CREEK WAS POISONED/ TEX THOUGHT VOU LOOK OUT... HERE HE COMES AGAIN/ TAKE COVER... TEX RITTER WESTERN GO KAN NY WANTS TO TRY HIS LUCK, HUH? I’LL GET HIM THE SAME WAV I GOT THE OLD BUZZAKW JUST AS I FIGURED... HE’S GOING TO COME RIGHT OVER ME/ NOW IF X — CAN JUST... ... . ■ RANNV’S HIT/ AND THAT’S WOW OLD BEN WAS SHOT... WITH SLUGS THAT CAME PROM ABOVE. ..FROM AN AIRPLAN E / ■ ^jjgrT f THE ENGINE'S OU IT/ WHAT THE NO ALTITUDE... G( IN AND HOPE FOR ■» THE BEST/ TEX RITTER WESTERN THE LOUSY TIN STAR ... I’LL PUT A SLUG IN BOTH OF ’EM AND TELL AMANDA I CAUGHT ’EM POISONING THE WATEfc/ SHELL BELIEVE ME... LIKE SHE ALWAYS DOES ... HE’9 NOT PAYING ANY ATTENTION TO ME ...THINKS I WAS KNOCKED OUT IN THE CRA0N/ I CAN GET HIM IN • THE BACK... ^ WELL/ I’LL BE. TEX RITTER WESTERN I SAW EANNY I C zu r DON’T THINK UNCLE BEN EVEE ABOUT KNOW THE (CANNY ... WOUND AND JUST GOT MY SHOULDER / 1 KNOCKED THE WIND OUT OF ME FOE A MINUTE/ DON’T WO KEY... IT’S ALL THAT MURDEEOUS CUE .'OH, (CANNY... WILL YOU EVEK FOEGIVE ME.'..? FOE WHAT, AMANDA ? SAVI N’ BOTH OUE LIVES ? I N EVES WAS SOKE AT YOU... YOU JUST DIDN’T TEX RITTER WESTERN HOLD IT, RITTER 7 DON’T REACH FEE THEM HAWGLAIGS OF YOURN... I COT YA COVERED/ DROP THET * RIFLE, GUARD, AND BOTH OF YA GET YORE .HANDS OVER YORE HEADS' • LOOKOUT, ^ PETE' THEM ROCKS LL WRECK __ US/ . JU5T IN TIME. ..THAT WAS CLOSE/ MUSTA BEEN A ROCKSLIDE AND... HUH ? yr WHAT’5 THAT ? WHAT IN.. „**> WHOA. ..WHOA/ ON A DESOLATE STRETCH OF MOUNTAIN ROAD, THE THREE RIVERS’ STAGE ROUNDS A SHARP CURVE... TEX RITTER WESTERN -THEKE’S A STRONG BOX under yore seat, driver, THROW IT DOWN / WUEEV W IT UP/ THESE IT IS/ ) WHY...YO'RE DISK. * MAYLON / 1 THOUGHT VOU WAS ... YA THOUGHT I WAS STILL IN PRISON...WHERE YORE EVIDENCE PUT ME / WELL, I BUSTED OUT/ THIS MOENIN’/ . HAW /HAW/ WAS SET OFF’N THET H05S, AND LET’S BLAST THIS BOX OPEN / hurry up... r wanta set TO three rivers and nail THE ONE OTHER GUY THAT HAD A HAND IN 5ENDIN' ME UP... TEX RITTER/ AND PINDIN’ YA ON THE OTHER END OP MY SIX-GUN IS JEST WHAT IVE BEEN WANTIN’ PER A LON G TIME / — ” WHY... M3U MURDERIN’ S EMPTY/ HE'S GON E OUT THE WIN DOW, JUMPED OFF THE PORCH TO THE STREET ■ AND MADE A RUN FOR IT, SURE AS SHOOTING/ WELL, ucr u/^w’T ncr verpv ^ HE WON’T GET VERY FAR... j I'VE OUT SMARTED VA, RITTER / I DIDN’T RUN NEAR. AS FAR AS YA , THOUGHT / ^ GO AHEAD, RITTER... TRY IT/ FILL YORE HAND/ WHATREYA WAITIN’ w ON ? \ ^ GOT TO TRY/ HE 5 GOING TO SHOOT, ANYWAY... ^ WHAT THE.. . ) TARE IT EASY, KID/ IT’S NEVER S A GOOD THING TO HAVE TO TAKE \ A MAN’S LIFE. ..EVEN WHEN EN- / FORCING THE LAW/ BUT...WELL, SOMETIMES THEY WONT LET VOli DO IT ANY OTHER WAY/ AND THANKS KID, FOR PULLING MY BACON UGH /I.. -I FEEL SORT A SICK. , . RANGER/ I \ NEVER SHOT ) A MAN J BEFORE... \ I 1 1 1 y TEX RITTER WESTERN BIDINC THE BANOE WITH WM wflrlw HOWDY PARDS: IT'S PLUMS PLEASURABLE TO 8E RIDIN' YOUR WAY AGAIN THIS MONTH. X SURE DO ENJOY THESE MONTHLY CHAT3 WITH YOU PARDS. JUST WANTED TO TELL ALL YOU FELLAS ABOUT SOMETHIN' THAT I SAW THE OTHER DAY WHILE I WAS IN MESA CITY. MADE ME AWFUL MAD TOO. WELL SIR, IT GETS MIGHTY COLD HERE IN THESE PARTS AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR. JUST AS I RODE INTO TOWN A POWERFUL WIND STARTED KICKIN' UP. I GOT UP TO THE MAIN STREET WHEN X NOTICED SOMETHING FUNNY GOIN' ON UP THE STREET A PIECE. THE WIDOW BARNES HAD RUN OUT OF HER HOUSE WITHOUT HER BUCKSKIN ON. SHE WAS IN SUCH A HURRY TO GET OVER TO CURLY MASON'S GENERAL STORE IN TIME TO SEE THOSE NEW-FANGLED HATS THAT CURLY WAS SELLING, THAT SHE PLUMB FORGOT HOW COLD THE WEATHER WAS. THE WIDOW'S LIKE THAT YOU KNOW, JUST POWERFUL ABSENT-MINDED SOMETIMES. THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, LITTLE JIMMY BARNES POPS OUT Of WS DAO'S STORE WITH A NEW BUCKSKIN SLUNG OVER HIS ARM. LITTLE JIMMY KNEW THAT THE WIDOW WOULD CATCH HER DEATH -OF- COLD DRESSED LIKE THAT, 80 HE GAVE HER THE COAT. THE MOMENT THAT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF THE YOUNG HOMBRES INSIDE THE STORE CAME OUT AND STARTED MAKIN' FUN OF LITTLE JIMMY, SAYING HE WAS JUST A BIG SISSY. NOW FRIENDS I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE NO SISSY IF YOU SHOW SOMEONE SOME COURTESY OR DO A PERSON A GOOD FAVOR. REMEMBER FELLAS, IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO RESPECT YOU AND DO YOU FAVORS YOU HAVE TO BE A COURTEOUS KIND OF PARD. IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT THE GOLDEN RULE, AND IT MEANS A LOT. BUT IT’S TIME TO RIDE. TILL NEXT MONTH. HAPPY RIDIN' . \PLAINS PERIL\ Deputy U. S. Marshal Kane Sims let his hands fall to the butts of his six-guns. Beneath him his horse was hi^h-tailing it madly down the slope of the guiley. And on the other side, its hoofs pounding a loud drum-beat, cattle-rustler Lode Cairns' cayuse was slowing down as it went up the rise. Sighting a gun on a bucking horse was useless, Sims knew. Good iftarksmanship de- pended on steady ground under a man, and there was no ground under Sims at all most of the time. His wrists snapped back as he fired. The roar of the guns made his horse buck even more violently. Sims gently swore under his breath. He knew he had to get Lode* Cairns this time or lose his star. On the loose for two months now, Cairns had led him a far-from- merry chase over most of the country. The cattle-rustling gang had been broken up and imprisoned when U.S. Marshall Kateson and his posse had surprised their raid on the big U-Bend spread. But Cairns, the leader, had escaped, and Kateson had assigned Sims the task of laying him by the heels. Again Sims fired. Cairns was about over the top of the rise now. Once over he could easily disappear in the maze of giant boulders and scattered cottonwood trees that lay on the other side. Suddenly Sims scored a hit. Cairns clapped a hand to his shoulder, and a wide patch of red appeared. Then his horse whinnied loudly and went down headlong. The Deputy Mar- shal smiled grimly Apparently one of his wild shots had also struck the animal. Ahead of him he saw the cattle-rustler go flying arms- wide over the head of the stricken horse and then lie still on his bqskrotop the rise. With a violent effort Sims brought his own steed to a halt. Dismounting, he led it slowly up the rest of the rise. He breathed deeply in relief, the other horse was useless, of course, but he’d bring Cairns into Dogtown, where Marshal Kateson had arranged to meet him within the hour, even if he had to let the wounded Cairns ride his own cayuse. Approaching Cairns, Sims holstered one of his guns. He could hear the heavy, gospy breathing of the wounded man. But Cairns didn’t move. Knocked colder than a flatfish, the Deputy Marshal thought' to himself. One hand tight on his remaining gun he bent over the fallen rustler. "Ugh!” The cry was forced from Sims' mouth as Cairns' heavily booted left foot shot up and then out like a cannon ball. The force of the blow caught the deputy in the stomach. He went down like a pole-axed bull, his gun spinning from his hand. Cairns, rising lightning-like, caught it as it came down. Slowly, the sight that had been Molted from his eyes came back fo Sims. He saw the grin- ning outlaw standing over him, one hand hold- ing a gun, the other staunching the flow of blood from his shoulder wound with the other. A glance at his other holster showed it was empty. At his side the gun lay useless, its cylinder open and empty of bullets. “Gimme your gun-belt," Lode Cairns said. Sims rose stiffly to his feet, unbuckled the gun-belt. "Take the bullets out of it,” Cairns ordered. Sims did as he was told, his face reddening with shame. He'd been taken in by a trick older than the first plainsman, yet always newer, it seemed, than the youngest steer. He handed the bullets to Cairns, who thrust them into a pocket. "I’m not gonna kill ya,” he said. His eyes wandered over to Sims* horse, then snapped back to the deputy. The deputy's jow fell open in surprise. "You — you’re lettin’ me go?” he asked, in- credulously. "All that anybody's got on me is cattle- rustlin',” Cairns said. “That's a prison offense. But murder draws hahgin’ and Boot Hill Cem- etery." He smirked. "I’m a careful man, I am." Again he smirked and pointed at his left boot. “Reckon I proved that." Cairns swung suddenly towards Sims' horse. He hoisted himself up with a few twinges of pain. "So long, pal,” he called mockingly back to the deputy. "Give my regards to Kateson-— after he takes your star away, that is!” Cairns lifted the fiand holding the gun in o kind of salute. Then he struck spurs to the deputy's cayuse and rode away. ( TEX RITTER WESTERN "Going north toword Dog town," Sims muttered as he watched the cattle-rustler ride out of sight. He recognized the wisdom of the move. Back of Cairns was town after town where he was known, where countless posters saying ‘Wanted' hung out in plain view. He didn't dare go back that way — the trail over which Sims had chased him. But by skirting Dogtown and packing a little extra water he’d reach a fifty mile patch of waste-land called Death Desert. With just a little more water, he could cress it, vanish in the hills south of the great Pecos. And behind him, Sims knew he’d leave the story of how he'd buffaloed a U.S. Deputy Marshal for months. Sims’ surrendered tin star would be a monument to the deed. the deputy sighed and started walking north. Dogtown was only a little while away in time. He'd have made it faster on a horse, but he didn’t have one. Crossing the boulder-strewn area, he reach- ed the Dogtown road in. half-an-hour. He did not expect to find Cairns' tracks. The outlaw would be too clever to get anywhere near the road or even the town itself. Half-an-hour Jater he walked into the town. Conscious of the curious stares thrown his way by the townsfolk who had never before seen a man with a U.S. Deputy Marshal’s star come into town minus his horse, he walked on to the Sheriff’s office. Here, he knew, Marsha) Kateson had his temporary circuit headquar- ters. Kateson and Sheriff Stack were sitting round the Sheriff's desk when the deputy entered. Silently, Sims took his deputy's tin-star off and laid it on the desk before Kateson. "What ! s that for?" the deep-voiced Mar- shal demanded. He stared at Sims, and real- ization dawned in his eyes. "You lost lode Cairns' trail?" "Worse than that. Marshal!" Sims said tight-lipped. His face flushed, the deputy told the full details of what had happened. When he finished he looked Kateson in the eye. "That’s why I'm handin' in my tin star!" For a moment Kateson was silent. His face worked with anger. "I don't understand it, Kane!" he began. "You wrote me from Wellsdale you’d got onto his trail there. You said you were sure you’d nab him before he got to Dogtown!" Fire flared in the Marshal’s eyes, then faded. He sighed wearily. "All right, what’s done is done. Take your star back, Kane. We’re short-hand- ed. I can stilt use you; there's a new assign- ment.coming up." Kane Sims palea. He knew what that meant. He was being kept on even though he’d lost the Marshal’s trust — to fill in until another man could be found to become Kateson's chief deputy. The instant a man was found he'd lose the coveted star. Slowly he shook his head. "Only way I'll pin that star back on. Marshal, is after I bring Lode Caiffis ini" Kateson's eyebrows went up in angry sur- prise. “How the devil you gonna’ 'do that?" he growled. "You told me yourself ‘Cairns headed toi Death Desert!” “You wouldn’t know what direction he’d started off in," Sheriff Stack observed. "I agree with the Marshal, Sims. You’re wasting your time! Better call it quits. CairftS isn't the only lobo who’s escaped the law!" “I’m goin* after him!" Sims voice was deter- mined. "All right!" Kateson grunted, "and you take my horse!" He watched Sims stride out. "And if you bring lode Cairns in. I’ll eat my ten gallon!" It wa$ near sun-down when Kateson again looked up from some paper work he'd been finishing. He glanced at his watch, then at Sheriff Stack who’d come in from watering his horse. "Told you he couldn’t d> it!" Kateson said sourly. "If he couldn't do it by sundown, he couldn't do it at all!" "Well, somebody’s tidin' down Main Street, leadin' lode Cairns on of horse!" Sheriff Stack announced with a smile. An instant later, as Kateson's jaw dropped, Kane Sims appeared in the doorway, holding up a dazed, exhausted Lode Cairns..- "You — you brought him in!" Kateson mumbled, incredulously. "Sure!" Kane Sims acknowledged with a wry grin. With Stack’s help he deposited Lode Cairns on a cot in one of the cells. Then he came bdek and faced Kateson. "It wasn’t hard, Marshal^’ he continued. "Not hard?” Kateson demanded. "Why Death/ Desert’s trackless!" "That’s what you and Sheriff Stack thought!" Sims said. "But I had a hunch it wasn’t, after I'd^thought it over o bit after I lost Cairns first. I just wanted a chance to try out my theory. Why it was easy gettin’ on Lode Cairns’ trail! All I had to do was ride out on Death Desert and keep my eye peeled for eagles and buz-_ zards and other sky-scavengers. They know when a man’s sick and weak from bleeding •— like Lode was from my shot after he’d ridden a bit. So I just followed the sky-scavengers until I caught up with Cairns. Reckon I’ll take that tin- star back now. Marshal, ond by the way ." Sims paused and grinned. “Soon as you pin it baek on, there’s a little matter of a ten- gallon hat you said you'd eat!" The End TEX RITTER WESTERN (GROAN.) LOOKS WHO 5 COMING M EBBE HE PlPM'T BORROWING BEN , THE WORST MOOCHER? BEE ME l I'LL RUM IM THESE HYAR PARTS. * — — -^tV' INSIDE AMD WIPE UMC ^ > THE BED SO HE WO mam . ° C try to borrow . O £ ANYTHING MORE V gUT AT THAT MOMENT- f NOTHING DOING, ] BEM! I'M THROUGH < LENDING YOU MONEY/ VUH NEVER PAY IT BACK! tfg. HOWpy . SAGEBRUSH! I'M SHORE GLAD I POUND YUH HOME.' •(fGROAN) ANOTHER SECOND AND I WOULD HAVE MADE - IT/ _ good! GO THROUGH THET POOR/ SHORE I am! why, sage- ** YUH D GO * THROUGH ANY- THING FER ME' TEX RITTER WESTERN m p*S anp not having any ^wjsr. MANV SUITS PON’T FRET ABOUT Me i I’LL GET A NEW SUIT . EVEN WITHOUT grij! — -t . MONEY.' NEVER M4N0 HOW J YUM JUST WAIT HYf ANP I’LL BE BACK WITH A SUIT 1 ALL RIGHT; SLIM PtCKffN* I’LL WAIT, BUT YO*R» . WASTING Y ORB TIMS/ JENKINS’ CLOTHING SH Of IN TOWN POESN’T GIVE ^ ANYONE ANYTHING ^ ON CREPfT J J l. X RECKON I CAN ! COME BACK IN HALF AN HOUR ANP THEY’LL BE REAPY / I KNOW JENKINS POESN’T GIVE CREPIT— 1 THAT’S WHY I INTENP TO STOP INTO THE BAKERY ^ SHOP FIR5T J j- . . CAN YUH MAKE IOO ROLLS FER — 1 ME ? Md TEX RITTER WESTERN NOW I FEEL SAFER ABOUT GOING INTO JENKINS’ CLOTHING w— V—,. shop ] OKAS, SLIM / I’LL WRAP IT UP/ HYAR ARE ALL THE SUITS YORE SIZE 1 TAKE ^ SSSA YORE PICK/ jTfi IPS LATER. HEY, BAKER / HAVE YUH GOT THE ONE HUNPREP YUH *« ^OWE ME? , , WELL, PON’T 1 HOLD ME BACK / IF YUH WANT < YORE MONEY, ^ COME WITH > > ME / j TEX RITTER WESTERN OKAY, SLIM, YUH CAN <30 ! X*LL RUN RIGHT ACROSS AND COLLECT MUH «r-* SEVENTY- FIVE.' J AND I RECKON I’D BETTER SCAT WHILE THE SCATTING’S rX.y GOOD.' fclSlP) HOM'D YUH GET BACK HYAR jt ^SO QUICK? WELL* WHEN I GET FINISHED WITH YUH, YUH WILL TAKE MORE THAN SEVENTY-FIVE <— r ROLLS IN THE M UOJ -M J NEVER MIND y HOW I GOT * HYAR l YUH THINK YO’RE PRETTY FUNNY, DON’T YUH ? x opine x put one OVER OH HIM / THERE’S NO SENSE GETTING SORE ! X WAS JUST P LAYING t A GAME WITH YUH » j-—* MOUTH RHYMES WITH SOUTH.' CORRECT. 1 AND— | WELL, I CAN ' THINK OF A MUCH BETTER GAME TO PLAY.' WHAT * RHYMES WITH ^ SOUTH? S TEX RITTER WESTERN —THAT’S JUST WHERE 'I’M GOINS TO CLOUT * YUH • - YUH HAVE NO RIGHT TO HIT ME LIKE THAT.' AFTER ALL, THAT SUIT IS NOTHING BUT ^ A SACK / JT ^ — THAT’S WHY I’M TAKING IT — BACK/r PUNCH.' BUT YO’RE NOT LANOING ANY UNTIL ) YUH TELL ME WHAT GROUND J y RHYMES WITH -j \S SOUND ! J ^ ALL RIGHT, BUT TWO CAN PLAY THIS RHYME GAME J -t WHAT RHYMES WITH , HU NCR? ATER YEAH? WHERE / IN THE , IS IT ? -T COURTHOUSE ' THE BAKER ANO ZT1 fz( JENKINS ARE /y- SUING MEj IT’S A LAWSUIT. 1 OH, I’VE GOT A SUIT, ALL RIGHT J RIGHT, BUT WHEN YUH’LL HIT THE GROUND , YUH’LL BE ^ TOO GROGGY TO HEAR 1 r ANY SOUND J } — ^ YO’RE, BACK, BUT I DON’T SEE ANY — -t SUIT.' ^ TEX RITTER WESTERN WHAT’S THE TEOUBLE, TEX...? VUH LOOt SOET OP PUZZLED/ A SEGMENT OP A MAP IN THE MAIL, AND THEEES NO NOTE TO EXPLAIN WHO SENT IT, OZ WHY/ r IT DOESN’T MAtE SENSE/ HMAA/l RECKON THEY DIDN’T THINK I MEANT BUSINESS/ I’LL JUST CONVINCE ’EM THEY WERE m WRONG/ LOOK, TEX / IT’S LARSON AND HIS PAL, BOLT/ I THOUGHT YUH TOLD THEM NO- I GOODS TO STAY OUTA TOWN/ I'M MAKING SURE YOU \ DON’T GET A CHANCE T 0! IF YOU AREN'T ON YOUR HORSES AND ON YOUR , WAY IN JUST ONEMINUTE,, VAll’l I AC ACUINirt HEY, RITTER ... WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA? WE < AIN’T DONE NOTHIN’/ OF COURSE IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE/ IT COULDN’T, . UNLESS TEX RITTER COULD TURN THE CLOCK, BACK, TWENTY* FOUR HOURS, AS WE ARE I GOING TO .1 DO RIGHT |i NOW... 1 YOU’LL BE BEHIND BARS/ TEX RITTER WESTERN THAT’S MORE < LIKE IT/ v STOP BEEPIN’, WILL VA? THIS TRIP IS GONNA MAKE USA ^ FORTUNE/ ) I TOLD YUH I 'DIDN’T LIKE THE IDEA OP COWIN' BACK. HERE, T LARSON/ ( OLD MAN HARMON HAS KV BURIED A FORTUNE IN « DIAMONDS SOMEWHERE IN THE HILLS THAT HE^ SAVIN’ FER HI& GRANDSON, BACK f 90 rVE i HEARD. BUT WHAT ABOUT i PLENTY/ I FOUND OUT WHERE HARMON HAS HIDDEN THE MAP 1 TELLIN’ WHERE THEY ARE f I RECKON WE CAN GET THAT MAP TONIGHT, SINCE THE OLD POOL LIVES ALONE? YORE GRANDAD SENT FEE YUH, 5 TOM, BECAUSE lHE KNEW HE * WAS DYIN’... 1 ) I’M ONLY SORRY THAT I COULDN’T HAVE SEEN HIM BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY/ THOUGHT YUH SAID THE OLD MAN LIVES ALONE , LARSON/ I HEAR VO ICES A SOUNDS LIKE AN EASY TOUCH/ LEAD THE ^ WAY/ J f SHUT UP AND WE’LL LISTEN AT THE WINDOW/ I 'jEST^Eroeil^E^Dr^ ASKED ME~ TO SEE THE? vi iu i«/WTuia nun f i*r'i i vim u/u erorr NOW ?HAT OLDMAnTh ARMON *9 GRANDSON^ GOT THE MAP, T RECKON THET RUINS OUR PLANS / _ YUH GOT THIS MAP / IT’LL SHOW YUH WHERE TO FIND THE DIAMONDS HE BURIED FER YUH/ J NOW I RECKON I’LL GET BACK TO MY OWN PLACE, TOM / ^ YUH RECKON WRONG/ WE’LL STILL GET IT/ WAIT'LL HE f GOES TO BED... THANKS... ^ YOU’RE A REAL ■ FRIEND/ TEX RITTER WESTERN LARSON .. . LOOK/ BUT THE INTRUDERS HAVE AWAKENED TOM HARMON... ) DON’T STAND THERE LIKE AN IDIOT... GET AFTER 7 HIM/ IT$ HARMON AND HE'S SOT THE MAP/ HERE SOME- i PLACE, SO WE 'KEEP LOOKIN' TILL WE DO , FIND IT/ WE’VE BEEN ALL THROUGH HIS ROOM, s AND AIN’T FOUND THE MAP/ LUCKY I HID THE MAP UNDEe MY PILLOW... I’D BETTER SEE IF I CAN GET OUT WITH IT j WITHOUT THEM SEEING ME ... SO WHAT f HE’5 HEADED TOWARD TOWN/ BY THE TIME HE GETS HELP WCU. HAVE THE DIAMONDS ANDM OUTA HERE/NOW L£T» ^ air the two halved AND I’VE GOT THE OTHER HALF/ ' LETS GO... ^ HALF THE MAP... iuF^^TTIM?TW E TW^ OiTlM^ CAN THEY DON’T FIT/ WHEN WE TORE IT OUTA HIS HAND WE MUST OF LEFt THE MIDDLE PART IN HIS HAND/ WE GOTTA - FIND HIM/ — TQM HARMON HEY/ THERE COMIN’ OUTA THE POST OFFICE/ TEX RITTER WESTERN THE LAST TIME, HAgMQN WH ERR'D VUH HIDE _ THE MIDDLE PAST 1 OP THAT MAP f Jk JUST MAKE ABOUND AND I’LL FILL VUH CULL 0FUU0/ ^ I’LL NEVES TELL . VUH_ > "alLKI GH T, ruTlALX^ BUT IT’LL* V AU. I, XU. / OU I IIU.- DO VUH NO GOOD..XVE MAILED AND YOU’LL CHANGE WZI MlND^. VUH WHELP/ THE MIDDLE SECTION OP THE MAP TO TEX * RITTER/ - WELL... THAT’S THAT, LAJ2SON/ GOOD IDEA? GOODBYE , PUNK / ■* HAW, HAW... HE’S GONNA SIGN A LETT £R SAVIN’ WE SOUGHT THE MAP FROM HIM / I'LL HANDLE CITTES/ I HOLD YOKE FIRE/ IF WE TOSS HIM ’ OVER THE CLIFF IT’IL.LOOIC LIKE ^ an Accident/ ) I’LL PUT A SLUG BETWEEN HIS [> EVES / TEX RITTER WESTERN ) DON’T GET EXCITED, RITTER/ WE GOT BUSINESS WITH VA / WE COM E TO PICK UP THAT PAST OP A MAP WE MAILED i TO YUH/ I RECOGN IZE THIS MAP/ ITS OLD MAN HARMON’S/ WHAT ARE VOU TWO DOING WITH * IT BELONGS TO THE TWO OF US ... BUT WE DIDN’T TRUST EITHER. OF US TO KEEP THE WHOLE THING... SO WE CUT IT IN THREE Pi ECES...ONE PER EACH OF US AND THE OTHER PART WE SENT TO YUH / ^ you SENT IT? WHY ? THAT’S RIGHT, RITTER/ THIS’LL TELL YUH, RITTER/ NOW YUH CAN PUT UPVORE GUN/ UMMM...SO HARMON’S GRAND- SON SOLD YOU THE MAP/lN THAT CASE I’VE NO CHOICE BUT TO GET THE MISSING PIECE FDR *r YOU /WAIT RIGHT HERE/ PERFECT / OKAY BOLT.. LET’S 60/ RIGHT/ TEX RITTER WESTERN AT THAT MOMENT. A PEW MOMENT© LATER , OK TWS WAV T O THE HARMON RANCH... W WMBgggjl WHOA, WHITE PLASH / SOU N OS LIKE SOMEONE'S IN TROU BLE / ImfJm A SOMEHOW, I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE THOSE “ TWO BOUGHT THAT , MAP FAIR AND SQUARE/ I’D < BETTER TALK > TO HARMON... j MAYBE NOT/ I THOUGHT IT WAS PUNNY THAT IF THEY WANTED TO SPLIT THE MAP, THEY'D TAKE A CHANCE ON RUINING IT BY TEARING IT TEX RITTER/ I RECOGNIZE YOU FROM YOUR. PICTURES / IVE ALWAYS HOPED I’D MEET . YUH, BUT NOT LIKE THIS/ -^1 I’M W HAKMON ... » HAE\\ON / ' ^ , I WAS LOOKI NG por you / ^ TOR THAT REASON, I DIDN’T GIVE THEM THE PART YOU SENT ME / I MADE UP ANOTHER PART THAT WOULD PIT INTO THE PARTS THEY HAD/ AND I KNOW WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I REMEMBEE ) THE PHONY DIRECTIONS I PUT ON IT/ ^ X TEX RITTER WESTERN MEANWHILE ... we SHOULD ’A, ‘ POUND IT BEFORE NOW, LARSON/ AND he’s got HARMON/ IN A BIG hurry, aren’t YOU, BOLT? WHAT...? HEY/ IT’S TEX RITTER/ y BUTTON , YORE LIP AND KEEP DlGGIN STICK AROUND A WHILE... THE PUN IS JUST STARTING/ NICE GOING. TOM/ LOOK OUT, TEX' YOU GUYS SURE LOOK A LOT BETTER BEHIND BARS TOME/ IN PACT YOU LOOK. SO GOOD IN THERE, I THINK I'LL SEE IP I CAN ARRANGE TO KEEP YOU THERE A LONG TIME/ KEEP THEM COVERED, TOM, WHILE I TRY ON SOME HANDCUPFS g tor SIZE ... WELL, WHAT DO YOU KNOW/ HE HAD ’EM <■ BURIED IN 2 _THE_BACK_. _ YARD ALL THE TIME/ ^ TT1X RITTER WESTERN TO TELL VUH THE ITH, SHE'S NOT TOO p 44 w MUCH MILK/ ^ HUH? SHE EATS A LOT BUT DOESN'T GIVE MUCH MILK? NO SlREE L I SHORE PONT IN ANT TO SUVA COIN LIKE .THAT/ SO LON®/ IS SHE A GOOP COVN? LISTEN/ THAR ISN'T, A SETTER COIN IN THE A THING AND SHE GIVES SO MUCH MILK VUH DON'T KNOW IN HAT TO DO INtTH I09K HILL BILLY, luck/ yuh can e S- PSPTY DOLLARS/ GOSH] ...AND IP I HAD KNOWN MV COIN ATE SO LITTLE AND GAVE SO MUCH MILK/ I NEVER VNOULD HAVE — SOLD HER l "ZJR IT'S A DEAL l HVAR'S , THE FIFTY DOLLARS/ , CMON, BOSSY/ LETS GO/ THAR/ I TOLD YUH I'D BELL YORE COIN PER YUH. HYAR'S THE MONEY... HUH t ' (SI ©H) > 1 HEARD. IN HUT YUH my cousin ear / yore troubles ARRESTEP BY A ARE OVER/ MV MISTAKE ANP Y BEST FRIEND IS HE HASN'T A LAWYER ANP A LAWYER / ) ( HE'LL BE SLAP TO HELP YUH/