MOTION PICTURE AND TV STAR ESTE8IN * s IO< HORSEMAN HORACE NEIGH NEIGH! TEX RITTER WESTERN Volume 1, Number 23 June-July. 1954 Published bimonthly by Char"**'. Comic* Group. Executive offices and office of publication, Chariton Building. Derby. Conn. Copyright 1954 by Cuarlton Comic* Group. Designed by Al Fag© Studio*. Printed in the U. S. A. TEX RITTER WESTERN Tha following outstanding maqaiinat ar» '•aiiiy idantifiad on thair cavart by fha words A CHARLTON PUBLICATION. iO&EH HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED IN SEARCH OF GOLD... fCNOWING THAT POSSESSION OF IT WOULD BEING WEALTH, SECURITY AND POWER / BUT THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD CAN ALSO BRING DESPAIR, DESTRUCTION, AND DEATH... AS TEX RITTER, FAMOUS PRAIRIE RANGER, DISCOVERS AS HE SEES GREED POSSESSION TEX RITTER WESTERN DIAMOND LIL ANb I RECKON I'D BETTER SET RIGHT DOWN TO POWDER RIVER AND J FILE A CLAIM/ r**^ WMMM . GOLDY KNEW WHAT THEY < WERE TALKING ABOUT, WHEN THEY SAID TO FOLLOW OLD g ^ SNAP HERE... BY SUM... I KNEW IF I STUCK TO IT LONS ENOUGH, I’D DISCOVER GOLD/ * YUH AIN’T FILIN’ ANY CLAIM > IF I CAN HELP 5 WHEN THEY FIND HIS BODY DOWN IN THE VALLEY, IT’LL LOOK LIKE AN ACCIDENT/ MEANTIME I’LL BE FILIN' A CLAIM TO I HIS GOLD STRIKE/ j NOW I'LL DRAG SNAP UP TO THE CLIFF AND TOSS HIM 1 OVER/ J BUT AS TEX ROUNDS A SHOULDER OF ROC IK At THIS MOMENT^ THERE’S THE OLD DESERTED MINE WHERE SNAP HANGS OUT/ MIGHT AS WELL DROP IN AND SEE HIM WHILE I’M UP HERE. *■ WHAT THE ... SOMEBODY’S BEING THROWN OVER THE ^ CLIFF/ TEX RITTER WESTERN JUST HOPE I CAN SAVE THAT SKUNK. IS SETTING ■ AWAY... BUT |VE NO TIME TO SO AFTER HIM ... r r- 1 HIS VICTIM. ..THEEE HE IS... H ANSI NS ONTO j~r— A SCSUB OAK HALF , WAY DOWN.' _ — J /7? SNAP/ ) ( THANKS TO. ARE YOU ‘'4 YOU... YES/ ALL EIGHT f „ LET’S SO WHITE FLASH / YOU CAN PULL HIM UP EASIER THAN m I CAN/ DUENED IF I KNOW, TEX/ BUT WHOEVER DIO IT MUST’VE FOUND OUT THAT I JUST DISCOVERED SOLD IN THE OLD MINE/ HE’S PROBABLY ON HIS WAY TO V FILE A CLAIM, NOW/ / WHO THREW YOU OVER THAT CLIFF, SNAP? TEX RITTER WESTERN BUT I KNOW A SHORT IF YOU’RE RIGHT, HE’S GOT A GOOD START ON US BY NOW... CUT, AND WHITE FLASH IS THE FASTEST HORSE IN THESE PARTS/ . WE’RE THE ONLY ONES WHO EVER MADE THIS JUMR BOY. ...LETS HOPE WE CAN DO IT AGAIN/ / SHORTLY AFTER, AT THE RECORDERS OFFICE IN POWDER RIVER... fgggMWT^ Jfg THAT SHOULD JUST ABOUT EVEN UP THE LEAD THAT HOMBRE HAD ON US / HAS ANYONE FILED A „ CLAIM TODAY TO THE 1 OLD DESERTED MINE? NOPE/ TEX RITTER WESTERN (SITTER'S BEAT /WE TO IT... AND I CANT SAY ANYTHING, OR HE’LL KNOW I’M THE ONE „ PUSHED SNAP OVER Si THE CLIFP/ — I I’M PUNS CLAIM TO IT EIGHT NOW... IN THE NAME OF SNAP — rj sg LARSON ... )} if WAL... THERE’S MORE’N WAY TO GET HOLD OF A GOLD MINE / GUESS I'D BETTER HAVE A TALK WITH DIAMOND LIL... j- RIGHT, / RANGER/ YOU WERE RIGHT WHEN YOU SAID SNAP HAD A STRIKE, DINNER TONIGHT, DRUG HIM/ THEN IT SHOULD BE EASY TO GET HIM _ TO SIGN THE MINE OVER — » TO US/ ^ ANYTHING YOU SAY, . ONE -EYE/ 'LATER ... | GO AHEAD, SNAP, DRINK YOUR C COFFEE ... THIS MEAL IS on the house... in celebra- ft tion of your strike/ YEAH TEX RITTER WESTERN THEME'S ZOOMS UP- STA I RS , SNAP. . .BU T YOU WILL HAVE TO SIGN THE "7 REGISTER./ v THAT DOES IT... HE’S SIGNING THE MINE TO ONE-EYE AND GOLDY < ■ AND ME... FEEL DIZZY- BETTER UE DOWN PER AWHILE... OICAY... LEMME SIGN... WE DON'T WANT ANY DRUNKS IN HERE/ 'NOTHEe DRUNK. WHY, IT’S SNAP/ I NEVER KNEW HIM TO DEI NIC/ BETTER TAKE HIM IN AND LET HIM SLEEP s IT OFF/ . LYIN’ IN THE STREET OUT THERE, TEX/ TEX RITTER WESTERN NICE OF YUH TO SIDE OUT TO THE MINE WITH ME, TEX HOLD ON THESE. WHERE DO YUH THINK. YOU’RE mjt ooi n* f MEAN, WHERE AM I COIN’? THIS 19 mine, mm me., i ... BUT I TELL YUH I DIDNT HAVE NOTH IN’ TO DRINK. LA9T NIGHT/ _-r THE NEXT MORNING. HOLD ON, SNAP/ I RECKON YOU MEAN IT WAS YOUR PROPERTY / THIS PAPER YOU SIGNED LAST NIGHT SAYS IT BELONGS TO \ ME AND MY TWO PARTNERS' THAT’S A DIRTY IT IS MY SIGNATURE, TEX/ I AGREE WITH YOU, SNAP, BUT THE ONLY WAY WE CAN PROVE IT IS TO MAKE ONE OF THE _ THREE TALK/ AND I THINK. \ THAT GOLDY IS OUR BEST J A BET/ BUT I DON’T REMEMBER SIGNIN’ ANY PAPER LAST NIGHT/ THERE’S SOME DIRTY WORK ^ K here... * TEX RITTER WESTERN LATEE, AT THE PEAieiE. EANGEE’S OFFICE but, tex.—vuh've written no time - A NOTE to ONE -EVE AND I SNAP / Jl ONE TO LI L, AND BOTH SAY J THESE N( THE SAME THINS' I AWAY AN . DON’T SET IT / J V EE9T AT ELEVEN THIETYA DA0C FIGUZE CLIMBS UP THE SIDE OF A BOAEDING HOUSE... TOWAED 60LDYI& OPEN wi ndow . . . rT^nHMMmHnnm . H TIIII • .1 - — - IF MY HUNCH IS EIGHT, THINGS WILLSTAET popping veey soon/ this closetisas < GOOD A PLACE AS ANY ,, ,, , M nfi togoL TO M ' Dg / s v ■ SOUNDLY/ GOOD/ MY IDEA ? I DON’T GET IT, BUT IF YUH WANT TO GIVE ME CEEDIT FEE IT, IT’S ALL EIGHT WITH ME/ THE IMPOETANT THING IS TO GET El D OF GOLD Y / ' I GOT YOUE MESSAGE, UL, AND I’M ALL FEE IT/ KILLIN’ 60LDY WILL LEAVE THE SPLIT JUST ~ ' BETWEEN US TWO / ^ggi^g|||^§ YOU’EE EIGHT, ONE-EVE/ LET’S GO... ^ . YEAH... BUT IT WAS VOUE IDEA, ONE-EYE' TEX RITTER WESTERN WHAT... WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOIN’ IN AAV ZOOM? SAY YOUR PRAYERS, GOLDY / HELP/ EE AD THIS NOTE, GOLDY... AND SEE IP YOU THINK IT WAS A JOKE/ I’LL TELL YOU WHY. ..THEY WANTED TO PUT YOU OUT OF THE WAY SO THEY’D HAVE YOUR SHARE OF ^ m THE GOLD MINE/ DON’T BELIEVE HIM, GOLDY/ WE WERE JUST PLAYING A JOKE ON YOU... . THANK GOODNESS YOU WERE HEE,E, RANGER / THEY WANTED TO KILL ME, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHY / ^ THE MINE IS SNAP’S GETTIN’ THAT 4 CONFESSION AND GETTIN’OUT OF HERE WITH IT IS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, KITTED/ THE NOTE TO WHO/ YOU WERE GOIN’TO KILL ME, LIL/ I’M GONNA CONFESS 7 EVERYTHING/ - YOU SENT THOSE NOTES TO ONE - EYE AND ME/ WE DRUGGED HIM AND TRICKED HIM INTO SIGNIN’ IT OVER. J TO US... <• ^ i§M TEX RITTER WESTERN LUCKY FOR ME THAT AM RROR WAS THERE ... YOU TOOK CARE OF SOUR PARTNER... NO THANK© TOME, ©NAP/ YOU DISCOVERED THE SOLD AND IT'S RIGHTFULLY YOURS/ THANKS, RANGER/ THIS HAS REALLY TAUGHT ME A LESSON... THERE AIN’T NO SUCH THIN6 AS A SUCCESSFUL ft. CRIME/ YES, SIR, TEX... I'M A RICH MAN / THANKS TO YOU/ TEX RITTER WESTERN THEY PREPARE TO PANCF 'THE TRIBAL TOTE/A DANCE ON A THE MORROW. OFTEN I HAVE SEEN! V My -PEOPLE MAKE SAME PRF- i /^bb^PARATION THESE IMPOSTERS/ YV^NOW OO. EVER SINCE THE MASSACRE OF THE TRW? FEATHER TRIBE, j YOUNG FALCON, SON OFTMEOLO CHIEF, HAS PLAGUED THE SLAV' ERS OF HIS PEOPLE | YOUNG FALCON HAS VOWED TO GAIN j THE TRIBAL TOTEM. HtS RIGHT- FUL EMBLEM AND CLAIM TO fduno a new tribe: AT DUSK, AT THE CAMP OF THE EVIL renegades AND AS POSK DEEPENS, THE RE- NEOADE MEDICINE MAN READIES HIS COSTUME FOR. THE DANCE-- THAT'S THEIR MEDICINE MAN. heN, WILL. ©E THE MAIN DANCER OF THE. TOTEM DANCE. AT LEAST; THAT 1 5/ HOW IT SHOULD BE, BUT TO- J V MORROW »T WILL “BE PlFFERPNjF , >w-v I WILL MAKE IT SO / A /M But wait-— perhaps Tomorrow will bring THE CHANCE I'VE WAITED FOR* YES--I THINK I'VE A PLAN THAT MAY WORK / flfcjF LUCK IS WITH WF/y* 'THIS IS THE MEDICINE MANS] TEPEE. X MUST STRIKE quiCKL yj TO "PREVENT Ji \ AN OUTCR.yJ/i' Y9UN6 FALCON a*ta? THE VICTORIOUS MASQUERADE TEX RITTER WESTERN SWIFT AS THE FALCON iTSElf, THE UTHf LAO STRIKES ! NOW TO TIE THIS MUROER IMS 00 6 TIGHTLY AMD ManrTHEN wait our THE NIGHT HERB". HE HAS HEARD mc * WHO* l THERE..?J AND WHEN MORNl N6 COMES, THE SEATING OF PRVWS SIGNAL THE START OF THE DANCE. ROT INSIDE THE MEDICINE MAN'S TEPEE r MERE- r 60 • T ONLY HOPE - ^ I CAN REMEMBER ALL THE’ jOCTYPS OF THE TOTEM CANCfL ' THEY WAIT OUTSIDE FORT"' THB\K MEDICINE MAN TO EMERSE* Land begin the dance. Well,! SVAfA HEADY WITH THIS HEAOWASK OH,X WILL BE UNSUSPECTED*/ e°OM\-^v iftOOM Ft 0OO/y SO FAR SO GOOD. AND NOW. AS IS HE CUSTOM OF THE DANCE, I ^JAKF THE TRI SAL TOTEM FROM IgpyTHE HAND OP THE CHIEF / ^X 1 TEX RITTER WESTERN CATCH UitA » . - v f the medicine man 'T»S you NO FALCON,} ( HE HAS ESCAPED HIS BONDS j V "™ C OLD CHIEF IS J \My MASQUERADE IS OVER! ■>K SON I r you ’LL never catch me j "THE TOTEM IS MINE NOW k AS IT SHOULD BP, FOR. \ I'M ITS RIGHTFUL OWNERS AFTER hlfA i'll overturn some of THESE KETTLES ON MV - S^WAV OUT 'Z. .ZM HCRC IS YOUR HEAD-MASK BACK I V'^THE WIND SPREADS THE SMOKE » TMBY CANNOT SEE WHICH WAV T FLEE *. ®y THEj £TIMC the smoke fades l J Sk..Wi LI BE IN THE WO OPS m Y CPANT) t CANNOT REST ’V *tr POR LONG l BLACKMOON r ANO HIS WAR PARTY WILL SCOUR THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR VME. BUT r WILL NOT FALL jg^^TO ' THEIR HANDS i CAN you NO FALCON ELUDE THE INFURIATED RENEGADES? IN NEJCT month's ISSUE OF tnAiW&TfM Hgetq, THE FALCON COMES face- to-face WITH A TORTUROUS death/ TEX RITTER WESTERN JUMPIN’ JELLY BEANS CACTUS BRAIN MUST HAVE GONE PLUMB LOCO/HE JEST KEEPS J ON RUMMIN» APflllMP HIS HOUSE RUN AWAY/ WHUT’S THET GOT TO DO WITH YORE RUNNIN* LIKE A SC A REP -< .RABBIT ? WAL, — 1 I FIGGERED \ A \JPUFF, PUFF)- DOGGONE / THE CLOCK STOPPED RUNNING DURlMS THE NIGHT. NOW I DON’T KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS. — j/-*- 00 ME A FAVOR, JEO. RIDE OVER TO THE POST OFFICE IN TOWN AND FIND OUT WHAT StATlOMA^V TIME" TEX RITTER WESTERN YOUR PARO, 'Te^l 'Rvtt&r .R^casi WITH IE!! EITTEE HOWDY FOLKS, THIS IS YOUR PRAIRIE RANGER, TEX RITTER, WITH WHITE FLASH! A GOOD COW- HAND SEES THAT HIS HORSE IS WELL-GROOMED AND PROPERLY CARED FOR. EVERY COWBOY TAKES MIGHTY GOOD CARE OF HIS HORSES AND DOGS. THEY'RE HELPERS ANO PALS TO HIM ANO HE TREATS THEM WITH KINDNESS. HE SEES THAT THEY GET PLENTY OF FRESH WATER, GOOD FOOD AND PROPER GROOMING! IF A MAN HAS AN ANIMAL, HE OUGHT TO TAKE CARE OF IT AND TREAT IT THE WAY HE'D WANT TO BE TREATED HIMSELF! THE OTHER DAY XWAS WATCHING SOME COWPOKES CORRAL-RIDING. ONE OF THEM WAS THE BIGGEST BRAGGART AND SHOW-OFF I EVER SAW. HE WAS SAYING HE COULD RIDE ANY HORSE THAT WAS ALIVE! WHEN THEY BROUGHT OUT A BRONC, THE COWHAND CLIMBED ON AND AS SOON AS HE HIT THE SADDLE, THAT BROOMTAIL DIO SOME BUCKING THAT LANDED THE BLOWHARD ON HIS EAR. I CAN STILL HEAR THE LAUGHS THE OTHERS GAVE HIM. A REAL CHAMPION NEVER BRAGS! HE LEAVES THAT TO THE TENDERFOOT. * ONE THING MOST COWHANDS KNOW ABOUT IS NEIGHBORLINESS. 1FA RANCHER IS SHORT-HANDED AT ROUNDUP TIME, HIS NEIGHBORS ARE GLAD TO HELP HIM OUT AND WHEN A MANS BARN CATCHES FIRE, HE CAN COUNT ON ALL THE FOLKS AROUND TO HELP PUT IT OUT. ON OR OFF THE RANCH, A GOOD COWHAND LENDS A HELPING HAND! GRIZZLY KILLER R ED ROAN was uneasy. As he stood, half-hidden in the thick foliage of the mountainside, his ears pricked forward, and his luminous dark eyes probed the valley below. From time to time, he heard distant shouts, and once he heard the sharp sound of a rifle shot. Men were combing the valley floor, men who carried guns, and moved forward with deadly purpose. It was not for himself or his herd that the men were hunting, the great strawberry stallion knew. Instead, they were combing the forest recesses for a giant killer grizzly, a great brown bear that had been attacking their herds and flocks. Red Roan knew the bear well. He was a huge, scarred veteran of many a fight. Unable now to catch his prey in the forest, the grizzly had turned to stealthy, sudden raids on the cattle and sheep of the ranchers. It was for this that they were pursuing the bear, determined to find and kill him. Red Roan had heard them coming, early in the morning. Immediately, he had led his mares and young colt! to a distant spot, high on the mountainside, to graze while the hunt went on. Then he had returned to the valley to see what was happening. As he watched. Red Roan detected two men, walking slowly and warily up a trail toward him. They were still several hun- dred yards away. He watched them care- fully. “No sign of the grizzly yet,* young Rob Raeburn said. He wiped his forehead with a crimson bandanna and put his rifle down. “Shore is hot, eh, dad?” His father nodded, eyes probing the thick undergrowth ahead. “Hot isn’t the word,” the older man said. “Reckon that grizzly, in his fur coat, is finding it pretty uncomfortable, too!” Rob Raeburn grinned. He picked his rifle up. “If I spot him. I’ll .make him twice as uncomfortable,” he said. “Killin’ twelve of our best calves in a single night. An’ not to eat them — just to kill them!” He pointed up through the underbrush. “Dad, suppose you Cut through that section. I’ll go off at an angle. Keep your ears open for rifle shots. I’ll do the same!” His father nodded, and the two men separated. Red Roan watched, as the thinner, younger man headed up toward him. It was of this that he was worried. For this reason he had stood oh guard. If these hunters — and there were many of them in the woods today — were to see any of his mares through the screen of underbrush, they might mistake them for the bear. One large dark form looked much like another, and once the trigger was pressed, it was too late to call the bullet back. So Red Roan watched, his scarlet form barely discernible against the shifting back- drop of leaves and slender branches. The man was coming toward him. Gradually the man began to walk along a more level trail. The strawberry stallion was relieved. That path, would not take the hunter to where the herd was hidden. Suddenly, Red Roan stiffened, and his dark nostrils quivered! There was a musky, strange odor in the air — an odor that spoke of violence and cunning and danger! It was the scent of the great brown bear —the killer grizzly! He was somewhere upwind of both the horse and the searching man. J® APIDLY, Red Roan’s keen eyes probed * the thicket. At first he could make nothing out. There was a huge, motionless shape . o . but no, that was a boulder. And a dark, bent form . . . but that was a fallen •tree. Then he saw it — a shambling, giant monster that lurched through the forest, tiny red eyes glinting angrily. The horse stood motionless, not a movement betraying his position. This was between the man and the beast. Whatever happened. Red Roan and the herd would be safe! Slowly, and with a silence remarkable fo-“ a creature of his bulk, the huge grizzly moved through the forest. His purpose was clear now. He was stalking the hunter, gradually coming closer and closer to him. Now he was only twenty yards away, and now only fifteen. Soon he would be near enough to lunge forward, to clutch the man in a mighty, savage embrace! Red Roan watched intently. It was not his business, he knew. But he felt strangely moved, perhaps by the ghost of some an- cestor, loyal to a human master, as he watched the bear come closer and closer to the unsuspecting man. Now the bear was only five yards away. Lowering his head, great claws ripping the earth savagely, he lunged forward. IT that moment, Red Roan, not knowing why he did it, whinned shrilly, his warning cutting through the underbrush, like some siren. “Neigghhhh!” he cried. And again he whinnied, loud and clear. In the underbrush, Rob Raeburn heard the sound of the whinny, and whirled around. "The grizzly!” Reflex-driven, he swiftly brought his rifle up. finger clutching at the trigger. But, before he could aim and shoot, the great bear was upon him a mighty musk-smell- ing form, that slashed with long, steel- sharp claws. The rifle was hurled from Rob’s nerveless hands, and he was thrown heavily to the ground! He tumbled over as he fell, knowing full well that the bear . would relentlessly pursue him! It would be useless. He could not escape. But even as he rolled over the ground, Rob Raeburn saw another form enter his range of vision. It was Red Roan-— who had neighed a sudden warning — and then sped down through the underbrush. Rearing high in the air, the mighty stal- lion launched trigger-quick blows at the bear with his front hooves. The attack caught the bear by surprise. Furiously, he whirled about, slashing at this new op- ponent. But Red Roan gracefully swerved away from the grizzly’s attack. Gasping, Rob Raeburn crouched on the ground. His gun was lying by a tree stump, scant feet from the battling forest creatures. If he could reach it ... , Stealthily, he bent forward, and began to crawl toward the rifle. Again the roan stallion plunged toward the bear. His hooves tore great chunks of fur from the grunting monster! But now the bear had recovered from his surprise. Shrewd in the ways of warfare, he drew back for a moment, tiny eyes search- ing for his opponent. Then, seeing him, he snarled angrily, and hurtled forward. He feinted with his right paw. Then, as Red Roan flung himself to the left, he struck out again. This time with a savage, scythe- like blow that burned deep into the horse’s foreleg ! Suddenly helpless, the stallion fell to the ground, his leg doubled beneath him. Now the killer grizzly moved forward . . . ready to, finish his opponent off. He reared high on his hind legs, then came forward, claws seeking a vital spot. But, before he could deliver the finishing wound — “BAM !” A rifle shot shattered the forest. The grizzly grunted and staggered slightly. He swung about. There was the man, kneel- ing on the ground, aiming his rifle at him. Ponderously, the brown bear moved to- ward him. Again the rifle spoke. And again. The grizzly lurched forward, almost collapsing now. Once more the rifle spoke. This time, his life blood pouring from four wounds, the bear fell . . . dead! Rob Raeburn stood up, and moved a hand across his forehead. He walked up and stood beside the great stallion. Red Roan lay there, his huge dark eyes looking up, his side heaving in and out. The man bent, and examined the horse’s leg carefully. He probed the depth of the wound, and ran his hand up and down the leg. When he stood up, his face broke into a smile. “Mister,” he said, “your leg isn’t broke — just some muscles have been ripped. We’re taking you down to our ranch. We’ll take care of you till that leg’s strong enough to walk on. Then we’ll let you go again!” MV IS hand reached out and stroked the stallion’s glossy trembling side. “1 reckon,” he said, “tradin’ a life for a life is a fair swap any time!” THE END TEX RITTER WESTERN IN* MEET THE MEAT DUSTY’S BUTCHER SHOP THE BEST MEAT IN THE west. and ALL POINTS NORTH, BASTANDSom A CUSTOMER i- ALREADY. 1 IF I WAS SUPERSTITIOUS, 1 RECKON I’D SAY jr that was a 8k LUCKY SIGN J j SO YO’RE THE - CRITTER WHO’S OPEN IN© UP THIS HYAR NEW BUTCHER SHOP, DUSTY.' WELL, 1 ^ RECKON I’M GOING TO J , BE YORE FIRST . ■ -V CUSTOMER.' r7~~7~T VD LIKE A NICE THICK STEAK, BUT I CAN’T AFFORD IT, SO I’LL HAVE A HALF POUND OF CHOPPED MEAT.' A HALF POUND OF CHOPPED ) THREE DOLLARS ; MEAT J THAT WILL BE V YUH REMIND ME THREE DOLLARS J j Cl OF JESSE JAMES/ NOW WHAT WOULD YUH LIKE, n«r< FRANK ? J K| , LOOK, IT’S NOT MUH FAULT MUH MEAT’S SO EXPENSIVE.* MUH COWS EAT THE BEST (SR ASS AND THEY LIVE IN THE BEST , BARNS .' SO WHEN THEY DIE — HOW DARE YUH ASSOCIATE ) YUH DON’T ME WITH THAT BANDIT? < LOOK LIKE I DON’T LOOK ANYTHIN© V HIM, BUT YUH LIKE HIM .' mtgg&L, SURE WORK HIM.' TEX RITTER WESTERN « V VE GOT TO TAKE IT OUT OF THEIR . - HIDS5 .' ) BUT YO’RE TRYING TO ' TAKE IT OUT OF MUH ^ HIDE. 1 THREE DOLLARS FOR A HALF POUND OF CHOPPEP MEAT.' I ^ REFUSE TO PAY/ *S CAN YUH SHOW ' ME SOMETHING ELSE?. YEAH I CAN SHOV _ YUH THE POOR. \ GOOD DAY.' «- HORTLY AFTER GOSH, I JUST OOT TO <5ET DUSTY TO SELL ME SOME MEAT.' ALL THE OTHER BUTCHERS WON'T OlVE ME CREDIT J ANY MORE.' J»LL HAVE TO ^ PUT ON A DISGUISE - ■ ' i AND SO BACK.' — * ARE YUH THE BUTCHER? IS THAT SO? WELL, NO ONE CAN COME IN , HYAR AND C INSULT ME/ NO, YUH DON'T LOOK LIKE j A COW, BUT DO YUH SELL J DONKEY MEAT?^^^^ s OF COURSE ^ { / . I 1 PC’N'T SELL CONKEY U MEAT.' WHY DO ^ \WWtoaa YUH ASK? ) BECAUSE YUH LOOK LIRE ONE.' x= NO, BUT YORE HEAD POES. HOW CAN YUH SAY I LOOK LIKE • A DONKEY? MUH EARS DON'T , COME TO r \ a point / y TEX RITTER WESTERN ALL RlGHT.I’LL SELL YUH SOME MEAT, BUT I < WON’T REPUCE , MUH PRICES. 1 J IF IT WAS FULL OF NICKLE5, I*D BE PROUD OF IT, TOOl. i IN THAT CASE, L, WHAT’5 7 CHEAPER OS, THAN CHOPPED Wk MEAT ? I*p BE THE RICHEST > — HOMBRE IN j— - ^YUH CAN TOWN ^ INSULT ME ALL YUH LIKE, BUT I’M \l _/\V HOT LEAVING HYAR /7 \ f UNTIL I SET // \ SOME MEAT/ / WHAT’S WRONG WITH MUH NOSE ? X* M _ VERY PROUP K OF IT/^^^ ) NOW YO’RE . TALKING TO ME * WITH YORE TONGUE IN YORE S CHEEK J I’M SERIOUS /J SURE/ JUST OPEN YORE MOUTH AND LOOK IN A MIRROR/ WELL, IF YO’RE SERIOUS, LET’S SEE YORE gag MONEY FIRST / ) BUT I THOUGHT JX YUH WOULP OPEN UP A * TRUST FUND FER te ffBB ME HYAR/ 4 THIS 15 A BUTCHER SHOP, ) I FIGURED - NOT A BANK/ WHAT ^ YUH WOULP DO YUH MEAN TRUST ME FER I TRUST FUND? j/ $m&t. THE FUNDS/ TEX RITTER WESTERN NOT THAT KIND OF AN APPLICATION.' THIS KIND OF AN APPLICATION.' AND WHEN YO’RE THROUGH SIGNING IT, VUH*LL HAVE TO GET SOMEONE TO ENDORSE IT WHO JBEk I WILL SAY YO’RE GOOD FER THE JC&M \ MONEY.' ^ l WHAT DO «! // ENDORSE IT? ZJKffl IF YUH* WANT CREDIT* YUH*LL ) HOT OR HAVE TO FILL OUT AN S COLD APPLICATION. 1 v-— — APPLICATl WRITE ON } WRITE ON YORE BACK.'/MUH BACK? , rr-^ WHAT DO YJJH _ v *— i /-/( THINK I AM, A L V BLACKBOARD? PEOPLE USUALLY GIVE ME CREDIT FER HAVING ^ SOME BRAINS, SO— — AFTER THINKING THINGS ) OVER, I RECKON I’M TOO J SMART TO — GIVE YUH ) BUT IF YUH Z CREDIT • y WON’T GIVE w , — ME, CREDIT, HOW / V — .WILL I EAT? DON’T WORRY ABOUT THAT.' YUH ’LL EAT LIRE YUH ALWAYS ATE— WITH YORE m MOUTH .' WHAT VUH WANT 70 WORRY ABOUT IS WHAT YUH’LL EAT BECAUSE YUH’LL CERTAINLY GET NO CREDIT FROM ME.' . THIS IS GOODBYE .' 2 RECKON YUH JUST CAN’T GET . THE BEST OF DUSTY.' TEX RITTER WESTERN SOUNDS MIGHTY ... AND YOU SAY WE’VE INHERITED THE BAR TEN RANCH TEX ‘ GOOD, TEX /WE WERE GETTIN’ TIRED OF THIS RODEO CIRCUIT, ANYWAY / WE LL HAVE TO BORROW ENOUGH MONEY 70 FIX THE PLACEUPABIT/ > Tr4*ERE9 DOUBLE TROUBLE FACING THE PRAIRIE RANGER, TEX , RITTER, WHEN HE$ CALLED IN TO MAKE PEACE BETWEEN A PAIR OF FEUDING TWINS... tHAT 5 RIGHT/ IT'S AN EXCELLENT PIECE OF LAND... WITH A LITTLE WORK. YOU CAN DO A LOT WITH IT/ ISN’T THERE A MONEY LENDER IN THESE PARTS BY THE NAME OF BART COY? YES. HE OWNS THE BURR RANCH.. .THE ONLY RANCH IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY WITH t BURRS ON IT... ) LATER. AT THE BURR RANCH... f YEAH, WE FOUR HUNDRED UNDERSTAND.’ WE AND FIFTY DOLLARS/ ^ IL PAY YOU OFF IN SIX AND REMEMBER THE V MONTHS, OR THE AGREEMENT... RANCH 19 YOURS/ TEX RITTER WESTERN ru. WOEEY IF YOU DO. WHAT DO 'YA I'VE HAD MY EYE ON THE BAR TEN POE A LONG , . TIME / J MEAN.MVTUEN ? . IT'S YOURS, -- SILL/ p. IYE PUT IN A HARD DAYS WOeK. TODAY/ SLAD IT’S YOUE THEN TO CLEAN UP THE _ DISHES, TOO! 1 BUT DON'T WORRY/ WElL PAY YOU/ I'LL SHOW YOU WHOSE TURN r IT IS/ I DID 'EM MYSELF YESTEEDAY/ TEX/ BETTER SET OUT TO THE BAE TEN EIQHTAWAy/ THEM BENSON BOYS AEE KILLIN’ EACH O THEE/ TEX RITTER WESTERN ALL OF TEX’S ARGUMENTS ARE IN VAIN — BREAK, IT UP, MEN / THIS IS NO WAV FOR BROTHERS TO ACT /NOW... SHAKE ■ HANDS AND MAKE UP/ J SHAKE WITH THAT FAT-HEAD, NOT FOR ME/ THATS OKAY , WITH ME/ WE’LL DIVIDE IT IN HALF/ ...WELL, IF YOU AREN'T WILLING TO BE PARTNERS, WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOUR RANCH ? WHAT’S THET SHOOTIN 1 ALL ABOUT? FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS THEY’VE DONE VERY LITTLE BUT ARGUE AND FIGHT AND SHOOT AT EACH OTHERS CATTLE/ IT'S TIME I _ HAD A TALK WITH BOTH OF ’EM / WM NOW, THIS IS THE DIVIDING LINE... REMEMBER, TOD.. IF ANY OF YOUR CATTLE CROSS THE LINE, I'LL SHOOT ’EM/ ^ ) ITS 1 ' THE BENSON TWINS/ THAT GOES FOE • YOURS, , TOO/ OKL \\H OMAWJE'S r|deo\ COMINI

THE RANCH IS HIS/ AND THAT RANCH IS AS GOOD AS MINE RIGHT k NOW/ WAIT A MINUTE.. I’VE GOT. AN IDEA/ RIGHT WITH ME/ / THERE GOES THE RANCH/ /ASH fcROMM &JLL-1S ,50 EVENJ $500 PRlj ^OUTSTAf AN HOUR LATER, AT THE BURR RANCH NOW, I WANT YOU JO TAKE A SAW AND „ SNEAK. INTO THE BULL BARN TONIGHT, and... _ THAT RANCH/ /THE HORN UGH, , BROI HIMSELF IN HIS ROOM AND WON’T COME OUT/ I'D BETTER ^ 7 v-r- CALL THE s. SHERIFF. f-W m TRICKED / you SEE h6w EASY IT WUZ) TO GIT HIM OUT, MAM? THAT TRICK WORKS JUST 'BOUT EVERY TIME / r“’“ (6RUNT ) LI’L BUCK, you OPEN ' THAT DOOR AND COME RIGHT -r — * OUT Shortly after ... . ...AND HE’S GOT) HE? WAL, IF IT’S \ THE DOOR BOY, I WON’T / LOCKED AND ) HAVE TO KNOCK HE WON’T -CTTTHE DOOR DOWN COME OUT. WITH THIS — ME - TT TEX RITTER WESTERN OH, OH, THEfZe'S 3AOC ^ CAfKY/VlOee, THE WOfZLO© . • WOS6T ACTOg/ ANO WHAT© ±s EVEN WO0SE, HE THINK© A -s he'© eoop/r^^. HELL O, HELLO, HELLO/ IT© NICE TUH SEE YUH, CHIEF/ HOW '0OUT BUYIN' A TICKET TUH MY ©HOW? YUH'LL- SSE THE WOfcLD© > ©K&ATEET ACTOfg-y r AA E/p— CHIEF 6R A y AS AN actde; ]/tnt/vuh yoLi'ze TNT// wean x'm -« , l DYNAMIC AND , — Vi NTthkillin'^, NO, X MEAN A6 AN ACTOR, YOU'KE TNT-T6CHNICAU.Y NO TALENT,' r TSK.TSK-' I’M l SURPRISED THAT 4J, > YOU CAN’T REMEM- ^ BER THE FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES OF THE > K» DECLARATION OF T ( INDEPENDENCE , ) \, ML BUCK / ^ THAT’S RIGHT. YOU MUST t»THINK OF THE FIRST BUTTON AS REPRESENTING "LIFE? THE SECOND ONE AS RE PRE- SEN TING^C/flERTT" AND "T—M — THIRD ^ +±?( BUTTON AS MEA\ REPRESENTING JmA\ THE "PURSUIT happiness I’VE GOT A SCHEME THAT MAY HELP YOU. I’M GOING TO GIVE 7 YOU THREE ORDINARY V. BUTTONS, LIL BUCK./ THREE BUTTONS ? BUTTON, HYAR’S 1lFE,“AUD AD’S "//AMT/" HERE ARE THE BUTTONS. * TOMORROW I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO GIVE THEM BACK TO ME ANO TELL ME WHAT ^ THEY STAND FO». —a NOW, LIL BUCK, J GIVE ME THE < THREE BUTTONS AND TELL ME > WHAT THEY << STAND FOR. A HYAR’S "LIBERTY? BUT MY MAW SEWEO THE “PURSUIT J OF HAPPINESS" ON MY SHIRT! v HAVEN’T J GOT ' THEM ALL, TEACHER- ALL RIGHT, . TEACHER. TEX RITTER OUT FOR A' '"3%LLOP WITH WHITE FLASH