SS£@22aB3 OUCH / SEVJED up ' I I.S 1 -- THE MAN GOT OFF THE STREET AND WENT TEX RITTER WESTERN Volume 1, Number 27 February, 1955 Published bimonthly by Charlton Comics Group. Executive offices and office of publication, Chariton Building, Derby, Conn. Copyright 1954 by Charlton Comics Group. Designed by Al Fago Studios. Printed in the U.S.A. T1X RITTER WESTERN *v»0 ' oHort wordi A CHARLTON PUBLICATION. ATOMIC MOUSE * COWBOY WESTERN HEROES * CRIME AND JUSTICE * FUNNY ANIMALS * EH! pig this cioiy comic * HAUNTED * HOT RODS AND RACING CARS * ZOO FUNNIES * LASH LARUE WESTERN *• ROCKY LANE WESTERN * RACKET SQUAD * SIX-GUN HEROES * RO- MANTIC STORY * SCIENCE-FICTION SPACE ADVENTURES * STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES * SWEETHEARTS * TEX RITTER WESTERN * TRUE UFE SECRETS * TV TEENS * THE THING * MY LITTLE MARGIE. wpy BTTTPE ™E BANDIT WITH ■ fall ill i i fail GOOD INTENTIONS" TEX RITTER WESTERN TOWN LOOKS QUIET... 3 GETTING LATE ENOUGH * TO CLOSE UP SHOP AND 0> GO HO/VSE. I BUT AS THE PEAIBIE BANGS HEADS FOB HOME A PE W MINUTES LATEB... r 1 WMM... I SAW ' CLEM GO HOME HOLES AGO... BUT THE DOOfS'S A JAB. TO HIS STOBE , . AND THEBE’S A LIGHT ' IN THE eEAB/ J WAIT A MINUTE... EITHEB A. TH E MICE ABE MAICI NG AN 1 AWFUL LOT OP NOISE BACK. THEBE, OB I WASWEONG ABOUT CLEM FOEGETTING TO CLOSE UP/ . F-i HE’S GETTING MOBE ABSENT MINDED BY THE DAY/ I’LL CLOSE- THE PLACE UP FOB. HIM... HOLD IT, FELLOW/ I’VE GOT YOU COVEBED.../ > MV ONLY V CHANCE WILL BE IN THE . -t DABIC... C , DESPEBATELY, THE CBOOIC GBABS THE PlBST THING TO COME TO HAND, AND HUBLS IT AT THE LAWMAN/ TEX RITTER WESTERN THE NEXT MQg N l NG . BY THE TIME THE ; GANGES. REGAINS HIS FEET AND GUSHES INTO THE outer room... WELL... AT LEAST HE DIDN’T GET AWAY . WITH ANYTHING/ J I MUST’VE LEFT THE LATCH OFF LAST NIGHT . OR HE'D HAVE HAD TO J BREAK IN/ I’M SORRY * IT CAUSED YOU SO MUCH TROUBLE, TEX/ ^ OKAY, CLEM/ BETTER BE A LITTLE MORE CAREFUL TO LOCK. UP GOOD from now on, THOUGH... TEX RITTER WESTERN AH... FISST TIME I’VE HEY, TEX ... I JUST FINISHED EE ADI N’ FIVE MOEE BOOKS ON HOW TO BE A DETECTIVE/ WILL YA MAKE ME A DEPUTY - NOW... ? . BUT, YA J ALWAYS TELL > ME THE SAME ^ THING, TEX/ GOT AN OPENING, BENNY. I'LL LET YOU jjfc— KNOW... . .SILVER a WHAT ELSE CAN “ I TELL HIM? IF I TOLD HIM- HE WAS JUST TOO DULL TO BE AN OFFICES. IT WOULD ONLY HUST a HIS FEELINGS... SITTEE’S STILL GiVIN’ YA. THE EUN-AEOUND, HUH? CAN’T YA SEE HE’S JUST Kl DOIN’ YA ? HE'LL NEVES. MAKE YA A DEPUTY/ ^ WELL, IF YA DO AS I SAY, I THINK I KNOW A WAY YA CAN MAKE HIM APPOINT YA A ^ DEPUTY, WHETHEE , HE WANTS TO OS MOT / r — .SEE... AND I WANT TO BE A LAWMAN MOSE THAN ANYTHING/ YEAH ? HOW CAN I DO THAT r TONIGHT, WHEN IT GETS DACK, WE’LL GO INTO THE SILVES SMITH’S SHOP AND... AH... BOSEOW ALL HlS SILVES STOCK/ WE'LL HIDE IT IN THE HILLS WHEEE STTEE CAN’T FiND IT... ... THEN YOU TELL HIM VA FIG6EEED OUT HOW TO FIND IT AND TAKE HIM TO IT/ THE j SMITH’LL GET HIS 6ILVEE J BACK AND THE TOWN WILL THINK YOU'SE SUCH A GOOD DETECTIVE, ElTTESLL HAVE TO LISTEN TO YA / BUT WHAT IF SOMEBODY CATCHES US TEYIN 1 TO BEEAK INTO . THE SILVES - SMITH’S SHOP? TEX RITTER WESTERN YOU’RE A FRIEND OF CLEM'S/ VA GO IN AND GET A Dgl N Id OF WATER, AND LEAVE THE BACK DOOR OPEN JUST BEFORE HE CLOSES UP/ CHANCES ARE, HE’LL OVER-LOOK IT WHEN HE GOES . HOME ... LATE THAT NIGHT, IN THE ALLEY BEHIND THE SILVER- SMITH'S STORE... WITH THE BACK. DOOR OPEN, IT WAS A CINCH/NOW WELL SIDE' OUT INTO THE HILLS AND r HIDE IT/ GUESS ITS ABOUT .TINSE TO PROVE TO TEX WHAT A GOOD ^ DETECTIVE H Okg I AM... r^" e LOOKS LlKR OD SPOT/ THAT l ICED TREE’LL 4 MACE IT EASY TO COME BACIC AND FIND ^ IT... CAN’T FIND A TRACE... BUT I’LL KEEP — . TRYING/ EIGHT/ S IT'S MY SPECIAL DETECTIVE SYSTEM/ I’VE GOT THE WHOLE THING ;S&g FiGGERED OUT/ Y**j I THINIC I CAN SHOW YA WHERE THE LOOT’S HID, ^ TEX... . WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU CAN SHOW ME WHERE IT IS ? SOME MORE OF HIS NONSENSE/ BUT I'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW . y it up... Jr ONE HOUE LATE.E, AND A FEW I’M SORRY, \ SEVERAL MILES OUTSIDE DAYS CLEM... I’VE \ OF TOWN... LATER... LOOKED ALL / TEX RITTER WESTERN SHORTLY AFTER, AT THE ALL EIGHT, BENNY. I GUESS VOU MADE A MISTAKE ABOUT THE SILVER BEING HEBE/ LET'S GO... . BUT IT WASN’T A mistake/ I BUEIED IT HEBE MYSELF... I CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT/ I’M SURE IT WASN’T BURIED THIS fey DEEP/ ^ LISTEN BENNY... IF YOU’RE CONCEALING INFORMATION, YOU’LL WORK IN THE JAIL-ON THE WRONG SIDE OF S ^ . THE BARS/ J ER...ER. I MEAN r AH... THAT’S I DIDN'T MEAN ANY HARM, TEX/ I’LL ...I’LL TELL YA/ WE’LL WORRY ABOUT j THAT AFTER WE FIND ' PAT CARLTON AND THE LOOT/ BUT... HE’S V PROBABLY RUN % OFF WITH IT BY NOW'/ WE’LL NEVER > FIND HIM... YOU REALIZE .THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU ACTED OUT OF STUPIDITY, TEX RITTER WESTERN HE KNOWS BY NOW THAT I WENT BACK, AND TOOK THE STUFF,- BUT HE CAN'T SAY A WOED WITHOUT PUTTIN’ HIS OWN FOOL NECK IN THE NOOSE TOO / AND IF HE TEIES TO GET TOUSH WITH ME, I’LL BLOW HIS HEAD OFF/ NOT JUST YET / WITHOUT THE LOOT FOE EVIDENCE, I CAN’T HOLD HIM/ COME ON ... I DON’T WANT HIM TO SEE US TEX RITTER WESTERN THANKS / NOW. THAT NIGHT, AT PAT CAgLTON’S UMMAA... COME N AND SiT DOWN, -l BENNY/ SHACK, JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN. HELLO, BENNY/ WHAT BEINGS YA OUT HEEE ? ^ I CHANGED MY MIND ABOUT SHOWIN’TEX OUE LOOT/ I'M GONNA BE A CSOOK/ DO YA; WANTA BE PAETNEES WITH J ME, PAT? EVEEYBODY IN TOWN TEUSTS ME/. I COULD GET INTO LOTS Or PLACES AND LEAVE THE DCOES AND WINDOWS OPEN... y LIKE AT THE SILVEE- i smith’s/ THEN YOU CLEAN ’EM OUT THAT NIGHT/ WE SPLIT EVEN... . BENNY, VA SUEPElSE ME... YA GOT GOOD SENSE/ OKAY... YASOTA PAETNEE/ . ^ I JUST GOT . TIME TO 6E T INTO THE ASSAYEE’S OPP ICE... 4 GOOD / THEEE ^ SHOULD BE A GOOD HAUL THESE/ 5EE 7 YA LATEE / 1 TEX RITTER WESTERN TEX RITTER WESTERN WAIT, BENNY. I WARNED OOOH H / /hmmm... from your report f H ERE , TEX , I TAKE. IT YOU DON’T REALLY CONSIDER HIM } MUCH- OP A DANGEROUS J CRIMINAI GULP / IS HE... IS . NO... BUT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN/ BETTER GIVE ME . bin YOUR GUN / COME ALONG, BENNY/ YOU’RE TRIAL IS THIS MORNING/ J THAT’S RIGHT, ~T YOUR HONOR. I FEEL THAT BENNY WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY CARLTON/ I RECOMMEND A YEAR’S PROBATION FOR BENNY. I CAN OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT FOR. HIM ON THE RANCH OP A ^ "7 FRIEND OP MINE... ^ GOSH, TEX... HOW’M I EVER. GONNA MAKE IT t EVEN WITH ^ v VA? J BY WORKING ^ HARD AND BY STAYING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF . THE LAW, v r? BENNY/ TEX RITTER WESTERN TRIAL OF #HE TRAIL / DUSTY, > WHAT HAPPENED ?. i HELP / WANTED mStmTm TEX RITTER WESTERN IF YUH KNEW HOW HARD I WORKED 2 TO EARN THESE FEW CENTS IN CHANGE, YUH WOULDN’T THINK I WAS LAZY • IT TOOK ME TWO HOURS OF HARD WORK TO OPEN MUH KID BROTHER’S _ , PIGGY BANK.' ) DO YUH MEAN TO SAY YUH ROBBED YORE BROTHER’S PIGGY BANK? I DIDN’T STEAL THE AAONEV.' 1 JUST BORROWED IT TO SHOW HIM HOW ‘ DUMB HE 15.’ I GAVE HIM A PAIR OF NYLON GLOVES FER HIS BIRTHDAY AND HE KEEPS V THEM IN THE , ICEBOX/ j-Y \ HE HEARD NYLON WA5 ) WELL, HE MADE OUT OF MILK S JUST DOESN’T AND HE DIDN’T ANY BETTER. WANT THE YUH CAN’T SAY * GLOVES TO M. HE’S DUMB BECAUSE . SOUR • OF ™ Ar ' ram / WHAT MAKES YUH THINK YORE BROTHER’S SO DUMB ? MUH BROTHER KEEPS SAYING ^ "I HAVE WENT" WHEN HE MEANS « . U I HAVE GONE".* WELL, DIDN’T HIS TEACHER TRY TO CORRECT HIM? TEX RITTER WESTERN SHE SURE DID.' SHE MADE HIM 5 TAT AFTER SCHOOL AND WRITE "I HAVE GONE ONE HUNDRED TIMES ON THE , BLACKBOARD, IT SHOULD HAVE, BUT IT DIDN’T.' / ' WELL , THAT SHOULD HAVE TAUGHT YORE BROTHER NOT TO 5A7 tgm "I HAVE WENT".' OF COURSE I’M SURE AFTER MUH BROTHER lipi pl l FINISHED WRITING "I HAVE GONE" ONE HUNDRED TIMES, HE LEFT A NOTE FER THE TEACHER SAVING n— — ^ ^ * I HAVE FINISHED SO WELL, THAT’5 STILL / MM WENT". 1 N0 REASON FER VUH TO to. i rT r . TAKE YORE BROTHER’S M0NEy • ir 1 f I NEEDED THE MONEY TO GET SOME MILK FER THE KITTEN BEFORE I GET IT A JOB ! j( %J3H 03THAI TORE HEAP’S , JUST LIKE A ‘ WAGON, DU5TY. LIGHT MOUSE- WORK WHAT DO YUH MEAN ) IT RATTLE5 1 MUH HEAD’S LIKE r-' MOST WHEN ~ . A WAGON ? / THERE’S NOTHINGj V r IN JTJ -r#$- FER YORE INFORMATION, J I’M TOO SMART ^ "'N FER THIS TOWN. 1 )( THEN WHY 1 "• ^ V pon’t YUH If ^-1 LEAVE : TEX RITTER WESTERN IT*5 LIKE WHAT THE POUGHNUT SHIP — v TO THE CHEESECAKE ' . , » THAT S 5 RIGHT.' THE POUGHNUT J IF I GAVE YUH SOME SAIP "IF I HAP TORE DOUGH, S MONET WOULP TUH I WOULDN’T HANG AROUNP J PROMISE TO TAKE < T THIS HOLE*' -C THE NEXT STAGECOACH J L OUT OF TOWN ? V LIKE THE ' POUGHNUT 5AIP TO THE CHEESECAKE? ANO WOULP TUH PROMISE TO GET OFF THE STAGECOACH AS IT WAS CROSSING THE MIPPLE OF THE , ' V,. RIVER BRIPGE ? J BUT THAT RIVER BRIPGE IS NARROW WITH THE STAGECOACH ON IT, ) THERE’D BE NO PLACE TO 5TANP IF I GOT r- OFF IN THE MIPPLE I 5HOULP HAVE KNOWN BETTER THAN TO EXPECT ANT HELP FROM A C.P. > v TUH . MEAN ' C.P. A. ANP I*M NOT A CERTIFIED 9 PUBLIC ^ACCOUNTANT.' ^THAT’S THE POINT.' YUH’P FALL RIGHT INTO THE RIVER BELOW.' WHAT POE5 "C.P." ~r STAND FBR ? r Continual Pain -j. GOODBYE .' Carlton City was a rapidly growing west- ern town. Frame houses were rising among the soddies. And in the commercial district there were brick buildings already under construc- tion. There were sidewalks of plank or heel tamped clay. They ran underneath the inevi- table wooden awnings, which stretched from the false fronts of stores and saloons. Post was linked to post at the curb line by hitching rails. At the moment, everything looked peace- ful on the surface at Carlton City. But under- neath there was trouble. And Dan Vose, repre- sentative of the Midland Insurance Company, expressed his views in no uncertain tone of voice. “The stage holdups must stop. My company is losing a lot of money as a result of the insurance agreement we made with the Carlton City Coach Company. Surely you should be able to give better protection against these road agents. I hate to say what is in people's minds. But you can listen to them complain. They know that somebody is giving a tip-off to this gang about what goes on each stage." Sheriff Carl Mindedal was in his early fif- ties. He had been a lawman for most of his life. He clenched hiS fists and managed to control his temper. It wasn't a pleasant situa- tion to be under suspicion. "We sent six extra armed guards with the last coach. It wasn't held up. Also, we didn’t learn, until it reached Hightown Falls, that it didn’t carry a valuable shipment. If people talk, you just can’t stop their tongues from wagging. But there is one man in the West who can help, and I sent him a letter explain- ing the problem. He never refuses a pleo for help. Suppose we go over to the stage com- pany right now and speak to Jemes Harel. About this time, my friend should be there." The man riding the horse wore a Prince Albert. His pearl-handled guns had seen a lot of shooting. He stopped in front of the stage coach office and dismounted from his horse. The animal was a beautiful creature, with spirited eyes, expanded nostrils, well-made limbs and a black, glossy skin. Proudly she had carried her owner through all kinds of adventures. No need to tell the good people, and the not-so-good people of Carlton City, who their latest guest was. One look at him and you knew his identity. He entered the office, and the clerk, Paul Kustin, recognized him. "They are waiting inside for you, sir,'* he said. "Hope you had a pleasant ride here through the Indian territory.", The Prince Albert Kid smiled at the greeting and acknowledged it with a few words. "Chief Long Knee rode with me up to the outskirts of the town and then returned to his people." . * . Inside the private office were the sheriff, the insurance man, James Harel, the owner of the line, and now the Prince Albert Kid joined them. "Glad you could come to help us," thanked the sheriff with pride in his voice. "This gang has been riding high, and now it's about time they learned a lesson from you." The Prince Albert Kid quickly and efficiently studied the men before him. Somewhere and somehow there was a leak about what each coach carried. And by some mysterious means it got to the stage agents hiding in the hill country. "In one hour, according to your schedule, the stage outside is to leave on Us regular run," began the Prince Albert Kid. **l am going to try something. Mr. Harel, you will have three guards on that stage. After he gets his orders from you, I will tell you the next step." At two-thirty to til e minute, Mr. Harel went outside and handed a sealed envelope to Lou Minkers, the driver. Then he handed him a canvas package. Mr. Harel returned to the office and faced the Prince Albert Kid. "What next?" TIX RITTER WISTiiN !n reply the famous men of the Wes* simply withdrew a six-shooter from his right holster and addressed the other three men. “We all remain here for two days. We will sleep and eat here. None of us will leave. I want to learn just what wilj happen to that stage. Will the road agents know the route it takes? Will they know the contents of the package you gave them?" The insurance man opened his mouth in pro- test against such high-handed procedure. “You can't keep me here. I’ll protest to the law." The sheriff laughed loudly at that last threat and gave a sensible answer. "If the law doesn't object, mister, then you got nothing to say. Seems to me that the Prince Albert Kid is figuring a way to give security to the stagecoach. So here we stay — to sleep and eat." Two days later a returning stagecoach brought the good news. There had been no holdup of the leaving coach. It had arrived safely at its destination. The Prince Albert Kid left the men puzzled and road to the out- skirts of the town. There he met his good friend, Chief Long Knee, who gave him some valuable information. Then he returned to the sheriff's office and found the lawman alone. “I now know how they get their informa- tion," he told the sheriff. "And I even know their leader. I am going to leave town,. I think they will hold up the next coach when it leaves this Friday." On Friday morning, Bill Hesper, owner of the Big Drink' Saloon and Gambling Establish- ment, entered the stage company office and handed a package to the clerk, Paul Kustin, "There’s seventy-thousand dollars in here in big bills. I am sending it to my bank in St, Louis. They buy government bonds for me. I want this insured." The clerk made out the required receipt. He gave is* part to Bill Hesper and kept the other part in his record book. Then he entered the private office of James Harel and told him about the package. "It will go out on this stage. I’ll send three guards with the driver. Hope everything v/ill be fine on this run." The stagecoach was about twenty miles from town when it was stopped by the sheriff who was riding next to the Prince Albert Kid. "This stage is going to be wrecked and you men killed,” he informed them. "The guards will get off right now, and we’ll put dummies in their place. The Prince Albert Kid is going to drive the stage himself. If you fellows want fighting and action, then just follow me." The stagecoach was rounding Wimper's Bend, and from a hill it was carefully ob- served by Mark Juvers who spoke to two of his gang. "There — she’s a-comin'. Right on time. Let those rocks fall down and wreck it." There was a slight rumble of earth, and a miniature avalanche headed for the jtage- coach. The Prince Albert Kid jumped down to the boot of the stagecoach and kicked a pin. Then he jumped on the nearest hoFse. The animals were free and dashed off to the side. Two minutes later the stagecoach was a com- plete wreck. Six armed men surrounded the stagecoach. Their leader immediately went for the valuable box. He shot off the lock and took out a package. "We got the money, boys. Now to our horses," But they never made it. For a second aval- anche started, and as the men tried to run to safety, they were trapped by the earth, rocks and debris. None were killed, but all were injured to some extent. Chief Long Knee and many of his braves surrounded the trapped outlaws. Soon they were joined by the Prince Albert Kid. And then on hour later the sheriff and the men with him appeared on the scene. "I want it understood clearly," said the famous man of the West, "that all reward .money will go to Chief Long Knee and his braves. They discovered how this gang oper- ated and helped me capture them. Now, back to town and we’ll get the brains of this out- fit." A startled clerk found himself facing o gun rn the sheriff's band, "You are under arrest for planning the robberies of the stages on this line," said Sheriff Carl Mindedal. "Pretty clever of you, sending up smoke signals from the stove to your men in the hills. You sent those signals up last time and told them not to hold up the stage. This time you told them it carried a fotune in bills." > "Well, seventy-thousand dollars was worth the risk," snarled the crooked clerk, "But not in Confederate money," snapped back a laughing Prince Albert Kid who had brought security to the stagecoach. The End TiX RITTER WESTERN n ras LISTEN, EANGEE, THE OFFICE BACK EAST IS CLIMBING ALL OVEE ME ABOUT THESE STAGE EOBBEEIES LATELY/ OVEE TEN THOUSAND IN CASH AND MAIL TAKEN ^ IN THEEE MONTHS... HI THESE, EANGEE/CAN you STEP IN THE OFFICE „ FOE. A MINUTE? V ...WHEN AEE WE GOING TO GET SOME 4 ACTION ? J I'M ON MY WAY TO CANYON CITY NOW TO CHECK UPON A STOEY I'VE HEAED THAT MIGHT CATCH THESE CEOXS SUEE THING, ME. VANCE/ HOW ABOUT THE TEN O’CLOCK 4 STAGE...? DON’T SEND IT TH SOUGH 'TIL I GET BACK /I HAVE (SEASON TO BELIEVE THE TWO HOLD" UP MEN WE’EE AFTEE AEE EENEGADE INDIANS, AND I THINK I’VE FOUND A WAY TO GET THEM/ ^ -L TEX RITTER WESTERN AS THE PBAIBE EANGEB. ! BIDES OUT OF SIGHT— j HE “-THINKS HE’S FOUND A WAV TO GET THEM ”/ HUMPH/ I'LL SET HE HASN’T, AN IDEA OF WHAT TO DO j NEXT... HEEE COMES THE TEN O’CLOCK STAGE NOW.../ HELLO, JEB/ \ ONE OF THEM NEW - WHAT HAVE J CANGLED “COMBINATION " VOU GOT UP / SAFES, ME. VANCE/ IT’S THEBE...? ) EMPTY, THOUGH, AND THE . ./COMBINATION IS WBITTEN N^7/-r7 ON THE DOOE/ IT’S GOIN’ \J/ Ns, TO THE GENERAL STOEE \ /\ x AT BENSON'S FEBEY... EMPTY, HUH BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A BICH . HAUL FOB A HIGHWAYMAN/ UMMM... I THINK THIS GIVES ME AN IDEA, JEB/ YOU WAIT HEEE A MINUTE... WHAT EVE B you SAY, MB. VANCE/ A MOMENT LATEB... COMFOBTABLE? MY BACK’S BBEAKIN’ IN HEEE/ BUT WHEN THOSE CEOOKS OPEN THIS SAFE AND LOOK. DOWN THE BABEELS OF THESE COLTS IT’LL BE WOETH IT/ NJCKL, /OKAY; MB VANCE... WE ^ OFF/ CAN vdlilK 90EEY I COULDNT BE OF MOeE HELP, TEX/ \ GUESS THE ONLY WAY I'LL M GET THESE BOVS IS TO SET UP A PHONY GOLD SHIPMENT, AND FIND A WAV TO BIDE WITH IT . 7 WITHOUT THEIB KNOWING sheria OFF1CI F TEX RITTER WESTERN pui,l up, driver/ ) trouble/ HEY/ THAT'S A WELLS FARGO STAGE... I TOLD VANCE TO HOLD _ IT / I’LL SAY I HAVE... HAVE YOU HAD ANY TROUBLE ? ... AND THEY TOOK. THE BOY OFF THE STAGE BACK AT SKULL CREEK./ ^ AND VANCE IS IN IT? . VANCE IS IN EVEN MORE TROUBLE THAN TEX SUSPECTS. COMBINATION SAFES ARE NEW TO THE INDIANS WHO STOLE IT, AND THE NUMBERS CHALKED ON TH.E„P,OOe MEAN HASN'T A CHANCE AGAI NST TWO ARMED INDIAN 7 RENEGADES/ J" UGH/ BOX HEAP HEAVY/ NO CAN MOVE/ UGH/ GATHER WOOD/ BREAK- UM TOMAHAWK/ WE BURN BOX L*UL OPEN... , TiX RITTER WESTERN whew/ lucky rut s BOX IS FI EE PROOF/ BUT IF THEY DON’T OPEN IT SOON I'LL PASS OUT FROM THE HEAT... r A FEW MOMENTS LATER;...-. UGH / NO GOOD / BOX NO BURN/ WE PUSH OVER CLIFF/ BREAK. OPEN ON , ROCKS BELOW / ( UGH/ LJ WHITEMAN/ , GeAB-UM RIFLE/ SHOOT- UM... WHAT...? LITTLE BIT MORE. PUSH HARD; GULP/ ^ I’M A GONEt NOW FOR , SURE/ HOLD IT STEADY, WHITE FLASH/ IF VANCE GOES OVER THAT CLIFF, HE’S A DEAD MAN / MISSED HIM / ^ GO AFTER HIM LATER/ PULL IT AWAY FROM THAT CLIFF, , BOY... Jj ''THAT’S RIGHT/ EASY, NOW/ _ T1X mum WESTERN AFTER A SHORT CHASE, TEX CATCHES UP WITH THE FLEEING INDIAN ... i 1 HES UNAIEMED... I'LL TRY TO GET HIM ‘ WITHOUT SHOOTING/ GOOD ENOUGH / HE'S SAFE FOE THE TIME BEING' NOW FOE THAT OTHEE EENEGADE/ r UGH/ NO TAKE BLACK, FEATHEE > ALIVE/ * WHITE MAN NO TAKE-UM INJUN . TO JAl I TWISTING FeEE, THE INDIAN TUENS TOWAED'THE CLIFF BEHIND HIM... YOU’RE LUCKY I EAN INTO JEB AND GOT HEEE WHEN I DID, 1 VANCE / MAVBE FROM NOW ON YOU’LL LEAVE THE LAW EN- FORCEMENT TO THE PROPER, AUTHORITIES/ UMMAA ... I’M INCLINED TO AGREE WITH YOU, TEX... ON BOTH r COUNTS/ TEX RITTER WESTERN THAR eoES TlAA FERSU60N INTO THEJ-_ & SANK AGAIN, / ( cowboy cal//* yup.' YOU’RE WRONG, ABOUT WAT/ ^ MY UNCLE 7 is the . V richest/ 1 RECKON ) HE'S THE J RICHEST ^ RANCHER IN THE WEST/ [THAT'S RIGHT.' AAV UNCUE ►— 15 SO RICH THAT 'YOU R \ ON HIS RANCH UNCLE? J HE NEVER BRANDS L /Nr HIS CATTLE ME HAS THEM ENORAVEC7 // TEX RITTER WESTERN AW, SHUCKS, MAYOR, \ 1 WAS JUST LOOKIN' | ahead a little, got 1 A RANCH OF MV OWN 7 HAT BIG STONE FENCE OF A DAM IS GO IN' V TO BENEFITS r?f FFC6REMOMS MARK THE OPENING OP CENTERVILLE'S NEW DAM,... y I TAKE Us f PLEASURE IN INTRODUCIN' THE BUILDER OF OUR „ NEW DAM ~ . DAVE , d \blane!Jp ' YES, THIS IS > A PROUD DAY FOR CENTERVILLE! % Great dam Disaster! A HUGE DAM BLOWS UP AND FLOODS A VALLEY FULL OF RANCHERS ! MHO DID THIS FIENDISH THING? GOLDEN ARROW, THE WEST'S THUS CHAMPION OF JUSTICE, POINTS HIS UNERRING BOW AT THE GUILTY MAN ! SEE IF YOU CAN DISCOVER BEFORE GOLDEN ARROW WHO HE IS!! f IT'STHE \ / BIGGEST DAM { in the State /XX %LL1CVI TiX RiTTiR WESTERN But rancher barton, or all the valley's PEOPLE, DOES NOT CHOOSE TO BE PRESENT! f WHAT'S MORE, BETSy- THAT ' DAMS NOTHIN' TO CROW ABOUT! IT'S SO BIG IT AIN'T SAFE -AN' { IT'S GONNA MEAN HIGHER / WATER TALES FER US S. POOR FOLKS' VO'RE A TRVIN'MAN TEE LIVE WITH, JOE BARTON: 'TAINT EIGHT Y UH f" SHOULD BE RESTIN' W Yore calluses .JsK' WHEN THE NEW fctXy PAM'S BEIN' Mpf . DEDIRATED.'VUiXJ OUCH, BETSY.' IT HURTS ME TER MOVE! MV H LUMBAGO IS TROUBLIN' Yl Al£ AGAIN! ^ BUT GOLDEN ARROW AGREES WITH MAYOR W!LSON‘\ WHA-? S 0 ME 80 Dy'S ' BLASTING UP THERE! -THOUGHT CONSTRUCTION, > HAD STOPPED/ CENTERVILLE IS GROWING UP WHITE WIND! BLANE'S PAM IS A MILESTONE l ON THE ROAD TO A V* PROGRESS' THE FLOODGATES BEEN DYNAMITED.' SCRATCH GRAVEL, wh/te w/nd .' "7 WE MUST WARN r-s -A THE RANCHERS' TEX RITTER WESTERN FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER -A RAGING TORRENT DESCENDS UPON THE TOWN.' DID GOLDEN ARROW'S WARNING COME TOO LATE? ’ HURRY! FOLKS. 1 CORRAL YOUR 19 VALUABLES, AND HEAD FOE HIGH ■ GROUND! HURRY/ -OR YOU'LL Jm AIL BE DROWN ED/ j-tzCT HT THAT YAM YO U CAN W EXPLOSION/-\»vM> SEE IT < ■ THE VALLEY WILL]1\Y( fiS™, FL RP n nnneni J. \ v MeKt ’ J LOOKS LIKE -* WE MIGHT "MARTHA . 1 WHERE DID YER PUT MY SMOKIN' I DAM'S BEEN dynamited: GET OUT OF, THE VALLEY.' LAND JAKES: ► THE. DAM! GIVE ME A HAND, YER BLASTED . \VARMNTSjAE A?2CS-TicO^% giveth'pooe A«AN A HAND, s^HENey.' have rain/ / A FINE KETTLE VSPECT THE \ fOF FISH! IF you HADN'T TOWN'S UNDER ' BEEN RESTIN' YORE /WATER, BETSY.' CALLUSES, WE'D A-BEEN / I AIN'T SO / IN TOWN WHEN THE A. DUMB! vf k, WATERS CAME ! y ^-7 LOOKS LIKE NOBODY GOT DROWNED! .YEP/ THE Y AND THE (MAYOR'S \ VILLAGE HERE -AND HALF- r jLAME-i WIT! / TEX RITTER WESTERN LET ME GO 7^ I SAID JOE BARTON TOLD V~, ME TER U, L-V. Sit.' PONT HURT HIM, DAVE BLA NE! THE PORE BOV JUST ; VAINT BRIGHT// SAY THAT ASAIN,, ^WILLIE.' . HEE-HEE-HEEi X GOT HERE FUST.' JOE BARTON TOLD ME TER GIT OUTTA TOWN 'FORE , DAM GO BOOM! HEE-HEE.' A HANGING POSH IS SWIFTLY FORMED; WE'LL BE NEEDIN' ) Alt RIGHT, BOYS! CELLAR'S, .YOU, SHERIFF/ V FLOODED —BUT X AIN'T A -———-an MISSED A HANGIN' NIGH ON FORTY AJALV 'T, fj years.' JEJ^ESSa ' FLOOD'S EBBIN' \YEAH.'~FER THAT/WE'LL FAST.' LOOKS LIRE jLAJV COYOTE ^SET THE GOOD HANGIN' /^BARTON ,U7 %fgfF-A N WEATHER/ \T«l!vLeIal/ THEY OESCENP INTO THE VALLEY, with Sullen PAGE'... JOE BARTON, SHERIFF/ WITLESS WILLIE SAYS .HE DYNAMITED CUR PAM WHO YUH GONNA HANG, Ml?. PLANS' THE water shore ebbed PAST.' KIN DA LIKE is- SUNNIN' MYSELF V. UP HERE.' y( N. DAM.' HONEST/ X. I CAN'T NEVER THANK YOU -SOB Sob- enough- " SOB - GOLDEN L ARROW! IxtH’our WHAT MARES GOLDEN ARROW SO SURE ? JOE'S LAZY, I'LL ADMIT, BUT HE'S AS GOOD AS THE DAY IS LONG! I JUST >» CANT BELIEVE HE * DYNAMITED £jfl ^ THE DAM! /] .THANK YOU, \ \MR. BOGGS! I'LL JUST TAKE f A LOOK AT SOME OP THESE, > . records! A NOW TO EXAMINE THE GOLDEN ARROW DOES SOME RESEARCH. CREDIT OF CENTERVILLE'S leaping Citizens/ pont LIKE TO PRV, BUT A MAN'S , LIFE IS AT STAKE! LET'S SEE. NOW - "BAR --BARTON HMMM! IT SEEMS JOE OWNS SOME OF THE RICHEST GRATING k LANDS IN THE VALLEY -HMMij — WORTH A FORTUNE! TEX RITTER WESTERN HlS INVESTIGATION COMPLETED, GOLDEN ARROW MARES A STRANGE CALL IS Y OUR SON AT HOME, 7 MR. C ATT l CAW ? , — ' HE JEST NOW CAME IN, GOLDEN ARROW- Willie! oh, — «■ ^ Willie! FINALLY... A WELL PLACED SPOT . &APLY FRIGHTENED, WITLESS WILLIE FLEES!. I'LL JUST SHOOT OVER. HIS HEAD - HATE TO . SCARE HIM, BUT I / v must save joe!/ GOLDEN ARROW IS YOUR FRIEND, WILUE. WHO PAID YOU TO 1 LIE ABOUT < (JOE BARTON? ) OOH! OOHH! HEE-HEEl MISTER BLANE I Give wiilie big round PENNY! HEE-HEE ! WILUE LIVE INJUN *. GAMES, GOLDEN L\ X. ARROW! GOODBYE, WILLIE' WE'LL PLAY INJUN ^AGAIN, SOMETIME. BA OS IN TOWN, GOLDEN ARROW MARES A BUSINESS CALL .... HE'S NOT TOO BUSY TO SEE X ME! DAVE BLAME thG/NEEK / TEX RITTER WESTERN Golden a pj?dw makes a startling accusation!. r YOU -THOUGHT THE FLOOD WOULD DAMAGE JOE'S PROPER TV! YOU BLEW UP YOUR OWN DAM ! YOU BRIBED WILLIE TO BABBLE L. A LIE' YOU TRIED TO GET A | JOE HUNG/ __ I'VE BEES INVESTIGATING YOU.' -YOU'RE ALMOST BANKRUPT •- AND THE BANK WON'T LEND YOU A RED CENT ON YOUR ALKALI- * ROUTED GRATING LANDS. YOU FIGURED YOU COULD BUY UP JOE BARTON'S RICH LANDS CHEAP - IF YOU RUINED HIM ! V YOU WAD AW | ACCOMPLICE' I'LL GET H/M ^ later: y THAT'S A LIE! I WAS RIGHT HERE IN TOWN WHEN THE s T BLAST/ ) ( CAME.' J ' OH, BUT I WILL. 1 IT TAk-ES A HEAP OF MAPKSMANSHJP TO NOTCH UP > s - 7 A VEST L PISTOL// ' YOU WON'T ? GET rT NO BODY, ] Mister: J BOSS, WE GOTTA GET OUTTA TOWN ! GOLDEi ARROW'S GONNA ^ HE Y! WWAT'S BBl GOING ON--J7J TEX RITTER WESTERN WE AIN'T GONNA TALK TO ME! ^ SO YOU'RE BLANS'S N ACCOMPLICE! I'D LIRE A WORD WITH YOU, Y-nr MISTER! CAUGHT HIM/ ' HE'LL NOT SIT DOWN FOR A SPELL! J ' NOW TO WING ME A BUZZARD, WHITE. WIND' > y BOWft ■HERE'S JUDGE WITHERSPOON'S SIGN ED JL RELEASE FOR JOE, SHERIFF! THESE TWO GENTLEMEN CRAVE _/ WAAL ~i TO OCCUPY JOE S CELL! I'LL — B6 ... CANT SAY NOTHIN' — I'M ALL CHOKED v UP' / THAT'S ALL RIGHT,] YO’RE ALWAYS \ JOE! I JUST DID I HELP/N' FOLKS 1 sWHAT I COULD/ / OUT OF TROUBLE, , GOLDEN , J \\ \ arrow! f f/AWRR-URU/WPH. / HUH? -WHY, IT'S 1 GOLDEN ARROW, WAKE UP, JOE' YOU'RE A FREE MAN/ , ANOTHER THRILLING Qolven Arrow ADVENTURE NEXT MONTH. TEX RITTER WESTERN A TALKING LOG ? y A LOG TMAT WAS TALKING. HOWDY, FELLOWS/ /JUST ROPE THROUGH r the woods anp saw THE MOST AMAZING . THING IN THE WORLP/ WHAT' 6' wan/ van U, DON'T EXPECT , OS TO BELIEVE THAT, VO VZJHT IT'S THE TRUTH / OH, YEAH?" WHAT KINP OF A LOG r WAS IT fi