APPROVED BY THE COMICS CODE FeknirTf lHt TEX RITTER WESTERN Volume 1. Number U _ wlltm BnildlM, Derby. Published bimonthly by Chariton Comic* Group- Kxecutiya offices and office of publication. c ** rlw * VJU^ Conn. Copyright 1955 by Charlton Comics Group. A1 Fatro, Executive Editor. TEX RITTER WESTERN / SINCE S TORMCLDUD ' JUMPED THE RESERVATION N ANP ROUNDED UP A BAND OF RENEGADES, HE'S BEEN WARRING ON THE PEACEFUL TRIBES IN p THIS AREA / A SCOUT JUST y BROUGHT IN WORP THAT /T A PIONEER WAGON IS ^4 ENTERING HIS TERRITORy/ % YOU KNOW WHAT'LL HAPPEN / IF STORM CLOUD >4 A l SPOTS THEM I RECKON I PO, CHIEF.' HE'LL WIPE OUT EVERY MAN, r WOMAN ANP „ CHILD/ <5 ujo RIGHT/ STORM CLOUD \l'P BETTER HIT THE TRAIL/ POESN'T KNOW THE ) LOOKS AS IF THERE'S NO | MEANING OF THE WORD J TIME TO LOSE/ ^ MERCY/ ANP IF HE ^ SPOTSTHEM WITHOUT )ZT : 4\c >;ir V .. AN ARMY ESCORT— RIGHT, TEX/ ANP THIS IS V WHERE YOU ENTER THE / PICTURE/ THE FOOLS S WHO ARE RUNNING THAT j WAGON TRAIN BYPASSEP FORT CAHILL, WHERE THEY COULP HAVE BEEN l WAR NEP/ y ' YOU WANT ME TO INTERCEPT THAT WAGON TRAIN ANP TURN THEM BACK TO THE FORT. \IS THAT IT, CHIEFS IT'S THE WAGON TRAIN! AHP ETORMCLOHOAANB//S HIS AENE0A PE SAND ARE ATTACKING*^ GUNSHOTS' ANP THEY'RE COMING FROM THE OTHER SIPE OF THE HILL ! WHOA, WHITE FLASH! I WANT TO INCH UP / 7 THERE ANP HAVE / K L A LOOK' TEX RITTER WESTERN After a long ride across the prairie intercept the -wagon train.. _/ IT COMES FROM HILL • -r I WOULDN'T STANP A CHANCE OF \ HELPING THEM IF I WENT POWN \ THERE MYSELF.' BUT MAYBE, IF / I FIRE FROM THIS RIPGE, I CAN BLUFF STORMCLOUD INTO THINKING THERE'S A COMPANY OF MEN WHO HAYE CUT HIM OFF.' y- ^ Tex inches along the hill as he Keeps firing down at the Indians... HAVE THE WARRIORS FOLLOW ME ' WE SHALL ESCAPE —< OTHER PIRECTION.' TIME WILL COME ANOTHER TEX RITTER WESTERN I'M ALL THERE 15: I'LL BE UI0GEREP.' ^ YOU SAVED ALL OUR NECKS .BY YOURSELF.' . WS . .. . 7 DIDN'T HAVE MUCH 4 AMMUNITION LEFT.' J LOOK.' AIN'T THAT RANGER TEX>- ^ ~-—r RITTER? J ) HI, TEX/ YOU SURE * ''SHOWED UP IN TIME TO GET RIP OF THOSE CRITTERS. WHERE'S THE REST OF VO UR MEN 1 l RECKON YOU A BEING GRATEFUL \ SAVED OUR LIVES, J ISN'T ENOUGH' YOU J RANGER/ WE'RE SPULi-EP THOSE <7 MIGHTY GRATEFUL /INNOCENT WOMEN V TO YOU .-^"''AND CHILDREN INTO ' >L J STORMCWUP'S. TERRI- \ \ 7/ TORY-' WHY DIP YOU \\ \ ZA ■ V COME THIS WAY WITHOUT vt ' Vi K. AN army escort?/' ANP I'M SAYING It AGAIN EVERYBODY GOES 7 BACK ! WE WON'T PALAVER ) ABOUT IT ANYMORE, -£ -' N BLANPING-' CLIMB ON TO YOUR WAGON ANP HEAP IT BACK TOWARD . THE FORT/ V PIP YOU 5EE THAT DRAW? \ FASTEST THING - y I EVER ( SAW TEX RITTER WESTERN Hours later, at Fort Cahill... (7 sou can't keep us here, ' ■/r p r— •- ’ captain! it's the army's / 1 t hap to use a y Jog TO protect us. if you r LITTLE PERSUASION TO GET I ^ ON ' T GIVE ME AN ESCORT TO BLAND1NG TO CHANGE A THE SETTLEMENT, J AIM , i COURSE -'BUT IT WAS T X. TO GO MS SELF I \ IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO ) SPARE ANY MEN NOW, IBLANVING! I HAVE ONLY /A SKELETON FORCE HERE AT THE FORT/ THE ^ REST ARE OUT HUNTING / FOR STORM CLOUD! ^ lake, that night ' \F STORMCLOUD \IT'S SURE LUCKY KNEW HOW FEW \HE DOESN'T KNOW/ SOLDIERS WERE 1 RECKON X'LL TURN > AT THE FORT, HE'D IN, CAPTAIN/ l‘VE / BE IN ON US IN J A LONG RIDE BACK/ NO TIME.' IT -< TO THE RANGERS' 4 WORRIES ME TO \ OFFICE TOMORROW.' KNOW THAT I HAVE ) , — 7 — ■ " " ONLY A FEW MEN J J// ON HAND HERE/ J BLANPIMG RUBS ME THE WRONG WAY/ WHV SHOULD x A MAN RISK HIS LIFE JUST FOR A LOAD OF UTENSILS? / WHAT WORRIES ME, CAPTAIN, ARE STORM- CLOUP'S MODERN - GUNS.' SOMEBOPV IS ) SMUGGLING THEM TO ! HIM AND I SURE WOULD LIKE TO ) w KNOW WHO' J IT'S BLANDIN G! 1 HE'S SNEAKING fggf OUTS « later, Tex reins in White Flash behind Some shrubbery as Blanding stops his Wagon and lets out a long, low whistle ; f WHY SHOULD THAT \ HOMBRE RISK HIS NECK TO RIPE OUT OF THE FORT IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT? WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW V HIM, WHITE FLASH .V. EASY, BOY' THAT HOMBRE IS SIGNALING TO ^ iaat SOMEBODY/ 2mA TEX RITTER WESTERN IT'S SrORMCLOUO ANP HIS RAND' I SURE DID/ COME ON BACK . HERB! x DID you BRING GUNS? THAT'S THE IAST BATCH 1 OWE YOU/ 1 RECKON X CAN GET OUT OF THE «UTENSIL BUSINESS" f — 7 NOW/ , 1 heh.* heh!J GUNS VERY GOOD/ ?> I MUCH < PLEASED /> i pAy voi/ RIGHT NOW. I X GOT SOME J—'O y MIGHTY IMPORTANT > INFORMATION FOR YOU.' THERE'S ONLY A HANDFUL OF SOLDIERS AT THE ) FORT NOW I WITH A THOSE GUNS, YOU ' COULD TAKE THE V FORT AND GET I .MORE GUNS' , X I BROUGHT YOU THE GUNSJ NOW I WANT TO GET PAID.' YOU REAL \FRIEND OF \ STORM - . / CLOUD, /blanding! Ito * YAH 00001 yAH HV*! SO IT WAS BUNDING WHO WAS RUNNING [guns to them / T0M0RROW WE ATTACK WHITE FORT AND GET WHITE DEVILS/ E§ yy/A HO°o 00 l yAHOOOoo/ w, oh! storm cloud has a GUARD m OUTSIPE OF HIS TENT/ WELL, IT'S J§ NOW OR NEVER/ jf| IF I CAN CAPTURE -*S, STORMCLOUD, THERE'S A CHANCE TO lL, STOP THEM/ IF THOSE DEVILS STORM THE FORT, THE SOLDIERS THERE WILL NEVER . BE ABLE TO HOLD THEM OFF / H r I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING- p*onto!±&$M TEX RITTER WESTERN Te* JfAS overheard Storm cloud's plait of action l NOBODY HEARD ME- r I HOPE/ > ^ ^ THIS IS JUST r TO MAKE t SURE/ ) TEX RITTER WESTERN Later, Tex rides into iUe camp of the Kiotas... Shortly afterwards HE BAD IN PI AN ! . MAKE TROUBLE . FOR ALL TRIBES,' THERE HE IS, CHIEF' THE MURDEROUS VARMINT WAS ABOUT TO INVADE YOUR TRIBE ANP GET YOUR PEOPLE/ v ■STOP! or ARROW GIVES R) SUDDEN Tt TAKE ME TO YOUR CHIEF 1 1 BRING YOUR ENEMY, STORM CLOUD/ T AM < PRAIRIE RANGER W V TEX RITTER.' \ WE'RE GOING TO KEEP \ FORWARD?\thERE THEY )YOU UP FRONT, STORM- ) MY BRA VES 1 . ] ARE, CHIEF/ S^'SSK3 0SB / Jm Leap the I™ rfr? good'' 70 7HB IF LOOKATVOJ? Y7 EVIL .ywSEESm# ' I NEED YOUR MEL.F, CHIEF OF THE KIOTAS.' STOPMCLOUPS RENEGADES ARE ABOUT TO INVADE THE WHITE . ARMY POST! IT IS TOO LATE TO GET OUR WARRIORS FOR HELP, BUT YOUR BRAVES CAN HELP ME CAPTURE ^ V STORM CLOUD'S MEN ‘ WE FOLLOW YOU' THE WARRIORS OF .THE KIOTAS A VO NOT „ . / KNOW J~7 FEAR/ ' r W£ FIGHT WITH YOU, TEX RITTER. TEX RITTER WESTERN Hours later, as word of the ap - proachirg Indians reaches ike fort A lot of > PEOPLE' OWE THEIR LIVES TO ' . you, tex/ I'LL SEE TH/ ' HE'S GOT ^.THAT'S THE KlOTA ) STORMCLOUD URIBE WITH H,M * ’AND HIS MEN / FOR A MINUTE, PRISONERS! 7 1 ™°5 S iS 2f W£RE - O GOING TO BE ^ I V ATTACK E O' As tke ever increasing war whoop of the Kiotas rends the air, •Vex charges the renegade Indians / iX CHARGE. YA OOOo! WE SURRENDER! \ WELL LETL AW A NO OK PER / TAKE CARE OF YOU/ ^ — -s. DROP THOSE Hf^yTv X\ sX GUNS/7 THEy HAVE CAPTURED CHIEF STORMCLOUD! * ALL IS r — ^ 1 , LOST.'r-t BO I COULPnT have PONE IT WITHOUT THE AID OF THE KIOTAS.' NOW THAT WE HAVE j . STORMCLOUD J X AND HIS ^ r \ RENEGADES IN WASHINGTON / JAIL/ I RECKON HE ^ S ^ B0UT /THERE OUGHT TO THIS/ / 0E A LONG 5PELL r < OF PEACE AROUND v AV \ THESE PARTS/ > TEX RITTER WESTERN I'M SATISFIED . RITTER, BUT THE OJLUUMS ARE RUSTLIN' MY BEEF AN' MAKlW ... LOOK . our/ i TALK SENSE, HALEY-- THAT LAND IS PRIVATELY OWNEO NOW/ YOU WERE LUCKY TO HAVE THE USE ( OF IT AS LONG- AS J YOU DID/ ■ / <7t was the old story --the entrenched cattle baron using- land AND LUATSR UNTIL THE LAND HE FILED ON WAS CLAIMED/ DIRK HALEY REFUSED TO GIVE UP A FOOT OF LAND - -AND THE TOUGH HARD- WORKING CULLUM BROTHERS WERE DETERMINED TO USE THE LAND THEY OWNED / TROUBLE WAS BREWING-- AND TEX RITTER FOUND HIMSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF IT... ^vt^-7ir=sz: YOU CAN'T GET 'lM THE FENCE IS IN THE WAY • THE WHITE STALLION , ENCOURAGED BY TSVL SOARED OVER THE BARRICADE-.. WHITE FLASH CAN MAKE IT, CAN'T YOU . BOY ? Good boy/ but x think IT WAS WASTED/ THE BUSHWHACKER /-&. IS IN THE TIMBER/ JY?feL TEX RITTER WESTERN A WEEK PASSED , TEX WAS SHOWN A DEAD STEEPS FROM HALEY'S OX BRAND . OM THE CUUUAA RANGE / THEM HALEV RAGGED INTO TOWN DEMANDING THE CULUIMS' ARREST ONCE /MORE THAT'S THE TRUTH , HALEY.' NOW FOG OUT OF HERE BE- FORE I RUM YOU BOTH (M / YOU’RE BOTH LIARS/ MY BROTHER CRACKED TWO RIBS WHEW HE GOT THROWN FROM A BRONC AMD U/E WERE IM THE DOC'S OFFICE / RIGHT, TEX ? WE AlM’T FOGGIN / RITTER/ THEM CULLUMS BEEN GETTiu 1 IM OUR HAIR / THEY'RE LEAVIN' — OWE U/AY OR AM- OTHER / TEX RITTER WESTERN WHAT TH--.' y OUVg sor US' IN ENOUSH TROUBLE IN TWE LAST" F£UJ MONTHS, k^CaONE< >< — wow you ser PAYBACK WITH , Tjfet&KZm iNTecesrr/ sgrl^, Vou BROTWEIK WON’T HAV£ TO UJOEEV ABOUT HALEV NOW.' XVE CHBCR^NCB / HIM FOB A /i WONTH ~ - HES // A CAMP PI BATE // ANP RK'U. SO UP ROC. A LOW6 , -STPE-TOH/ 1 f i Ss/ 7 > |?*fYj$ mb TEX RITTER WESTERN I CAN SEE I'M JUST WASTING MY TIME TRYING TO HAVE AN INTELLIGENT CONVERSATION WITH AN IGNORAMUS LIKE YOU, OLD _ * . SMOKEY / I'M LEAVING/ I FIGGERED HE'S BEEN DOING THAT ALL ALONG AND NOW I CAUGHT HIM AT IT ! I , I DIDN'T NEED HIM TO HELP OUT AT THE \ RANCH NOW, I'D FIRE HIM / ^ I — — f — n — 7/ — ^ HMMM, JEST AS I OPINED /OLD SMOKEY IS STEALING CORN FROM THE MULE'S FEED. ipl 0 - TEX RITTER WESTERN IT'LL BE /MORE THAN FUN / IT'U. SCARE OLD SMOKEYAND HE . WON'T STEAL THE ANIMAL'S FEED ANY MORE / C'MON , J let's I KNOW WHAT TO DO/ I'LL GO GET MUH FRIEND, THE VENTRILOQUIST / HE'S IN . TOWN NOW/ OKAY, IT'LL SE |HORTLY AFTER. ... AND I'D LIKE YUH TO COME OUT TO THE RANCH WITH ME AND MAKE OUT THE MULE'5 TALKING THE f NEXT TIME OLD 5MOKEY L . TRIES TO TAKE ITS A W/*. CORN AWAY / [UT AS OLD SMOKEY IS I ABOUT TO TAKE THE CORN. WER..7M, I'M KINO OF ^ HUNGRY/ 1 RECKON I'LL GO TAKE SOME CORN FROM THE MULE'S FEED BAG/ STOP THAT, OLD SMOKEY. THAT CORN BELONGS TO ME / LEAVE IT ALONE / HUH ? (GASP/) AW, IT WUZ JEST MUH IMAGINATION / I'LL TAKE THE.., CORN AND GIVE MUHSELF A TREAT I MUST BE GOING LOCO/ I COULD HAVE SWORN THE MULE WUZ TALKING TO ME / ^ .. TEX RITTER WESTERN l TOLD VUH TO STOP THAT, OLD S/WOK6V/ THAT'S - - MV FEED, NOT YORES. / ^ ^ I'M G -6 -GETTING OUT . OF H-H-HYAR / HA, HA, THAT 5CARED HIM OFF PLENTY/ IT SHORE DID HO /HA / BUT LET'S WAIT A LITTLE LONGER/ I HAVE A HUNCH HE'LL COME BACK AND TRY ONCE MORE/ - I'M NOT GOING TO LET MUHSELF BE FRIGHTENED BY ANY FOOLISH- NESS OF MINE/ I'M GOING BACK AND PROVE TO MUHSELF THAT ^ MULE WUZN'T TALKING/ ST NOW HOLD ON, OLD SMOKEY, THIS CAN'T BE / A MULE CAN'T TALK / j^.m s I KNOW THAT I KNOW I THOUGHT I HEARD THAT MULE TALKING TO ME PLAIN AS DAY, BUT IT JEST CAN'T BE/ IT MUST BE MUH CONSCIENCE BOTHERING ME BECUZ I'VE BEEN TAKING a . HIS CORN ! mratmh TEX RITTER WESTERN (GULP/) THAT MULE /S TALKING / NO DOUBT 'BOUT IT/ HE'S A FREAK /I'M. GETTING OUT OF HVAR m JT AS OLD SMOKEy REACHES FOR THE CORN AGAIN LISTEN HYAR, OLD SMOKEY, THIS IS THE LAST TIME I'M GOING TO TELL YUH.' EITHER YOU STOP TRYING TO TAKE MY CORN AWAY FROM ME OR I'LL W* ^ TELL THE BOSS ON YUH / AXfTER SMOKEY FINDS THE B05S WHO** HAS SLIPPED AWAY FROM THE REARS OF THE BARN WITH HIS FRIEND, THE VENTRI LOOUIST . . . ■ —3^ 0H( THAR Yt ,H ARE, BOSS / I HAVE NEWS FER YUH / AS FROM THIS MOMENT, I'M NO LONGER ^ WORKING FER YUH / I QUIT I'M NOT ONLY GETTING OUT OF v HYAR... I'M QUITTING/^ I'LL GO TELL THE BOSS RIGHT NOW / I'M NOT GOING TO STAY ON A PLACE WHBRETHE MOLES v. TALK / NO SI REE / HUH? (WITTING. ER, ANYTHING THAT MULE OF YORE 5 TELL5 YUH IS A LIE DON'T BELIEVE A WORD HE SAYS / YEAH / ABSOTIVELY/POSILUTELY/ BUT THAR'S ONE THING I WANT TO TELL VUH / TEX RITTER WESTERN TEX RITTER WESTERN EMPTY VICTORY H E HAD only himself to blame. No one else had caused him to lose his job. It was what he deserved for thinking himself too smart an hombre to do an honest day’s work. Little wonder then that A1 Pearson sat in the otherwise deserted bunkhouse thinking very unkindly of himself. Jobs were difficult for a waddie to get this time of year, and good jobs such as he had had at the Circle-O were impossible. There was no chance of getting it back, either. Stretch King had made that as clear as a mountain stream when he had caught A1 loaf- ing again this morning. Yes, he was through. He might just as well get his gear together and clear out before the boys came in from the range. It was bad enough to know that you had cost yourself a good berth without having the other waddies rub it in. A trip to the cookhouse for a quick snack, and he’d be off for other pastures before the gang came riding in. The cookhouse was deserted, though, and it was only then he realized it must be Cookie’s day off. It was just as well that it was. It meant that he could fix himself some grub, without having to listen to any ribbing from the cook. No one had much respect for a hand who dogged it on a job. A1 didn’t blame them. He didn’t have much respect for himself at that moment. Then as though to match his mood, the skies that had been overcast all day began to rain. Al’s practiced eye soon told him that this was no ordinary rain storm that was bearing down on the Circle-O. No, sir, it was a real whipper, meaner than a riled Longhorn. No chance now of ducking the other fellows. Anything, even listening to their ragging him, would be pref- erable to heading out in such mean weather. The rage of the storm had reached a ter- rible fury now. Rain and wind lashed vicious- ly at the ranch, and A1 thanked his lucky stars he was indoors as he saw huge bolts of light- ning stab across the pastures. He reckoned the boys wouldn’t feel up to much horseplay after having been out in that for a couple of hours ! Say, wait! It would be a lof more thari a couple of hours that they’d be stuck out on,] the range. All night most likely. This was an] electrical storm, and there was nothing fright-; ened the herds as much. A1 had helped round ! up too many panicky cattle, driven frantic by j the thunder and lightning, not to know what? the other boys must be going through! fi They’d be -longing for some nice hot java long about now. Yep, each and every one of them, the foreman included. The storm played no favorites. Stretch King would be just as wet, cold and hungry as the lowliest puncher. Suddenly. A1 spawned an idea. If Stretch King were longing for some coffee and hot food, wouldn’t he be beholden to the hombre that brought him some? Wouldn’t he be glad, to let bygones be bygones if that certain good Samaritan happened to be A! Pearson?, Wouldn’t he be pleased to show his gratitude^ by re-hiring Al? . . . if A1 Pearson promised^ never to loaf on a job again? .. ' • . J Darn tooting. King would be glad to take him back. Well, sir, Al was going to see that he got the chance. He knew where the chuck wagon was kept, and he knew at what section of the pasture the boys would be. What was he waiting for then? Nothing. He was already placing a pair of very sullen mules between! the shafts of the chuck wagon. Moments later, he was cracking the bull whip and ordering his reluctant charges out into the storm. “Gee-ap, you long-eared critters,” he yelled jubilantly into the teeth of the gale. "We’re getting Mr. King some grub and me another chance at a job!” It was certainly no easy chore he had as-’ signed himself. Had the stakes not been so high, Al Pearson would never have ventured from his nice, warm cookhouse into the fury that lashed about him. The storm was really raging now, as though determined to keep him from his goal of pleasing King. The mules, too, had a dubious attitude 'about the journey, and were casting puzzled glances at this crazy cowpoke who yelled unwanted encouragement at them. The rain had a stinging quality as it beats) TEX RITTER WESTERN fiercely at his face. It was good that A1 Pear- eon had been born to the range and drove by Instinct, for it was no longer possible to see. His eyes closed beneath, the liquid pellets Nature hurled at them, but even had they not, they would have been useless to him. The storm had gained a fresh ally now in the fast gathering darkness, and, as though anxious to prove its worth, it quickly obliterated all familiar landmarks. | Then disaster struck! f A1 felt the chuck wagon give, a sickening ' lurch, and suddenly he was falling blindly ^through space. He fell to the ground with a 'sickening thud and oblivion claimed him. It [was impossible, though, to long remain un- [conscious in that lashing, biting rain. Its sting [beat awareness back into his reeling, brain, ;and he staggered erect on legs that seemed made of water. Wiping mud from his eyes’ !with an even muddier hand, he began to search [for the cause of his accident, i It wasn’t difficult to find, but it would be [difficult to remedy under such conditions. (Obviously, he wasn’t the only one who had j cut corners on the Circle-O. That lowdown [cook Had neglected the chuck wagon wheels I so that they were in complete disrepair. It j was miraculous that he had even come this far, I with them in such horrible shape. Two courses were open to him. He could abandon the chuck wagon and retreat to the ranch, or — he could imake temporary repairs on the wheels. 1 He bent to the distasteful task. Almost as though it felt cheated of victory by his deter- mination, the wind tore at him. It shrieked violent threats; battered him and chilled him. Still A1 worked on grimly. Finally, he straight- ened up and leaned exhausted against the ■ chuck wagon. The job was finished. ; He crawled painfully up into the seat and yipped at the mules. But nothing stirred. Then as his glance strained through the storm he screamed in consternation. The mules were gone! The ornery beasts had seen their chance while he was busy with the wheels. It hadn’t taken these wisest of beasts long to devise an escape. The gnawed harness attested to that. It was no use tp look for them now. In this storm they’d be found only if they so chose. In all likelihood, they were now back home, hefifhawing oVet the foolish waddie they had outsmarted. That’s where heM be, too, if he had any sense. Well, he didn’t! And he didn’t have any job, either! He had to get that chuck wagon up to regain his old one. There was only one way to bring the wagon up. to the boys, and A1 groaned at the pros- pect. Groaned, yes, but still he walked be- tween the shafts and gripped them in his hands. He sucked down a great gulp of air and began to pull. He struggled mightily, ex- erting every iota of strength he could muster. Nothing happened. That is: nothing hap- pened for the first few minutes. Then slowly, the wagon began to inch forward. Al’s muscles twisted in anguish, entreating him to abandon this madness, but gamely he stuck to his labor. Slowly the inches of progress changed to feet, the. feet to yards, and A1 trudged on into the storm. Now he laughed at it and defied it to do its worst. Nothing could keep him now from bringing up the chuck wagon. They still talk out in that section of the weary figure who came stumbling out of the rainswept night, pulling a chuck wagon be- hind him. The punchers at first gaped in as- tonishment. Then as the vastness of- his deed dawned upon him, they began to cheer. But the battered A1 Pearson looked neither left nor right until he had brought the wagon to a halt before the foreman, Stretch King. “Mr. King,” he gasped' painfully, “I’m not one for boasting, but I’ll wager a month’s wages there’s not another puncher in the coun- try who could have brought that chuck wagon through tonight !” “Yep, and I’ll bet there’s not another one dumb enough to fetch an empty wagon either," King said, drawing back the wagon’s cover to reveal its barren interior.. A L PEARSON had no reply left in him. Slowly, he turned and began to walk into the storm. Then he felt a heavy hand on his pajn-wracked shoulder, and looked to see Stretch King grinning at him. “Well, maybe you didn’t bring us any grub like you intended, Al,” King said* “But you sure as shooting did a hard day’s Work. Now that you’ve tried it once, let's see you stick to it. Get rolling, boy! You're back on. the payroll l” THE .END- TEX RITTER WESTERN LANIER IS \ THAT'S 600 P R£a ! BUT" X BgCKVRPR THE TRIAL.!' EUTXVE- ow YOU y SOT BUSINESS* UR. • WON'T • yv NOGTH BELIEVE me/ / TWB PRAIRIE RANKER KNBUJ IT UpfS USELESS TO FISHT — HE - «3UP FEONV THE DAPPLE , KEEPING* HIS HANDS AWAY FROM HI'S GUNS. ACE VOU CRAZY. ^ SHERIFFS THIS HOM00? IS WANTED FOB /* HORSE "3TEALIKJ / C IN COLORADO' | Tl \/ I 'M NO T CRAZY, X RITTER/ LANIER BBOUC+fT 7PE ’ WANTED* AOQ^ERS- iN.'ACCOOplH PODSERS.VOUR A$UCK MAN UJITW A . ■>_ HURT/ IT LOOKS PEACEFUL ©U r THERE'S A KILLER DOWN . • • LANIER PI RED AG AIM . AMO WS PRAIRIE EAWGER GRUNTED AMD ^pyi OOUIM HE‘S- GOT GOOD COVER*. Z'VE GOT TO USE 'A UJORW OUT IWCTUW TRICK BUT IT'S SETTER THAM KOTHIWG / GOT MM — BUT. IU /MAKE SURE HE'S DOME FOR / 'MEiMi TIX RITTER WESTERN HE'LL PULL THAT -TRIGGER IN A MINUTE —GOT TO ACT FAST / NOW/ THE GEEAT TE* RITTER, WONT... . im&t' "r> r you FLOATED A LITTLE TOO LOWS, BULL/ THOUGH HEAVIER AMD TALLER. BULL LANIER TOOK A TERRIFIC BEATING / THEN HE UIAS WILLING TO GO BACK PEACEABLY.., I’LL /MAKE A DEAL WITH YUH i T E* / I GOT MONEY PUT AWAY / THE SHERIFF GRINNED WHEN THE PAIR. , HIT TOWN... HE LOCKED BOLL UP WHILE TEX ATE ANC> GOT READY FOR A SLEEP IN A REAL feStrU.. . FOR THE FIRG.T TIME (N MONTHS.. TIX RITTER WESTERN »» DURING THE SPANISH- AMERICAN WAR, teddy Roosevelt, recruited his FAMOUS 'ROUSH RIDERS' FROM THE RANKS OF THE TEXAS RANGERS. ®THESE BUCKSKIN RIDERS CAL- LED THEMSELVES RANGERS. THEIR MAIN ENEMY AT THAT TIME WAS THE INDIAN, WHO KILLED THE Dthisgreatlawandorder force s ettlers_ and RAIDED " BEGAN ABOUT 1830, AS SETTLERS ® IN I83S WHEN TEXAS PROCLAIMS fl^AMED IN FROM THE SOUTH ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM MEXICO, SAM HESTON APPOINTED THE TEXAS / 1 Mmk RANGEI^TO PATROL THE REPUBLIC'S SELV AWD°v?M F A«p D <; WE R W * 30NS / J Hm m FRONTIER AGAINST THE COMANCHE wu VIUAL.ES / . AND MEXICAN RANCHERO WHO WAS TRYING TO WIN BACK HIS LAND, THESE HARDY HARD RIDING SOLDIER! OF LAW AND ORDER HAD NO EOUAL - AS HORSE MEN AND LAW MEN, ' THEIR DEEDS OF BRAVERY NOT BE MATCHED 7 V-Y^BY ANY FIGHTING FORCE TX OF ITS SIZE. ®THE RANGERS WERE NOT TRAINED LIKE SOLDIERS, YOU COULD RECOGNIZE THESE MEN $Y TWO THINGS, THEIR BROAD BRIMMED WHITE STETSON AND THEIR LIGHTNING DRAW OF SIX- SHOOTERS WHEN EVER THE TIME AROSE TO USE THEM. TEX RITTER WESTERN HUH? LOOK AT THOSE TARGETS ! I RECKON SOMEBODY AROUND HYAR HAS BEEN. DOIN’ A *c POWERFUL LOT OF SHOO TIN’.' o-- — * [ YUH ? WHY, THIS i IS THE GREATE5T ^MARKSMANSHIP < I'VE EVER 5EE,N ! J ? YO’RE GREAT. 1 J* GOSH! WHAT SHOOTlN’l EVERYONE IS A PERFECT BULL'S-EYE! M 'SAY, DO YOU KNOW WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL g » THESE bull's -Eyes ? jw® thanks! TIX RITTER WESTERN A DANGEROUS FOB WAITS FOR TEX RITTER ,THE TWO* FISTEP PRAIRIE RANGEF^lN THE TOWN OF PECOS FORK! AN OUTLAW NO WADPY HAS EVER LIVED TO DESCRIBE.' AN UNKNOWN MENACE WHO SEEMS TO HAVE A CHARM AGAIN ST THE BULLETS OF THE LAW/ THAT'S THE CHICO KIP, THE CRAFTIEST OUTLAW EVER TO MATCH SlX- GUN5 WITH TEX RITTER/ CHICO WHAT PUZZLES ME IS THE t- — ^ ^ TELEGRAM^THAT CAME JUST BEFORE I LEFT RANGER HEADQUARTERS / ACCORDING TO 6. WILLIAMS OF THE PECOS FORK } < BANK, THE TOWN IS COMPLETELY J QUIET ANP — < NO HELP IS ) \ NEEPEP'/ / / \ THE CHIEF ASKEP ME TO SEE WHAT'S *= v BREWING IN PECOS FORK / THE SHERIFF ** HAS SEEN WOUNPEP ANP THE TOWN'S BEEN TERRORIZED By A GANG LEP BY SOMEONE CALLEP THE CHICO KIP/y—Ttt^l ^ — — - jffi&i TEX RITTER WESTERN SOON AFTERWARD IN PECOS FORK.. — HERE'S our first stop/ FURy./ LET'S HAVE A f^LAVER WITH G. WILLI AMS -.ANP SEE WHAT'S REALLy GOING ON IN, wTHIS TOWN ' TEX RITTER WESTERN DON'T MOVE, RITTER/) I'VE HEARD TAKE POWN THOSE 7 YOU CAN'T BE KEYS/ GAL ANP rr LICKEP IN A ^ UNLOCK THE Z^SUNFISHT' ^ CELL POOR ly“ SUPPOSE YOU GIVE T7 ~^ ME A FAIR CHA£AC£ TO / /( praw anp // V PROVE it? y 4EP ^ LOOKS AS \ j'Rg / IF MY TRICK ' fPs WORKEP, EH? ^EY LETTING MY / WADDIES BE ^ CAPTURE!?, 1 VB KEPT THE RAN6ER5 reach/ -FROM SENPING A POSSE TO TOWN NOW WE CAN r- , RANSACK THE ) \. BANK/ y~ — ' WITH SPLIT- SECONP TIMING, TEX CATCHES THE FALLING* GUN BELT r /'~V r — — ON HIS FOOT AND r— J/ KICKS I TBACK UP/ -^m«| STOP STALUNG/ t~ UNBUCKLE YOUR GUN BELT ..LET IT PROP,. ANP MOSEY OVER. TO THAT TRYING TO OUTSMART THE ) CHICO KIP ALWAYS PAYS > OFF* RITTER, „ WITH LEAP/ Jr F / i PR| Tli— rX ftL W l T, \u TEX RITTER WESTERN FROM HERE ON, YOU 61 & MOOSE, YOU 'RE GRABBING TROUBLE/ I PONT NEED 6UNS /ALL! . PO IS GRAS/, I'M GOING TO TAKE A HEAP OF HANDLING, YOU VARMINTS/ TEX /WATCH big peres CONSIDER YOURSELF I J LUCKY, RITTER / I’D LIKE TO \ SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENS TO LAW-LOVERS |N PECOS > FORK ...BUT WE'VE GOT <4, SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF FIRST/ jr— I SURE MAPS A DON'T WORRY, MESS OF THINGS, \ TEX f THE / GINGER.. AND IT'S /BANK POOR / GOING TO COSTS [S MIGHTY / YOU EVERY ,<4^. HE'S JUST AN j x snppQSEI ACCOMPLICE //'THERE'S ^ W °TH IN6 TO PO \TNOWBUT UCOMC ©UT/r~Yl v VjTO our AF-^ss K RANCH ranch v* RUN'S. A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE RANCH HOUSE.. . THANKS FOR REMINP1N& " ME, SINGER/ THERE'S JUST LIGHT ENOUGH FOR A CHORE I’VE GOT TO TAKE. > CARE OFls -- << /here they come ! i \ f KNEW I'p g E ABLE TO ) I LURE THEM HERE... <. > 1 AFTER MENTIONING X| A CARRyi N& an ^ oam *oi NARy Fll/£ THOUSANP ESCAPE / j-T .^ agiatex A« GINGER POESN’T KNOW-iT, BUT L.c XP !™ TWE CHlCO KIP ANP HIS WAPPIEG TO SHOW UP PRONTO » . . ANP J AIM TO BE V READY THEN AS THE WINPMILL AYLE TAKES IN THE SLACK OF TEX'S ROPE .. . / 1 - . 1 ^Vnu/'/A 1/MIGHTy SMART OF TE* RITTER/) TUW.Jtr SXCEFT THAT the MOONLIGHT ^S«L SEHINt? H,M ma * e5 HIM a PERFECT target/ h> '•SUFFERING SASSAFRAS: you IPIOTS ... PUCK r S YOUR HEAPS/ NOT A BAP PEAL, CHICO ) KIP/ NOT ONLY PO WE < (SET TEX RITTER. ..BUT ^ tu^ N a S(?ap that FIVE thousanp dollars HE 4? TEX RITTER WESTERN THE CHiCO KIP TAKES AIM, SUT lNTHg NEXT SECONP. I WAS WONPERIN6 WHAT TO PO WITH yOU TWO PUZZARP5 WHEN, i SOT you UP here . . . But HAVING BIS PETE PIRECTLY ^HERE'S ONE WAY TO 6BT THE PROP ON YOU YOU PiNT-Sizgp r 1 POLECAT r%m£f£?J HAT TURN AROUNP/ RITTER I ACM TO GET YOUP< -TV / TO MY SIZE. 1 sy THIS TIME I'M SOINS TO SET YOU, RITTER; ■ THAT'S JUST A HINT. BIS PETE.. STOP TRyiNG,/ SUPPENiy. /THANKS, SlN6£R/ ) ' X RECKON NOW I'VE ] SOT TIME TO SlVeX /YOU A PEW glARf •.,?« , MUSIC... ANP THEV « A HEAP DIFFERENT * FROM THE KINP OF BARS I h l e ,5 HlC ° K1[7 AWp HIS SANG WILL BE LOOKING AT FOR THE NEXT FEW -s YEARS/ ^ NICE GOINS, FURy. you PIP a WONPERFUL JOB, TEX/ PECOS FORK IS MlSHry THANKFUL > to you/ ? TEX RITTER WESTERN VlPES! I’VE CAUGHT SIX TROUT ALREADY , AND THAR’S- ANOTHER 'r-f BIT ING ON MUH LINE / t— ' GOT IT/ V/AHOO, THAT ^ MAKES SEVEN / I JEST HOPE THE GAME WARDEN ^ "7 DOESN’T COME- ALONG/ i — •'VY TRpUT TRAITOR.' . HEY, WAGON WHEELS, CAN’T YUH READ? IT’S . AGAINST THE LAW TUH FISH DURING THE 4 ... — - v- - ~ . — CLOSED N\ ^^^.JSsSEASON ER, l KNOW IT’S ^ ILLEGAL TUH FISH FER TROUT, BUT^ IT’S ALL RIGHT r "^ TUH FISH «cj PER SUCKERS,)! ISN’T IT? ]y\ WHAT’S THAT NOISE. CGULP) IT'S THE GAME WARDEN/ L n Q*hout\ iSfamei AU °*/iot —1 JEST TIED THEM UP SO THEY WOULDN'T GET ON MUH LINE AGAIN c~ WHILE X WAS FISHING J FER THE ■ SUCKERS J - f SHORE, IT’S OKAY TUH \ FISH FER SUCKERS/ , \Th£Y CAN BE CAUGHT -^£ ==== - ^ALL YEAR/ THAT’S WHAT 2}^ 7 f* DIGGER ED.' SO l . // RECKON I CAN J / // KEEP ON ___ IJ * FISHING Y 7^ FGULP) ER, I CAUGHT \\ f THOSE TROUT ALL RIGHT. \\ \ BUT I DIDN’T DO i ANYTHING WRONG—