ACTION PACKED ADVENTURES WESTERN A CHARLTON PUBLICATION ^ HEY, (jAMCj! / /^ uLp) HAVE VUH HEARD V aWn TEX RITTER WESTERN Volume 1. Number 35 March, 1957 Published himonthlv bv Charlton Comics Group. Executive offices and office of publication. Charlton Building, Derby, Conn. Ojpyright 1956 by Charlton Comics Group. A1 Fago, Executive Editor. (Printed in U.S.A.) TEX RITTER WESTERN THIS SEAL OF APPROVAL APPEARS ONLY ON COMIC MAGAZINES WHICH HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY REVIEWED, PRIOR TO PUBLICATION, BY THE COMICS CODE AUTHORITY, AND FOUND TO HAVE MET THE HIGH STANDARDS OF MORALITY AND GOOD TASTE REQUIRED BY THE CODE. THE CODE AUTHORITY OPERATES APART FROM ANY INDIVIDUAL PUBLISHER AND EX- ERCISES INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT WITH RESPECT TO CODE-COMPLIANCE. A COMIC MAGAZINE BEARING ITS SEAL IS YOUR ASSURANCE OF GOOD READING AND PICTORIAL MATTER. Eiecutiv* Editor THAT'S ENOUGH . RANGER REACH HIGH -- V/E'PE FAKIN' CHARGE WOW,' r RECKON VOU'RE ABOUT RIGHT THERE.' CAN’T V\ ARGUE AGAINST ALL THOSE \ GUNS IN i /1/W BACK ' X THINK VUH'LL FIND THE. SHERIFF- AT THE TANGO SALOON , TE* SURE HOPE THE BOVS WERE RIGHT/ WOULDN'T WANT TO C ARRV THIS SADDLE BAG VERV FAR. LOOKING TEX RITTER WESTERN HOWDY, SHERIFF VENDER. IF YOU'LL DOME A FAVOR AMD TAKE FURY.' WANT s to find a good HOME FOR HIM/ ) j It YES, THIS IS GOOD-BYE / I'M HEADIN' EAST TO SETTLE DOWN JUST AS SOON AS I GET WHAT'S IN THIS BAG ~ ASSAYED/ -y — 7 — A SURE , TEX WHAT'S UP ■ YOU GOIN' AWAY 2 ^ MAN . j YOU / SOUND LIKE YUH STRUCK IT RICH / THERE IT IS / GOT IT FOR THAT SCRUB LAND X OWNED/ NOT WORTH A THING IN /NY OPINION. BUT THE BUYER'S A . PROSPECTOR WHO A HIT GOLD NEARBY K# AND HE THINKS I HE'LL HIT440RE ON MY LAND/ J YOU'RE RIGHT, BEN/ WELL, I'LL \r THINK YUH BEGETTIN' ON / HATE TO LEAVE /OUGHT TUH FURY , BUT HE WOULDN'T BE / HAVE A HAPPY WHERE I'M GOIN' / A GUARD GO __ 7 ALONG OVER ^ 7 THE TRAIL, TEX' • „ 7 [ ARE YOU GOIN' L (f , 4 / V BY STAGE 2 . SAY, YOU'D BETTER NOT ADVERTISE IT.. YUH BETTER GLOSE UP THE saddle Bag... AS TEX AND SHERIFF TURNER LEAVE, A MAN RISES FROM A TABLE AND WATCHES THEM STEALTHILY... ■ jT " NO, I'M RIDING WHITE FLASH AN' r WON'T NEED A GUARD / THEY'D NEVER KEEP A UP WITH MY HORSE , J jr* ANYWAY i ( I DON'T SAY I DIDN'T OFFER THERE'S — BEEN A MIGHTY Vt- LOT OF STICK- L k UPS AROUND -----TgSa^BgSB^ HERE LATELY ' TEX RITTER WESTERN THE MAN RIDES THE FLATLANDS UNTIL HE REACHES A CTLUMP OF BOULDERS... SOON AS X HAVE WHITE FLASH'S SHOES CHECKED, X'LL BE ON MV WAY / WATCH OUT FOR COE FISHER'S GANG / SORRY YOU WON'T =- TAKE MY OFFER / B \ RITTER, EH ? BOY. / IT LOOKS LIKE .WE CAN SQ.UARE A LOT OF ACCOUNTS WITH THAT HOMBRE / COE, TEX RITTER'S RIDING ALONE To THREE FORKS CARRYIW A FORTUNE IN NUGGETS... )mk COME ON, WHITE FLASH t-C 5.IV/E IT ALL .YOU'VE COT.' f COT TO MAKE Y Tl M & BOV YOU BET; Good LUCK/ T h TEX RITTER WESTERN WE'RE DOIN' OKAY , BOY ' NOT NOON YET AN' WE'RE PAST THE TiMSERLlNE / \WHOA, soy /WHAT DO YOU HEAR ? BEST WE TAKE IT CAUTIOUS BOY , TILL WE SEE WHAT'S UP' SJOW THEY VE SHOWED THEiR. HAND, WHOEVER. THEY ARE / 50 FAR IT'S ONLY THREE OR FOUR. TO ONE X OUGHT TO GET OUT OF THIS WITHOUT TOO _ tr MUCH TROUBLE/ - TEX RITTER WESTERN THAT'S ENOUGH, RANGER ' ) CAN'T REACH --WE'RE TAKING / ARGUE Charge now/ ./ against ^ all those fln j gums in aay Jm Vv <*. back/ HEY, THEY ‘RE GRAB6IN' WHITE. FLASH / WOW X AAA IN A POCKET ; NOW. WHILE AAV BOY RE/MCVES THAT THAR. GOLD, RANGER , j _ GIT ON YOUR HORSE / / tas. WE GOT A BtT OF . /\ TRAVELIW TO DO/ - ft WELL, NOW/ ■ CUST LOOK AT f THEM BITS OF f YELLER /METAL.' p RANGER, X RECKON YUH AMU' T <3©WWA V RETIRE AFT5S ALL ; WE DON'T WANT HlS CAR- i CASS AROUND HERE , 1 THAT'S WHY / A MITE LATER WE'LL GTEST RID OURSELVES OF HIM ^ >• WHERE HE.'LL NEVER. \ ; . be fqu.no/ -M WHY WE < 301 W TUH TIE MM UP? WWV NOT JEST' Shsot 1 MM f J TEX RITTER WESTERN FOLKS'LL JEST THINK THE RANGER. RITTER HAS C30NE EAST LIKE te. HE PLANNED/ ^ NOW i YOU AN’ BILL TAKE THAT BAG OF GOLD AN 1 HIDE IT UP IN THE /FOUNTAINS, AFTER WE GET RiD OF OUR. . PRESENT DEAL \ WE'LL DiWV ft. - r UP.' A THESE HO/VABPES /MEAN BUSINESS/ IF I DON'T GET OUT L OF THIS FIX, XVl/t THROUGH / u \ WAIT-- A SHARP J \ Ka r', EDGE OF ROCK ' WORKING AGAINST VMB, TEX PNAUV CUTS THE ROPES. AGAINST the ROCK.... | , mmm CAUTIOUSLY TEX ALSO FREES HIS FEET / THEN.; AS THE BANDIT APPROACHES, OWW NOW WE CAN TAKE CARE OF RITTER UNTIE HI/M ' TEX RITTER WESTERN I'VE GOT THE DROP ON ALL OF YOU NOW / KEEP YOUR HANDS UP.' RITTER AIN'T SO SMART/ HE COULDN'T r TAKE US ALL INTUH TOWN SINGLE - . . HANDED-V^E'RE TOO ^■11 iwM> /MANY / SOON AS IT GETS DARK, .WE'LL TAKE IsmUim NlMfcPC OVER.' ri JOE , LOOK.' THE SHERIFF, WITH A POSSE ' HAVE IT YOUR WAY, FISHER i RECKON THE /MOST VALUABLE THING-’D BE THE LOSS OF THE SADDLE BAG/ THAT GOLD WAS IRON PYRITE , BETTER. KNOWN - AS FOOL'S GOLD ' A RIGHT k PROPER NAME, kr~\TOO, IN. THIS . ONE THING YUH'LL NEVER GIT OUTA ME ORTfHE men IS THE LOCATION of The gold , RITTER.' ^d, NICE WORK, TEX ' YUH SURE | §«HW -DECOYED THEM COYOTES INTUH f ^ OUR HANDS' FOLLOWED THE J WELL,- \ TRAIL O' THEM DIAMOND- / BEN. SHAPED SHOES YOU PUT ON /THERE ) WHITE FLASH / SURE WERE - < FLUSHED 'EM OUT — MOMENTS 1 THAT TIME/ J^T WHEN X WASN'T. ^ / SO SURE MY- j DU|nr I SELF THAT IT 7 nHRr . I WAS GOING | V TO WORK ' J- TEX RITTER WESTERN (GASP) GO SH LOST AND FOUND! HUH ?(GASP) WHY, YUH * POPE, THAT’S NOT A HOSS, CACTUSBRAIN — IT’S AN - — 7 elephant: J WHAT If THAR'S A PICTURE ARB YUH OF A HOSS JN THE SO EXCITE O ) PAPER HYAR-— , ABOUT, BUT I NEVER 4 CACTUSBRAlN? J SAW SUCH A BIO, ^ ^STRANOE-LOOKlNQ — 7/ V *056 IN MY ^ / LIFE 1 JT GOSH, CACTUSBRAIN, ) ER, ER, VUH SHORE ARE r— ^ SHORE I PUMS IF YUH X KNEW /T WAS PIPN’T KNOW ) AN ELEPHANT/ THAT WAS AN / ER, ER, I WAS ELEPHANT/ r^A. ONLY KIPPINQ, YUH/ N (GULP) WHAR / ARE ELEPHANTS FOUNP ? ER , ER, THAT’S A SILLY . 4 — i QUESTION— A THEY’RE SO LAROE, THEY • NEVER SET LOST / j — - NLY HIPPING, EH? 'LL FINP OUT/ TELL vIE— -WHAR ARE > ELEPHANTS — , FOUNP ? J > — \1— -jf!fS yW i ifl JH38 TEX RITTER WESTERN TO LOOK THINGS OVER -- BUT BEFORE THE FIRST MIGHT FUSSED , HE FOUND HIMSELF BRANDED AN OUTLAW AMD HAD TO RIDE FOR HIS LIFE .... QUIT GABBING , DEPUTY/ THAT'S THE FANCY COLT THAT FINISHED OFF . DREW CRAIG / YOU'RE BOTH UNDER ARREST/ RITTER FOR GUKlMIN' DREW CRAIG, YOU. EDWARDS tw FOR... HEY. THAT'S CRAIG'S OTHER GUN / THE %i - ; MlSSlN 1 OWE RUMORS DRIFTED OUT OF THE BASIN1 OF VIOLENCE AMD TERROR.. NOTHING DEFINITE BUT ENOUGH TO BRING THE PRAIRIE RANGER IKJ TO CHECK ON THINGS.. THAT /MUST BE CRAIG / HE'S FANCY BUT HE LOOKS DANGER- ^ OUS / RUB HIM DOWN AND GIVE HIM PLENTY OF GRAIN / WHERE DO THE BIG SHOTS HANG OUT WHEN THEY HIT TOWN ? MEN UKE DREW A - — r CRAIG/ YOU HAD YOUR LAST YARNING, ANDERS/ MY MEN WILL TEAR YOUR PLACE DOWN IF YOU ~ y m DON'T MOVE/ M IN THE N PALACE , MISTER/ THE WHOLE CREW'S IN TOWN / . TEX RITTER WESTERN DON'T HAND ME THAT/ SAID MOVE — OR ELSE EDWARDS, SEE THAT HE GETS OUT / HE HEARD VOU , CRAIG HOW ABOUT /MAKING ME /MO/E NOW ? ) YOU'RE BUTT/WG- ’ IN ON DANGEROUS GROUND, STRANGER' GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE I REALLY GET /MAD ' NO ONE HANDS ME UP ON BLUE GRASS BASIN/ COME ON , CRAIG / VOU .CAN DO BETTER. THAN i that/ IF VOU COULD FIGHT AS WELL AS VOU BRAG, VOU'D BE DANGEROUS/ , CRAIG LIKES HIS OWN WAV. BUT HE'S NOT THE DANGEROUS ONE/ THAT FOREMAN OF HIS LOOKS LIKE A RATTLESNAKE IF X EVER. SAW ONE / VOU'D better GET OUT OF TOWN, /MISTER/ /MR. CRAIG AIN'T. GONNA BE FRIENDLV WHEN HE COMES TO/ > PUT HIM TO BED/ THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING IF THEY HAVE A ROOM UPSTAIRS. AFTER a LONG DAY IN THE SADDLE , THE BED • FELT GOOD... TEX WAS. ASLEEP A MOMENT ^FTER HIS HEAD HIT THE PILLOW IT WAS HOURS • LATER WHEN A MUFFLED NOISE NEXT DOOR 'Woke him... TEX RITTER WESTERN FUNWV--I DREAMED I HEARD / SHOT / SOMEONE'S UP NEXT DOOR , RECKON HE DROPPED . A BOOT OR SOME- THING’ / i nft wrTi WHAT TH... WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT ROOM , STRANGER J GUST KEEP VOUR. HANDS WHERE X "1 CAN WATCH 'EM/ WHOA, MAVERICK YOU'RE IN THE WRONG ROOM / WHAT ARE i VO U TWO ' TALKING ABOUT WATCH ‘IM, DEPUTV / HE FINISHED THE BOSS AND HE MAV TRY TO ESCAPE/ GUST HOLD STILL / WE'LL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH ' THE PRAIRIE RANGER. KNEW HE’ WAS IN A TIGHT SPOT ! POSSESSION OF THE GUN WAS ENOUGH FOR ANY COW- TOWN GURY... YEAH, IF CRAIG'S i FRIENDS STAY AWAY ' X‘LL GET ATRIAL, WON'T I. DEPUTY / TEX RITTER WESTERN THERE HE IS --THE STRANGER WHO ' SHOT THE BOSS/ LET’S SHOW HIM OUR BRAND OP JUSTICE/ > D-DON’T WORRY, MISTER RW FOR THAT JAIL- I'LL HANDLE THAT /MOB/ you Ruw , BUSTER / i ME KNOW WHEN THE TRIAL COMES UP.' I'LL BE YT7 . THERE / )\ ( •STOP HIM . HE'S TRY IN TO GET AWAY/ LUCKY YOU WERE CLOSE BY , FLASH / LOSING THE PURSUERS QUICKLY ON THE DARK PRAIRIE, THE RANGER KNEW HE HAD TO FIND THE REAL GUNMAN, OR FACE TRIAL.., THAT FOREMAN MENTIONED ROBBERY, FLASH.' I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HE HAD MONEY ON HIM --OR THAT HE WAS IN THE NEK T ROOM/ TEX RITTER WESTERN THAT /MAKES US EVEN , EDWARDS ' YOU'RE THE /HAN WHO ROBBED VOUR. BOSS , USED HIS GUN , THEN PLANTED ROOM 1 W BACK TOWN . EDWARDS VO U GOT SOME EXPLAINING TO DO IT WON'T WORK , MISTER / VOU 'LL NEVER GET ME OFF THE RANCH ■/ TEX RITTER WESTERN come on EDWARDS.' WANT MOU ALIVE X KNEW I'DGEt ^OU , RITTER i C5ST SOUR HANDS UP VOU'LL EX' PLAIN ALL THIS. FRO/H A CELL ' X KNEW VOU HAD THAT HIDDEN SOMEWHERE, ^ EDWARDS yeoou/u,. {.END, The Siege of Sommerville % Historians take the view that Chief Sequi-to-tori, of the Comanch'es was a very brilliant man. We know a lot about this redskin because of his meet- ings with Colonel Dodge. However, it seems to me that the chief was a practical man who could look ahead into the future and make a sensible decision. If this makes a person brilliant, I won t argue about it. As a young brave, Sequi-to-tori surprised his father, then the chief of the tribe. Isaconne had held a meeting at which the redskins were discuss- ing a horse raid upon the Osage. Braves were volunteering for this task. It was considered a sign of manhood and bravery to go on one of these raiding parties. Young Sequi-to-tori spoke what was on his mind. "We ride many miles to Osage village. We steal horses. Maybe a lot of horses. Maybe a few. ‘ orne of. us get wounded or killed. We return with hrve-es. Time passes. The Osage raid us. They get heck their horses. Maybe some of our hotses. k \>me of them get wounded or killed. This goes on year after year. Who gains?” There was an uproar in the indian village. The word “coward” was hurled at the young man who dared to speak in this manner. He refused to go on the horse raiding expedition and take part in what the white man called, “stealing.” But he held steadfast to his view. He went to the Osage village and explained his attitude. The net result was a treaty between the two tribes in which they agreed to be at peace and refrain from horse raiding expeditions. His view towards the. white man was simple and to the point. They say he talked about sand and seashells with this comment: “Much sand. Little seashells. More sand than seashells. We are the seashells. White man, is the sand. We are outnumbered. We join them.” So Sequi-to-tori and many of his braves be- came scouts for the army. Then came the war between the states. Sequi-to-tori and his braves retired to their reservation which was about a hundred miles from the city of Sommersville. * Sommersville had been founded by John Som- mers, a miner yvho hit silver in the nearby hills. The majority of the population was naturally miners. There were businessmen who sold mining supplies, and in the outlying district were a few farmers who made a good living selling fresh products t6 hungry working men. It was in 1864 that Sommersville underwent its famous siege. Jack Walsh was sheriff at the time and he and some of his friends were discuss- ing events. "Not a supply wagon has come through in the last month,” remarked Jed Harper, owner of the Last Chance Saloon. “I might as well close up for the duration of the War.” “What is Sequi-to-tori going to do?” asked Arthur H. Saunders, owner of the Sommersville Hotel, the one and only brick building in the city. “If he ever goes on the warpath, then we will have real trouble on our hands. His braves have rifles and revolvers. They could spread death and destruction." “The answer to that we should know soon,” re- plied Sheriff jack Walsh. “I hear they sent Major Lewis to visit him. Mrs. Lewis expects her husband here in about two weeks. Suppose we wait until then. We might as well keep cool and calm. After all, the hotel is made out of bricks and could with- stand a siege.” But the next morning the town got a shock. Tom Lon.igan, his wife and two children, appeared at the sheriff’s office with their story. Their cabin had been burned to the ground and their livestock run off. They had travelled about seventy miles on foot, living on berries, dried corn, and some game that Tom had shot. "Sequi-to-tori is on the warpath!” shouted Jed Harper. “We have to save our womenfolk and children. Throw up the barricades.” Something akin to panic struck the town. For the first few hours of the day they could imagine redskins on horses raiding the town. Then a council of war was held, presided over by the sheriff. “Whatever differences we may have among ourselves," he told the assembled group, "must now give way to our common problem. We have to defend ourselves against an attack, should it come.” Old Hiram Arb had fought in the Mexican War. As the man who was supposed to have military ex- perience, he was put in charge of the barricades. “We cut down the trees at the southern end of the town, "he suggested. “Make a breastwork. We can fight from behind it with safety.” ‘Til set up emergency headquarters in the hotel,” interruped Doctor Jonas Pell, the town’s only physician. ‘Til need about a dozen nurses. They can start at once and make bandages.” The Widow Perkins volunteered to be in charge of the riurses. All children were to be taken at once to the hotel. “Bes% place for the kids will be in the dining room,” said the owner. “We’ll move the chairs and tables out here if necessary for inclose fighting.” Suddenly somebody remembered the farmers in the outlying district. Bill Thompson said he would ride out and warn then). So that matter was ip good hands, since Bill Thompson .had once been a pony express rider. The next matter was that of arms. The town had a gunsmith, Dave Sutton. “Most of you men have dragoon Colts,” he told the group. “We have enough percussion caps and lead to make balls. We are somewhat short of powder. I estimate that we have enough powder for about one hundred charges per man. So you better go home and dig up all the spare powder you have.” Dave Sutton had the only Henry rim-fire cal- iber .44 repeating rifle in the town and about three hundred cartridges for it. This gun was his pride and joy. On it, the trigger' guard lever cocks and hammer, ejects the empty shell and inserts the new cartridge from a tubular magazine beneath the barrel which held 15 rim-fire car- tridges. By evening the town felt it was ready for a siege. A system of sentry relays had been worked out. The midnight relay was in charge of a young man, Herbert Shrippen. Maybe it was his imagi- nation, or maybe it was a shadow he saw. He fired three tirnes and soon the entire town was behind the barricades pouring out a deadly fire from rifles and revolvers. But when no return fire be- came apparent they held their fire. “Something's wrong,” suggested the sheriff. A volunteer party went ouL Their verdict was that either the attackers had retreated or perhaps they had never been there at all. In the morning the town got another scare. A beautiful brown stallion came up to the barricades, and was taken into town. Across his saddle were two holsters, each with a dragoon colt pistol intact. The engrav- ing on each read: “To Major Theodore Lewis from his brother, Howard Lewis.” The conclusion was simple. The Major had been a victim of the redskins. They broke the news to his wife. “I’m going out after him,” she announced. “Don’t try to stop 'me.” Old Hiram Arb mounted his horse and soon the two had vanished from sight. “We’ll never see them again," moaned the Widow Perkins. "You should have stopped her.” '•“Couldn’t be done,” explained the sheriff. “We would have had to hold her prisoner. She had a de- termined mind.” By nightfall the town gave up hope for the missing two. The sentry relays went on duty When the sun rose they got a surprise of their live*. — Major Lewis and his wife on one horse and Old Hiram Arb on the other horse. “My husband’s horse stumbled and threw him,” explained Mrs. Lewis. “His head hit a rock and he was unconscious. Good thing we went out after him. He has news for all of you.” All the brave defenders of Sommersville assem- bled to hear the tidings. “The war is over,” announced the Major. “The war is over.” “But what about Chief Sequi-to-tori and his braves?” asked one of the men. “Well, what about them?” snapped back the Major. “Soon the bewildered town learned that the indians had never left the reservation. Seems he and his tribe were drawing good gold for doing nothing which was important during that period of time. “What about Tom Lonigan,” somebody remem- bered. “His house was burned down. Who did it?” Later an investigation showed a candle had fallen down and burned the house. Naturally, the livestock fled at the blaze. When Chief Sequi-to- tori was informed of what had happened, hs passed a sensible remark: “Shows you we can ail be scared by rumors.” — THE END — TEX RITTER WESTERN H VAR’S '/ORE BOWL OF SOUP ANP BREAP, WAOONWHEEL5.' r IT’S ABOUT ‘ TIME.' YUH CERTAINLY TOOK A LONG TIME BRINOINO IT < HYAR, CHUCK.' J rALORE POOOONE IT, THiS BREAP ^ — 15 NO GOOD. HUH? NO ^ ©OOP? WHAT’S ) 7/ —32-7 WRONG S // WITH IT ?y // HUH ? ©05H . I’M SORRY NEVER MIND. 1 ( 7UP, 7/ up, -zap) YUH SHOULP BEJ r C CRUNCH) yeah / ww /r’s ro/?f rz//?w TUH COMPLAIN-- 1 HAVEN’T ANY MONEY TUH PAY r-r- PER THE GRUB / y t HEY, CHUCK, THE SOUP WAS NO GOOD -n. EITHER.' I FINISHEP >■ i IT, BUT IT WAS f ©OSH, YUH’VE *•— , TERRIBLE.' JS COMPLAINED ABOUT ) V. ^ ^ EVERYTHIN©.' / 7 /~ | V RITTER WESTERN WILD m Rivee CANYON "THE. HOOK DANVERS GANG HAD STRUCK AG AIN--TUIS TINVE LEAVING A BADLY HURT SHOTGUN GUARD AT THE LOOTED STAGECOACH AND GETTING THOUSANDS IN GOLD BULLION / IT WAS A COLD TRAIL. WHEN TEX RITTER H\T THE SADDLE BUT HE CAUGHT THENV IN WILD RIVER CANTON ! TEX RITTER WESTERN PANVER's HIP HIS TRAIL ALL THE WAY— BUT HE'S NOT PAR AHEAD NOW \T'S MV GUESS HE’S HOLOIN'UP SOME- WHERE IN WILD RIVER V CANYON ! > GET 'EM UP, HOMBRE •' WE BEEN WAITIN’ FOR YOU ! EASE OFF ON THAT TRIGGER.' I'M PEACE- FUL i WHERE’S HOOK DANVERS f I FIGURED ON AN AMBUSH , DANVERS ! BUT WHERE CAN YOU GO FROM HERE ? YOU CAN’T CROSS THE WILD RIVER AND NO ONE CAN GO DOWN IT.' > YOU FOLLOWED AN EASY TRAIL, MARSHAL! LIKE . WHAT YOU gf FOUND ^ YOU'VE GOT A THAT'S RIGHT: ON A CRUDE LOG RAFT, TEX WAS LAUNCHED ON H\S WILD RIDE--- NO ONE EVER LIVED \ THROUGH THE WILD RIVER CANYON. AND / YOU WON’T EITHER- / IT’LL LOOK LIKE AN < — ACCIDENT? ) NOT FROf y WHERE X f* V r SIT, IT \l \ WON'T / NO ONE BUT YOU ! AFTER WE GET RID OF YOU , WE'LL UUST HEAD WEST.' 1 CONVINCING ARGUMENT THERE, , DANVERS / ENJOY YOURSELF, LAW- MAN ! WISH X COULD , v STAY AND WATCH • Y WESTERN TEX COULD FEEL THE RAFT COMING APART,' BUT THE. SURGING SPRAY GAVE HIM WVS THEY SURE NAMED THIS RIVER RIGHT .* IT'S GETTING WILDER AND WILDER THE RAWHIDE'S STRETCHING I THE WATER — IFX THIS THING'LL BREAK UP ON THE ROCKS J I HAVE TO GET ASHORE v FAST OR I WILL TOO • PRY LAND SURE FEELS GOOD' WHITE FLASH ! WAIT THERE, BOY ! TEX RITTER WESTERN once ratter's OUT OF THE WAY, WE'RE IN TH- OUGH / -j r NEED THAT SUN, FRIEND » MINE ARE WET! THIS SIX SUN WILL EVEN UP THINGS A LITTLE ! I WON’T GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE' I'LL- AH W Hh I'M GOING OVER • y DANVERS NEARLY GOT THE SAME FATE HE HAD PLANNED FOR TEX / BUT THE PRAIRIE MARSHAL SAVED HIM UUST IN TIME l THEN — DON'T TRY TO SET AWAY YOU BOYS HAVE A DATE WITH THE SHERIFF AWW, HE WAS LUCKY / NO MAN COULD RIDE THE WILD RIVER CANYON, NO ONE BUT TEX RITTER ' YOU BOYS TANGLED < WITH THE WRONG MAN , THAT’S ALL ! y WHITE FLASH HELPED TOO ' HE BROKE AWAY AND.FOUND ME- -THEY WERE DUMB ENOUGH TO COME BACK AFTER HIM ! THAT GAVE j ME MY CHANCE TO / • ROUND THEM UP, TEX RITTER WESTERN HOWR/ FOLKS ! THE OTHER DAY I HEARD A BOY 5AY HE WAS QUITTING SCHOOL BECAUSE HE WAS TlREP OP STUDYING AMO WAMTSO TO BECOME A REALLY GOOD CCM/BOy-AS IP IT POESM'T TAKE A HEAP OF STUDYING TO BECOME A GOOD COWPUNCHER / FIRST OF ALL. THERE'S LEARNING HOW TO RUDE AND HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BRONC. WHEN A COWBOY'S OUT ON THE RANGE HE HAS TO BE HIS OWN VETERINARY. AS FOR THE CATTLE— HE HAS TO KNOW HOW TO TELL A promising yearling FROM A POOR ONE, HOW TO ROPE AND TIE AN ORNERY DOGIE AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS- OUT ON THE VAST PRAIRIE A COWBOY IS REALLY ON HIS OWN. HE HAS TO LEARN TO FIND DIRECTIONS BY THE STARS AND OTHER SIGNS OP NATURE. BELIEVE ME, PARDS,IT TAKES A LOT OF STUDVINS TO LEARN WHAT MOTHER NATURE HAS TO SAY. SHE IS ONE OF THE BEST FRIENDS A COWHAND EVER HAD. A GOOD COWBOY N EVER r STOPS STUQ'SlNG-- LOOK INTO ANY 8UNKHOUSE FOR PROOF OF THAT. THAT'S WHY I LA U&\± WHEN I HEAR SOMEBODY • TALK ABOUT DOING SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES NO STUDYING- EVERYTHING WORTH DOING REQUIRES PLENTY OF WORK, STUDY AND SAVVY. ANY RANNY WHO SAYS DIFFERENTLY IS PLUMB LOCO / WELL, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO BED WHITS FLASH DOWN FOR. THE NIGHT NOW, BUT I'LL BE RIDING YOUR WAY AGAIN NEXT TIME* UNTIL THEN, SHARPEN UP YOUR PENCIL AND DROP ME A LINE. THERE'S NOTHING MORE PLEASURABLE THAN HEARING FROM GOOD FRIENDS. YOUR PARD, TEX RITTER WESTERN THAT’S RIGHT.' WE’D JEST BE WASTING OUR - r TIME FISH 7*** AW, WHO ARE ^ > VUH TRYING TO KIP, WHITEY WHISKERS.' WE DON’T KNOW HOW TO FIS ANP NEITHER DO YUH • l SAY, FELLERS, I JEST 1 GOT A TERRIFIC IDEA.' INSTEAD OF HANGING AROUND HYAR HUNGRY ANP NOT DOING ANYTHING, LET’S GO FISHING.' < WE CAN CATCH SOME TROUT J ’ OR BASS ANP HAVE IT fer supper.' ry-^ W AND GETTING HUNGRIER FROM . THE EFFORT, too .' ^ C’MON, LET’S CALL WHITEY WHISKERS’ ) '7 BLUFF.' y WHO SAYS I PON’T H. STOP KNOW HOW TO FISH? } THE HOT WHY, I’M THE BEST J AIR, YUH FISHERMAN IN y—^OLD WINP- THESE HYAR J BAG, MY HAT ’5 n PARTS I STARTING TO T BLOW OFF.' , • ALL RIGHT, LET’S GO.' BUT YUH*P BETTER CATCH THOSE FISH, WHITEY ~ OR ELSE.' i WINP0AG, EH ? S. I’LL SHOW YUH.' ) COME WITH ME Z AND I’LL CATCH > ENOUGH FISH FER -! PINNER FER ALL OF US AND YUH WON’T HAVE TO DO A V THING.' v- y OH YEAH? ► OKAY, THAT’S A V deal.' THAR’P BETTER BEi YUH’VE WALKED US > FIVE MILES TO GET HYAR ANP ^ 1 WE’RE HUNGRIER U THAN EVER.' J& * THIS IS A GOOD SPOT.' ^ THAR’S PLENTY OF TROUT HYAR.' ANP BIG, ONES . — r TOO. 1 j — ^ OKAY TEX RITTER WESTERN ('GRUNT, GRUNT) , JEEPERS, I CAN'T PULL IT IN IT MUST r BE A GIANT FISH.' HEY, FELLERS, WAKE UP.' WAKE UP J ^ (6 RUNT) I THINK I’VE ‘ CAUGHT A WHALE OR SOMETHING.' GIVE ME A HANP.' I CAN’T PULL IT IN BY MY5ELF < WHAT’S THE MATTER ? ( GRUNT ) GOSH. IT SHORE IS -r HEAVY.' **?.■ BOY.’ IT MUST BE SOME BIG FISH.' (GRUNT) OH BOY, WE’LL have ENOUGH FISH • TO EAT FER - A YEAR • j ^ LISTEN, WHILE YUH FELLERS ARE PULLING IN > - THAT KING-SIZEP FISH, I’LL GET A FIRE BURNING SO I’LL BE ABLE TO COOK —r IT RIGHT AWAY.' , — ' (grunt, GRUNT J TEX RITTER WESTERN THAR, THE FIRE’S COMING ALONG NICELY - HUH ? y- (&m,P) THE FLAMES < HAVE SHOT UP AMP s' CAUGHT ON TO V MY BEARP.' NOW TO START THIS FIRE.' - JEEPFRS, I CAN’T YYWT TILL THEY CATCH THAT FISH.' ^-i ' I SHORE AM f TT HUNGRY NM n*f MY BEARP’S ON FIRE 7 sm*/ (gasp!) f I’M BURNING UP/ ’ I’VE GOT TO JUMP IN THE LAKE.' THAT’S THE ONLY WAY TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.' ; GOSH, THOSE ^ HOMBRES STILL HAVEN’T PULLEP IN THAT FISH.' 1’P ^ ■ BETTER GET < OVER THAR J C PRONTO.* / ( SPLUTTER SPLUTTER) ) • > whew .* j y [ THAT PIP T * (GRUNT) , (GRUNT) ■ (GRUNT) (GRUNT) (GRUNT) (GRUNT) TEX RITTER WESTERN THIS CALLS FER A REAL A FISHERMAN.' I’LL BRIN© IT IN. JEST GET IN BACH OF ME ANP PULL HARP WHEN J I SAT SO.' -rrS ' HYAR, LET ME SHOW YUH HOW IT SHOULP ' BE PONE.' r (GRUNT) CGRUNT)(GRUNT) C CREEPERS, IT SHORE > IS HEAVY.' IT MUST BE A WHOPPER OF A FISH .' > WE WON’T BE HUNGRY FER A LONGTIME.' * (GRUNT) IT’S COMING.' (GASP) IT’S AN OLP BROKEN' *-7 CANOE.' < HYAR IT IS — HUH ? CULP ) ( SPLUTTER ) WAL, I RECKON THIS . IS WHAT I PESERVEP.'MY BIC , > MOUTH ALWAYS GETS ME IN HOT WATER — ANP COLP S WATER, TOO.' (GROAN) ) ^ 1 GUESS I’M JEST J , ALL WET.' , — (GRRRP) ^ HYAR’S WHERE YUH BELONG, f YUH POOR ^ V fish.' y WE SHOULP HAVE \ (GRR) VUH KNOWN THAT WAS ) WASTEP ALL THE ONLY KINP OF J OUR TIME FISH YUH COULP < ANP MAPS US CATCH, YUH BIG y_WORK SO HARP TW WlNPBAG.' /Z\ PER NOTHING.' 0 gulp ) NO.' NO- CGU1B , GLUB : (GRR) NOW WE’RE HUNGRIER THAN ‘ EVER.' ANP IT’S J ALL YORE FAUlT> /^H1 TEX RITTER WESTERN THE WINNER l THAT'S RIGHT.' I SAY I'M THE DUMBEST AMD GOPHERPACE SAYS HE IS.' WE WUZ FIGHTIN' 'BOUT WHO'S THE DUMBEST COWPOKE ROUND HYAR/ NOW! WHAT'S ALL THIS ABOUT? CUT IT OUT, YUH TWO / / VMAU MEB0& ■ IME CAM SETTLE THIS WITHOUT FIGHTING.' j f NO IT DOESN'T/ NOW I V -> CAN PROVE I'M DUMBER THAN YUH' I WUZ THROWN OUT OF SCHOOL PER k FLUNKING RECESS/ > WAL, I WUZ. THROWN OUT OF SCHOOL. BECUZ I FUUNKED SPELLING MUH OWN NAME/ THAR, X RECKON THAT PROVES I'M DUMBER THAN . GOPHER FACE l tZi CSISH) SHUCKS. TELL ME, DIMWIT, HOW DUMB ARE YUH ? TEX RITTER WESTERN TEX RITTER WESTERN HA -HA" HA/ C3COO ©YE. GREEMSOS.' we ^ W\U_ MEET AGAIN ^^•SOON / X THE DESPERATE BAND POPE HAPO AMP SOON WERE CGOSSIM<3 TKE RIO GRANDE lM"TO COUMTCV WHK2E UNiTEP "STATES LAW COUUD MOT REACH THEM ,,, IT WAS _ NOT LONS BEFORE JOSE MARCO ANP HIS BAND STRUCK AGAIN BY RUST- LINS A HUGE herd OF CATTLE ACROSS THE BOR PER... AS NEWS OF NEW AMP MORE TERRIBLE RAIDS ANP «USTUN<^S FROM ACROSS THE BORDER REACHED THE SHERIFF, HE CONFERRED AGAlM WITH TEX . . . TEX RITTER WESTERN so you n=X AT LAST FOUND H\S MAN .STRUM- MING HIS GUITAR HE MOVEDCLOSB? TO THE PESPECADO... L. KNOW OP SOME- THING. OF INTEREST, IF SENIOR WABCO > \WIU_ SEE ME Jk alone / •SEE. GPE E NX30, THERE lATClCK'S ARE MANY MEN.EHTEET /TOE LAST WOULD NOT BE WISE /THING I'M TO TRY ATREER.EH ? /THINKING V ABOUTWARCO \( WERE NORTH OF THE V 0ORPEE NOW, IN THE ''STATES.' I'VE GOT" TO WATCH FOR THE FIRST CHANCE OF TAKING J MARCO INI ! ^r< WE’VE GCJTTCD GO \ AROUND THKTMOUN- N.TAIN. BUT IF YOU GO ! ) WANT TO SEE / THEM.GOME.LET /THE MEN WAIT . y/ HERE . ATOAWN JUST WAIT MARCO YOU'LL. SEE I’M RIGHT/ ^ TEX RITTER WESTERN SO. BBT ggSA t nee.*. 1 Thebe ebs no c©eoaa»' V£$2‘ WELL, AM«SO< YOU piB! < RtDE ^STRAIGHT DOWN \ YOU THINK THE OTHER SIDE OF \ YOU HOLO THE MOUNTAIN. MARCO. fv\E . EH YOU'RE ON THE WAV TO GREEKjeO. THE SHERIFF- DON'T I TCy TO CALL. YOUR / JSfcm I MEN THE/ CAN'T / jBBBMB ffimsEM HEAR MDU . ./ MM1M THE ROY KNOWS X WANT "TO TAKE > ^L HIM BACK AUVE' THAT I . ~ \ WON T SHOOT.' WELL , — \ THERE ARE OTHER V I ^ X — WAYS/ TEY. WITH MARCO OUT OF aBOJ- .L ATI ON . WE'LL \ HAVE PEACE ON \THE RANGES . . ) RANCHERS CAN y FEEL SAFE ONCE AGAIN. I OlPNTJ LEARN J TO ROPE K STEERS' I FOR 7 NOTHING/' SORRY I HAVEN'T GOT THE WHOLE WOB.SHE RIFF- BUT WITHOUT MARCO .THEY AREN'T WORTH MUCH .THEY'LL FADE UKE A MSTV >