A Fawcett Publication TEX RITTER WESTERN Tex l&ikr, the Prairie Raager, is called \ r** I'VE A REPORT HERE. TEX, S OF A SMALL TOWN THAT'S TOO NEW TO HAVE ITS OWN SHERIFF YET.' SEEMS THEY'VE BEEN . HAVING TROUBLE WITH A -S BANP OF VARMINTS WHO T STRIKE AND THEN / ^DISAPPEAR.' s' When trouble sounds across the Western hills, 7BX RITTER, the Prairie hanger, tahes after it.' But this time he travels a strange path through the sentimental words of an old sons to find the answer to the vanishing varmints/ r RIGHT.' GO THERE \ III TAKE MY GUITAR ANph AND SCOUT AROUND.' 160 AS A TRAVELING SEE WHAT YOU CAN ITROUBAPOUR WHO LEARN.' KEEP YOUR /PLAYS AT DANCES.' Y IDENTITY SECRET.' /THAT OUGHT TO KEEP /• I'LL HELP YOU IN THEM OFF-GUARD/ J=. getting A line ON THE VARMINTS// l»|j i 'M TEX RITTER WESTERN. Dee.. TEX RITTER WESTERN ) Suddenly! w ha'-? SET HIM: quick: A rider Straight tov/ard Tex and- I Bui front behind — [•;. Enraged by the surprise attack, Tex swings into action j ' THAT'LL HOLD HIM A MINUTE/ GET THE MONET AND LET'S —r VAMOOSE! -g 1 SUKE PON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, BUT I'M NOT AIMING TO STANP HERE ANP LET YOU PRySULCHEKS TOSS PUNCHES J UUGHi UGHH!' TEX RITTER WESTERN Tex quicHy clears his head and ~ I ;INE THE M! THEY HIS GRDUNP UP, 1 There's not a thing arounp now BUT these, rocks anp that 01 P BENT PINE TREE.' I CAN'T EVEN HEAR THEIR HORSES . ^ r GALLOPING away.' NOW WHATf i PALAVER.' I TANGLEP I WITH ONE OF THEM ANP THAT BRUISE ON HIS HEAP PROVES HE'S THE ONE/ LET'S GIVE HIM A V |~ NECKTIE WHOA,THERE.' THERE’S ONE OF THEM' GRAB TW£ COYOTE!^ WAIT' GIVE THE MAN V- —-7 A CHANCE TO SPEAK HIS I THANK YOU, MISS.' \ PIECE, TREMAINE.' NOT ONE OF THOSE _ --''GALOOT Si I CAME UPON J|f THEM, THEY JUMPED ME /Mi / ANP GAVE ME THIS BRUISE ON MY HEAP.' I'M JUST . 'A ^A ROAMING GUITAR /, Vk .'Tg W pgfaf PLAYER.' V | 'AD.' y WHAT TO THINK, __--'CAROL.' LET'S HEAR r HIM SING ANP PLAY THAT Guitar if he claims to , BE A TRAVELING A V TROUBAPOUR/yy GUITAR! TEX RITTER WESTERN ; and m a few minutes... ^NONSENSE, TREMAINE/ YOU KNOW NONE OF THOSE BANP . HAP A GUITAR STRAPPED ) TO HIS SADDLE/ WE FOLLOWED THEM - CLOSE FOR A SPELL) .WELL, HE SINGS ANP PLAYS ) RIGHT SMARTLY ! RECKON ■ HE'S A TRAVELING K _^ TROUBADOUR, r —f ALL RIGHT/ / JB9 J — THAT'S * S THE STORy OF THE < CHISHOLM J 3 f 1KAH./ NOTICEP IT/ ) THIS IS PERFECT/ J / IT'LL GIVE ME A GOOD J CHANCE TO SEE IF ^ “7 THOSE COYOTES 1 VANISHEP SO Jpg 7r QUICKLY/ JBjfi TtLL GLADLY /ACCEPT BOTH. THE JOBS// \ YES-EVEN TREMAINE/ /HE'S A LITTLE HOT- - HEAPED, I GUESS/ ^ )HE WORK’S IN TOWN r ^T THE POST OFFICE N ANGRY/ TEX RITTER WESTERN 0 FAR, I HAVEN'T BEEN SLE TO FIND A SINGLE _ LEAP ON THOSE 1| ’ PRYGULCHERS,' MB mount up! i'll take LOOK OUT. UUFH! THE WHO OUT OF r THLS CAVUSE.'J we'll stay right on their heels/ NOW, LET'S r 6177 TEX RITTER WESTERN KEEPAFTfR THEM, WHITE HASH . TH Si JUST WENT AROUND THAT T SENP IN THE rKf[,LI J HOLD IT, BOV! THEV’VB * DISAPPEARED! VANISHED COMPLETELV'J^^^l ✓'and the white clay earth around here/ the same spot, all e I SURE PONT FIGURE they reach this spot anp sljppenly VANISH' 1 MIGHT AS WELL GO BACK I TO THE RANCH ANP TRY TO PUZZLE . « THIS OUT THERE.' I'VE GOT TO GET AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS SOMEHOW/ Jggjjg A few (fays Zafer, af ffce prhc* houSB- YOU SENT WORD ) VES, TEX' THE PANCE IS YOU WANTED TO y ONLY A FEW DAYS OFF ANP r SEE ME, r' / * lp like you to learn anp 1 \ Carol* ) Sing a special song.’ rr has V '-C_ Ls A sentimental meaning to me r^Sco . AND I'VE WANTED TO HEAR r IT AgAIN FOR YEARS/ >i OUT OF Tl ’ TRjJNk f TEX RITTER WESTERN THE SONG HAS A STORY BE l IT, YOU SEE/ IT MEANT ' SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL TO MY GRANDPARENTS' GRANDMOTHER'S FOLK'S hr-'' TRIED TO STOP HER 1 FROM MARRYING S GRANDDAD/ /THEY EVEN POSTED GUARDS TO STOP GRANDDAD WHEN HE Came to see grandmother/ 0UT IT NEVER WORKED/ THAT OLD SONG HAD A PRIVATE y CODE IN IT AND GRAND- V / MOTHER ALWAYS KNEW N, STORY LIKE THAT, 1 Sure will ^ ST F,NPnr/ ^4l ’AD WHEN HE'D SENDHER THE WORDS, OR SING IT TO HER FROM A . V. DISTANCE/ y X though others stanp TO K££P us apart, * \NHERE THE GROUND 15 WE'LL MEET, AG A QY THE OLD BEST PI NB WH£/V Twfi MOON STRIKES T THROUGH the TUNNEL ' N TW * HILLS I'LL RIDE, r Till TM STANDING SY YOUR S/D£,„ l» B HOLD EVERYTHING! THOSE WORDS SUf PD MEAN SOMETHING SPECIAL/ W THE OLD BENT PINE — WHERE THE GROUND IS WHITE — THROUGH THE TUNNEL IN H * ;e 'words show the old boy knew of bomb secret NEL IN THE HILLS WHICH OPENS AT THAT SPOT WHEWT OLD BENT PINE STANDS AND THE EARTH IS THAT V -«- WH|TB Cuy MlKTURi / J TEX RITTER WESTERN TEX RITTER WESTERN NOW I SEE WHY YOU WERE SO ANXIOUS TO TAG ME t' -- THESE VARMINTS/ YO CATCHING ONE OF THE MIGHT APPEASE THE POSSE , MIGHT EVEN : RIGHT- [irons -JqqOwooI SMART, AREN'T YOU, GUITAR P-PPAIRIE, RANGER! YOWPE NOT BRINGING -r ME IN! r HE'S GETTING ' AWAY! BRING HIM VOWNIt, OWW!‘ TEX RITTER WESTERN | £jj&ah'ng careful aim-Tex's six-gun, '^reverberates through the tunnel and— Later, after Tex tells the story of the old tunnel — ’ SO/ AFTER FINDING THE L, THEY DECIPEP TO MAKE USE OF IT/ TREMAINE'S A THE POST OFFICE GAVE / GOOD CHANCE TO SEE / VERE LIKELY-LOOKING/^ RANGER/ THE OoOOqHH- I WE'RE GOING TC VO IS GET US . REAL SHERIFF PROSPECTS F ROBBERY/ ) And so, a few nights later . (AND ALL IVES,AND 1 SUPPOSE^ NOTHING THIS TIME Av. SINGING AND UM-AND- AND X- GUESS THAT'S WHY HE GOT IT/ WHEN J ^ HEARD ABOUT JT, I DECIDED [TO COME BACK AND FIGHT.^ I RECKON YOU'RE ^TSTHEY'KE NOT GOING TO NEED HELP.' \ TAKING MB USTEN! SOMEONE'S LIVE-NOT ^ N 5rVj 0 S y —V OF A ROPE J. TEX RITTER WESTERN ^ HERE COMES \ /THAT POSSE ) S WE BEEN /expecting: IT APPEARS THAT BLACKTON IS LEAPING IT/, IS BIACKTON ST1LI TREATING YOU A! MEAN AS EVER, UEAN? x Ritter and Jin Carson step Before you go branping i SO YOU'RE THE PRAIRIE RANGER INTERFERING ^ WITH LAW ANP \X ONLY INTERFERE? \ ALL RIGHT, RAN JTO SAVE THIS MAN'S ) GIVE HIM HIS Tl LIFE' A MAN'S ^nMAYBETHE > . INNOCENT UNTIL HE'S ) SHERIFF WAS Vproven GUILTY/ J a MITE APEt7 v^ II SAY TRIAL, GO ALONG V CARSON . 1 IF INNOCENT, ’ NOTHING T TEX RITTER WESTERN ?hat night, at nm&~ i gallops off toward ith the prisoner... town wit /ME WHERE HE 'keeps rrr i coulp BE THERE ABOUT | TEN O'CLOCK ,— STONIGHT^/ ISN'T A CHANCE SHOW IT. to you.' IT'S GOT THE CARSON BRANP \ k ON IT! THISIS THE GUN THATi III JIM MENTIONEP, ALL RIGHT/Zjjj BLACKTON KNOWS T—, N s_/ SOMCTHING ABOUT / H E S COM NG-- JHATMURPER^HESCOMING! ■I I //I SHERIFF WITH < V HIM.' WHAT WILL "QUIET! DID YOU HEAR SOMETHING - BEHIND ^THOSE CURTAINS?^/ THE BOVS ARE GOING TO PULL CARSON OUT OF JAIL TONIGHT AND d STRING HIM UP.' WE CAN'T TAKE CHANCES ON ATRIAL, EH?^^ \ NOT AFTER YOU PLUGGED > ) RUFE YOURSELF/ TOO BAP 'WE HAP TO GET RIP OF A J \GOOP MAN, BUT IT'LL BE <: / WORTH IT TO^GET RIP OF J ^ THAT CARSON KIPi !IZE GUN BY PLUGGING THE OLP COOT/ >! OHHHJ TEX RITTER WESTERN CURLY WOULDN'T COOPERATE WITH ME - THAT'S WHY I PUT MY OWN MAN IN OFFICE/^-^ ‘Bleekton's revelation had ‘brought a gasp from the girl. I'LL ATTEND TO YOU \l CAN GUESS % LATER. 1 SURE I RILLED \VMAT HAPPENED HIM, BUT NOBODY TO CURLY , JELSE IS EVER GOING /WALKER, TOO. 1 I KNEW I HEARD ]yoU MURDERER! SOMETHING! COME •‘"NYOU SHOT JIM'S outoftheke,ritter!)father~! and < I HAVE THE DROP /YOU'RE GOING TO ^ ON YOU! HAVE HIM LYNCHED MEn/Tfl FOR WHAT ,^ T IfWl M / A you pip , 1 Jsmm The fearless Hanger suddenly drops to the floor ae the billers blast array! ME BEING A REAL SHERIFF OR RITTER! IT AINY GOING TO r I MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE 1 fcljirjro YOU SOON’^jM PLUG HIM. STOP! THAT'S\ JU . S T ONE MORE enough! s top! < w i t quit! ,«sl SX y T HBV QUNNEPy X RECKON EACH WERE A 1 OTHER.' TC^fARE'-E TEX RITTER WESTERN Minutes later. I IT'S Ti'mokay, TEX*- n TEX, BUT RITTER 1 1 Another kii (cn.y s „ ND __ horse-the rope pulls taunt ■■ and at that instant— 3 TO BE TOO LATE- UNtESS— HANG J ► THE * VARMINT! TEX RITTER WESTERN The wagon was halted. Kansas ordered Cook¬ ie and Herbie to lash logs to the wheels of the wagon to serve as pontoons. The other men were already in the stream, howling and whip¬ ping at the milling longhorns, keeping the lead¬ ers headed straight. Despite their bawling pro¬ tests, the cattle plunged forward across the flooded stream, and the leaders already were clambering up the opposite bank. Kansas had time for a glance of satisfaction at his men’s work. “We’U get 'em to market on time 1” . he grunted. Cookie's wagon was now ready. “Get going. Cookie,” ordered Kansas.. “Me and Herbie will side you to see that bur grub doesn’t go to the fishes." Creaking and sliding, the wagon rolled forward toward the stream. “Come on, Herbie,” said Kansas. “I'm not going! You can't make me! It’s suicide!” cried Herbie. There was a touch of hysteria in his voice. Anger flashed in Kansas’ gray eyes as he whipped a Colt from its waterproof holster. He leveled it at the younger man and said, “I’m trail-boss.-You do what I say!” “No, no,-1 won’t! I’m scared to death of water!” Herbie’s voice was screaming. The lashing rain mingled with tears on his cheeks. “Then I’ll shoot you down like a yellow- livered coyote!” snapped Kansas. But he hes¬ itated. He didn’t shoot. “I can't sljoot my own brother," he breathed at last. “But that’s for, this time. From now on, you’re no brother of mine. Just keep out of my sight! That’s a warn¬ ing!” He turned his horse away. Already the chuck wagon was heading for the deep, midstream channel as Black Devil plunged in. The wagon team was swimming. The swift current caught the wagon and tipped it sharply. It was tipping, careening, ready to flop over and be dashed to pieces. Kansas leaped from Black Devil and clutched one of the wagon wheels on the high side. His weight served as ballast, righting the wagon. The wagon team had now got a foot¬ hold and was tugging up the inclined bank. But the sudden twist of the current, the lurching of the wagon, loosened Kansas Walker’s grip on the slippery wheel. He fell, the iron tire struck his head, and he sank, unconscious, into the foaming cauldron. Cookie, driving the wagon, had his hands full with the struggling team. He had no way of knowing about the tragedy behind him. None of the drovers saw it, either, for they were busy urging the longhorns forward. Only Herbie Walker saw what had happened to his brother. His eyes were filled with fear. His hands shook. But with only a second’s hes¬ itation, he spurred his horse forward, into the raging torrent. He aimed for downstream, past the wagon, his eyes searching desperately in the foaming flood. At first, he saw nothing, then, five feet way, his brother’s head cut the surface, a red streak above the eyes where the iron wagon tire had struck. Herbie slipped bis feet from the stirrups, planted them on the saddle, and made a crouching dive toward the bobbing head. “I c-can’t swim,” he was saying, “but may¬ be I can save him, somehow.” He clutched at his brother's collar, then man¬ aged to cry out, “Help!” Cookie heard. He leaped from the wagon seat. Soon a lariat loop was flashing toward the two figures being swept downstream. Herbie grabbed it with his free hand, and Cookie pulled the two of them ashore. OOKIE had just finished bandaging Kansas Walker’s wound when the latter opened his eyes. Thtre was astonishment in them as he looked up to see Herbie. “The kid saved your life, Kansas,” said Cookie. “And you should remember this. If a man goes ahead and does the- right thing when he’s scared half to death, then he’s the bravest man of all!” Kansas seemed to understand. He reached up, grasped Herbie’s hand, and said, “BrotherP ' THE END TEX RITTER WESTERN tf?£XAS is a large place -- and backing the lone Star State takes a large amount of courage and fighting . know-how.' TEX HITTER gets a . chance to use both when, he forces a showdown with hawkeys smith, t'h» toughest outlaw in. the Southwest/ TEX RITTER! HE'S THE' PRAIRIE RANGER WHO BROKE . UP OUR GANG OF MASKEP J RUSTLERS SEVERAL K MONTHS AGO.' JSSBS TEX RITTER WESTERN r HOMBRE, FURY HAPPENS TC THE BEST ALL-AKOUNP VOG II TEXAS' IF YOU JTOUBT IT, ^ WE'LL BE GLAP TO SHOW W YOU HOW WE ROUNP UP VARMINTS/ With a lightning leap, Fury bites clean through the waddy's gun belt! ^ SOMEONE SHOULP /HAVE WARNEP YOU v ABOUT SWAPPING LE> ) WITH HAWKEYE - SMITH, STRANGER/ RECKON I CAN MAKE MYSELF PRETTY PLAIN ON THE SUBJECT/ TEX RITTER WESTERN ( AROUND HERE A PCS 'S ) > JUDGED BY TUB WAY HE HANDLES CATTLE! PLENTY OF .. OUR COWPUNCHERS FEEL THE \ SAME WAV ABOUT THEIR / r POES AS YOU PO ABOUT / FURY! LET'S SETTLE Z— /THE ARGUMENT BY rZ - / \ HAVING A CONTEST AT MY RANCH JWg'Z' j- TOMORROW.' - HOLPIT, RANGER.' \ WISH I KNEW.' I'M HAP FERGUSON, (THESE WAPDIES OWNER OF THE 7 SEEM TO BE j BLUE BONNET T SPOILING FOR RANCH! J TROUBLE.-AND THE' WHATS ALU 7FIGURED THEY'D GET > this BY MAKING ME PROV :AT! I'LL \ A CONTEST, EH? *■ TLE AROUND \ THIS IS A PERFECT AND NOTIFY J OPPORTUNITY TO -s : OTHER /RUSTLE FERGUSON'S i OWNERS/y HERD OF PRIZE J - LONGHORNS/J ABOUT? HEAVILY GUARPED FOR ANY RUSTLING - BUT IN A HERD-riding CONTEST, , 7 ONE WAPPY AND 0/V£ POS Wll V be HANPLING THOSE LONGHORN! AT ANY GIVEN TIME BLUEBONNET, RANCH TONIGHT — ANP LOOK FOR A GOOD ROUTE b- FOR OUR GETAWAY WITH THOSE , RUSTLED CATTLE!* CONTEST-EVEN THINGS UP WITH THEM OUT ON 4 THE RANGE-ANP MAKE ] OFF WITH THE BEST i ^ HERP IN TEXAS-V^^ ' WGHT at the Bluebonnet Ranch- EVENING, MR. FERGUSON! THOUGHT I'P PROP , AROUNP ANP PALAVER ) FOR A SPELL.'^V^ HOWDY, SON.' NORMA, I WANT YOU TO MEET UP VITH THAT HARD-HITTING HOMBRE I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT- , m TEX RITTER ! J LADY/.-QUIET! I THINK I HEAR A RIC COMING PAST THE . CORRAL. DAD' Jm TEX RITTER WESTERN , CONSIPERING THAT YOUR POC ) IS GOING TO BE COMPETING against lady -maybe you ^ SHOUIP HAVE SPENT THIS EVENING GIVING HIM _ SOM£ LAST-MINUTE ter TRAINING. 1 iiItMI FERGUSON ■ \ "W LONE STAR ' s p ..- ) WE'LL SEE ABOUT | THAT TOMORROW.' I BUT MEANWHILE, £ LADY AND FURY SEEM TO BE GETTING ’ ALONG FINE.' MAYBE WE OUGHT TO FOLLOW; THEIR EXAMPLE. J* ARE THREE /->DUCK BEHIND HERE RIDERS COMING ) AND LET ME DO ANP THEY'RE I THE REST! M MASKED _/ ^tomorrow; TEX RITTER WESTERN SURE WISH I KNEW, NORMA.' BUT THERE BE ANY CHANCE NEXT TIME, FOOL - KEEP VOUR EYES OPEN ' GET mounted, Butch/ j Next day, at the contest * ^ I've got a hunch this means trouble AT THE CONTEST TOMORROW.' but IF I TEL FERGUSON, HE MAY NOT LET NORMA COMPETE! I'D HATE TO HAVE THAT r HAPPEN, WHEN SHE'S SO EAGER TO L SHOW OFF LAW'S SKILL/ I'LL JUST ■ ^ KEEP ON THE LOOKOUT TOMORROW/® RECKON YOU CAN LEAD OFF, NORMA/ , FIVE-MINUTE PENALTY L BE BACK, \ YAHOO! GET RY/ WAIT J READY, NORMA* HERE / BT THE HERD'S ON THE MOVE r I CAN'T RIPE ALONG WITH NORMA WITHOUT DISQUALIFYING HER-BUT ‘ I CAN'T LET HER GO UNPROTECTED , EITHER/ THAT MEANS I'LL HAVE 1 TO TAG ALONG THE HARP WAY/ f, TEX RITTER WESTERN waiting outlaws cart make out only one thing in the. dust around the longhorns •• the sombrero Norma borrowed from Tex/ N THE RIGHT DIRECTION REACH, VOU BU27ARPS! J THERE'S NO MISTAKING \ SADDLE ] THE SHAPE OF THAT HAT-J UP- J IT'S TEX RITTER, S'2 AIM ^ > HAWKEYE JieAP^OF S^fflK(j.£AP INTO t GREAT GUHSl THAT FAIL BKOUC THE CRITTER'S /MEAN STREA* mine's charging mei HOMBRE, YOU’RE GOING TO NEE: MORE THAN A RODEO STUNT --r TO OUTSMART T -— ( HAWKEYE SMITH/ J Then - seconds ahead of the flashing horns - here's another roped stunt YOU VARMINTS MAY BE _ !w INTERESTED IN! L ^T LAPy STOPPEP HIM COLD/ NO GOT SOME ROUNDING UP TO R*T~f VO MYSELF ' j. _ ^ TEX RITTER WESTERN Minutes later ■ eranch, as Fury distant shots- YOU CAN'T.' IN THAT CASE, HAWKEYE, JlYE'D BETTER )KEEP THIS / STRICTLY / BETWEEN OURSELVES- PON'T WORRY, NORMA -.HE WON'T! That evening■ Later- we might as ---*4 WELL CALL OFF THE CONTEST, TEX' I'M J PRETTY SURE MY POG ^ CAN'T TOP THE JOB PONE 1 BY FUR* ANP LADY! RECKON THE HONORS ARE N JUST ABOUT EVEN! THEY'RE BOTH THE BEST ALL-AROUNP, ^ DOGS IN TEXAS' HAVING ANY HERE AFTER i , WHAT HAPPENEP TO A HAWKEYS .'^^gf RENEGADE , ROCKIES KHflCflLRCTRKfl!