m umi

WESTERN

APRIL

IO (

A Fawcett Publication

TEX RITTER WESTERN

Wren -three

kilters break out J
of jail Wi+h murder I
in thar hearts and 1
blazing six-guns in
their hands, if takes
all TfcxRfHer's fight¬
ing savvy to spike i
their guns and cor- 1
rai the owlhoofers y
who had him marked l

TEX RITTER WESTERN

ALL RIGHT, HOMBRE
STOP THIS TRAIN--
PRONTO ^

THATS TO /MAKE SURE
YOU HAVE A SAD
N-z'-'v MEMORY
/ \ FROM NOW

that's a mighty funny place

pno TU4T TOAIkl -rr-o or rr-rvo/o

SET YOU THE GUARD'S OUTFIT
UP IN THE MAIL CAR l THIS TRAIN
MUST BE CARRYING SOME LOOSE
CASH, WHICH I AIM TO BORROW.' J

.. >r-. 7 n /vuon I T l-UIMNr rLACfc
FOR THAT TRAIN TO BE STOP¬
PING SOMETHING MAY BE
WRONGI RECKON WE OUGHT

TO GO DOWN AND HAVE , _-

--- A LOOK ! 7^

TEX RITTER WESTERN

IKNOWTHArV^RMiNrTTTEXRITT^RTHEfeOWE

HE'S TEX RITTER ' J LAWMAN I DON'T AIM TO
— — _ ~ » TANGLE WITH.' WHAT ARE

BBR vou waiting for notch 9

PULL THAT THPOTTLE

NOT UNTIL I SETTLE WITH THAT HOMBREi
HE'S THE CRITTER WHO SENT ME TO T
JAIL, AW0 I'VE BEEN WAITING A LONG f
TIME TO GET EVEN l X RECKON THIS J
. IS MY LUCKY DAY ._

AS NOTCH AND HIS MEN BREAK. INTO

THE MAJL CAR - / -~-

--—-< THERE--THERES

X GOT AN ITCHY \ NOTHING ! y -

TRIGGER FINGER k OB'- HERE,

AND I'M IN A J^k W NOTCH.' THIS

POWERFUL HURRY, 11 STRONGBOX
MISTER. WHERE'S ll |> OUGHT To

THE CASH YUH GOT A/ HAVE SOME—
IN HERE ll THING WORTH

L-i-CT /{ LOOKING AT.'

MB'JvSL«5iii^B/ N-rC3 T 'S MARK

■■ pok

■r . CiffSiBB

’if i

1 find out: ill s you can't — , 1 *-~y 1 { ]

■Itonnanfflft t ^ke that---.' ) , f sure we V i J

trlfciafe^'fa

Mtipyi

pMsPSau Jf&Mr j

I -AND YOU'LL TAKE ^ LOOK.' GOLD 1

BULL/ON S W

GET THIS V^. 1(C

TRAIN cT ”,

ROLLING , 1-4

OUT OF ■^M££§a,'l /I
HERE / //

CcV>

kij

I ftBuT AS THE OUTLAWS *

REACH THE ENGIWE CAS...

LOOK, NOTCH ) WAIT.')HOWDY,
"|?ANNY'S 5

TEX RITTER WESTERN

■ IN FACT IT COULDN'T BE BETTER

you blasted tin Badge here 1 *

SOMETHING I’VE BEEN SAVING
g--* FOR YOU l_

LUNGES FOR T« E THROTTLE, AN D A

HOTCH LUNGES FOR THE THROTTLE, AND,
BLAST OF STEAM REVIVES TEX AS THE
WHEELS SLOWLY BEGIN TO CHURN-

MY HUNCH WAS RIGHT THE
FIRST TIME THERE IS SOME¬
THING WRONG WITH THIS
TRAIN —SOMETHING MIGHTY
WRONG l AND X AIM "ID FIND A
OUT WHAT IT IS '

TEX RITTER WESTERN

i9 THE TRAIN THUNDERS ALONG

ANWHILE...TEX HAS MADE HIS WAY 7D THE
■ OF THE, TRAIN ANO...

I MUST STOP IT i

1 MUST _

ONLY

INCHES TO
SPARE '.f

TEX RITTER WESTERN

INS, RANGER.' WE'RE
. RIGHT HERE WITH A
L _ SIX-GUN AIMED AT
HffevVOUR BACK /

AS THE EXCITED CREW OF THE OTHER TRAIN w

(^I'M TEX RITTER, SHERIFF/J) ^ |

... AND AFTER THEY SHOT YWrCH HYMER AND

THE ENGINEER AND FIRE- ) THOSE TWO OWL-
MEN , THEY JUMPED OFF, S HOOTS WHO BROKE OUT
FIGURING WE WOULD >of THE PRISON THIS

CRASH i I RECKON THEY MORNINSi YOU LOOK

GAVE ME UP FOR DEA^y WGHTYJV,MILIA^

'they SHOT ] / 1

THE GUARD N.

AND GOT AWAY f : — 5S»r 1

WITH THE GOLD F 1 Yj

SHIPMENT FOR A: [11/, W '.uj

THE PRAIRIE y I 11 HE 1 ,4 ■ W=t 1 J

bank t . — ^ | \ VlK4J|

,g) jj?

l* //m ■

I RECKON THIS IS MY JOS,SHERIFF/ NOTCH HVMER
AND I HAVE TANGLED BEFORE .' PASS THE WORD

TO THE PRAIRIE RANGERS THAT I'M HITTING THE
TRAIL FOR THOSE BUSH- -^PjV -'

I J4 anv ' hours LATER--- I THEIR TRAIL SHOWS THEY

I FOR A WHILE ' LOOKS AS IF THEY

AIM TO HIDE OUT IN SOME BACK—
KEEP &01NG

1

TEX RITTER WESTERN

I DON'T KNOW NOW YOU GOT ,
AWAY FROM THOSE TRAIN J
WHEELS - - -BUT THIS TIME 1
I AIM TO MAKE SURE YOU ¥
DON'T GIVE US ANY MORE /.
. TROUBLE 1

) HE SHOT THE
GUN RIGHT OUT
OF MY HAND

THAT WOULD BE TOO EASY;
TAKE HIM AND THAT BIS H
DOWN TO THAT ABANDON!
QUARRY WE PASSED COMI
THIS WAY ^

SO ON —PUT
BULLET INTO
AND LET'S LA
OUT OF HERE

I GOT HIM,
NOTCH

TEX RITTER WESTERN

THAT ROCK.' IF I COULD SET
MV FEET AROUND IT.' y_

-in :roo-
-MANy

C-CAN'T HOLD
--ON--MUCH

LONGER.' -

\HH/TE FCASHi
X CAN HEAR.

■ SOON

TEX RITTER WESTERN

, THAT'S JUST WHAT X AIM ID DO-
COME OKI, WHITE FLASH ! WE
I HAVE A JOS TO FINISH ._-

IF I COULD
ONLY GET
MV HAND©
ON THOSE
ORNERY ,
VARMINTS.'

MOUNTAINS A SNOW STORM BLOWS UP-

f IT'S MM, MOTCtSl Q

X TOLD YOU TO PLUG him
WHEN VOU HAD THE
CHANCE HE'S ON OUR Ji
- TRAIL AGAIN L ™— BIN

AIEEE

MY ARM--

spread OUT.'

HE MUST BE
AROUND HERE
SOMEPLACE l

TEX RITTER WESTERN

Moments later

f NOW THERE'S ONLY 1

NOTCH —AND HE'S SURE
MAKING ENOUGH NOISE
TO SHOW ME WHERE

AND this makes strike three
the same is over. NOTCH ! t

THEY'RE STILL HOLDING THOSE
PRISON RESERVATIONS OPEN FOR
VOU HOMBRES, AND THIS TIME, I
RECKON VOU POLECATS WILL BE

FORCED TO STAY FOR A __^

LONS, LONS TIME ! - S

TEX RITTER WESTERN

T HE crowd in front of the Grand Hotel
pressed forward excitedly, listening eager¬
ly to the story Charles Baker, the Sage City
Overland agent was telling. The men were
silent except for an occasional cough or grunt
as someone tried to move out of the blister¬
ing sun. Not more than five minutes
the stage had pulled into town with Baker
as a passenger—bringing with him the ex-

“The stage was held up by a single masked
robber . . . coming in from Deadwood,” the
short, nervous agent was saying excitedly.

Cliff Davis, Sage City’s young sheriff, stood
next to Baker, his brow wrinkled as he pon¬
dered every word the agent said.

. . and as I was saying . . .” Baker went
on, enjoying the role of story feller, “this
bandit stopped the stage and made us all jump
to the ground. Then he reached up and pulled
down a brown leather bag of mine. He didn’t
waste a minute. Just took the bag and rode

know you must be tired, from the trip.
Baker,” he said as the two men walked
to an empty corner out of hearing dis-
“But there are a couple of things I’d
know, if you don’t mind."

“Certainly, Sheriff," Baker answered, still
iing. "Anything to oblige.”

“Yoi> don’t usually bring in the payroll, do
you?”

“No, I don’t, Sheriff,” Baker answered halt¬
ingly. “As a rule it’s sent up with a regular
employee of the bank in Deadwood. They fin¬
ished laying the rails around there ahead of
schedule. And seeing that I was coming this
way I thought it would save a few days if I
brought it myself."

“Who knew you were bringing the money?”

“Why . . ." Baker paused, a little nervous,
‘why I guess the manager of the Deadwood
Bank, and John Phillips, the representative of
the railroad here in Sage City . . . and I guess,
his assistant Folner. That’s all. You don’t

off!”

The agent paused to wipe the sweat from
his face, then continued in his high thin voice.
“The funniest thing about it all is that I was
bringing two bags to Sage City—a brown one
and this here red bag. The brown one had
some gold-dust samples, not worth more than
a hundred dollars. The bandit made off with
that one, but this red bag holds more' than
fifty s thousand dollars! It’s the payroll for the
railroad and that hombre never knew I had it!
Beat that one!”

The .assembled cowhands, prospectors and
road workers let up a roar of laughter as
Baker finished his story. Especially the rail-
railroad workers let up a roar of laughter as
wages hadn’t been stolen. But there was one
unsmiling face in the crowd, the face of
Sheriff Davis. »

“I’d like to ask you a few questions” Cliff
Davis said as the mob started to scatter. “Let’s
go into the hotel, Mr. Baker.”

Still chuckling and perspiring. Baker fol¬
lowed the lean figure of the sheriff into the
sparsely furnished lobby. The Overland agent
placed the money bag on the counter and'
asked for his key. The young sheriff waited
for Baker to look over his mail. He then drew
him to one side.

think . . .

A frown crossed Davis’ face. “Yes, Mr.
Baker, I do,” he spoke quietly. “Whoever held
up the stage took that bag of gold dust by
mistake. But it was someone who knew about
the payroll and aimed to steal jt. By luck he
took the wrong bag.”

"I’m sure you must be joking. Sheriff,”
Baker replied, the color gone from his face.

“I’m not joking, and I’d advise you to take
every precaution while you have that money.
Your life might even be in danger. In fact.
I think I ought to ride out to the railroad
office with you when you take out the money!*'

“Nonsense,” the agent laughed as he picked
up the bag and made for th* stairs. “You’re
letting your imagination get the best of you.
Sheriff. I’ll take the money out later after I
clean up a bit.”

Riding hard the young sheriff reached the
small camp of railroad shacks in less than an
hour. Approaching the main office, he urged
his horse over to the foreman and asked where
he could find Phillips. Just then a middle-

"My name’s Folner, is there anything I can
do for you?” he offered. “Mr. Phillips won’t
be back till later.”

Cliff Davis’ trained eye sized up the assist-

TEX RITTER WESTERN

Ml mi i imWIt i. Short and neatly dressed
—m Saaterner. HU hand was soft as Cliff
f hao k H. He was an amiable sort, the kind
moat city people would call good company.

"Yet, there is.” Cliff said. “The Overland
stage was held up this morning and your pay¬
roll was almost stolen. I’d like a statement
from you on what you know about Baker, the
fellow who brought the money in.”

“Oh! I hadn’t heard about the robbery,”
Folner answered, lifting his eyebrow ques-
tioningly. “Well, I guess an inch is as good
as,a mile as long as the money is safe. When
would you like my statement?"

“Now's as good a time as any.” the sheriff
pointed to a stack of orange paper on the
foreman’s desk. “You can use one of those
yellow sheets there.”

“Do you mean these orange supply forms?”
Folner queried.

“The light must be bad,” Cliff apologized.
“I thought they were yellow. Sure, they’ll do."

On his way back to town, the young sheriff
took Folner's statement from his pocket, gave
a chuckle, and tore it into bits. “That puts
him in the clear,” he said. “Now to see Balter
at the hotel, then Phillips.”

Cliff Davis pushed back his hat and once
again knocked loudly on Baker's door. The
hard sound of his fist against the old oak door
broke the stillness of the deserted hotel hall¬
way. There was no answer. He tried the door;
it was unlocked. Pushing it in he stood frozen
at the entrance — startled at what he saw.
Baker was laying across the bed, a deep gash
in the back of his head! Looking around, he
saw the red bag was missing! Whoever robbed
the stage didn’t make a mistake the second
time!

. Rushing downstairs, the sheriff shouted to
the clerk to send for the doctor, then made
for his horse. “I should have stayed with him
until he took the money out to the railroad
people,” he thought as he saddled up his horse.
“But I had no proof that the robbery was an
inside job. Only a hunch — and the hunch
proved rightl”

Cliff Davis was already waiting in the rail¬
road office when Phillips arrived. The repre¬
sentative was not surprised at seeing the

sheriff.

I suppose youVe here about Mr. Baker?"
Phillips asked, lighting up a cigar. “Just heard
the news. A terrible thing. I can’t hold the
men if they don’t get' paid. What, can I do,

Sheriff?”

“You can help me find the robber, Phillips,”
the sheriff answered, pulling a bandana from
his hip pocket.

“I’ll help any way I can,” the large man
agreed nervously, his small eyes staring at
the sheriff. He was a big man, the direct
opposite of his assistant Folner.'

“I found this here red bandana next to Baker
at the hotel before I came out,” Cliff lied. t;
“Have you ever seen it before?”

Phillips relaxed, loosened his tie. “No,” he ?
said slowly.

“Do you like this red bandana?”

“What difference does it make whether I;|
like bandanas or not!” the railroad man f
snapped. “I thought it was your job as sheriff I
to find out who robbed Baker?”

“I am, Phillips. Just answer my question. ,
Do you like this red bandana?”

“All right!” the railroad man shouted. “I
think it’s a very pretty red bandana. What
other foolish questions do you want answered?”

“Just one more. Where did you hide the

“What do you mean?" Phillips cried, edging
toward his top desk drawer., “I don’t know
what you’re talking about!”

Cliff drew his gun. The movement halted
the frightened representative.

“You’re color blind, Phillips,” the sheriff
charged, choosing his words carefully. “You •
agreed this bandana was red, but it isn’t. It’s i
brown! Anybody could have seen it was brown J
—except maybe someone who was color blind
. . . maybe the man who stole a biown bag.V
instead of a red one! Confess, Phillips! You V
went back to Baker’s room after the right bag ®
when you discovered your mistake.”

Phillips sprang at the sheriff. Caught off- *
guard the sheriff went down and Phillips on
top of him—a sprawling mass of arms and
legs. Dazed from the impact Cliff Davis strug¬
gled to gain a hold on the bulky agent. His
gun crashed to the floor. He felt Phillips’
hard fist crash into his jaw as he went reeling
backwards. The railroad man plunged for the
gun. Jumping up and covering the sheriff, he
stood glowering.

“Stand up, so I can kill you, Davis!”

4 UST as the agent’s finger was closing on
the trigger, a train whistle blew. Phillips’
head jerked in the direction of the sound. In
that moment Cliff Davis swung with all the
power of his muscular frame. His fist con¬
nected with Phillips’ jaw; the impact sent the „
agent back against the desk. Before he had
a Chance to regain his balance the young 1
sheriff hit him again. Phillips went down.

Cliff recovered his gun, but there was no ’
need to use it. Phillips was unconscious.”. M
“Thanks,” Cliff Davis called to the train .
whistle in a tired voice. “Phillips’ many years
as a railroad man made him jump to your call.

I never thought I’d trap a lawbreaker by a
color—and owe my life to a sound!”

THE END

TEX RITTER WESTERN

THBMCB

AGAINST

■DEATH/

When tex Ritter >

CROSSED THE PATH
A RODEO i HE DIDN'T

figure on euNPLAy and

HOT LEAD-TO HELP A GIRL ^
SAVE HER RANCH BUT ONC6~
HE PUT HIS LIFE ON THE UNE,
IT TOOK STRAIGHT ©HOOTING
TO RUN A GAUNTLET OF PERIL

staked out ay cwygulchsrs

IS ASTTr" WCTH^ACrVITAAS,

SAY--THA-Ts CHARLEY RUSSEL'S GIRL, GAIL-'
THE LAST TIME I SAW HER,SHE WAS IN PIGTAIL
I’LL spy HELLO AND SEE HOW SHE'S GETTING
. ON SINCE CHARLEY PASSED AWAY/ ^ .

dollars rovuvx^j'

Jtttg MilgaTiiniJ Iftfisa

fSevFwI

ISTQRg

ipiTlmo ifrSL.-

|mm mm

iHp J

* R , to ImH|

Pi

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m

TEX RITTER WESTERN

IF YOU'LL RIDE
OUT TO THE
RANCH WITH <
ME AND STAY
AS MY GUEST,
I'LL BE GLAD
TO TEU. YOU ,
THE WHOLE /
STORY l jr

THAT NIGHT- 2 SINCE DAOOY DIED,'

——I- — 'RANCH HAS SEEN LC

SO HE GOT THE BANK TO )
CALL IN THE LOAN OF FIVE /
THOUSAND I OWE THEM l >
MY ONLY CHANCE OF GETTING
IT IS WINNING THE MARATHON .
RACE. LIGHTNING STANDS <
A GOOD CHANCE OF REPEAT¬
ING,ACTHOOGH LINK ENTERED
HIS OWN HORSE,TlNTO, HOPING

MONEY.' SOME RUSTLERS HAVE TAKEN QUITE
BIT OF MY STOCK .' LINK HODGE WHO OWNS
THE SPREAD NEXT TO US HAS BEEN AFTER ]
ME TO SELL.' HE'S ALWAYS WANTED OUR
PLACE.' BUT I REFUSED.' >— - ^

THAT RACE IS HER LAST HOPE .'
BUT r WANT THAT SPREAD OF

HERS-AND WHAT I WANT, I

GET.' SHE DON'T SUSPECT YOU,
CAIN, SO IT'S YOUR JOB TO SEE
THAT LIGHTNING DOESNT RUN .
TOMORROW .' MY HORSE CAN /
WIN IN A BREEZE IF HE'S VfS
out of rrl — _l T*

DON'T WORRY,
l BOSS ! I AIM
TO GIVE LIGHT-
I NING A SPECIAL
KINO OF SHOE-
NG TOMORROW

TEX RITTER WESTERN

IT'S been a
^ LONG TOE .

SINCE I’VE SEEN A 1
BETTER HORSE l X I
RECKON I'LL RIDE

with you L

FOLLOWING MORNING ■

LN KEEP LISHTNING

CO^PANYjjfc,^ jjg

THERE HE IS, TEX :
ISN'T HE A BEAUTY !
/'M GOING TO GIVE
HIM A LIGHT WORK¬
OUT BEFORE THE A
RACE THIS ,

afternoon: Mtn

IT'S HIS FOOT.' ,
HE WON'T BE *
ABLE TO RUN
THIS AFTERNOON i

look/

THERE'S
CAIN NOW
-RIDING ,
[this WAV.'

11 RECKON THE 1
VARMINT RODE
1 OUT -To see if
\ HE DID A GOOD
'job of crippling

. WE HORSE.' I WANT

TO HAVE A LITTLE POW¬
WOW WITH THAT HOiVtBRR.
. X THINK THIS WAS A

> -1 deliberate job.

[""" iiii mi

TEX RITTER WESTERN

WHAT'S THE ) AS IP YOU DIDN'T KNOW.' THE

MATTER, < HORSE HAS BEEN HURT/

/T KEEP VOUR NOSE

) OUT OP THIS,
/STRANGER—-OR
) VOU ,AIN'T GOING*

/ TO KEEP HEALTHY
VERY LONG J -'

I'M GIVING YOU POLE#
ONE MINUTE TO HIGH
TAIL IT OFF THIS
SPREAD.’ VAMOOSE.

TEX RITTER WESTERN

THEY WE PE RIGHT.' X
GUESS LINK HODGES
HAS WON OUT.' NOW
HE'LL TAKE MY >
RANCH ;

THAT STILL
REMAINS
TO BE

BUT YOU KNOW ) MAYBE NOT—BUT WHITE FLASH

LIGHTNING J CAN .' I'M GOINS DOWN AND__

CANT RUN i y ENTER HIM IN THE RACE l

■HAT AFTERNOON, JUST BEFORE THE
BIG MARATHON RACE-

f SO YOU THINK THAT VTHAt's'^nNOW YOU ALL

CAYUSE OF YOURS HAS (JUST HOW] KNOW THE
A CHANCE AGAINST J X FIGURE / COURSE

TINTO P A IT.' / YOU'RE GOING

T-- -iJS R: •** / -TO TAKE.' THERE'LL

■:» y TL WX (. BE JUDGES AROUND

IS FASTER THAN X
FIGURED .'

WHITE
FLASH J

TEX RITTER WESTERN

FASTER, WHITE FLASH/
FASTER.' VJE’VE GOT
TO SET CLEAR! _x

THERE are a couple of the

JUDGES, BUT ITS WO USE
STOPPING TO TELL THEAA WHAT ,
. LINK HODGE IS TRYING TO DOi
[ I'D LOSE TOO MUCH TIME THE
k ONLY THING TO DO IS
KEEP GOING l

THOSE TOOLS LET THAT) WE'RE GOING TO FIRE

HOMBRE GET THROUGH J THESE HERE WOODS L I
THE RASSi YOU GOT^l HAS TO GO THROUGH
TO STOP HIM THEM TO STAY IN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

FASTER,
WHITE FLASH i

FASTER/ t

WHITE FLASH f HE DID IT/
—r WINS/ J\ TE X
-Sm l / RITTER

j/ \ DIP TT!

ALL RIGHT, YOU POLECATS
I'M TAKING YOU ALL IN
FOR ATTEMPTED murder:
MAYBE IT'S TIME X ,
INTRODUCED MYSELF l
I'M PRAI RIE R ANGER 1

DIDN'T YOU
ySTOP HIM ?

THANKS FOR ^ HERE'S THE WIN-

MAKING / NING MONEY, MISS
THINGS EASY/GAIL / I RECKON
FOR ME, /YOU WON'T HAVE TO
RANG ER.' \ WORRY ANYMORE'

TEX RITTER WESTERN

RlDIf/G THE RANGE

TEX RITTER

121 SOUTH BEVERLY DRIVE,
BEVERLY HILLS,CALIFORNIA

HOWDY FOLKS J

I'VE BEEN LOOKINS FORWARD TO
REINING-UP FOR A SPELL WITH YOU GOOD
FRIENDS AGAIN. VOU KNOW,THAT "LOOKING
FORWARD" IS A PHRASE I'VE ALWAYS
THOUGHT MIGHTY HIGHLY OF. IT'S GOT A
GOOD SOUND TO IT, A RIGHT SOUND.' I
REALIZED THAT AGAIN WHEN r SAW LEN
FOSTER AND HIS FAMILY LEAVING THEIR
LAND TO 60 BACK EAST.

YOU SEE i THEIR LAND'S NOT MUCH GOOD NOW.
THE TOPSOIL IS BAD AND THERE'S NO STRENGTH
TO WHAT'S BENEATH IT. AND, STRANGELY ENOUGH,
FRANK HOWARDS PLACE ONLY A MILE UP THE ROAD
IS DOING FINE. BUT IT'S NOT REALIY STRANGE. WHEN
THE FOSTERS STARTED FARMING THEIR LAND THEY
DIDN'T BOTHER TO DO ANY OF THAT "LOOKING FOR¬
WARD" X MENTIONED BEFORE. LEN PLANTED SEED
AS FAST AS HE COULD, SOWED CROP AFTER CROP
WITHOUT EVER GIVING THE LAND A CHANCE TO REST
AND REPLENISH ITSELF. WHEN HE HAD A CHANCE
TO SELL SOME TIMBER, HE CUT DOWN MOST OF
HIS GOOD SHADE TREES, AND SO IT DIDN'T TAKE
LONG BEFORE HIS SOIL AND THEN HIS CROPS WENT
BAD. CAME A LONG, DRY SPELL AND HIS CROPS
WITHERED WITHOUT THE SHADE FROM THE TREES
LEN HAD CUT DOWN. HIS SOIL GREW WEAKER AND ,
WEAKER TILL HE JUST COULDN'T RAISE A GOOD CROP.'

THAT'S WHY I SAY THAT THE
WORDS "LOOKING FORWARD" HAVE A
GOOD SOUND—A RIGHT SOUND.' ANC
THAT'S WHY, THOUGH X HAVE TO
MOSEY ON NOW, I'M GOING TO ENJOY
LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR MEETING
UP HERE AGAIN '

YOUR PARD,

TEX RITTER WESTERN

THE TWISTED TALE '

TEX RITTER WESTERN

THAT'S

RUSHTT

'I'M COMING TO THAT/

I VISITING THEM 1
I RECENTLY - , SO I "
. RECKON THAT'S WHY -
X WUZ TALKING OUT
OP-THE SIDE OF MY
MOUTH WITHOUT _
REALIZING IT?

E t WUZ I TALKING OUT OP

, THE -SIDE OF MUH MOUTH?

r DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT/

. , IT'S ON ACCOUNT 0? THE l

W; brown family ! J -—'

/ THAT'S RIGHT? U. ( BUT WHAT ^

BUT I RECKON I \| HAVE THEY
BETTER EXPLAIN ?I GOT TO DO
YUH hombres -k\ WITH YORE
DON'T KNOW THIS J [ TALKING .
BROWN FANII LY ' 1 I OUT OP *

Ia'Sj^^what/ on' 1 —^

8 WHm ACCOUNT OP THE ^§3
V BROWN familV^JH

THEV RE FROM! V TH* SIDE

A DIFFERENT / l OP YORE
V-, TOWN [ j—< l MOUTH ?

if™

frZwCi 1 4 ,...

TEX RITTER WESTERN

STV \<fc>

TfcK.TSIC, SHE CAN'T BLOW OUT THE LIEHT
EITHER! HER PORE MOUTH IS MAKINS
HER BLOW BENEATH IT >

TEX RITTER WESTERN

UEMNie SLEW, BUT HER MOUTH WUX
TWISTED TO THE M&HT... "

THE BROWN g. WERE OV6R-
JOVED THAT dED HAD
SUCCEEDED AND DO YUH
KNOW WHAT THEY SAID ?

TEX RITTER WESTERN

ctiict -tfe

TEX., SOMEONE HAS f I'LL MOSEV UP THAT

SEEN ROBBING THE / WAV AND SEE WHAT I
LINES OF ALL THE N CAN FIND, CHIEF l
TRAPPERS IN THE HILLS l I I'LL TAKE FURY
THEY'RE SETTING MIGHTY/ ALONG ON THIS TRIP/
DESPERATE, AND WE.

HAVE TO GET TO THE J 7 /- T

i BOTTOM OF THIS /. V

If. 1 w5k3~£

^MEMlPKSfi

igfc*

■fJMzATf wpj

Ut^ggg

Ritter's pepu+a+iow
or a Fast draw and ham-
^W^menng fists has made

fro

i|

WCji

%sSa wany an owl hoot pause before
tangling with him But when
gylex encountered the gaping
|B jaws and slashing daws of a new
B kind of killer, he found it neces-
■ sarg to call on two Faithful
f pards to ward off the threat

F of death-- his dog, Fury,and his

1 horse, White Flash L

TEX RITTER WESTERN

SURE , SEEMS B

ENOUGH.' LEO \ LIKE A ■
IS ALL THE J MIGHTy
COMPANY X < STRANGS
NEED WHILE ] PLACE TO
I'M TRAPPING IJ HAVE YOUR,
-w. gr^ CABIN, MISTER/

MVI f • W nobody would
m/l'.. Vl\ EVER GUESS ANY-

l7/\7\rj#fer ^body lived
TH| 9

HURT A FLYJ HE
JUST WANTS TO
PLAY A LITTLE t

TEX RITTER WESTERN

SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, ASTE*

that's the way
i like nr i what ,

ARE YOU DOING .
IN THESE PARTS:
YOU OON'T LOOK
LIKE A TRAPPER L

WHAT'S UP MOW/

IT COULD HAVE BEEN! THE
WORK OF A COUGAR.— A
COUGAR SOMEBODY J
KEEPS AROUND HERE
(*=> A PET.'

“Bow WoW '

^-7 WoW/

woof/

HE'S DEAD ALL right:

WARNING BARK

GALVANIZES TEX INTO ACTION
AND HE QUICKLY DROPS TO
THE GROUND...

HE SHOT IT
RIGHT OUT
OF MY /
HAND /

TEX RITTER WESTERN

I'D 6UESs\ 8UT WHAT WOULD

THAT A A COUGAR S>B
COUGAR. / DOING THIS FAR.
KILLED J DOWN FROM THE

HIM I /mountains ?LOOK—

W IT EVEN TOOK THE
■ (fill \tk CATCH WE HAD IN
THE TRAP' I--I

ILL PROVE IT.' COME ON,
FURY —FINO THAT TRAIL
BACK TO THE COUGAR i
AND THAT CABIN.' ./4I

I'LL BE HORWSWOGGLED 11
NEVER. DIO KNOW THAT
ANYBODY LIVED. UP THIS
WAY—AND X KNOW THESE
WOODS LIKE MY OWN RIGHT
HAND l ^

TEX RITTER WESTERN

( what's .

THE

MATTER:

SUMY

POVW

TEX RITTER WESTERN

COME OM.VOU
MANGY KILLER.

BUT YOU TWO
AIN'T GOING TO
BE AROUND TO .
TALK ABOUT IT.'

SURE I'VE BEEN R0B8ING THE
TRAPS i 1 TRAINED LEO TO
TAKE THE CATCH l THAT
H0M8RE LEO CHAWED UP
JUST HAPPENED TO BE JEI
AROUND WHEN LEO
WENT FOR HIS
k. TRAPS <

TEAR HIM APART, LEO /

THAT MUTT'S NO MATCH
FOR YOU X

j Lu>ut as fury harries the COUGAR,TEX

I DESPERATELY RUBS H IS BONDS AGAINST
I THE TREE . B j-, 1, IiL , J WMgJJ JI lij Wj.

TEX RITTER WESTERN

^HluNEyy/jBtAST you.

V" I 'TV I'LL FINISH YD

! M myself ;

^/aViPPee
■ft Vi pE '■ #««g

[M Vjy\iNN£VV^

we WON'T EVEIS

. FORSET what
I YOU DID FOR .

COWBOY HERO
OF THE FIGHTING
FRONTIER