TEX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

1 TELL YOU WE CAN’T RELY ON
THE SHERIFF .'IF WE’RE GOING TO
PROTECT OUR RIGHTS AS SHEEP ^
MEN, WE GOT TO DRIVE THOSE 1
BLRSTEP CATTLE MEN OFF THE /

RANGE IT’S THEM r-. - --

OR US.' _j \/^ "

1 LOOKS J
AS IF ^
TROUBLES
BREWING.' .

I RECKON I’LL
MOSEY OVER AND
SEE WHAT THE POW¬
WOW IS ALL

;r-\ about

LV A LOT OF ) PRAKE.' 1 RECKON
THE CATTLE J YOU’RE SPOILING FOR
EAN SOME GUNPLAY-BUT '

l ) V THE CATTLE MEN WANT
_ X X —, TO SETTLE THIS v

V peacefully; j-—

ORPER .

I’VE SPOKEN TO THE CATTLE MEN, AN
KNOW THEY’RE WILLING TO SIT POWN
TALK THINGS OVER .'SHOOTING IS Ol
GOING TO BRING ON A RANGE WAR-
„ ANP A LOT OF INNOCENT MEN „
Nr-.WILL BE KILLED.' . ._-<C-L

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IF YOU STICK AROUND
I COUNT THREE, YOU’LL
IN—BOOT HILL .>_

PERMANENTLY

NOW LISTEN TO ME. 1 ALL I’M ASKING IS
1 FOR A FAIR CHANCE TO BRING THE 5HEEP
MEN AND CATTLE MEN TOGETHER. 1 IT’S
TO THE BENEFIT OF EYERYBOOY TO HAVE
PEACE.' SOME COYOTES PROFIT FROM ,
KILLING—BUT NOT A GOOD CITIZEN.li

AlEEEE

GOING TO RIPE OUT AMO
TO THE CATTLE MEN J “
.L CALL A JOINT MEETING
IRON EVERYTHING OUT.'

> THE MORE I HEAR,
THE MORE I THINK

PEPU7Y CAN
00 FIRST.'

6UERlf

Ottg

TEX RITTER WESTERN

NOW IF THE CATTLE MEN LISTEN
TO SENSE, I’LL SET THEM BOTH
TOSETHER ANP STOP THIS WAR J
-. RISHT QUICK .' ^

A LUCKY THAT LEAP JUST WENT
THROUGH MY SOMBRERO — BUT I
, BETTER PLAY POSSUM ANP SEE
WHO’S TRYING TO BUSHWHACK

THERE ISN’T GOING TO
BE ANY THIS TIME.'

PLUG

HIT YOU, YOU

prygulching

POLECATS.'

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JUMPING \
JSHOSHAPMAT /<

THEY’RE DEAD !y

-I PON’T

THEY TRIEP TO BUSHWHACK < BELIEVE IT.'
ME ! 1 TIES THEM UP UNTIL J THIS JASPER
I COULD SET THEM ON THE \ 15 A HIRED

WAY BACK.' BUT SOMEBODY J KILLER FOR THE
SOT TO THEM FIRST.' r-- V CATTLE MEN,

"_ _/ AND HE’S OUT TO

SET THE SHEEP

*V~- n HERDERS.' I NEVER

V SENT MY BOYS TO
tprel^ , bushwhack

*YOU’RE A LYINS *-
RATTLESNAKE, DRAKE J
, I NEVER SUNNED <
THOSE B0Y5-EVEN '
THOUSH THEY TRIEP /
^TO BUSHWHACK /

~A YOU ADMIT \

) YOU FOUSHT ^
WITH THEM.' WHO
I ELSE COULD HAVE
PLU6SED THEM?YOU
AIN’T 6ETTINS AWAY
_ WITH THIS.' jA*

>1’M SORRY, ) ALL Rl
f TEX-BUT I \ SHER

> RECKON I’LL ) I KK
! HAVE TO HOLD J YOU

YOU FOR \ ONLY C
URIAL.' THERE’S ) YOL
' TOO MUCH S DUTY,
CIRCUMSTANTIAL JTURN
. EVIDENCE "J BAD'

> AGAINST in

V YOU.' J V__

' ) DRAKE 15
J RIGHT !

' WHO IS THAT
WADDY,
ANYWAY? HE’S

LET’S SEE IF A
JURY BELIEVES

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PkS PIRT, WHITE FLASH .'WE HAVE
TO WARN THE
CATTLE MEN S

THAT THET U5UALLV TAKE WHEN
THET PRIVE THE CATTLE TO
MARKET' IT SAVES THEM T7'
SOME MILES. 1 BUT PRAKE //—
FISURES TO SET THERE //-

s_ first.’ .—_^y —

RECKON WE JUST J-
MAPE IT.' HERE COME
THE STEERS NOW.'

LOOK.' IT’S
TEX RITTER .'

> HEAPING
( FOR DEEP
VCAN'fON .

tra

v - i

i

HR

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?HE SUPPEN SHOT STAMPEPE3 THE CATTLE/ANP THEY RUSH
TOWARP TEX WHO LIES HELPLESS OH THE GROUNP.

THOSE STEER5 ARE
HEAPING RIGHT
POR ME.' i®

* THOSE STEERS
WILL STOMP ME
TO PIECES <
UNLESS I GET )
OUT OF HERE.'/

6000 BOY, PAL.' I RECKON 4
IE 601 OUT OF THAT ONE.'
r SURE WAS A LUCKY THING
AT THOSE ORNERY POLECATS
PNLY CREA5EP ME/ BUT <
WE’RE GOING TO GET ).

another whack at y/
>—them .'

TEX RITTER WESTERN

LISTEN.' DRAKE AND HIS DRV- ^

GULCHING RATS HAVE SPRUNG
THEIR AMBUSH. 1 THEY'VE SOT THE
COWBOYS TRAPPED ON THAT >
'---- LEDGE.' )—

COME ON, WHITE FLASH.'WE
CAN CIRCLE AROUND AND COM
UP BEHIND DRAKE AND HIS
GANG.' WE’RE TAKING A
.HAND IN THIS FIGHT.'

THERE THEY ARE.' THE
POLECATS HAVEN’T SPOTTED .
-—. US YET.' _ _^

HE’S SOT THE NINE
LIVES OF A CAT, BUI

V^ AIBBEB r

. A/EEE—
IT’S HIM.

SNEAKING COYOTES.

« r RECKON IT’S YOU THAT’S
GOING TO BE DROPPING THE
GUN.' DON’T MOVE-OR ■—
r I’LL LET PAYLIGHT
\ THROUGH YOU 1 J -

TWICE MY BOYS MISSED
PLUGGING YOU - BUT THIS
TIME I’M GOING TO <
MAKE SURE BY DOING )
--, IT MYSELF.' .-<

V I FIGURED X —
J YOU WERE THE
VARMINT WHO
SENT THOSE TWO
BUSHWHACKERS «■
-T AFTER ME .')

GOOD BOY,

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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 AI 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 Al 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. Al 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-
eraole 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 Al 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 lot more than a
couple of hours that they’d be stuck out on
the range. All night most likely. This was an
ilect;rical storm, and there was nothing fright¬
ened the herds as much. Al had helped round
up too many panicky cattle, driven frantic by
the thunder and lightning, not to know what
the other boys must be going through!

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, Al spawned an idea. If Stretch King
vTere 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 Al Pearson?
Wouldn't he be pleased to show his gratitude
•by re-hiring Al? . . . if Al Pearson promised
never to loaf on a job again?

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

The rain had a stinging quality as it beat

TEX RITTER WESTERN

fiercely at his face. It was good that A1 Pear¬
son 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!

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.

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
cut corners on the Circle-O. That lowdown
cook had neglected the chuck wagon wheels
so that they were in complete disrepair. It
was miraculous that he had even come this far,
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
make temporary repairs on the wheels.

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 to look for them now. In this
storm they'd be found only if they so chose.
In all likelihood, they were now back home,
hee-hawing over the foolish waddie they had

outsmarted. That’s where he’d 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 pain-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!”

THE END

ipSUB

HS'sip^n

TEX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

RIDING THE RANGE

TEX RITTER

121 SOUTH BEVERLY DRIVE,
BEVERLY HIU5,CALIF®RN IA

ITlS SURE 6000 TO R8N UP ONCE AGAIN r -. -

MET HANK SHELDON AS I WAS RIDING UP THE ROAD. I ASKED WHAT HE W»S
DOING AND HE SAID," I'VE GOT THE DAY OFF, TEX , AND I'M IN THE SHADE OF
7HEWAK30Ni" NOW YOU MIGHT WONDER HOW HE COULD BE IN'THESHADE OP
THE WAGON WHEN HE WAS OUT IN THE MIDOLE OF THE ROADTALKWG TOME.
WELL, OlfT HERE *IN THE SHADE OF THE WAGON" MEANS A PERSON WHO
IS TAKING UFE EASY .

BUT HANK WASN'T THE ONLY HOMBRE I MET TODAY IN THE SHADE
OF THE WAGON. IT'S BEEN SLACK TIME AT MOST OF THE RANCHES AND
THE HANDS HAVE HAD rT PRETTY EASY. BUT AFTER I MET BILL TODD I
GOT TO THINKING. BILL WAS MIGHTY BUSY READING WHEN X SAW HIM.
BUT MOT JUST READING STORY BOOKS - --HE WAS READING UP ON
CROP AND SOIL CONSERVATION.

HE WASN'T WASTING THE EXTRA TIME ON HIS HAND6 iN THE
SHADE OF THE WAGON. BILL WAS PREPARING HIMSELF FOR A BETTER
JOB. SURE, EVERYONE'S GOT TO TAKE UFE EASY A kin ■»=' "

.iin nnTl..mhr unar e^i coenn -n-i« Mliru -TIM>

THERE ARE EIGHT HOURS IN A OR/ FOR WORKING, EIGHT FOR SLEEPING,
AND EIGHT MORE FOR YOURSELF. IT'S WHAT A MAN DOES WrTH THOSE
LAST EIGHT THAT MAKES HIM WHAT HE IS.

SAY, THE SHADOWS ARE GETTING LONGER ! I'VE GOT TO BE
HITTING THE TRAIL BACK TO THE RANCH NOW. AS ALWAYS, IT'S BEEN
MIGHTY FINE SHOOTING THE BREEZE W"- •" 1 “=

-- |N ggf.- ■ ——-

TEX RITTER WESTERN

TRAIL

•HEN..... L~f THAT’S KING AND HOWLAND¬

S’- ' ~\ TWO PARTNERS THAT

NOW THAT \ JUST FOUND A SILVER
1 WE STAKED 1 MINE WHERE THEY SAY
OUR CLAIM, THE SILVER IS ALMOST

1 IT CALLS FOR \ ON THE SURFACE,' X
A CELEBRATION.'; RECKON THAT’LL PUT
LET’S HAVE IDEAS INTO GATLING’S

v A DRINK J f -. HEAD.' j- -'

I’VE HEARP SOME PRETTY J
TALL STORIES ABOUT THAT DOG
OF YOURS, TEX.' CAN HE REALLY
s. DO EVERYTHING THEY SAY >
v -- HE CAN ? ,-

WELL, HE’S A MIGHTY
\ HANDY PARTNER TO <
; HAVE AROUNP WHEN
THERE’S ANY TROUBLE,
SHERIFF.' WE’VE BEEN .
IN A LOT OF TIGHT
^SCRAPES TOGETHER !.

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{• ..

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~ / A!EEEE!

SET THAT Voe.

oWoo.

TEX RITTER WESTERN

they’ll se coming back for me

YOU GOT TO HELP ME*
^ RANGER .' m

V I RECKON THE FIRST
THINS WE 0U6HT TO PO
IS TRY TO SET OUT OF HERE.'

GATLING ANP HIS MEN ARE <*m^\

IN THERE I CAN HEAR J T^-H
»7HEM TALKING.' nr~-^ 11

QUICK J

THEY’RE COMING

TEX RiTTER WESTERN

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TEX RITTER WESTERN

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TEX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER t&e c<x(v&<Hf cavaCiet.

AND HIS MIGHTY PARD WHITE FLASH