A "MUST" FOR ALL MODEL BUILDERS the big, new 144-page book CAL SMITH on All veteran model builders know Cal Smith as one of the country's leading authorities on model building. As a writer, designer, illustrator and winning contestant, Cal Smith packs over fifteen years of expert modeling into the most complete book of its type ever published. His book MODEL BUILDING will appeal to all beginners because of the simple, to-the-point approach. Seasoned hobbyists will also treasure this book because of the advanced designs, facts and figures and hundreds of drawings and photographs. For the best guide in model building see CAL SMITH on MODEL BUILDING...today! at your local newsstand 754 If your news dealer cannot supply you, order by mail. Send to FAWCETT BOOKS, Dept.C- 7 f Greenwich, Connecticut. Order number 139 TEX RITTER WESTERN FAWCETT PUBLICATION. m the HOPI MYSTERY /.OOM'THM GALOOT RIDING ^5 UP IS TEX RITTER Jm JLwit the saddle ! jtsssSSS- TEX RITTER WESTERN. Aug.. TEX RITTER WESTERN ■NE.SIGH* fSOR SEVERAL SECONDS TEX LIES dazed, his faithful dog, fury, STANDING GUARD OVER HIM J 'SOMEDAY, WHITE FLASH, 2 — > WE’LL REPAY THOSE BUZZARDS FOR THAT TRICK /WE’D BETTER HAVE A LOOK INSIDE THAT HUT .AND FIND OUT WHAT THE V —r CRITTERS WERE 1- IV-UP TO.' j- ' , SIDEWINDERS/THIS ^ OLD INDIAN WASN’T EVEN ARMED/ THEY \ , SHOT HIM DOWN IN COLD BLOOD J A TEX RITTER WESTERN 7ATER, IN TH£ TOWN OF RED FLATS.... j BEEN A HEAP OF RUSTLING UNDER MISHTT PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES .'AS YOU ' •AWT, COWPOKES ARE . LIGHT SLEEPERS, BUT < OPIATE, NOT A SINGLE ) WADPY SAVVIED HIS J COWS WERE MISSING VS Throughout the night, tex patrols the range, SCANNING EVERY SHADOWED GULLY, LISTENING TO EVERY WIND-BORNE SOUND.' TOWARD PAWN . J ENOUGH STOMPING AND ^ 1 BELLOWING TO BE HEARD A / MILE .'SURE LOOKS AS IF , WE'VE GOT A PASSEL OF _ CRITTERS TO ROUND UP/ \ I’M PATROLLING THE RANGE J > TONIGHT, SHERIFF/ TOU_ S [GUARD THE TOWN Jj ’IDER’S HEADING THIS WAY. GET BEHIND THIS ROCK, »—f c "° v ' | m —' GREAT GUNS/IT’S THE EASy.GIRL/ DON'T BE .FRIGHTENED/LOOK AT WHAT X HOLD IN THE .PALM OF MV HAND/^ > RANGER THAT'S RIGHT! TEX J BADGE/ RITTER'S THE *■ VOU RANGER? ) HANDLE/ I KNOW _ -L S Y0U HID BEHIND // > THAT BASKET TO SAVE U f VOUR LIFE, BUT WHAT T *V MAPE YOU RUSH OFF, INSTEAD OF HURRYING TO THE SHERIFF ? J TEX RITTER WESTERN OFF WITH THE HAVERFORD HERD/STAY HERE WITH "—i FURY, WHITE STAR.' A i figuredN J THEY WERE . RUSTLERS,'S \ AFTER THEIR I LEADER USED < /THAT ELECTRIC COW PROD/ , REIN IN, WHITE STAR/SOMETHING’S, GOING ON UP_ -r YONDER <7 iflHooo: GET c ROLLING , LITTLE C D06!ES!S | THEY'RE RUSTLERS, ALL RIGHT .'AND THE MUST FOLLOW TEX /HE MIGHT —r NEEO HELP.' ._•— TEX RITTER WESTERN • JUMPING JUNIPER IT’S TEX RITTER> - THERE’S ANOTHER PAYOFF COMING, ■ YOU BUZZARD— FROM THE Lf)W.' > WHO fit A THOUSANP POUNDS OF MUSCLE LIKE THAT IS A > GOOD THING TO STAY ,— tar- AWAY FROM. 1 ^ 4 V IS THE OUTLAW, ST/TCH, FINDS AND PEACHES FOR HIS GUN... > LET’S TAKE HER ) GOOD IDEA.' TO THE HIDE-OUT, / WE’LL WAIT STITCH, UNTIL HER \ UNTIL SOME UNCLE DECIDES TO )OF THE BOYS COME ACROSS WITH 4. RIDE UP, WHAT WE WANT.' A5 \ AND THEN FOR THE RANGER, WHY GO TO NOT LET THE STEERS DOA WORK.' A JOB r--— x — ir —• ON HIM?Jgj>- jl ' YOU SHOULD HAVE LEARNED TO STAY AWAY FROM ME, TEX RITTER .'NOTHING 7 -r STOPS Af£ I’LL GRAB HER, STITCH.' TEX RITTER WESTERN r MAKE IT FAST, OR THIS CRITTER BE TRKINS US ~7 AtON©'- m&NGR'f f)ND CONFUSED AT FMff’S CONSTANT SLASHINGS, THE STEER VEERS SHARPLY AT THE EDGE OF THE BLUFF AND . S KAIN AND AGAIN FURY SPRINGS, RAZOR SHARP FANGS SLASHING IT THE ROPES' , • , 5»-1-- 1 FURY.' IT’S NO TEX RITTER WESTERN PUP-lVS TIMES LIME THIS WHEN I SAVVY I’LL NEVER OV ANOTHER DOS BUT YOU.'A WADPY CAN HAVE A HEAP OF FRIENDS, BUT HIS HOR5E . ANP OOO ARE HIS ,— . TRAIL PARDS.' ) -- J NOW I SAW 2 ~ WHY WHITE STAR’S GRANDFATHER , WAS SHOT, ANP WHY THE GANG'S after her uncle/medicine MEN USE A CACTUS DRUG CALLED . PEYOTE.' f) HANDFUL OF PEYOTE THROWN INTO THE COWPOKES’CHOW DRUGGED THEM IMMEDIATELY/AND THEY’D STAY ASLEEP WHILE THE -r fTE fS * -—7 HERD WAS Aj\ RUSTLED/ LET’S J&Ssr l GO, FURY, I//t \WE ! RE HEAD- Vgy'V®! ? IN6 BACK TO I -2T!V.«8tSKI 5A WHITE STAR’S Jfef'' Vrr-v HUT / Ml I found this girl’s jacket^ INSIDE / WHITE STAR MENTIONED / TRAILING THE COYOTES TO THEIR <, . HIDE-OUT IN STONY HOLLOW/ SNIFF, * BOY.' IF THEY’VE TAKEN HER THERE, L. WU'LL BE ABLE 70 PICK UP U ——, HER SCENT/ jgl V7’5 /> tfwosr- IT CAN’T BE/ > WITHOUT WASTING WORDS, 4. STITCH, I WANT YOU AND YOUR PACK OF SNAKES TO KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT MURDERED > MEDICINE MAN / r» »~-r / - —S •< IF YOU HADN’T ( SO THAT IS WHY 'T TRAILED THE l STITCH KILLED MY 4 VARMINTS TO (Fcrandfather/only \ their hide-out INDIAN MEDICINE MEN J AND TOLD ME KNOW WHERE FIND < ABOUT IT, WHITE V PEYOTE/ AFTER GANG)STAR, 1 NEVER 'STOLE MY GRAND- V WOULD’VE KNOWN FATHER’S SUPPLY, f WHERE TO FIND . THEY SHOT; HIM ) THEM! I’VE GOT AH ? TO KEEP PLANS/IDEA YOUR GRAND- V SECRET FATHER’S PLUMB --«^PROUO OF YOU J TEX RITTER WESTERN HOWDY, PINTO PETE, HOW- SHHHHH! We ah, what are YUM HUH? WHAT!??? JUST THE MATTER?) ACTING SO MYSTERIOUS T ABOUT ? ^ J sunn! wait till , X CLOSE THE DOOR! THE B055 WEARS A TOUPEE! HA,H/ ADVERTISEMENT we'll never- win tomorrow's SAME WITH THAT ► KIN DOF —ggj BASEBALL lfS.1 JIM/1 i > JUST. <> DON'T n HAVE ANY you'll NEED ALL rJUSTLOOKAT SANDY NOT EVEN L CLOSE ID THAT FLY PRACTICING FOR, 7ME &K9 GAME.. LEADING L/~3 IN THE LAST HALF OF THE 9 EL WITH 2 OUT AND RUNNERS ON SECOND AND , THIRD, ..WHEN— ' 1. THE IMPORTANT W'Vf' "P-F" rigid wedge j^Ob*VtS HELPS KEEP THE V. -WEIGHT OFTHE/* If''Jr* > SOP/ON THE y I OUTSIDE OF 0"^ V THENORMALFOOT-DECREASING X^^FOOTAND LES MUSCLE STRAIN/ INCREASING ENDURANCE. V BUT LOOK. 1 ATTHAT 4 CENTER.-, ^FIELDER!/ 2. SPONSE RUBBER. ' CUSHION. ^-■F'Wans posture foundation ® 'and'>-F's"i „„ . . - HELPED *~ ME PLAY AT MY BEST RIGHT THROUSH . /V_ THE GAME get you f?'' P-F CANVAS ^ SHOES TODAY and see FOR YOURSELF HOW THEY HELP: V ... ZfSSE/V FOOT AND , y- LEG MUSCLE STRAIN ( INCREASE ENDURANCE X ... yOU GO FULL SPEED > 7 LONGER ) TEX RITTER WESTERN buffalo bull WHAT A BREAK'. HE'S SUCH A SIMPLE- MINDED GALOOT, IT'LL BE EASY FOR ME TO PULL A FAST ONE ON HIM AND s-v TAKE A FEW DOLLARS > — S' ^FROM HIM ! '■ XhoindV, GULLABLE! YO'REASIGHT “= MV EVES AREN'T SORE! I MEANT YUH WERE A , SIGHT. -THAT'S ALL... • / A SIGHT REALLY... WAIT, GULLABLE I WHAT r MEANT WAS THAT I'M GLAD TC> f- SEE YUH/ S \ X SHORE AM! BECAUSE HOW TUH WE CAN FLAY A VERY -< ARE?J ^INTERESTING QUESTION AND THE f THIS same first to asr one P LAVED 2 THW“ HE HMASGLt 8, S INTERESTING \j -^ __^T ffp CAN'T ANSWER, WILL \ \J-OSE FNE DOLLARS IJ fi J|g TEX RITTER WESTERN THE REASON A MOLE NEVER LEAVES ANV DIRT BEHIND INH&N HE'S DIGGING A HOLE IS BECAUSE HEAL WAVS , STARTS AT THE OTHER END/yf^ WELL, XUH'D BETTER BE ABLE TO ANSWER WHY A MOLE DOESN'T LEAVE ANV DIRT BEHIND WHEN > HE'S DIGGING A HOLE OR YUH'LL J LOSE THE MONEY l I- ' : TUH KNOW I CAN'T, r ANSWER IT.' f HVAR'S THE FIVE l DOLLARS! YUH I TRICKED me out! A T THAT MOMENT- he's Yours ? THEN SO SET MV 7 MONEY BACK Eg li fron\ him i Jm THUH? (GULP)) THE HOG GRABBED THE RIVE DOLLARS OUT OF MY HAND I £< TEX RITTER WESTERN 'and how! 1'llteu.vuh) J HE WANDERED OH UP ID NW tjaoM amo .iiict cr\Q OUC2P {SET IT BACK FROM HINT? \ ARE VIM LOCO z IT'S NOT I SAFE TO GO WITHIN TEN/ FEET OF HIM. 1 HE’S M THE toughest; MEANEST CRITTER THIS SID E OF ^ n. THE ROCKIES ! I f HOW TOUGH HE IS ! - 1 LAST WEEK HE FOUND A CASE OF DVNAMITE AND ATE A DOZEN ■ STICKS. OF I r!f—' OUICK AS A FLASH) THE MULE KICKED HIM SQUARE I IN THE STOMACW / OR D/A/ARILM', IT WOULDN'T HANE BOTHERED MV HO& A BIT BUT THE gSl dynamite exploded, the CORN CRIB was BLOWN UP, THE BARN WAS WRECKED, WINDOWS WERE BROKEN FOR TWO MILES AROUND AND J PIECES OP THE MULE CAME DOWN IN THE JHg -- g NEWT COUNTV/ J - TEX RITTER WESTERN RIDING THE RANGE TCX RITTER GOOD SEEING ALL OP YOU AGAIN ! THE SHADOWS ON THE PRAIRIE WERE JUST STARTING TO GROW LONS AS I RODE THIS WAY! YOU KNOW, FRIENDS, VOU CAN TELL WHEN THE DAY'S STARTING TO ENO IF VOU JUST WATCH THE SHADOW OF A PRAIRIE CACTUS LENGTHEN i THAT'S HOW MANY A COWHAND KNOWS WHEN rrs TIME TO GATHER IN THE HERD FOR THE NIGHT J IT'S JUST ONE OP THOSE LITTLE THINGS JEVERY OLO-TIMER. IN THE WEST HAS LEARNED OVER THE YEARS.' I z remember a tenderfoot who came west once, young ISND FULL OP THINKING HE KNEW IT ALL I OLDER FOLKS 1 WHY,THEY |KNEW NOTHING WORTH LISTENING TO, THAT WAS HIS IDEA! THEN ONE lariMElNTHg HILLS HE LEARNED DIFFERENTLY! THE OLDER COWHANDS HAD TRIED To tell HIM THAT, A LOT OF LOOSE DIRT WAS OFTEN A SIGN OF LANDSLIDE COUNTRY 1 BUT HE DIDN'T LISTEN UNTIL HE WAS ’ NEARLY DONE IN BY A SUDDEN SLIDE. THEN THAT TENDERFOOT BEGAN TO LISTEN TO WHAT OLDER HANDS HAD TO SAY! HE'D LEARNEO THEY WEREN'T JUST TALKING TO SOUND OFF ! SURE, WE ALL KNOW SQME YOUNG WHiPPeRSNAPPERS WHO FIGURE THEY KNOW IT ALL ANO THERE 1 S NO CAUSE TO HEED WHACT WELL, I RECKON IT'S TIME TO HIT THE TRAIL FOR HOME.' BUT I'LL BE AROUND AGAIN BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, SO GOOD Riding . range pals N f*- ^^T-Y-sVOURPARO, ADVERTISEMENT YOU MUST y I UNDER- |LVE DESIGNED i THIS BINS ' ESPECIALLY FOR THIS •MISSION/ ‘TO earth-Tu. BE I-AN DINS ON VENUS IN 15 MINUTES COPY THE Y STAND... VENUSIANS' J COPY IT, invasion -S. but not plans fsomI steal their lT ' MICROFILM' Wf rvoutU HAVE IT HOUR/I Congratulations T thanks to my MAJOR... YOU'VE ) ROCKET RING SAVEP US PROM J THE VENUSIANS .INVASION/ JM DON'T EVEN \ HERE'S THE s Film/ make a copy with My ROCKET RING AND THE SUHS RAYS... THEN BACK TO ) EARTH/ a ' GET ONE yS OF THESE ROCKET RINGS FOR YOUR J VERY own/ "rofiicLTL -FiiposiaE", ■■mtmiuc it towpMTioK.«.». i. n. r. I it prthibilH. «r wh.n Woof ■ WooF! WRA2ED WITH FRIGHT, THE HERD CONTINUES ITS a APPROACH. 1 BUT SUDDENLY, CONFUSED BY THE INSISTENT BARKING OF GUN AND DOG, THEY VEER OFF THE,R COURSE'; THFY’RF TURNING'"^T T” THAT WAS PLENTY CLOSE!/ GIT, you CHITTER. T-r TURN 1 yS CGIRD you PIP/N stranger.' but J WE’RE LOOKING > FOR THE CO yOTE WHO SET THE RANGE ON FIRE, ANP MAY-. r BE YOU’RE < \THE HOMBRE/J| »•/ TEX RITTER WESTERN ClT’S A TOUGH , BREAK .'SEEMS AS IF ONLY THE . CATTLE BUYER . f IS MAKING y . MONEY IN A > THESE PARTS 1 OF LATE. 1 WHO’S THE STRANGER?, HOWDY, DESMOND A UO,G U5 ) SOME OF MY BOYS I LOOKS AS IF M SPOTTED THE FIRE /I’M FINISHED.' ) AND FIGURED WHAT’S LEFT OF S THAT YOU N MY HERD WILL HAVE WERE HIT .'ANY- ) TO BE DRIVEN TO / THING WE CAN / MARKET.' I’LL HAVE V ^11 I DO? ) TO SELL AT WHAT- J EVER PRICE I CAN/ V GET.'r-^gpr—H A SPELL.' HALF A . DOZEN RANCHERS HAVE HAD THEIR FEEDING GROUNDS ‘ BURNED OUT FROM ^ UNDER THEM TEX RITTER WESTERN ARE YOU CRAZY, RITTER? DRIVING A HERO ACROSS THAT MOUNTAIN THR0U6H THE SNOW? WHY, MOST ^ OF THEM WOULD NEVER MAKE IT.' J BESIDES IT WOULD BE SUICIDE J • FOR THE COWHANDS IF A S BUZ7ARD SHOULD STRIKE l] THERE’S A LOT OF VIRGIN GRAZING LAND IN THE ‘MOUNTAIN VALLEY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT' RANGE. 1 WHY DON’T YOU DRIVE YOUR HERO ■ OVER IT.' THEY COULD FATTEN UP THERE ) AND YOU WOULDN’T HAVE tO GET RID J • OF THEM AT JUST ANY PRICE' 1- -/ V0U . RE fl FOOL ) - -x S DESMOND, TO WILL YOU \ / J LET RITTER TALK MEN RIDE/"-YOU INTO IT, < WITH < WE’RE \ BUT IT’S YOUR RITTER? ) WITH YOU, ) HARD LUCK y k -DESMOND. 1 / AND THE < ]/ VI V FOOLS YOU ' / 1/ 7 HIRE AS COW- , ~^<~>+-Ahands . 1 adiosV you know,even\ if he could THOUGH BRADLEY \ DRIVE HIS HERD DIDN’T SEEM TOO OVER THERE, HAPPY ABOUT THE I HE’D BE SAFE. 1 IDEA, I FIGURE ON —\ THOSE ASKING HIM TO THROW) FIRES ARE W WITH US.' HE MIGHT/APT TO HIT SEE THE ADVANTAGES >HIS SPREAD ONCE HE GETS A CHANCE JaNY TIME. 1 TO THINK IT OVER.' .-CAN YOU RIDE OVER TO * anlp y> HIS RANCH AND j WmTJ talk TO HIM IN gm --AND MAYBE NOT.'NO ONE HAS j I EVER ATTEMPTED IT BEFORE, I ^ RECKON, BUT THERE’S ALWAYS A 1 I CHANCE OF PULLING THROUGH.' S I AND I’D BE GLAD TO .-—H HELP OUT. 1 r-r-' I’LL TAKE THE L GAMBLE, TEX' ^Bs TEX MAKES HIS WAY UP TO THE RANCH HOUSE, THE MENTION OF HIS NAME ATTRACTS HIS ATTENTION TO AN OPENED WINDOW.', - -—;- 1 OUR THAT HITTER.'IT WAS ALL ) RACKET SET BEFORE HE POKED HIS I IS MUCH NOSE INTO THIS.' HE'S /TOO PR0FI1 TALKED DESMOHD INTO \ ABLE TO DRIVING HIS HERD OVER \ LET A THE MOUNTAIN AND IF HE ) RANGER MAKE’S IT, WE’RE^X SPOIL IT, *- \ urueoi JAB* fKiist WE’YE SEEMS AS IP ME HAS COMPANY. 1 MAYBE I’M JUST NATURALLY j SUSPICIOUS, BUT I HANKER ^ FOR A FEW ANSWERS TO jm SOME THINGS .'GUESS I’LL MOSEY AROUND _ A SPELL.' IT’S MIGHTY STRANGE THAT 3 t RADLEY’S COWBOYS AREN’T ^ IOING HIS RANGE TO WATCH FOR THE CRITTERS WHO HAVE BEEH SETTING THOSE FIRES .'AFTER A WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING,YOU’D ) m THINK HE’D PROTECT HIS^/ TEX RITTER WESTERN ’ SO BRADLEY S AND A CATTLE i \ BUYER ARE IN CAHOOTS SHOOTING1T OUT ISN’T THE WAY TODO IT.'WE < HAVE TO CATCH THEM IN THE ACT BEFORE > WE CAN BRING •O CHARGES AGAINST/# WHAT DO YOU RECKON ON DOING THEN, TEX ? Jflg following MYJW ’driven, rested and way GauyVy RERCHTHEJ TRERCHEROUS HAIRPI" RIDDEN AHEAD OF US.' MAYBE, THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND ' ABOUT STOPPING US, TEX/, ram BE THE BIGGEST ,1/ CATTLEMAN IN ’ 1 LiTTh I 1 ■aKfil TEX RITTER WESTERN > KEEP THE 2^j DOGGIES ^ . CLOSE TO THE TRAIL,BOVB. 1 DON’T, LET THEM GET ~ TOO CLOSE TO S' ^ THE EDGE.' ^ THEY CAN’T DO MUCH HARM ^ WITH THEIR GUNFIRE, DESMOND, IT’S SNOWING TOO HARD FOR A GOOD AIM.' BUT THEY ARE T BANKING ON STAMPEDING THE , CATTLE, SO TELL THE BOYS TO BE SURE TO KEEP THE HERD PACKED IN TIGHTLY, IF THEY /M VALUE THEIR LIVES/I’M >£3* RIDING UP AHEAD/ r-'"^ ./ RIGHT, 1 GIT.' 1 , GIT ' " LITTLE DOGGIES. THESE ROCKS ARE MIGHTY SLIPPERY, EH, WHITE FLASH? GOOD .THING I PUT THOSE Z~—~ -—*--- SPECIAL SHOES ggfc&aHIlL ON YOU LAST i glEgjBi Eig. night . 1 jg THERE’S A FOOT PATH UP AHEAD THAT WINDS LIP TO THE LEDGE OVERLOOKING THE PASS.'j I’LL KEEP THE GUNSLINGERS BUSY UNTIL OUR MEN RIDE UP.' ETCHING THE LEDGE WHERE BRADLEY AND HIS MEN ARE STATIONED.... KlF YOU’LL LOOK THIS WAV, YOU’LL FIND „ i§5jfT OUT > FOOLS.'DON’T STAND THERE GAPING. 1 HIT LEATHER FOR YOUR -{OTHER GUNS oon,the ranchers ripe up,anp- f *EX REJOINS THE TRFHL HERD¬ ERS RND RFTER fi BITTER DM OF FIGHTING THE COLD RND THE TRERGHEROUS PRSSES.... TAKE THESE TWO AND THE REST > •OF THE POLECATS TO THE SHERIFF.'J I»M RIDING ON TO HELP GET_ S THE HERD THROUGH TO THE *T FEEDING GROUND.' ,- l - y VOU BET, >-\ RANGER <5 ( I'M GOINS] Stowin/4 'StoO !A l/HATUWSHALL WEjTHE MOST INTERESTINCW VE DRAW'}' SKETCHjQ lDEA WINS, KlOSl^ ^^ T\nggg GOT If g%- _) I/Tvwy (already! ESIoh&oy/h r A DRAWING] •^CONTEST// ha^HTo I pRAW- Lgstgjl 'TIME'S UPl NOW I'LL PICK^toPK Ul'LL WIN^SEEl [SIS IS THE winner! and' ' fleer's is a good j .IDEA EVERY TIME- >NO WONOER SHE 1 \WONTHE PRIZE'; I HER PRIZE IS A WHOLES 1 —H Box OF BUBBLE [fleer's blows bigger bubbles 1 ^ BETTER AND FASTER! | AVAILABLE ALL OVER THE WORLDj\ (GRRR) TEX RITTER WESTERN HORSES! HORSES!! By Clement' Good T HE grim-faced men gathered in the Mon¬ arch Grain and Feed store were very rest¬ less. Old Buckthorn grumbled, “Where’s J. T.? You reckon he skipped town?” “And where’s Freckles?” asked another. “He’s the one that called this meeting. He’s supposed to be our spokesman.” “Hold your horses!” exclaimed the third, a solemn, middle-aged man who seemed less nerv¬ ous than the rest. “We’re all here early. It’s ten minutes yet before the meeting’s supposed to commence. I’m not so sure about J. T., but Freckles will be here, you can bet your bottom, “They both had better be here,” growled Buckthorn, fingering his Colt. “And if we don’t get straight answers, I’m all for some gunplay I” “Well, now, I don’t reckon we ought to be hasty,” said somebody else. “That Freckles, he’s as.honest as a new-minted dollar. Only thing with him is he’s so much of a cutup . . . don’t know that he’s serious minded enough to pay much heed tb money matters.” The solemn, middle aged man looked at his big pocket watch and drawled, “Well, they’ve both still got nine minutes, so let’s keep our shirts on.” It was certainly true that Freckles O’Grady was a cutup. At the moment the men were so solemnly discussing him, he was the center of a group of laughing children. One of the chil¬ dren pleaded, “Come on, Mr. Freckles. Do your imitation of a coyote howl!” “No, no! You promised me you’d ittake like a man drinking soda pop!” “Hey, wait a minute!” laughed the tall, grin¬ ning man. “One at a time. Okay, here goes with the soda pop.” Freckles clamped his lips together, then opened them suddenly so that they made a loud “pop!” One child nudged another and whispered. “That’s taking out the cork. Then Freckles flapped his index finger against his cheek so that he produced a gurgling noise, like fluid running out of a bottle. All the children laughed and some tried to duplicate the imitation. A little girl handed a stalk of celery to the man and said, “Mr. freckles, mama gave me this. Make like a trap- jfcpr walking through the crusted snow on snow- Freckles bit off a piece of the celery and soon there was a crunch-crunch sound exactly like somebody walking over crusted snow. “Do a steamboat whistle!” “Crow like a rooster!” “Make like a timber wolf!” The requests flew thick and fast. “Hey, wait a minute!” shouted Freckles, good- naturedly. “I’ve got a brand new imitation for you sprouts. Wait’ll you hear this!” He took a couple of small wooden bowls from his pockets. At the same time he happened to gldnce at the “Holy smoke, pals!” he exclaimed. “It’s later than I thought. We’ll have to save this new imitation. I’ve got to get to a meeting. So long 1” In the meeting room the impatient Buckthorn looked at his watch. “Thirty seconds and they’ll both be late,” he grumbled. The words had barely got out when the door opened and J. T. Schwindler stepped in, smooth and oily as al¬ ways. “Ah, gents,” smiled J. T. “I see you are all here. All, that is, except Freckles.” “I’m here»too!” came a voice behind him. “Had to sprint all the way, but I made it!” “Important business hold you up, Freckles?” growled Buckthorn. “As a matter of fact, yes,” grinned Freckles. “I was teaching some youngsters how to imi¬ tate a steamboat.” ' Some of the men laughed at Freckles’ good humor. Buckthorn grunted his disapproval. TEX RITTER WESTERN “ ’Tain’t no time for idle cavorting. We’ve got serious business to discuss. And I got a six- shooter here that says somebody better get seri¬ ous pretty doggone quick.” Freckles’ grin left him as he declared, “I hope we can settle this without any trouble. To get to the point right quick, we want an account¬ ing, Mr. Schwindler. All of us bought stock in the Great Chance Silver Mine more than six months ago and so far none of us has made a plug nickel out of it! What’s the reason?” “Well, now, gents, we mustn’t get impatient,” said J. T. “Things like this take time. Frankly, when I sold stock to you all, I thought we’d make a strike before now. I expect the Great Chance will start producing any minute.” “Why have you got guards all around the mine and the office?” snarled Buckthorn. “None of US can get near the place!” “Got to have guards,” declared J. T. “Suppose we do hit plenty of ore? Don't want owlhoots walking in to steal it from us, do we?” After about a half-hour of palaver, the con¬ ference broke up. It was agreed that Freckles should ride out to the mine office with J. T., inspect the books, and report back to the other stockholders. J. T. and Freckles were in the office now. J. T. unlocked a desk drawer and pulled out a heavy book. “Here’s the ledger,” he said, “but before you look at it, let me tell you this. You work with me and you’ve got a chance to make a nice piece of change.” “WHat do you mean?” “I mean you and me will split fifty-fifty on the profits. This mine has been producing silver like crazy! I’ve sneaked the ore away in the dead of night! But there’s no need to tell all the other stockholders that. You tell ’em the books are in ord^r and they should be patient a couple more weeks. By that time we’ll have our load and you and I can skip town. Those fools trust you. But I know you’re a happy-go- lucky character who would rather play than work, and here’s your chance.” Fire flashed from Freckles’ eyes. He drew J. T.’s nose, knocking the man backward over his chair. “Fool!” exclaimed Schwindler, as Freckles felt the jab of hard steel in the small of his back. “Take his guns, Turk, and keep him covered,” said Schwindler. “I forgot to men¬ tion to you, Freckles, that the alternative to my attractive proposition was death!” The gun hand at his back relaxed for a split second. Freckles whirled and slammed the heavy ledger against blue-jawed Turk. With one bound he was through the window and he ran for his horse. “Go get him!” cried Schwindler. “Take the rifle! Gun him down!” The rifle cracked. Freckles fell from his horse and sprawled in the trail dust. “Go after him, Turk. Be sure you finish him off!’ ordered J. T. Obediently, Turk moved forward. As he dipped into a gully, the body of his victim was hidden from view. Then he heard the sound: “Cloppety-cloppety-clop-clop!” “Horses!” exclaimed Turk. He" whirled. He raced back and yelled at Schwindler, “Somebody coming! Maybe the sheriff! Let’s get outta here! I’m not taking chances on a murder charge!” They fled, but they didn’t get far. Lawmen from all surrounding towns were alerted by telegraph and .soon both men were in custody. After taking statements frtom them, the sheriff approached Freckles and said, “They’ve con¬ fessed all. There’s only one thing I don’t under¬ stand. Turk says he got scared from finishing you off when he heard horsemen approaching. ' But you came back to town all by your lone¬ some.” H FRECKLES, wearing a bandage on his slight* •*- ly wounded shoulder, grinned. “I was those Norsemen!” The bewildered sheriff watched him remove two wooden bowls from his pocket. Freckles began beating the inverted bowls against the ground, “Cloppety-cloppety- “New imitation I made up for the kids,” he said, smiling. T'T" "TD TEX RITTER WESTERN fT) Pi r»?pfrERv| WU¥u&u*J88 TEX RITTER WESTERN COULO I SEE THAT NOTE, CASWELL? BEFORE I LEAVE, l'(A WHATEVER LIKE TO HAVE A CHAT I YOU THINK WITH SHIFTY MORAN / BEST, TEX. WHO YOU SAY IS /YOU HAVEN'T STILL AT THE EARNED THE hotel reputation as TrdBU/ THE SMARTEST \l amBtm. prairie ranger » ikv P0R nothin© 1 I KICK UP DUST, WHTE FLASH! J LET'S00,FURY! J- - -n r-7——^BECAREFUL, ARE \ POSITIVE.' ALL SIX NOTES HAD YOU ) NO STAMPS ON THEM WHICH SURE?/ MEANS SOMEONE HAD TO i --. r-\ LEAVE them here DURING / ferlugi'S-l THE NIGHT l M - _ _ ' GOOD MORNING, MR. MORANi HYAR'S A NOTE PER YUH 1 > THAT NOTE DIDN'T OOME f HERE NHj HE COMES I now! THANKS I LOOKS AS IF HE EX— ! PECTED IT ! SINCE X > CAN'T FORCE IT FROM HIM WITHOUT A WARRANT- TEX RITTER WESTERN FOLLOW THERE'S no question about it THAT HOMBRE AND HIS DOS ARE FOLLOWING ME l I'VE GOT TO GET RID N-A, OF THEM BEFORE I REACH i fegfOjl— . ECHO CAVE J —BUT I'VE BEEN \HE SHOT HOPING FOR IT ! \ MV GUN SINCE VOU STARTED AWAV i THIS, IT GIVES ME J I'LL HAVE EVERV RIGHT TO < TO OUT- SEARCH VOU AND RIDE HIM ! SEE^WHATYOU’RE/ ITSTWV CHANCE 1 TEX RITTER WESTERN 3 VUH OOI PARTNER, AND THAT'S NOTHING L JM RELAX ! I SOT A NOTE FROM THE VOICE TO SHOW UP HVARi WHO IS HE / ANYWAV ? ^ r /YOW L/STEM CAREFULLYZ HAHEPRLVATE j /HFORMAT/OH THAT THE LAST TWO CARS OF THE TRA//V ARRfWWG W 7VLEDO 7VV/&H, WfU- BE POLL OF GOLD! &YLEAV/WG ALOW Z CAM MAW AGE TO BOARD THE TRAM OH /TB LAST STOP BEFORE TOLEDO / WHEN fl* REACHES THE TOP OF THE HALL OUTS/DE TOLEDO AT DUSK, Z WHL P/SCOHHECT THE LAST TWO CARS i THEM - - _ ~ _ J FWHOEVER 1 5 DOING THE TALKING 1 COULD BE IN ANY ONE OF THOSE TUNNELS I HIS VOICE WOULD ECHO ■ RIGHT INTO HERE l THAT'S WHY THEY CALL THIS ECHO CAVE i i TEX RITTER WESTERN r JUST AS I THOUGHT THEY EXPECTED ME TO DASH INTO THAT TUNNEL BECAUSE J I WAS STANDING IN . FRONT OP IT ! F BECAUSE STEAUHS THE GOLD V AMD gett/mg /roar of me ^ COUA/rRY SAFELY ABE TWO PIFFER- £< vr th/mgs.' owes they f/hd OUT THE GOLD //AS BEEN H/GH- ^ GOOD'/VOW THERE'S O/YLY Iff! OWE TH/HG YU/Y GOT TO DO ^ BEFORE WE CAW START THE JOB.' THERE'S OHEAMO//& VUHWHO/SH'T THE HOMBRE Z ■JACKED, EVERY LAWOOG /HT7YE 1 COUA/rRY YY/LL BE OH OUR TEA/C .' teat's way z SE/vr fee tee s/x TOUGHEST GUNMEN TO HELP EE GET /T ACROSS 77/E BOEDER J SEHT FER/H FA CT, HE'S A PRA/R/ERANGER' /F YUH SEARCH EACH 07HER, YUH SHOULD HAVE HO TROUBLE fyhd/ms the gu/lty party ! H/LL HYM YZHE/V YUHF/HD H/M ! ■"lets smF^awprvi^s TEX RITTER WESTERN LET'S GO, WHITE FLASH, DON'T SPARE THE HORS WHAT A BREAK IF THAT SUPPORT HADN'T FALLEN i AT THAT ANGLE, MY SKULL WOULD have been crushed l now to SEE IF X CAN Die THE REST OF ME OUT OF HERE ^ 'LL JUST HAVE TO BOARD IT MV OWN WAVj TEX RITTER WESTERN I'LL LOCK HIM IN THE BW3<5<