Buster Crabbe Comics, Tex Ritter Comics and Rod Cameron Comics

TEX BITTER WESTERN Volume 1, Number 31 October. 1955

Published bimonthly by Charlton Comics Group. Executive offices and office of publication Charlton Building 1 , Derby,
Conn. Copyright 1955 by Charlton Comics Group. Printed in the U.S.A.

TiX RITTER WESTERN

ATOMIC MOUSE * BADGE OF JUSTICE * BLUE BEETLE * COWBOY LOVE * COWBOY WEST-
ERN * DANGER ond ADVENTURE * FUNNY ANIMALS— MERRY MAILMAN *- GABBY HAYES A
HOT RODS and RACING CARS * LASH LoRUE ★ MONTE HALE * MY LITTLE MARGIE A ROCKY
LANE A SIX-GUN HEROES A SOLDIER and MARINE A SPACE ADVENTURES— ROCKY JONF<.
SPACE RANGER A SWEETHEARTS A TEX RITTER A TW. I. SUSPENSE A TRUE LIFE SECRETS «.
TV TEENS— DON WINSLOW of th. NAVY A WIN-A-PRIZE A ZOO FUNNIES. NYOKA, JUNGLE Gift.

A CHARLTON PUBLIC ATIO- 1

fvnry •ffort ii mod* to iniura that thait comic magatmat
contain the ftighe.t quality of wKolaiomo ante tainmant.

&•««**■ Mtor

4

I'LL SEE
WHAT -
I CAN PO,
CHIEF/

When trouble sounds across the Western
hills, TBX RITTER, the Prairie Ranger, tabes
after it ! But this time he travels a strange
path through the sentimental words of an
old song to find the answer to the
VANISHING VARAUNTS:

I'LL TAKE My GUITAR ANP 1

\eO AS A TRAVELING
Jtroubapour who -

/PLAYS AT PANCES/
THAT OUGHT TO HE BP
.THEM OFF- GUAR P/

RIGHT/ GO THERE
ANP SCOUT AROUND/
SEE WHAT YOU CAN
LEARN/ KEEP YOUR
IPENTITY SECRET;
I'LL HELP YOU IN
GETTING A LINE
OH THE VARMINTS.

Tex RiHer, 'the Prairie Ranger, is called
into Pfizer Headquarters one day, and —

^ I’VE A REPORT HERE.TEX,

OF A SMALL TOWN THAT'S TOO
NEW TO HAVE ITS OWN SHERIFF
YET.' SEEMS THEY'VE BEEN
HAVING TROUBLE WITH A ^
BANP OF VARMINTS WHO )
STRIKE ANP THEN V
- PISAPPEAR/ ^

TEX RITTER WESTERN

WE OUGHT TO BE GETTING
NEAR THIS TOWN SOON,
WHITE PlASU! ANP WE T
CAN BOTH USE A BOOB M
NIGHT'S REST.' V?

‘Hours later.

so long, AEfly/ ^
CAN'T TAKE you Wirt
.me thistime; m

SOOP LUCK, TEX, ANP OOWT TIP YOUR
HANOI REMEMBER, THESE ARE SLICK ,
l^COTDTES yOU'RE AFTER .'

Suddenly/

WHA-7
GET HIM
, QUICK J

GET OFF
THET
HORSE!

WHAT'S

THE-?

UFF!

WHOA, THERE,

nt Boy/^_

A rider
races
Straight
toward
Tex
and—

| But drove behind

Enraged ly the surprise attack,

6NEAK UP ON US. WILL YOU,

WE'LL SHOW YOU!

Tex swings into action!

' THAT'LL HOLD HIM A
MINUTE.' GET THE

MONEY AND LET'S
-7 VAMOOSE !

I SURE PON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS

All about, but Tm not aiming to ,

STANO HERE ANP LET YOU
DRYGULCHERS TOSS PUNCHES )

AT ME.' J

.MjA — , r ^ySTOR THE

TEX RITTER WESTERN

BUT I DIDN'T IMAGINE THEM.' THEY
WERE' HERE.' THEIR TRACKS ARE w
IN THE GROUND/ THIS GROUND UP 1
HERE IS COVERED WITH A WHITE A
CLAY MIXTURE/ I'U SURE • |M| g4ffW[
REMEMBER THIS SPOT.' JWA

THERE'S NOT A THING AROUND NOW
BUT THESE ROCKS AND THAT OLD
BENT PINE TREE/ I CAN'T EVEN
HEAR THEIR HORSES v— -a^
7 GALLOPING AWAY/

fc quickly clears his head and •

THEY'RE GONE' BUT WHERE
I WAS DIZZY FOR ONLY A FEW
MOMENTS' THEY’VE >E~
7 JUST VANISHED! Jy

DON'T LISTEN TO HIS

/VOW

WHAT?

YOU'RE ONE OF THE
HOMBRES WHO
ROBBED MY BANK,
ONE OF THE X
DISAPPEARING A
JASPERS WE'VE j
BEEN HUNTING/ /

I TANGLED

l PALAVER.

WITH ONE OF THEM AND
THAT BRUISE ON HIS HEAP
PROVES HE'S THE ONE/
LET'S GIVE HIM- A /
—r NECKTIE ^

( PARTY/ J

WHOA, THERE.' THERE'S
ONE OF THEM] £040

. nmff ^

SURE ENOUGH/ MAYBE

A CHANCE TO SPEAK HIS J THANK YOU, MISS/ >
PIECE, TREM AINE / X I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE

_ ^^r^GALOOTS.' I CAME UPON

1 / / THEM, THEY JUMPED ME
Wfu&l ML / / AND GAVE ME THIS BRUISE

/ // I ON MY HEAP/ I'M JUST
'//jX X V A ROAMING GUITAR X

^ 7- PLAYER/ y |

LOOK/
HERE'S
► MY
guitar/

HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH, T I DON'T KNOW

■ DAD/ yWHAT TO THINK,

---'-'■"'CAROL/ LETS HEAR
/// HIM SING AND PLAY THAT
WifM) ' / Guitar if he claims to
l BE A TRAVELING y
/V<r\wr--xA X TROUBADOUR/ ^X

TEX RITTER WESTERN

takes up his guitar, and in a few minutes.

NONSENSE, TREMAINE/ YOU \ THANKS, MSS'
KNOW NONE OF THOSE BANDITS )TEX IS AW NAME
HAP A GUITAR STRAPPED 7-JUST TEX / THAT'S
I TO HIS SADDLE.' WE ALL FOLKS EVER

FOLLOWED THEM ^ CALL ME/ >

CLOSE FOR A SP£LL\ ^ — - 1

ANP I'D HAVE y-s If

NOTICED ft! J

WELL, HE SINGS ANP PLAYS \l SAY, STRING^
I RIGHT SMARTLY/ RECKON /HIM UP ANP TAKE
HE'S A TRAVELING J NO CHANCES, ,
I TROUBADOUR, J AmR . REEP /

L — r 'ALL RIGHT/ / )

f0[ — THAT'S ^
U THE STORy

of the r

CHISHOLM /
trail i

IT? like to stav } y0i/J WE
ANP HELP YOU /NEED GOOD.
FIND THOSE -r^RIPl-EMEN FOR
, VARMINTS / \ THAT, NOT GUIT/

I OWE THEM h-r P LAYERS/,

A THING OR / ^

TWO FOR V V

JUMPING f MMUig

) THIS IS PERFECT/ <
/ ITU GIVE ME A GOOD
CHANCE TO SEE IF -<
I CAN FIND OUT HOW )
-7 THOSE COYOTES J
( VANISHED SO JT\ >.
^7 QUICKLY/ J/ ,

MY PAD'S BANK WAS ONLY THE LATEST OF A SERIES
OF ROBBERIES THOSE BANDITS HAVE COMMITTED/
AS A NEW COMMUNITY, WE'RE AT THE MERCY >
OF SUCH LAWLESSNESS/ , — — -

IT SURE IS A SHAME/ ANP ALL X YES — EVEN TREMAINE/
THE FOLKS OF THIS POSSE ARE JHE'S A LITTLE HOT-
RANCHERS ANP GOOD CITIZENS -7 HEAPED, I GUESS/ )
OF THE TOWN - INCLUDING THAT )HE WORK'S IN TOWN C
TREMAINE HOMBRE WHO WAS /AT THE POST OFFICE \
SO ANXIOUS TO ^ TANO THESE ROBBERIES /

STRETCH ME? T V HAVE HIM PLENTY /

^ / ANGRY/ y

>—

TEX RITTER WESTERN

But soon, Tex reaches ihe
Reed raxck bunkhouse, and—

A few * ighte
walks iftrou

I want you

MOUNT UP l i'll TAK£

LOOK OUT,

ORNERY PROOMTAILSJ

WE'LL STAY RIGHT ON THE/R HEELS,

COMB ON, WHITE
FLASH f WE CAN'T
LET THEM GET AWAY
f AGAIN' ^

6IPPAP,

' THERE/ '

JIARDWAEIE

TEX RITTER WESTERN

/ANP THE WHITE CLAyOP'THjT'Ny
earth AROUNP HERE/ THIS 16
THE SAME SPOT, ALL RIGHT/ V
I SURE PONT FIGURE THIS )

AT ALL/ • ■ —

THEY REACH THIS SPOT ANP SUPPENLV
VANISH/ J MIGHT AS WEIL GO BACK
TO THE RANCH ANP TRY TO PUZZLE, 1
THIS OUT THERE/ I'VE GOT TO
GET AT THE BOTTOM OF
THIS SOMEHOW/

AHP THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE
I MET THEM, WHERE THEY SLUGGEP
ME ANP VANISHEP JUST AS >
SUPPENLY/ THERE'S THAT fiMEBfej
■r OLP, SENT PlNE/-£gSj~2g

I'LL BE GLAD TO
PIG THE MUSIC
.OUT OF THAT 1
f TRUNK ANP
^ LEARN it/ A

A few (/ays' later, at the ranch house ■

; IT'S IN AN OLP TRUNK IN THE
ATTIC/ IT'S A SONG MY GRAND -
DAP USEP TO SING TO MY GRAND-
MOTHER' HE PLAYED THE .^a
7 GUITAR, TOO.'

YOU SENT WORD ) YES, TEX/ THE PANCE IS
fOU WANTED TO /ONLY A FEW DAYS OFF ANP
w SEE ME, v"'T'P LIKE YOU TO LEARN ANP
f CAROL 7 ) SING A SPECIAL SONG/ IT HAS
a SENTIMENTAL MEANING TO ME
— V PV> ANP I'VE WANTED TO HEAR
IT AGAIN FOR YEARS/ -

EX RITTER WESTERN

HERE'S the attic ~

ANP THERE'S THE OtP
TRUNK.' THINK YOU
CAN FINP IT , TEX?

THE SONS HAS A STORY BEHINP
IT, YOU SEE.' IT /MEANT V— '
SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL ]

TO MV GRANDPARENTS/ J
GRANDMOTHER'S FOLKS I —

TRIEP TO STOP HER J
FROM MARRYING J
GRANDDAD J

/they even pgstep guarps

TO STOP GRANDDAD WHEN HE
CAME TO SEE GRANPMOTHER.'
BUT IT NEVER WORKED/ THAT
OLP SONG HAP A PRIVATE
7 COPE IN IT ANP GKANP- J
/ MOTHER ALWAYS KNEW \
’ WHERE TO MEET GRANP' )
, PAP WHEN HE'P SENP HER
V THE WORDS, OR SING )
\ IT TO HER FROM A /
V DISTANCE yC

AFTER A W0NP6RFUL
STORY LIKE THAT,

' I SURE WILL
gr FINP IT/

, later that day in the bunkkouse, Tex looks

X -5H0USH OTHSKS ST*t* p 70 hSEP US APART,

1 WHE'RE THE GROUND IS WHITE, WE'LL MEET, AGAIN f
«Y THE OLD BENT PI HE WHEW THE MOON STRIKES TEN.
-fUROUOH THE TUNNEL- ' N TWF HILLS I'LL RIPE,

Till I'M standing gy your Sloe..,

oyej' fAo t««sic

r HMMMM.' THIS IS AN OLP FOLK MELODY, BUT THE'
OLP BOY SANG SPECIAL WOKPS TO IT, ALL RIGHT/
NEVER HEARP THEM BEFORE.' WELL^Nj—^-rtf
LET'S TRY IT OUT/ in nl ^»!lllilHlllli 1

HOLD EVERYTHING! those worps sure
OO MEAN SOMETHING SPECIAL/ "BY THE
OLD BENT PINE — WHERE THE GROUND IS A
WHITE — THROUGH THE TUNNEL IN.. '‘f|
^ ^ > THE HILLS — ! M

THOSE WORPS SHOW THE OLP BOY KNEW OF SOME SECRET
TUNNEL IN THE HILLS WHICH OPENS AT THAT SPOT WHERE
THE OLP BENT PINE STAN PS ANP THE EARTH IS THAT
Imm - WHITE CLAY MIXTURE / )

TEX RITTER WESTERN

I later that night .in ike hilts behind the bent pine

/^THAT'S HOW HE'D MEET CAROL'S GRAND-
MOTHER WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT' UNLESS
I MISS MY GUESS , THESE ORNERY VARMINTS
HAVE PISCO VE REP THAT OLP TUNNEL/ I'U.
JUST HAVE A BETTER LOOK AT THAT
-~rj SPOT WHERE THEY VANISH ! ^

I'LL HICK ANP PRESS EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THESE
ROCKS TILL 1 FINP THAT TUNNEL ENTRANCE.' IT'S
GOT TO BE AROUNP HERE, SOMEPLACE/ texS

A half-hour later, as Tex hicks ike
side of one rock, suddenly — v v .

' THEY RIPE THROUGH THIS TUNNEL WHILE THE
POSSE CHASES AFTER NOTHING, OUTSIPE/ I'LL JUST
WAIT TILL THOSE VARMINTS PULL ANOTHER ROBBERY/
. THEN I'LL BE HERE TO GIVE THEM A SURPRISE/ .

THAT'S IT!
I'VE FOUNP

~r IT ! rr

Tex doesn't have tony to wait,
for the next night in town

Later, as the outlaws reach
the secret tunnel —

THEY WON'T TAKE A DIRECT ROUTE '
TO THE TUNNEL WITH THE POSSE ON THEIR
THEY'LL NEED TO GAIN A .

HEELS.

LITTLE DISTANCE THROUGH THE
HILLS, ANP THAT'LL GIVE ME TIME

TO REACH THE TUNNEL *

BEFORE THEY DO/ J

HERE THEY COME/

w BUT THIS TIME . J
r iu DO THE
g surprising!

THOSE BANDITS HAVE STRUCK
AGAIN' THE HOTEL, THIS TIME.
JUST A MINUTE AGO.' YOU CAN

STILL CATCH UP WITH ,

THE POSSE, MAYBE !/fVHAT'

SSSTJ PARTNER .VC

TEX RITTER WESTERN

I surprise, you polecats!

SHWWSIRMS

pflS7 ' uitar.

ViHAr/l**™*

/THAT'S right
REACH FOR THE
SKY.' WELL- IF
1-7 IT ISN'T ,
(TREMAINE .'

P-PRAIRIE
BANGER 1

PRAIRIE RANSER, TO YOU, TREMAINE,
BUT HERE COMES THE POSSE.' . ^

HO, THERE- OVER HERE ! jgg

HE'S GETTING
AWAY! BRING
HIM DOWN.'

I'VE AIREAPY GOT HIS GUN >
AWAY FROM HIM.' I CAN'T SHOOT
AN UNARMED MAN - EVEN ONE
LIKE HIM.' BUT MAYBE S,

YOU'RE NOT
BRINGING
X ME IN' r

TEX RITTER WESTERN

4P iking careful aim -Tex's six-gun,
'^reverberates through -the tunnel and—

THOSE OOP FORMS ON TUB HOOF OF
THE CAVE -THEY'RE CALLED STALACTITES!
IF X CAN JUST KNOCK ONE OFF , I'LL
HAVE HliM.' I'LL AIM JUST A w«a < g

Later, after Tex tells the story
of the old tunnel —

THE TOWN WILL
NEVER FORGET
J VOU TOR THIS,
RANGER/ THE
FIRST THING
I WE'RE GOING TO
, DO IS GET US
A REAL SHERIFF
OF OUR OWN/

... AMD SO, AFTER FINDING THE
TUNNEL, THEY DECIDED TO MAKE
GOOD USB OF IT/ TREMAINE'S
JOB IN THE POST OFFICE GAVE
HIM A GOOD CHANCE TO SEE
WHO WERE LIKELY LOOKING y
PROSPECTS FOR ..

ROBBERY ! AgSglp--''

OqOOoHU-

th fir's GOT
r him! r

'And so, a few nights later — // its a grand sons' \

THAN H VOU SO yTEX CAN SINS yj! HAPPWe SSTO^WO /

I MUCH, TEX' you ]as well as he / PEOPLE ANP NOW IT'S M
SANS SRANP PAP'S ) CAN CATCH <f cone THE SAME FOE A WHOLE
OLD SONG rJ VARMINTS/// TOWN/ I'VE GOT TO MOVE
BEAUTIFULLY/ ON NOW, BUT I'LL .

— y REMEMBER IT

v always/ jF

YES, AND I SUPPOSE
s. Singing and <
) PLAYING AT THE y
/TOWN DANCE,

C. IS ALL OVER
) WITH NOW/

( AND ALL )
THIS TIME *•
WE THOUGHT
YOU WERE
ONLY A ^
BINGING
TROUBADOUR/

NOTHING
^ DOING/
/ I'LL BE
. THERE WITH
MV GUITAR/

> DON'T YOU ^
. WORRY/ J

TEX RITTER WESTERN

Folks,

li's mighty nict -to be riding your nay once again. His
always plumb pleasurable to pass {he time of day with good friends.

I've just returned from a weak in ike hills with some hard-
riding cowboys on a wild horse roundup , After we reached
the Timber line Forge, where we brew a Urge herd of wild
horses roamed, we sort of split up, and I went on to
Scout ahead.

It wasn't long before I saw a magnificent white
Stallion on a ledge. A few minutes later, he was joined
by a. beautiful light tan horse. Properly speaking, C

a tan horse is called a Palomino, but most
- Westerners call them buckskins. I followed the two horses ~ i
down into a small valley and there I saw a whole herd
of wild mustangs.

There were some more white horses and "buckskins, a lot of
.. five black stallions , dapple-grays, brown mares and a sprinkling — -

of strawberry roans. The young colts played together and frisked
about while the others grazed or -trotted along side by side. As
1 watched them, I couldn't help thinking how they didn't refuse
to play together because they were different colors, or because
Some had long straight manes and others curly ones.

Jto, they got along like real amigos, and after we finally
founded the herd into a corral, that thought stuck with me.

I'm going to keep remembering it, too - and
I reckon you all will do the same. We two-legged
critters can learn a powerful lot, even from a herd
of wild horses , about getting along together!

Well, Til be moseying atony
now, partners — but I'll be
reiuing-up this way again
real soon.

Your pard,

TEX RITTER WESTERN

PRftIL® c=

THE BRILLIANT GOA

TEX RITTER WESTERN

GROAN !

r SOT A BUTT...
BUT TUB WSON&
KIN Of

TEX RITTER WESTERN

*MfHILE IT WUZ HAN«rlN6 ON THE CLOTHES LINE, "THE SCAT WAS FEELING A* LITTLE HUffc&RY

THIS SOAT SAW IT SO HE ATE THE SHIRT "

TSK/TSK,
THAT WUZ
TERRIBLE/

HE COU&HED UP THE HEP SHIRT HE HAD EATEN
AND WAVED THE TRAIN DOWN TO A CTO PA

WHEN THE GOAT SAW THE TRAIN BEARING DOWN ON HIM-

HA, HA, I DON'T BELIEVE
THE GOAT'S 50 SMART, BUT
yuw SHORE ARE / WYAfi’S
A CIGAR PER GIVING ME
A GOOD LAUGH /

A CIGAR / yfpfie/
X OWS IT TO YUH,
GOAT OLD CHUM /
YUH'LL NEVER
GET MV GOAT
R- AGAIN / ^

VlPEER* / V

THE «OAT COUGHED UP THE RED SHIRT AND WAVED
7HE TRAIN DOWN WITH IT/ HA, HA/ THAT'S THE
BEST YARN X*VE HEARD IN A LONG TIME / . . . —

R AIN came, drenching torrents of rain.

Kansas Walker was soaked to the skin.
Water showered from his hat and made the
brim soggy. His big horse. Black Devil, glist-
ened as the water covered his broad back. In
the distance, above the black mountains, light-
ning darted crazily through the sky, and from
far off came the muffled rumble of thunder.

Instead of cursing the downpour, Kansas was
singing. It was kind of a crazy-worded, off-
tune song, but it was singing because it came
from the gladness in the heart. Kansas was
glad of the big rain. Water! What a precious
thing! In previous drives he had pushed long-
horns through biting, stinging, choking dust.
He had known how terrible it was to try to
move cattle when the grass had become parch-
ed and dry, when water holes were scarce. In
such drouth, it was possible to lose cattle by
the hundreds. And so he was grateful for the
rain. He sang on.

Another man rode up beside Kansas. The
pair looked strikingly alike, except that the
newcomer was a little younger, there was still
a bit of baby in his face. And, whereas Kansas’
strong, handsome countenance bore a look of
serene thanksgiving, the newcomer appeared
worried. He voiced his worry: **Hear that roar-
ing up ahead:”

"Yeh, Herbie. I hear it,” replied Kansas.
"Reckon the cld Missegoola River is on a
rampage."

"It’s flooded, that’s what it isl” asserted
Herbie, a note of desperation in his voice. "We'll
never be able to get five thousand head of cattle
across it.”

"Don’t cross your creeks till you come to
them, brother,” suggested Kansas. “Let’s you
and me ride on ahead and have a look at the
old Missegoola.”

He spurred Black Devil and cut wide to the
side of the moving mass of cattle. Herbie fol-
lowed. Soon they were a quarter mile ahead
of the herd and standing on the bank of the
rain-swollen river. “It’s a flood!” cried Herbie.
“It’s awful !”

“It ain’t exactly ideal,” admitted Kansas, “but

it’ll get worse afore it gets better.”

“You’re not aiming to try to cross?” There
was alarm in Herbie’s voice.

“We’ve got to if we can,” responded Kansas,
flatly. "Come on, we’ll see how bad it is.” H$
urged Black Devil forward, into the swirling,
foaming stream. The horse walked in, pushing
through the strong current. Man and horse sank
lower and lower into the water until they
reached the deep midchannel where both bobbed
out of sight for a second. When they popped
up again, Kansas had slipped from the saddle
and was holding the pommel, swimming beside
the horse. “No use,” he thought, “to give the
old boy unnecessary burden in this mes3.” As
soon as the steed had regained his footing and
was mounting the sloping bank on the other
side, Kansas mounted again. He sat for a mo-
ment, looking at the roaring river, noting the
rainfall, calculating. Then he and Black Devil
made the return trip.

He looked quizzically at Herbie but said noth-
ing about the latter’s failure to follow him. "We
can make it,” he declared. “Just gotta keep
them longhorns headed right. They won’t have
too much swimming.”

“Wouldn’t it be safer to wait?” suggested
Herbie.

“Wait?” exclaimed Kansas. “Why our only
chance to get these critters to market is to cross
now. Come on.”

He rode toward the approaching herd, quickly
gave instructions to his drovers. Herbie fol-
lowed, looking sick. Kansas circled the cattle
and rode alongside the chuck wagon, driven by
Cookie. “Cookie," he said, “we can get the crit-
ters across all right, without losing more than
maybe a few head. What I’m worried about
is this here wagon. That river’s too deep to
ford. We’ll have to float her across, and I just
hope she don’t turn turtle.”

“If she turns turtle you won’t have to worry
none,” responded Cookie, puffing his inverted
pipe. "A turtle wouldn’t have no trouble getting
across any river!” Cookie laughed heartily. As
usual, he was the only one who enjoyed his
jokes, but he didn’t mind.

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’ll get ’em to market on time!” he
grunted.

Cookie’s wagon was now ready. “Get going.
Cookie,” ordered Kansas. “Me and Herbie will'
side you to see that our 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, I 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 shoot 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 cn 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 shopk. 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 his
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. There 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, “Brother!”

THE END

TEX RITTER WESTERN

THE MEXICAN 'VAQUERO'WAS THE FIRST
•COWBOY’.. ■ AND HIS SADDLE AND OTHER
EQUIPMENT HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED BY
THE AMERI CAN CO WBOYS.

SAPPLE, MODERN AMERICAN /

OF THE SADDLE DESIGN. /

COWBOY 5 //Zt o. /

SADCH-E. (m Jk _ mJa \

w HEAVY
HAND TOOLED
EFFECTS.

OLDER AMERICAN
SADDLE TYPE ^pHORN
,/~n.CANTLE /h

HORN

FORK

"TAPADEROS"

WERE ORIGINALLY
DESIGNED TO PROTECT
THE FEET IN BRUSHY
COUNTRY, BUT ARE ALSO
v USED FOR DECORATIVE
% EFFECTS, SPECIALLY
3 ) IN THE MOVIES.

U MANY SHOW HIGH
8? EXAMPLES OF THE
| TOOLED- LEATHER
f WORKER'S ART

OLD STYLE THEY GRADUALLY
"FORKS" WERE BECAME WIDER,
NARROW. TOR GREATER

©. COMFORT.

•SKIRTS

FINDERS

WIDE FORK& OF A "BRONK"
RIDER'S SADDLE HELP HIM
KEEP HIS SEAT.

OLD STYLE
'BOX" STIRRUP.

HORSES QUICKLY
LEARN TO "SIT BACK'
WHEN A COWBOY
ROPES A STEER. ,
WITH HIS SADDLE'S
HORN AS ^

ANCHOR

POST. . jji|

A COWBOY'S SADDLE MAY BE
PLAIN OR FANCY- IT IS ALWAYS MADE
BY EXPERT WORKMEN, FROM BEST OF
MATERIALS. IT MUST BE STRONG
AND DURABLE . AND IS EXPECTED
TO LAST FOR MANY YEARS.

TEX RITTER WESTERN

BLACKTON V_J
7 ruled Big Bend K
according to "his own
seffisfi laws of plunder
and violence.' When TEX
RITTER, the fearless Prairie
Ranger, rode into Big Bend,
Could his lightning draw and
two-fisted courage save his

life or would he

|W become just another notch

NOT SO FAST,
HOMBRES.’

HURRY
UP, BOYS.

on Blackton's roaring
six-gun?

IT SURE SEEMS LIRE A QUIET PLACE,
EH, WHITE FLASH? TOO QUIET, IP
— , YOU ASK ME.' )

THIS BLACKTON SEEMS TO OWN
JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IN TOWN.'
RECKON WE'LL TRY THE SALOON
fs-py - > ■ — -vrf ANP SEE IF J

ANYBOPY T

■ \V rT 1 SAW CURLY

/skoAv L lately / .

Tex has
hem south
investigate
the

disappearance
of Curley
Walter,

sheriff °i
Big Bend.
And as
lie rides,
into

TEX RITTER WESTERN

Instantly, everyone felt the tenseness in the

room- as if waiting fOr somethin# to happen.

PSSST.' THAT VARMINT
. IS WANTEP

here/ 1

TAKE A GOOD LOOK.' I'VE COME
BACK TO GIVE MYSELF U P/
WHERE'S CURLY WALKER?

I'M THE NEW SHERIFF
AROUNP THESE HERE
PARTS, CARSON/ I'M
ARRESTING YOU FOR ‘
TAKING THE LIFE OF
vT?llFE LUCAS /

lBLACKTON SURE MUST HAVE
EVERYTHING SEWEP UP
'TIGHT AROUNP HERE TO PUT
.HIS OWN STOOGE IN AS -T
) SHERIFF/ WHAT HAPPENED )
'TO CURLY? y ^

I f (it! !

vS jl

..-Jl- . . '5§£. f .

THAT AIN'T NONE WAIT A MINUTE.' I CAME )
OF YOUR BUSINESS/ ) BACK ON MY OWN SO I
llL TAKE YOUR /COULP PROVE MY INNOCENCE
SUN. BUB.' t^ATTHE TRIAL/ I NEVER SHOULP
) HAVE HIGHTAILEP OUT OF TOWN
“ — \TV WHEN I WAS ACCUSED.'

'AIN'T GOING TO BE NO
TRIAL, CARSON/ WE GOT
A LITTLE PARTY

PLANNEProR^-^T'

V VOUJ y( MEAN-

EASY, H0M8RE —OR THERE
WON'T EVEN BE TIME FOR A
LITTLE PARTY,/ YOU AIN'T
•\GOT A CHANCE.'

TEX RITTER WESTERN

WELL- I'M CALLING THE PARTY

OFF! GET BACK,

r CARSON i Y

| KEEP YOUR NOSE OUT
/OP THIS, STRANGER
OR THERE'LL BE A S

tm double - veSSsi
H PARTY/ MB

WAIT A MINUTE,
THE LAW SAYS
EVERY MAN IS "
ENTITLED TO A
FAIR TRIAL.' >

RIGHT;

OWWf

NOW THAT I'VE \ YOU WON'T GET s
INTKOPUCED 7 AWAY WITH THIS.'
MYSELF, I'LL \ YOU'RE HELPING A
TAKE CARSON ^BUSHWHACKER ^
WITH ME UNTIL / BEAT THE LAW.' M

i get some jyy

questions <
answered/ /

I'M TEX RITTER -AND
I STILL SAY THE MAN IS
ENTITLED TO A FAIR .
x TRIAL /

WE

PRA/R/E

RANGER*

I-I AIN'T GOIN 1
FOR MY GUN, MISTER/

I'LL BE WAITING
FOR YOU / ^

WE'LL HEAD FOR MY
RANCH.' IT'S ONLY A
FEW MILES NORTH
. OF HERE/ A

THOSE VARMINTS WILL jg
BECOMING AFTER US, &
PRONTO.' MARE TRACKS,
. WHITE FLASH! A

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHO MADE YOU THE LAW/
GET ON YOUR HORSE, .
xTL CARSON ;

TEX RITTER WESTERN

WHO IS THIS N HE JUST ABOUT OWNS THE TOWN.' AN
BLACKTON HOMBRE? ) RANCHER WHO WON'T WAY BALL WITH
l SEEMS AS IF HE'S /HIM GENERALLY WHIPS UP WITH A r
jCALUNG THE TURN H BULLET JH^S BACK.' THAT'S HOW U
ON A LOT OF THINGS THEY^ILEP)MY FATHER.'

BUT WHY IS HE
SO DETERMINED TO
.GET THIS OUTFIT?

JIM! I-I
HEARP YOU
WERE BACK'

WE HAVE WATER RIGHTS
WHICH BLACKTON IS' AFTER'
RAP WAS RALLYING THE RANCH
OWNERS AGAINST HIM-AND-
AND I GUESS THAT'S WHY
HE GOT IT/ WHEN I
HEARP ABOUT IT, I DECIDED
TO COME RACK ANP FIGHT.'

I RECKON YOU'RE ^P'nTHEY'RE NOT
GOING TO NEED HELP.' \ TAKING ME
LISTEN! SOMEONE'S ) ALIVE-
— t COMING !

OH, JIM - 1 KNEW YOU \|7*S GOOD TO SEE
DIDN'T KILL RUFB LUCAS/ ) YOU AGAIN, JEAN-
WHY DID YOU RUN AWAY?/ MIGHTY ^
1 MISSED YOU GOOD I )

JEAN, THIS HERE IS TEX J 7J
RITTER - THE PRAIRIE —
RANGER! JEAN IS BLACKTON’S
STEP- DAUGHTER — BUT THEY
DON'T HAVE MUCH IN COMMON.'

X RITTER / WHY-
s I'VE HEARD A LOT .
) OF GOOD THINGS
ABOUT YOU' I SURE
AM GlAP YOU'VE -<
COME TO THESE T
r • PARTS ' J

AHEM

TEX RITTER WESTERN

With fkeir tends .tensed over their gun fa
r Pex Kilter and Jvm Carson step outside

trvoesH'T
WATTS?, JIM.
'AS LONG AS
YOU'RE BACK.'

T& BLACKTON STILL
TREATING YOU AS
MEAN AS EVER,
i^ANf

\ HERE COMES
/THAT POSSE >
"\ WE BEEN
/EXPECTING/

IT APPEARS >
THAT BlACKTON
IS LEAPING IT l

GET AWAY FROM
THAT MAN,

^ — 7 JEAN/ T

Before you go. branding him a >

CRIMINAL, BLACKTON - HE’S ENTITLED
^T - ■ r TO HIS TRIAL/ /•"

SO YOU'RE THE
PRAIRIE RANGER
Iftf/JO'S BEEN ^
INTERFERING ^
WITH LAW AND
ORDER AROUND
w HERE '

I COULDN'T GET J WE’LL GIYE YOU A FAIR ^
A FAIR TRIAL /TRIAL, CARSON/ NOW, YOU
FROM THOSE T BETTER COME PEACEABLY, OR
COYOTES' 2 MY BOYS WILL DRILL YOU Tj

r^-, iiii i in i here and now/ A

IF YOU'RE SO EAGER TO GET PKORfS TO TRIAL, Y WELL GET THE
WHY HAVEN'T YOU PICKED UP THE JASPER WHO ) CRITTER WHO
MURDERED MY FATHER? WHAT HAPPENED TO HlS /PLUGGED TOUR

PEARL- HANPLH7 GUN? FIND THAT AND . FATHER, TOO/ ^

^ YOU'VE GOT YOUR MAH/: / / BUT RIGHT NOW J

1 WC WANT YOU / JL

GO ALONG WITH THEM,
CARSON.' JF YOU'RE
INNOCENT, YOU HAVE
NOTHING TO FEAR /

ALL RIGHT, TEX-

_ if you r

7 SAY SO? /

K

4 ]

i

%

t

RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

CURLY WOULDN'T COOPERATE

JZlatkton's revelation had
brought a gasp pom the girl.

I'LL ATTEND TO VOU\l CAN GUESS^
LATER] SURE I GOT \ WHAT HAPPENED
V" HIM, BUT NOBODY TO CURLY ,
}ELSE IS EVER GOING / WALKER, TOO.'

/TO KNOW ABOUT IT/ . — f'

\I'M SENDING YOU TWO TO) )

Y BOOT HILL/ f

WITH ME - THAT'S WHY I PUT >
MY OWN MAN IN OFFICE/^_*>^

1 /T^Ihatdoesn't
rain i/C make him

WMmSk If A SHER I F FI ,

||gk Che'san imposter]

I KNEW I HEARD 1 YOU- —

SOMETHING.' COME ^YOU SHOT JIM’S
OUT OF THERE, RITTER.'; FATHER-.' A“P •
I HAVE THE PROP VYOU'RE GOING TO
^C)N YOU]^ HAVE HIM LYNCHED

£S3r ri/rTl for what
/ A YOl/ PIP/

I WOULPN'T BE GETTING RILED ABOUT ) THE SIDE- A

The fearless Hanger .suddenly drops to the
floor as the tuio men blast array/

ME BEING A REAL SHERIFF OR NOT, J WINDERS

RITTER] IT AIN'T GOING TO . FIGURE ON *

MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE 7 SHOOTING ME IN THE -4
TO YOU SOON.' BACK] I HAVE TO PO

SOMETHING - AND

1 ilwf lp! (iHl wWPI ' * ' I* Vy ■ ITT PRONTO.'

STOP l THAT'S
ENOUGH!
STOP! <
M QUIT!

IT'S YOUR TURN TO BE
A TARGET NOW- FOR

j THIS !

I RECKON THEY
WERE A MITE
£ CARELESS.'

TlX RITTER WESTERN

Minutes later.

GET YOUR HORSE.' WE'LL HAVE TO
RIPE LIKE BLAZES BACK TO TOWN
ANP TRY TO STOP THEM.' THIS y
BUSHWHACKER IS COMING WITH ^
US' IU TIE HIM TO THE
SAPPLE OF HIS tfORSE/

r THEY'RE GOING TO
LYNCH JIM FOR WHAT
HE PIP/ WHAT'LL
S. WEPO.TEX?

FASTER, WHITE
FLASH! we have to

GET THERE IN -
TIME/ Jg

Tfee hangmen step Jim's
horse -the rope pulls
taunt - and at that
instant—

irs I

RITTER J

STAY PUT, YOU ^
j MAVERICKS.' BLACKTON
HAS SOMETHING J
TO TELL YOU ' ngl

I'M OKAY,
v TEX, BUT
) ANOTHER
'SECOND--

THOSE TORCHES/ -THAT'S
THE LYNCH MOB/ WE'RE
GOING TO BE TOO LATE- a
lg»- UNLESS— u

After Black-ton reluctantly confesses, the mob
fades away, leaving only a few ranchers to
congratulate Tex...

The following morning... after Btackton's
gang has been jailed ...

lYOU pon't owe me a thing, '

JIM. BUT I KNOW THIS PLACE
IS GOING TO SEE A LOT OF LAW
ANP ORPER FROM NOW ON y
WITH YOU AS THE NEW y-^jgk
s. SHERIFF' APIOS/ yfegl

WE’LL NEVER FORGET
YOU IN THESE PARTS,
TEX' I OWE YOU
MORE THAN »r-<
ICOULPEVER /

7 SAY/

BIACKTON ANP HlS GANG ARE ^
FINISHEP HERE/ WE'RE GETTING
TOGETHER A POSSE TO RDUNP >
r UP THE REST OF HIS v—
CRITTERS/ J

THANKS
TO TEX,
RITTER/

OH, JIM!
YOU'RE
SAFE/

TIX RITTER WESTERN

you kwou sun, a cat is a

MIGHTY LUCKY ANIMAL.
V>H£V HAS MIME LIVES jX

J UROW6 GU5, AH )
1 KNOWS SOMETHIN' h
TH£T"S JUST AS LUCKY

... AH RECKON THEY IS
ABOUT TH' LUCKEST r
CRITTERS THERE IS ! X

' OKAV. SMARTY
UJHUT 13 IT? r

-THEy CAW CROAK
AW' ‘STILL HAVE A LOTTA

' > JUMP LEFT

^ -^77 IN UM'/

A FROG?? POOHEY/
A FR06 CSON'T HAV/r
NINE LIVES// , 7 ^

CHUCkVAGON

<

/I

TEX RITTER WESTERN

PHEW, I'M SHORE THIRSTY,
I RECKON I’LL GO INSIDE
AND GET. A GLASS OF
-^SARSAPARILLA

I JEST WON'T BOTHER WITH KILLER THAT'S
ALL.' I'LL DRINK UP MUH BASS AND ^

go f

I HATE TO GO INSiDE ' THAT BARTENDER
KILLER KOLE ; IS THE MEANEST AND

TOUGHEST HOMBRE IN THESE PARTS
BUT I'VE GOT TO QUENCH MUH
'^y ~ TTr - / THIRST .»

THANKS ! THAR'S THE
MONEY ^

GIVE ME A FIVE CENT GLASS
OF SASS , KILLER ^

OKAY, OLD
SMOKEY '

HYAR YUH ARE

TiX RITTER WESTERN

HUH? r GAVE KILLER TWENTY- FIVE
CENTS, BUT HE DIDN'T GIVE ME
MUH CHANGE/ ^

AH, THAT SHORE HIT THE
^ SPOT'

- - - I FORGOT MORE THAN \ f ( GULP).
YUH EVER KNEW, YUH OLD J \

^ -V GOAT ' r

ER.ER, DIDN’T YUH FORGET ) HUH ? DIDN’T I FOR
SOMETHING, KILLER ? r—\ GET SOMETHING 9

tea,., „ . V ~-— , YEAH . — -

YO'RE LOCO '
YUH GAVE ME
A NICKEL '

ER , I MEAN I GAVE YUH
TWENTY- FIVE CENTS', AND
YUH FORGOT TO GIVE V
ME MUH CHANGE / ) '

90 TO’RE

I GAVE YUH H CALLING ME A
QUARTER ' LIAR, EH /

TiX RITTER WESTERN

TEX RITTER WESTERN

,YEAH .'AND
• l'LL HIT HIM
•» AGAI N '

OH YEAH .' I'D ] YUH WOULD
LIKE TO SEE J EH ■ ALL ^

^~vy uH • /"'ll Right--

HYAR YUH ARE

THAT'S WHAT

' OH , YUH
DARE ME,
HUH ? ALL
BRIGHT .' j

(groan)

HUH ?
(GULP)
NO, NO '

I DARE YUH
TO DO THAT
AGAIN

I THINK ABOUT
YORE DARING .
^ ME '

("GROAN ) I WISH
YUH HADN'T ^

--- C'MON .' DON'T EVER
SPEND ANOTHER NICKEL
v IN THIS PLACE , •"

NEVER
MIND •'
WE ' LL
SHOW
HIM---

DARED HIM
BIG JOHN '

ml / /yv

ifc

TEX RITTER WESTERN

HEHWHEMffi

Building An Empire

CIVILIZATION FOLLOWED THE
RAILROAD IN VARIOUS WAYS. THE
UPROAR OF NIGHT LIFE ON THE
FRONTIERS WAS SO GREAT THAT
COMMITTIES WERE FORMED 'TO
RID' IT OF THE EVIL AND SHADY
CHARACTERS AROUND

Rollin Thru The Desert

SIXTY TO SEVENTY YEARS AGO TRAINS ON
THEIR FIRST DESERT RUNS HAULED EXTRA WATER
FOR THEIR BOILERS IN TANKS DIRECTLY BEHIND
THE TENDER. NOWADAYS LOCOMOTIVES STILL
HAUL WATER TANKS ON LONG RUNS WHERE WATER
IS UNAVAILABLE OR IS CHEMICALLY UN PURE

The Golden Age

Of The West

THE ERA OF THE CATTLE TRAILS
COMMENCED WITH THE COMING OF
THE RAILROAD. THE
COWBOY DROVE
HIS CATTLE TO
WHERE THE
BUYERS AND
THE TRAIN
READY FOR
SHIPMENT, WERE
WAITING

flow the BUFFALO HUNTER OUTSIDE
WAVS CITY SHOWED OWNERSHIP OF
THE BUFFALO HE KILLED

The 6RANP DUKE ALEXIS ONCE
CAME FROM RUSSIA TO HUNT

Buffalo in the west

0OME OF THE WESTERN WOMEN
6AMBLERS WERE NOTED FOR
THEIR CHARITY.

THERE ARE TWO N SHE
SICK MINERS IN TOWN/ CERTAINLY
AND PLAT 0ROKE. <>HAS A
LET'S HELP THEM. ;mEAl?r OF ,
til START WIT H V 60lW
A HUNDRED/ *