A

Fawcett Publication

IO
NO. 74

cu

W V HA, w,

RIDE THE

DANGER

TRAIL

WITH

MONTE HALE

IN

RUSTLER'S

ROUNDUP*

MONTE HALE WESTERN

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,

WP K(iiy^
Deep
in.

.^v/T^^V^^^V i^H

coiled

wew called,

tke Sierra Nevadas aw evil region tkattyphoid Valley/

Siwce

"l^V

Here, fifty years before, tiuo families kacl fallen preu to a epidemic.'
ficoarge-liXe
?.'

\
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:

that time, laliewever strajwfei* < ventured in, ike draad plague seized tkewi At last no i<nayi dared enter, %,

Typkoid valleq /

Si^u uis.4 placed at A ttie entrance tits

to

valleu / Tkew,

owe daq-

THERE.,

HOLD ON NELSON/ you AND you*.

INTO TYPHOID VALLEV.' ITS,

PEOPLE MUSN'T

GO

WESTER

J.

fuly.

I3.

Vol

13.

No. 71,
o,

is

pub
Pl

'hi?,',

r.

not

Greenwich. Conn

Er.t

aliens. Inc

T.-,.:,,,.:,ri

f^ctn

..

possessions ond Canada. Foreign. I

;u

,n

Inf

i.

67 41lh Si.. N. Y 1 3. N. Greenwich. Conn. Subscription Mimb Audri Bureau of Ore

MONIfc HALt WtSiLKr*

MONTE HALE WESTERN

T5oc BiggS

goes

rigkt to

uxor*.'.

MONTE HALE WESTERN

Whgn JAanis returns

MONTE I'M PLUMB GLAD 7.SEE >OU / I CHECKED THE
-'

TO

SUGGESTED.' BOTH THE BROOK AND THE SPRINGS

WATER SUPPLY AS YOU

ARE CHOCK FULL OP

TYPHOID.
,

GERMS

GREAT

DAY.'

MONTE HALE WESTERN

MONTE HALE WESTERN

you've GOT

YEARS AGO WHEN RIGHTS, HALESO WE MlSH" / THE REST OP OLtR A* WELL r -^family died prom TYPHOID, WE HAD SPILL THE BEANS.' / THE DISEASE BUT
)

US DEAD

T WERE 0SGO0DS \ AMD LAWTONS/

SO YOU^ f DECIDED TO HIDE

right.'

and TO PREVENT
OTHERS PROW COM1NS IN, WE PLANTED TYPHOID
(SERMS
IN

OUT IN THE
VALLEY AND MINE
THE
DIAMONDS YOUR\

THE

SURVIVED/ BUT THEN

WATER

IN
IN

THE

WE DISCOVERED A

VALLEY.' I

RICH VEIN OPPRECIOUS JEWELS ff IN THE VALLEY /

A JOB

GOT THE

KM ^^ ^^^^
fi^bl/f .^
/

SELVES?

BAILEY J PORT HOSPITAL AND

BROUGHT
7 THE GERMS

II

SB^Lj ^'Jbw^J

^M V^T

AfjvmniiMtNt

fJuy

By B.F.-&oodriai and

Hooc

MONTE HALE WESTERN

LOOK, BETSY, THERE'S A

NEW MOON
OUT TONIGHT

A
MAKE

NEW MOON
ON IT</

YES.' I'M GOING TO \^^v-v TAKE A flUflRTER flNP I

A WJSH

^ V\ y>

55 72T

smc-A WK%
A v^aS^-^s.
,

\Wferfl

WWfr

tvwyrtic

nnLt

wcaitriN

QUICK ON THE DRAW

By Clement Qood

AT

THE AGE

of twenty. Jack

McCrae

easy,

was tall, dark and rugged. He had an good-humored smile and there was usuJeb and Luke, were their usual occupation, whittling and
old-timers,

ally a twinkle in his gray eyes.

"Only 'looks like'," said Jack. "What do you mean?" asked one of the men. "Only way they can ride out of Dead End Canyon is by going past us."
"True, this
while.
is

The two

the only

way

out.

busy at chewing tobacco, when they saw the posse ride Jack grinned and waved at Jeb and Luke

they can ride

out," Jack agreed. "But

as he passed, and Jeb said,

"Mark my words,
is

it'll be dark in a little Then they can forget their horses and climb out the other end. We won't be able to see them, we won't know where they've headed.

Luke, that there young feller

going to be

Once more, the Ghost

air.

will disappear into thin

the next sheriff. He's as brave as a wildcat!"

That's

why

I I

Grimly, silently, swiftly, the possemen rode southwest toward the foothills. They were hot on the trail of the Ghost Raider and his henchmen. The "ghost" was so-called because after
air.

rocks and see them."

if

aim to belly around these can't circle and surprise

"Now, wait, Jack!" urged the sheriff. "That's taking a mighty big chance. If anybody's to
do that, it should be me." Jack grinned. "Sheriff, we all know you'd never ask any man to take on a job you wouldn't handle yourself. But all I aim to do is sort of

each foray he seemed to disappear into thin No living person had ever seen him!

Today
sheriff

the

Wells Fargo

office

had been

robbed, the guard shot. Quickly alerted, the

and his men were able to pursue the three desperadoes before the trail got cold.

smoke them out

to grab them."

a mite.

You've got

to be

ready

The sun was setting as they rode into the mouth of Dead End Canyon. "We've got 'em trapped," exclaimed one of the deputies. "They were plumb foolish to come in here,"
"Take
it

Jack crawled away from the group, keeping

to the cover of the rocks as

He

much as possible. circled wide in the fading twilight. The

and
his

sheriff

men

kept firing steadily to cover

looks too simple.

into a trap."

easy!" cautioned Jack McCrea. "It Maybe we're the ones getting

any noise Jack might make, but it wasn't really necessary for he was as quiet as a cat.

"Drop the guns!" Jack's voice burst on the outlaws like a whipcrack, but they didn't obey.

"Jack's right!" said the sheriff. "Rein up and take cover!"

The rifleman turned and Jack's Colt

the

blasted

He had

barely given the order

when
said,

a rifle

barked, and the deputy

who had

"We've

gun from his hands. A shot from the young deputy seared the wrist of a second outlaw
and caused him to drop his revolver and cry out in pain. But the third masked man hit Jack with two quick shots and the young lawman
tumbled to the ground.
third scrambled

got 'em trapped," plummeted from his mount. Jack leaped to the ground and dragged the
fallen man to cover behind jutting rocks, while the others scurried for hiding places. A hail

of

rifle

bullets chipped the rocks all

around

the lawmen.

The two wounded outlaws away into the

cried out as the

falling darkness.

'

"The Ghost planned to ambush us, right enough," said the sheriff, "but now that he's tipped his mitt, looks like we've got him bottled up."

"Hey, boss! We're shot up! Don't leave us!" The boss' answer was two quick squeezes on
the trigger that provided two
for

new candidates

Boot

Hill.

Once more

the Ghost Raider

MONTE HALE WESTERN

wag making sure there'd
b,e

no witnesses alive

As he
and

finished he

who could

identify him.

said,

"Gosh

all fish-hooks.

wiped hi* wrinkled brew Jack, I wish you

eould've ridden with us.

You might've

noticed

"He won't
said Jeb.

ever get to be sheriff now, Luke,"

sheriff can't

Jeb," responded Luke. "A go chasing owlhoots in a wheel chair. Too bad. Sure was a promising young fellow." They both looked mournfully at Jack

"Reckon

not,

McCrae.
Jack was crippled! Two slugs had been dug out of his right leg. Now they said he'd never again be able to wa-lk without a cane and certainly he'd never be able to ride a horse. Jack

some clue that we missed." A few days afterward, Jed and Luke were astonished to learn that Jack had taken a job. He was the new shotgun guard on the stage line between Pine Bush and Longhorn City. On Jack's first run, the Ghost Raider held up the stage out on Prairie Flats. He gunned
the driver without warning and as Jack leveled his shotgun, a bullet ripped off his hat and
red began oozing from his skull. Jack fell across the seat. The horses, spooked by the

with his usual courage and a grin. He sat on the porch of the Cattlemen's Hotel and kept his hands busy, not with whittling as Jeb and Luke did. but with sketches. He
took
it

gunplay, took off at a gallop The stage horses charged into Longhorn
1

got so he could
of anyone

make

pretty good likeness

who would pose. And when no one was posing he sketched the stage coach across
the street, the horses at the hitch rail, the frame buildings or the distant
false-fronted
hills.

City and halted at the livery stable of their accord. They were there for a full minute before anyone noticed Jack lying crumpled on the seat. He was unconscious. Beside him was a piece of paper with what appeared to be

own

the beginning of a sketch on it. But it was only an ear, nothing morel Jack was taken to the hospital in Longhorn
City. Doctors later told his
sheriff,

Most people were pleased and flattered to have their portraits made. But Four Flush Farro. who ran the gambling casino, was different. He was furious when he noticed Jack

old

friend, the

they thought he'd pull through, but he

shot him, but he won't be telling for

might be unconscious for days. "He may have

seen

who

making

sketch of himself.

He

snatched the

a long while."

paper from Jack's hand and tore it to bitsl "Not a good likeness?" asked Jack, raising
his eyebrows.

looking

"Huh? Oh. I reckon it was good enough. I'm just superstitious about having my picture made. All gamblers are superstitious. Here, buy yourself some more paper."
Farro flipped a silver dollar into Jack's lap and hurried away. Jack looked at the coin and grinned. "This is all right! Maybe I can make a good living by not drawing pictures!"

"He's told already." grunted the sheriff, at the sltetch of an ear. The Sheriff arrested Four Flush Farro. "You're the Ghost Raider," declared the lawman, as he slipped on the handcuffs. "You've been identified by Jack McCrae." "But he couldn't recognize me!" cried the ." that i gambler. "I wore a mask .
. . . .

AND LUKE were JED whittling while stopped

their
. .

so interested they the sheriff

Weeks went

by. Jack passed the lime of

idly chatting with Jed

day and Luke, or sketching

over the things he had drawn before. The Ghost Raider struck again, this time robbing a rich rancher, north of town. As the posse

rode out, Jack fidgeted.

useless,

To

sit

around

idle,

was not his nature. Later the sheriff and the men came back empty-handed, as usual. The chief lawman stopped by to give Jack

yep. the human ear is unfolded the story. ". one thing that can't be disguised and it's a sure mark of identification. Jack got a good look at the hombre's ear in spite of the mask. and he sketched it just before he passed out. By the way. there's a thousand dollar reward for the Ghost Raider and Jack's going to get have his it so he can have an operation and
leg fixed

up good

as new. Likely he'll be the

next sheriff hereabouts!"

McCrca an account

of the futile expedition.

THE END

ApVfT>StMlM1

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1

tlud.no 4 n.goi...

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good
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MONTE HALE WESTERN

MONTE HALE WESTERN

' I'M manse Benton/ TWMMM/yes
dUST ROPE IN FROM MISSOURI / HAVE YOU
I
\
I

I,

HAVE, BEWTOM.' THEY'RE ABOUT

OldWaynes

#367

MONTE HALE WESTERN

/AMOMTH
'

STA&ECOACH NEAR ST. LOUIS / THEy KILLED THE DRIVER AND GUARD, ROBBED THE MONEy BOX AND PLED COMING ACROSS My BROTHER RaY ON THE HIGHWAY, THEy KNOCKED HIM OUT AND PLANTED SOME OP THE LOOT HIS SADDLE BASS/
.
1

CKAWLEy BROTHERS HELD UP A

A&O, THOSE MEN---TWE

S^

GUILTY AMD SENTENCED HIM TO BE HUNS OM THE FIRST OF MARCH.' WHEW HE TOLD ME

THEy DID FRAME HIMTHE LAW FOUWD RAY

L-,

'

THE TRUE SVOKY I BE&AW TO FOLLOW THE ORAWLEy BROTHERS.'

t

MONTE HALE WESTERN

A* Monte and Manse
Bentom search, the DAVS RACE 9Yi

MONTE HALE WESTERN

But thb pays fss
CLOSES.
y.
LET'S
IF

BRINGING CLOSER AM UNDESERVED DOOM TO THE MAW WHO WAITS IN A MISSOURI PRISON /

AND

LITTLE BAIT

OUT.' FOLKS

OFFER A AND SEE WE CAN DRAW THEM GATHER

BIS-

AROUND

CAMP,

FIRES AT NISWT,AND GOSSIP SPREADS

GJUICKLY

FROM ONE

Jff

ARE you TR/IN& 'fWE'RE NOT TALKING-' gj TO SAY THAT YOU ] WE'RE NOT LOOKING' DISCOVERED / FOR ANY HIJACKERS TO SILVER ?\ " ** COME GUNNING AFTER US .'BUT WE'VE ALREADY SOT THE LAND STAKED OUT AND THE PRICE OF
V

jmr ^^r> |v 5^ ^
J>
,

SILVER

l*

GOING
.'

way up

j=*/

~s*

rf^i"^" #ipT^

MONTE HALE WESTERN

MONTE HALE WESTERN

.TODAY WE'RE GOIN6TO HAVE A CONTESTji^7Cr> (I'M COINS J WINNER GETS THE GRAND PRIZE.'J\ pADRAWiNiCu T0 win <T J ^-TOO'
|

Now You Can Get MONTE HALE WESTERN

(Please print your

Each Month, By Mail

name

clearly in pencil)

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am

en closing $

full

payment.

MONTE HALE WESTERN

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enclose

above orders.

MONTE HALE WESTERN

ABBy HAVES
AhlDTHE-

RODEO
RASCAL

MONTE HALE WESTERN

YUH CAUGHT ME COMPLETE 0Y SURPRISE WITH THAT THERE CAPER . YUH KNOW YO'Re ON& SUPPOSED srr x. SAY'BUCK';

wdm

MONTE HALE WESTERN

MONTE HALE WESTERN

\l TAKE CORKER OUT O^ THE CWLTTE AHO M3U 60IM. sabs/

WILL BE BUWPi=OL06C>, SO HE WONT KWOW THE DIP^ERENCE

TILL

TOO LATH

MONTE HALE WESTERN

MONTE HALE WESTERN

MONTE HALE WESTERN

0U>

SLICK

CmOTMVHCHERl

hck m*y act * lift AHD MATH ADVeHTUM...

YOUR FAVORITE NEWSSTAND
10(

10c

ON

SALE AT

5PRIN3 HA* COMC TO THE MONTANA RANfiE COUNTRY AND-I RECKON

'

WE'RE ALL

IN

THE

LOST HALF OUR HERDS, AND NOW WE'VE SOT TO SET THEM SACK/

SAME

FIX/ WE'VE

LOOKS LIKE A ^\ MISHTy MEAN dOfl, AS DALE SAyS-' BUT HARD WORK NEVER HURT A MAN.' I'D BE GLAD TO HELP OUT/ LETS START TODAy /

MONTE HALE WESTERN

-'
.

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1

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1* j^^J

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P
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MONTE HALE WESTERN

MONTE HALE WESTERN

MONTE HALE WESTERN

I've Sot au idea tour vest is will wet from that swim last nismt, but it /

should burn'

MONTE HALE WESTERN

\ WELL, IF STONE WALLS WON'T HOLD
HIM LET'5 SEE IF A THOUSAND HOOFS CAN TRAMPLE HIM.' STAMPEDE THE HERD/SEND THEM 1 THROUGH
.'