IN

THIS ISSUE

MATH ON STACi

4 THE AMA7/N6 WEB OF CIRCUMSTANCE A

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

•BUT IT SAVE ME TIME TO •T MV SUN AMD FINISH UH OFF .' ----

■IE DAY IN ARID VALLEY- ^OKAY, CUFF \ I RECKON * SYDEI FINALLY \ YOU SHOULD DISCOVERED YOUR] HAVE LOOKED SAME.1 I'M / BEHIND YUH, ARRESTING /-^MARSHAL, WHEN

HYAR,

S NOW TO SET MARSHAL SAM STOUT'S DEAD BODY AS FAR AWAY FROM HYAR AS POSSIBLE] I CAN’T AFFORD TO LET ANYONE CONNECT ME V

I WfTH THE MURDER.'

5*^ THERE’S NO ONE AROUND. THIS SEEMS LIKE A GOOD

TIME TO PULL A R08BERV.' THAT CRITTER APPROACHING

LOOKS PROSPEROUS.'

UNKNOWINGLY, THE BANDIT JUD SR AY, PICKS OUT FOR HIS VICTIM THE ROYINS MARSHAL, LASH LARUE.'

rJUST TO MAKE SURE YUH DON'T TRY ANYTHING, OPf UP YORE SUN BELT AND

.TOSS IT OYER HYAR .' S°-S-S-Tt THIS IS A HOLD-UP.' STEP INTO THIS HYAR ALLEY AND, IF YUH VALUE YORE LIFE, DON'T MAKE A SOUNO.' >

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

^WITHOUT THESE SHOOT INS IRONS, YUH WON'T BE ABLE TO STOP ME FROM SOINS THROUGH YORE /

•JNOW TO PUT THE HANOCUFFS ON THIS CRITTER. AND HUSTLE HIM OVER TO THE CHIEF MAR¬ SHALS OFFICE WHERE WE CAN SEARCH HIM L I RECKON THERE MUST BE A LOT OF STOLEN/1

^ARTICLES ON HIM

/ I DON'T KNOW X X RECKON WHO IT WAS l ALL YOU'LL JUS I REMEMBER IS ) HAVE TO HC THAT I PICKED / ON TO IT, IT OUT OF THE \ CHIEF ! POCKET OF SOME V—, r~r~ RANNY STACKING \ k*?Si uponsomesrub L^AfX-L] AT THE GENERAo/V:..-'fl STORE IN ARID valley i Mm r\i

'■'YOU'RE SOINS TO \ ALL RISHtA ARIO VALLEY, LASH, \CHIEF, BUT ] AND YOU CAN CHECK WHAT PLAYS WITH THE SHERIFF / IN ARID VALLE' THERE IF ANYONE /THAT YOU'RE REPORTED THE . ") SENDING A ROV- WATCH MISSING ! /INS MARSHAL Ptem ' THERE? —/

; WHO'D \ YOU

STEAL ) THIS FROM i

\JUD?

'I WENT THROUGH ALL HIS POCKETS, LASH, AMO THIS IS ALL I FOUND' A S DIAMOND POCKET ^ WATCH WITH THE , INITIAL6"TC" ON IT/

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

{PLENTY ! TAKE A LOOK t THIS AD! COMPLAINTS F IT HAVE SEEN POURING FROM EVERYWHERE J j-

A RIO VALLEY ;

AT THE BAR THICK'N’THIN RANCH IN YES! MY HUNCH IS MASSEY, WHO¬ EVER HE IS, MUST HAVE GOT WISE THAT SAM WAS CLOSING . IN ON HIM SO HE KILLED THE V MARSHAL! YOU'RE DEALING L WITH A KILLER, LASH, SO /

BE CAREFUL l

sthatIs a likelyN \ STORY, BURT , MEADE l YUH J PROBABLY STOLE /IT YORESELp! I lONlY KEPT YUH ON

/HERE BECAUSEMY NIECE INSISTED/

— BUT I TOLD YOU, MR.CASON, AFTER X PICKED UP YOUR WATCH, FROM THE REPAIR SHOP, X STOPPED THE GENERAL STORE TO ORDER SOME GRUB' FOR THE RANCH!WHEN I CAME OUT THE WATCH WAS GONE/ SOMEONE MUST HAVE PICKED MY POCKET WHILE I WAS yi

g»iNsiDEi -Ar

^ QUIET, ANN l I KNOW A BAD ) CHARACTER WHEN I SEE J ONE l I DON'T WANT YUH S EVER TO SEE HIM AGAIN .' AND IF HE TRIES TCI WRITE TO I YUH, I'LL RIPUPALLTHE ^

IF HE WASN'T YOUrX PlEASE/N UNCLE, I WOULDN'T J BURTi LET HIM SET AWAY

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

“since THIS IS A ONE man post)- OFFICE, IT'S ONLY NATURAL I i* WOULD KNOW EVERYONE WHO HAS _ A POST OFFICE BOX HYAR • rh IT'S NO WONDER HE BECAME

I > SUSPICIOUS THAT I WAS REALLY ROY MASSEY.'

ESPECIALLY WHEN HE WENT OVER - H[- RECORDS

■K\ AND FOUND NO POST l OFFICE BOX 611 J

•I THINK YOU \ ALL RIGHT, ANN.' OUSHT TO LEAVE I'LL DO IT FOR , THE RANCH J YOUR SAKE .' / UNTIL UNCLE /I'll THINK OF /I

TOM QUIETS \ SOME WA/TO N DOWN .'THEM CONTACT YOU.' > MAYBE I CAN J WE INTENDED TO REASON WITH J SET MARRIED ‘

him.' ^'and we still will.' ^ ^ ■ WITH OR WITHOUT ^^^■AYOUR UNCLES PER- ■ra^JR^fcaaMissiON /

ZJ4EANWHILE, AT THE A VALLEY POST OFFICE

^ WHEN THAT MARSHAL,SAM STOUT, FIRST CAME IN HYAR ASKING ME WHERE HE COULD FIND ROY MASSEY, I MADE . MY MISTAKE IN SAYING I Jf

\ NEVER HEARD OF HIM .' M

T after all who else ( BUT ME, IN THIS TOWN A COULD HAVE LETTERS . WRITTEN TO A FIC- < TITIOUS NAME WITH NO REAL POST OFFICE BOX REGISTERED AND STILL.

i MONEY IS STILL POURING IN' FROM THOSE PHONY ADS X PUT IN THE PAPERS ABOUT

CURING HOOF AND MOUTH DI6EASE .' IT'S TOO GOOD A

I RACKET TO STOP. AND THAT'S WHY r HAD TO KILL SAM WHEN HE GOT WISE .' BUT JUST IN CASE SOME OTHER MARSHAL SHOULD COME AROUND, I SHOULD THINK OF SOME WAY TO THROW SUSPICION ON SOME¬

ONE Else 1^ -

TNO.BURT.' ■ BUT WHAT MAKES YUH SO SAD ?

, BUT, HOW X I COULD SHE H

ANSWER ME ? \ HE CAN'T WRITE O ME UNDER A /

LS- ~ -v FALSE NAME Si WHY DON'T YUH WRITE TO ANN Y BECAUSE I'D NEVER .

UNDER A FALSE NAME ? SHE'LL J GET THE LETTER; GUESS WHO IT REALLY ISi Mfe., .Cjlt

'ID AFTER BURT EXPLWNS- YUH WOULD IF YUH TOOK OUT A POST OFFICE BOX UNDER . (THE FALSE NAME ' j—

THAT SOUNDS^ LIKE A GOOD IDEAJ LET'S SEE IF WE CAN THINK OF A, GOOD NAME ' _/

iiin Ip 8 ff?

iM If

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

r HOW ABOUT THE Xl RECKON NAME ROY MASSEY? ] IT'LL DO.' I 'JUST MADE IT XI THINK UP, BUT rr SOUNDS ) I’LL WRITE

I PURTY GOOD ' J A LETTER. . arzfTO ANN RIGHT

\ SORRY, STRAM-\ SER,BUTWE “

/ DON'T GIVE OUT 'THAT INFORMA- T/jottion :

W" WHOA, BLACRT DIAMOND.' THE FIRST PLACE WE'VE GOT TO VISIT IS THE ARID VALLEY POST .

office .'

THAT'S DIFFERENT.' YES> XI HAPPEN TO BE A > ROVING MARSHAL.1 THE QUESTIONS I'M ASKING V ARE OFFICIAL

^business: .A E\v m

T X ALL I KNOW isX KEN, 1 WHAT I HEARD,'-' AT J MAM • IT SEEMS IE X HE'S BEEN USING T ) A PHONV NAAAE, TT/ROV MASSES TO H—cheat a lot of

INNOCENT PEOPLE, • OUT OF TEN DOLLARS

, EY ADVERTISING A HOOF AND MOUTH DISEASE CURE THAT DOESN'T EXIST.1 AND HE'S NOTONIY WANTED FER FRAUD BUT X

MURDER, TOO I JB

* YUH WON'T HAVE\ / NAME, '--

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

I KMEW BURT MEADE WAS^l NO SOOO i WELL, WE DON'T NEED AMY LAWMEN TO SHOW *- US HOW TO TREAT A MURDERER.' LET’S ROUND UP SOME MEN l A HANGING PARTY IS , JUST WHAT THAT ‘ RATTLESNAKE ^ DESERVES.1

YOU'RE UNDERX ^AUD AMD V. ARREST FOR ) Ml/RDEB.' 8UT

I FRAUD AND /THERE MUST BE MURDER .' VSOME MISTAKE J

Meanwhile— I J that!s mv -—-Y handle; whaxs CAN YOU TELL ME ION YORE MIND, WHERE CAN r STRANGER? > FIND BURT MEADE?L-j -ft

ceoe,-)

('YOU MAY be telling the ) TRUTH AMD THEN AGAIN I NOT.' UNTIL I SET A J CHANCE TO CHECK, I'M 1 AFRAID YOU'LL HAVE TO J

ISO TO jail!

Lt that moment-

THERE'S THE SKUNK NOW ! GRAB I SO WE CAN STRING HIM UP

THAT'S

mm

I ASH LaRUE WESTERN

f> HE'S UNCONSCIOUS J/VUH PICK\ LET'S HANS THIS >OUT A TREE ' HYAR VARMINT "N AND WE'LL BEFORE THE LAW- ) DO THE REST MAN COMES TO -yi CASON i j

WHEN X COUNT THREfe, 1 WHIP THE HORSE ANoJ THAT'LL LEAVE BURT A DANSUNS FROM THE TREE Ij—

THEY'LL I BURT'

“to DEADLY ACCURACY, MOUS BULL WHIP ANO - -

UNCURLS HIS RIGHT Here. ^ YOU'LL BE SORRY YUH BUTTED INTO THIS AFFAIR J

THE FIRST ONE OF YOU TO N SET IN MY WAV WILL FEEL THE FULL STRENGTH OF THIS BULL WHIP.' NOW STAND ASIDE WHILE X TAKE BURT MEADE TO THE SHERIFF '. J

f YUH WON'T X* THAT'LL BE FINE, ^—- HAVE TO 1 SHERIFF l IN THIS SREAT TAKE HIM ~\ COUNTRY, EVERY MAN TO ME, LASH! \ IS ENTITLED TO A I'M THE LOCAL FAIR TRIAL AND GUILTY SHERIFF.1 I'LL ) OR NOT GUILTY NO SEE THAT NO S. ONE BUT THE PROPER HARM COMES \ AUTHORITIES HAVE TO HIM BEFORE THE RIGHT TO TAKE HE SETS A , )THE LAW INTO THEIR FAIR TRIAL i J OWN HANDS.' LYNCH-

INS IS UN-AMERICAN.'

lash Larue western

'there's Yl’VE BEEN WATCHING^ black S. EVERYTHING THAT'S

DIAMOND, ] BEEN SOING ON'. X NOW' V WON'T FEEL SAFE

ar UNTIL r SET RID OF CTm» this roving

- MARSHAL' 50-

--I'LL JUST FILL HIM FULL OF LEAD.1 BUT FIRST I'LL KNOCK HIM OUT SO HE CAN'T FISHT

yxsrrm back.' yf,

'(GROAN) MV BACK HURTS, -COMES TO THE RESCUE-

^3>H0RTLV AFTER- \( WHOA,BLAClO diamond.'

\ TH|S IS AS FAR r' MBBWBflHBgMPq AS WE so.' y

WHEN LASH COMESTO-

DIDN'T SEE WHO WACKED ME, BUT I'VE SOT A SOOD IDEA WHO THE CRITTER IS! LET'S HIT THE TRAIL/

LASH LaRUE western

^--I'LL HAVE TO MAKE MV OWN ENTRANCE.' ^ ITHOUSHT I’D BE OUT OF HYAR BEFORE YUH ARRIVEI

THIS WITH OUR FISTS. (gulp) he's JUST AS DEADLY

WITH A SIX.-SHOOTER AS HE IS WITH THAT WHIP.1 HE SHOT MV GUN RIGHT OUT OF MY HAND.'

LASH LaRUE western

And THE ROVING MARSHAL GOES TO WQRKONTHE MURDERER ■ ENOUGH •' 1 enough *

'LL CONFESS

/BUT WHILE f STOLE YOUR \ WATCH ? IT \ WASN'T A .

DIAMONO / /WATCH WITH *■ (THE INITIALS Vtc" ON IT BY

I ANV CHANCE?

/CROOK IN LARADO \THE OTHER DAV WHO ) HAD THAT WATCH ON / HIM. HE SAID HE

PICKED IT OUT OF A COWPOKE'S POCKET IN THE GENERAL

, STORE IN THIS M town ! ^

DID YOU KNOW'

. T I REALIZE HOW > ! 1 WRONG I WAS TO KTAKE THE LAW INTO

OWN HANDS AND YOU CAN REST ASSURED,

. NEVER DO IT ^again: VGS1

-/you WON'T REGRET THIS, BURT.') AS SOON AS YOU AND ANN ARE MARRIED, I'M MAKING YOU A A FULL-FLEDGED PARTNER ,—' ON THE RANCH ^ v__ , -r— LETS GO, vjJT / ( BLACK DIAMOND—

---I DON'T THINK WE'RE NEEDED AROUND,HERE

^ ANYMORE! --

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

the Recruit

EXCUSE WE, SIR., BUT JS THIS PRIVATE?/

I RECKON THAT'S^ BECAUSE I DON’T/ GIVE A RAP'J/

f .VEIL, IP YOU DON’T GET OUT OF HERE, PRONTO,/ I’LL GIVE YOU A RAPr^

STOVER THE HEAdT/

YOU DON’T understand!; I MEAN IS THIS A ^

[^PRIVATE OFFICE!^! r it is! so wh

DID YOU WALK I . HERE WITHOUT ^ KNOCKING?/^

I’LL GO AS SOON AS YUH

ANSWER ONE / sQUESTIOW.'Jr

ARE YUH ON A WAR DIET?^

>HY? ON A WAR DIET?

lash Larue western

BECAUSE EVERYTHING ' YUH EAT SEEMS TUH GO TUH THE FRONT.' ^

r WAS ONLY F001IN6.' NOW HERE’S MLW QUESTION.' WHAT DOES A MAN HAVE TUH '

DO TUH BE BURIED WITH MILITARY HONORS? I^HOW DARE YOU' r TALK THAT WAY .TO AN OFFICER IN ha&TME ARMY

SHUCKS.' THEN "T WHY? WHAT kI LOST MUH BET/) DID YOU SAY W r \rn0mmr A MAN HAD Y//W///TTO BE,TO BE BURIED %V^7%\WITH MILITARY HONORS!

I'Ll GO, CAPTAIN. THAT IS AS^ SOON AS YUH TELL ME WHERE I HAVE TUH GO TUH JOIN UP WTOJ

Lthe ARMY/.--— ■ "DUS IS THE ■ ^RECRUITING ROOM. BUT ^ BI I’M ONLY INTERESTED IN ' ■i AN EXPERIENCED SOLDIER.'

NEED A SEASONED i V^\TROOP/ DO YOU KNOW/

^WH AT THAT IS^rjgL

: MUST Kl HAVEN'T^ OZ/r^ANY MORE TIME S\0 WASTE ANSWERING

YOUR. SILLY QUESTIONS.. VNOW GET OUT/

WE’LL SOON SEE.' TELL ME HOW YOU’D EXECUTE

^SQUADS RIGHT? —'

KthatS easy, ifi \ Ej WANTED TO EXECUTE A

_ 'SQUAD RIGHT, I’D 'STAND THEM UP AGAINST)

A WALL and SHOOT ’EM/

I SURE DO.' A SEASONED TROOP IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN MUSTARDEDBY ITS OFFICERS AND PEPPERED BY -the enemy.' IF YUH JUST give

KME A CHANCE, I CAN PROVE I’VE HAD LOTS/ sSvOF SOLDIERING' EXPERIENCE/—-—

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

'THAT'S SIMPLE/ \ XT'S GOT A HOLE:

SLIGHT THROUGH IT/,

JUST AS I THOUGHT/ YOU KNOW NOTHING/ BUT ru GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE/ TELL ME A

.WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS RIFL

Aou POOL/ THAT'S NOt\ A HOLE, THAT’S WHERE

w THE BULLET COMBS OUT!.

nHAT’S NOT SO/ I WAS IN THE ARMY ONCE.

LI WAS THE BATTAUONlS

ri SCRAPED THE ' .EYES OUT OF THE> ^POTATOES/ ^

OH/ YOU MEAN YOU WERE ON K.P. DUTY

SALL THE TIME! r- W BATTALION’S^^

M OPTICIAN? I NEVER.' HEARD OF ANY SUCH

RANK IN THE ARMY/ A OWHAT DID YOU DO?

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

[x SHELLED THEM, Slg/J BUT WHY ARE VOU JUST ) ^STANDING SfnU/is==Z-—

// ~^T~~T~7rM STANDING // / BEHIND AN IMAGINARY. U ( ROCK TWO HUNDRED "7/

I TELL VOU WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.' I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN ASSIGNMENT AND IF VOU CARRY IT OUT ALL RIGHT, I’LL LET YOU JOIN UP' NOW GO OUTSIDE AND TAKE MY HORSE TO BE SHOD! AND DON'T LET HIM OUT OF YOUR. SIGHT UNTIL /

^YOU’RE FINISHED//-

W IF YOU KNOW SO MUCH^ rABOUT WARFARE, I’M GOING F*BOUI WAR|-«Kt, J. m UUINs

r TO GIVE YOU A PROBLEM. LET’S SAY THERE WAS AN I AAAGINARY ENEMY ONLY

V TEN FEET AWAY.' SHOW ^TaME WHAT VOU WOULD^

(yes, sir!

WHEN I CATCH YOU, YOU’LL DEAD? BUT I TOLD YOU NOT TO ) LET HIM OUT OF YOUR SIGHT/

JJNTIL HE WAS SHOD! ^—

I SHOD.'^ULRl^l \ { THOUGHT VOU SAIOJ

DEAD*/ BE COURT-MARTI ALLED EVEN BEFORE YOU GET INTO THE > ^PMY/ j— <

'Well, how’s''

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

p^THEMONTAPOSULd MONTAI ADVENTURE

MOMTAOO

^'Ne OF THE WILDEST PLACES IN THE OLD WEST WA5 MONTADO GULCH.' WHEN

La RUE WAS CALLEP UPON 70 TRACK POWN A COUPLE OF. BANK ROBBERS THERE, HE RAN INTO ONE OF HIS TOUGHEST ANP MOST PANGEROUS ASSIGNMENTS AS

A ROVING MARSHAL.'

» ate one night at the rMONTAPO BANK.

R HE COMES NOW.'

GOOP WORK.' HIM OUT.'*"- ANP SEE I OPEN THE y-SZS j,yE eoT

^ A WHOLE SUITCASE FULL OF PVNAMITE

^TO MAKE SURE U

THERE’P ) I PIPN’T-^^ JE IN THE /THINK THERE’P 1 S BE.' PICK«UP :F.'/S OME PEBBLES ANP ^

TOSS THEM AT THE POOR.1 WHEN THE CRITTER COMES OUT TO SEE ^

■ WHAT’S CAUSING THE SsNOlSE, I’LL TAKE /■

LASH LaRUE western

MEANWHILE, AT THE sheriff’s! f^ATER, IN THE SHERIFF’S OFF 1C el luTTHE BANK CLERK WASN’T 'completely KNOCKED OUT- —OF . ^help:

OOOPBYE, 1.ASM.'RIDE ^V«*»ER/FF/ OVER TO SEE ME AGAIN, }-\ST-p SOON WE CAN-DlP^-^-—i- 1 HEAR SOMEONE J YES, CRY FOR HELPP/—''WT CAME

SANK ROBBER? YOU GET HIM . TO A POCTOR

WH/LE I RUSH OVER TO THEy

BANK/^>&

MY HEAD FEELS LIKE I BEEN SPLIT IN TWO.' I’VE GOT TO SEE IF

y CAN REACH THE 1 SHERIFF’S OFFICE.

, THING FOR

HAT’S WHY I BROUGHT IE PYNAMITE ALONG, ADSBY.'WE’LL BLOW T OPEN AS SOON AS

1 LIGHT THE FUSE.'

^FANWHtLE.

F OUT THAT DYNAMITE J I’VE SOT THE TWO YOU COVERED

ALL THE FUSES ARE LIT NOW J I’LL HAVE TO FIND SOME SAFE PLACE TO THROW IT BEFORE ^ THEY ALL GO OFF J AND IF ^ I’M NOT MISTAKEN, I SAW M AN EMPTY LOT CLOSE BY WHEN I RUSHED OVER --- HERE

—OF CHASINO US*OR TRYINS TO (SET RID OF THE DYNAMITE BEFORE IT BLOWS UP THE^r- ENTIRE BANK --

THE BUILDIN© BE DESTROYEDI’LL HAVE TO LET THOSE

^LHOOTS OET ^

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

OktW LASH POESN*T GET RlP Of 5rPjHE BURNING DYNAMITE ONE SECOND TOO SOON...,. ^ 1 RECKON WE'RE FAR ENOU

AWAY FROM THE BANK / WE CAN TAKE OUR MASKS OFF> now, OApsgy/ £rr-—V&A

THOSE VARMINTS ARE N PROBABLY TRYING TO GET OUT OP TOWN AS FAST AS . POSSIBLE J VM GOING TO < GET THE SHERIFF TO OR¬ GANIZE A POSSE TO BLOCK

* OFF ALL THE EXITS FROM « TOWN .'WE MIGHT STOP

THEM YET IF WE CHECK ^ ON EVERYONE LEAVING ffVrV ,ri MONTAPO *S

WHE NEYT MORNING AS THE TRtWO OUTLAWS START TO LEAVE MONTAPO./- ---TELLER WANTEP/

LOOK AT fc.WHAT ABOUT IT f THAT SION, ^ -^

WHAT ABOUT IT?WHY IT JUST GAVE ME AN IDEA HOW WE CAN STILL ROB THIS BANK, ONLY WITHOUT TROUBLE THIS TIME/ALL WE HAVE TO PO IS MAKE UP SOME PHONV REFERENCES ABOUT ME

RECKON THERE / I SHOULDNT HIRE

WEEKS, I NEED / TELLER TO FILL HE GETS BACK/

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

^OMENTS AFTfR > ) yUH,$IRJ / i’ll oet RIGHT TO

~v WORK

I’M OOIN6 OUT FER A WHILE, MADISON.' YUH AND GUFF Wl( PE ALONE UNTIL HOOSER COMES IN TO RELlEVEJMj

S JUST THE TWO i OF US.' I’LL OET .

ro work.'mapjson’s TOO DUMB TO KNOW WHAT*S GOING

|W ON

?UT MADISON ISN’T AS DUMB AS GUFF THINKS.

I’D LIKE TOOET A HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL BROKEN UP INTO ^ SMALL CHANGE J A. NEVER DID LIKE GUFF.

NOW I KNOW WHY.' l-. HE’S A ROBBER/J

AT’LL KEEP HlM QUIET.' NOW GIVE ME THE

DOUGH AND I’LL s- VAMOOSE.* J MONEY.* GIVE THAT SUITCASE .

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

THE SHERIFF AND I JUST ,) SOME HEARD SOME SHOTS .—^CRITTER SOME FROM HERE.'/JUST ROBBED WHAT HAPPENEDP/THE BANK.'I - ^— WAS WAITING

ON THIS MAN, ^ WHEN —

VUH CAN’T LEAVE WITH THE SUITCASE FULL OF POUGH NOV SOMEONE’S BOUND TO HAVE HEARP THE SHOTS /-- ANP STOP yUH.'^—THEN W»

SUGGEST?.

I SAW HIM JUMP ) yOU (SET THE THROUGH THAT FACTS FROM

« WINDOW/ THESE MENS SHERIFF--

—A MASKED BANDIT RUSHED IN HYAR, MADE US REACH FER THE SKV ANP GRABBED A SUITCASE FULL OF MONEy.V_ MADISON TRIED TO j— STOP HIM AND —' WHICH GOT SHOT.' J WAY PIP HE

► HOOSER.' BE CAREFUL WHERE \ VOU THROW

(YOUR MATCHES.1 / PO you WANT "V TO START 1

THE BANK.

THAT TELLER.GUFF, WAS SO UPSET BY THE KILLING THAT I LET HIM GO HOME WHEN > HOOSER ARRIVED TO RELIEVE HIM .'IT’S TOO BAD HE DIDN’T GET A GOOD LOOK AT THE KILLER.

BLACK DIAMOND.' THE BANK ROBBER HAS GIVEN

_US THE SLIP.' WE MIGHT f AS WELL HEAP BACK ^ N^^FOR THE BANK.' A

Lash Larue western

HOLP ON, SHERIFF.' I THINK YOU’RE RIGHT, BUT GUFF UAH ALWAYS SAY THAT THE ROBBER TOSSEP THEM INTO THE BASKE ON THE WAY OUT ANP THflT HI WAS TOO EXCITEP TO NOTICE I THERE’P BE NO WAY TO PROV HE WAS LYING//--,

WHY, IT’S THE MONEY THAT WAS SUPPOSEP TO HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM THE BANK.' ANP THAT’S < PROBABLY THE GUM THAT PIP THE KILLING.' GUFF WAS LYING.' I’M GOING TO FINP HIM ANP

ARREST

SHERIFF, IF WE JUST WAIT, PON’T THINK WE’LL HAVE trouble catching the ■

GUILTY MEN .' f—S

^HAT NIGHT.

THAT’S THE SElfONP TIME I WE MISSEP ROBBING THAT VI BANK.' I SAY ,--' ^ FORGET IT.' J NOTHING POING.'

—, I’VE GOT THE KEYS 1/ ANP WE KNOW WHERE

, / L THE MONEY IS /ALL WE J I HAVE TO PO TO GET IT IS , f If WAIT UNTIL IT GETS PARK.' 1 UV. THE BANK ISN’T CLEANEP \ I 7" UNTIL MORNING GO THE ‘ \—V MONEY WILL BE SAFELY

HIPPEN UNTIL WE GET I L. -1 THERE.' A

YUH SEE.GAPSBY.' THERE’S J NO ONE AROUNP.' ALL WE

► HAVE TO PO IS TAKE THE L MONEY out of the waste

PAPER BASKET ANP VAMOOSE.

(GO LPJ) I FIGURED WHOEVER HIP THE MONEY IN HERE WOULP BE BACK TO PICK IT UP/^rt

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

Lut even though 9 ROLLINO LASH 11

E WASTE BASKET KEEPS 'T IPLE.. LET'S

lash larue western

HOODED

RADY GRANGE was merely a blue-black shadow against the rocks. He stood mo¬

tionless as he heard the hoof-beats coming up the trail. His finger itched as he saw the first black-hooded horseman.

It would be so easy to mow that first'man

Brady felt a burning, bitter anger in his heart, that seemed to tell him it would be justice to split a bullet hole right into the middle of that first black hood.

Yet he held his fire. Brady was 18 and he remembered the teach¬

ings of his father—proud, courageous' Jethro Grange. Before young Brady had even been able to walk, his father had impressed on him that nobody but a snivelling coward would ever dry gulch a man, no matter what the

So Brady froze against the rocks, and let the leader of the masked riders pass below him without interference. That man passing below him may have been the murderer of his father. But Brady intended to live as his father had taught him—by law and justice! He would find out who killed his father and that man would face the court. That was democracy. Even in the lawless West, old Jethro Grange had been a great believer in democracy, and young Brady meant to carry on. Unless something snapped! Unless they pressed him too far and he went hog-wild.

Silently he watched he hooded men riding by below. Thejf wen no hurry. One, two, three horsemen filed by

They had time. Their victim, whoever he might be this night, was the one who should be hurrying.

Brady counted them.

Four, five, six. The important thing about his plan was that

he must hold himself back, not make his move until just the right moment—the very split-

RIDERS

second of While Brady waited,' hearing the hoofs,

counting the men, a small portion of the past flashed before him. It was a portion he would never forget. It was branded on his brain with an iron that still seared. He remembered the hooded men, there were thirteen, who had rid¬ den up to his father’s ranch.

They had given his father the final warning. They had told old Jethro Grange that he must order the nesters off his range.

Old Jethro had tossed his head, his white hair flashing in the moonlight. He had re¬ sponded, "Gentlemen, the United States gov¬ ernment has given these fasmers, nesters as you call them, permission to raise their crops in this territory. The U. S. government is my government and yours. Who are we to turn against it?”

Without a word, the masked men had con¬ verged on Old Jethro.

When young Brady tried desperately to in¬ tervene, he was brutally slugged from behind.

He had regained consciousness in time to see his father being beaten with a blacksnake whip. A whip-knot had caught Jethro in the temple. He staggered and never rose again.

THERE had been an investigation. The U. S. Circuit judge was more than ready to right

this wrong. But Brady had had to admit he couldn't identify any of his father's assailants.

“They were all hooded," he said. The judge looked sad, but powerless. No-

’ body can identify a hooded man. Everybody respected old Jethro, but the

hooded band was not without supporters. Many ranchers hated the nesters and felt that old Jethro was foolish to encourage them, no mat¬ ter what the law said. Even young Grange wondered about this. All his life he had heard that nesters were a menace to the West. But* he was willing to take his father’s word that

lash larue western

democracy was the main thing, and all else a side issue.

All this flashed through his mind as twelve

riders passed. For the thirteenth he had special treatment.

Brady dived from his hiding place in the rocks.

His steel-like arms encircled the hood.

They crashed to earth with a thud, but there

was no outcry. Brady countsd on the clatter

of hoofs to drown out the noise of the fall. His fist crashed against the face of the hood. There

was a brief gasp and the man sagged. Working swiftly, he donned the hood and cloak, and

mounted the horse that had waited for its

master. Then Brady rode swiftly to overtake the hooded band.

He moved right into their meeting place, a cleft in the rocks, near a waterfall. Being

hooded, like the rest, he was accepted.

The leader of the hooded terrorists was speaking.

“Old Jethro threw his weight around quite a bit. Standing up for the nesters like he did, caused some of the other ranchers to wonder if

maybe the nesters weren’t all right. We’ve got to get rid of everybody who thinks that way.

If we can start a real, first-class war between the ranchers and the nesters, we can move in. We can take charge of this territory after they kill each other off. We’ll all be rich.”

Somebody asked, “What if the hombre we’re after tonight stands up to us the way Jethro did?”

“Then I’ll kill him off the way I killed old Jethro,” sneered the leader.

The burning fire inside Brady Grange ex¬ ploded. He could no longer control himself, no longer go along according to plan. He lunged forward, gun in hand, ripped the mask off the leader, and planted his fist squarely on the leader’s jaw. It was a kayo. But he still had eleven other men to deal with.

However, surprise was on his side—the men were confused and‘nervous with their leader down..

Brady raced down the front row, ripping off five masks, one after the other.

^|i AH!” he cried. You witnesses are un- masked. Clancy! Brown! Whithers!

Savage! Wellington! I know you! Kill me, but

there are six others who know you! You’ll

never be able to draw a safe breath again!”

The leader sprung from the ground, but

Brady was ready with a swift one-two. The

hooded figure went down in a heap.

“Your leader is down and out!” exclaimed Brady. “He’s the one who killed my father. I

don’t know anything against the rest of you.

Unmask and give up before I shoot the lot of you!”

His voice carried conviction. Anyone who

had heard it- might have said it sounded a

whole lot like the voice of old Jethro Grange.

Hoods were ripped free and there were cries of, “I give up!” “I never liked this idea much

in the first place!” “I was forced into this . . .”

A United States marshal took the whole batch into custody. All were given sentences

commensurate with their crimes. The leader

was given the supreme penalty for the killing

of Jethro Grange. After justice was done, the wives of quite a

number of nesters came up to Brady Grange with tears in their eyes, and thanked him for

what he had done. The boy said, quite truth¬ fully, “I was raised in the West. I never thought

much of nesters, either. Now I see it a little differently. The country is big enough for all

of us and we’ve got to live according to the laws—or we won’t live at all!”

f h^HE next time the U. S. Circuit judge came •*- through the territory he asked to see “the

boy who cleaned up the terrorists single-

handed.” As he shook hands with the young hero, the judge said, “Son, with citizens like

you, this county need never fear for its future!”

“Thank you, sir,” responded Brady, “but my father is really the fellow who should be shak¬

ing your hand.” “He knows,” responded the judge quietly.

“And he’s mighty proud!”

THE END

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

/&S A ROVING ; I MARSHAL WHOSE \\\ IDENTITY FOR THE h MOST FART IS UN- !' KNOWN, LASH LaRUE • * IS CALLED UPON TO T PLAY MANY STRANGE I PARTS IN HIS UNEND- T ING BATTLE AGAINST { OUTLAWS. BUT NONE OF THE PARTS WERE AS STRANGE OR AS DANGEROUS AS THE l ONE HE HAS TO PLAY

At THE CHIEF MARSHAL'S OFFICE-

"THIS NOTE CAME FOR YOU, LASH / <

^BEN AND ' I,ARE OLD FRIENDS. < CHIEF / MAY I GO? w

w . /-< BY ALL’l (MEANS/THIS 1

7 /'SOUNDS LIKE J f A JOB FOR A A

^ (ROVING MARSHAL/

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

[meanwhile ,m ROOM 206 AT THE PRESIDENT HOTEL IN PRAIRIE JUNCTION—- i-r—7 -—-> FOR THE LAST] Z. T)ME,BEW,1VHERE'D YUH HIDE AV"

[THAT TREASlRE MP7/ \\i

(take rr fasy, V HEDSTRONS.' / WE DON'T WANT

.*10 KILL HIM 'UNTIL HE TELLS IUS WHERE THE \MISSlNG PART ^OFTHE MAP J

!?choke'/)SiV“^ * (CHOKE

MAYBE X CAN , CHOKE IT OUT1 OF HIM,BULKY'

WE RE HEADING FOR PRAIRIE ■JUNCTION, BLACK DIAMOND/^ ^^lLET’S 60.' ^ggj

PYgroaw)] [I'M NOT * ^TALKING!

WHOA, BLACK

I FUNNY! NO ONE, ERS AND YET---1

1 YUH CRA7Y/HE WASN'T\ KILLED T7 GOING TOTALK RNED YUHM ANYWAY.' WE LL I EASY, rj HAVE TO FIND < onG' y( THE MAP BY OUR-’ 1^ \SELVES / NOW HA rS'ART SEARCH,Wg!

someone;s at the 17— • '.TfTHE CLERK T DOWNSTAIRS TOLO^ 'ME HE SAW BEN Jl V GO UP EARLIER \P ./VTHiS EVENING

DOOR' WE'VE GOT TO “TPS^^VA MOOSE!

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

I it's STrtv-HERE' the easiest WAY TO FIND THOSE VARMINTS WOULD BE TO MAKE THEM,--

I COME TO ME r — <

fall I've got to do is 'MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS] I'VE GOT HALF OF THE TREAS-/

>URE MAP AND THAT SHOULD T ^SEND THE KILLER AFTER ME ')

I VE GOT TO SEE IF THOSE \ MURDERING PRAlRlE RATS

I FOUND THE TREASURE MAP'

NOW I SEE WHAT YOU'RE DRIVING AT; IT SHOULD WORK AT' that; i'll go find

[Larue immediately/,

THE NEXT MORNING, AT THE GULCH OPERA HOUSE — -

you Fools bungledPhold on,mac.' The JOB-' NOW that/I THINKI KNOW, USH URUE'S GOT/A WAY WE CAN < the map, we'll still get it; > NEVER GET IT'/YOU'RE PUTTING ; ■ -- H ON A PERFORMANCE \

\ 1 FER CHARITY SATUR- _ —-_ \g»DAY NIGHT, AREN'T

I SHORTLY WELL, SINCE IT'S V

FOR CHARITY, I'M WILLING TO ACT IN YOUR PUY FOR THAT ONE PERFORMANCE, MR. 8ETH

| THE OPERA HOUSE AND START REHEARSING ! IT ONLY TWO DAYS TILL _

L_ SATURDAY' /-

AROUND TILL THOSE VAR¬ 'S IMI NTS TRY TO STEAL ■rfMTHE MAP FROM ME,I RECKON THIS IS A GOOD WA'

I PASS THE time; BESIDES 'LL BE HELPING A WORTHY,

CHARITY < ^jrJ

, COULD < 'COUNT on l YOU'J

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

ANYONE else but lash rNOWINTHlS' SCENE,LASH,

1 YOU START < TO SHOW THE CONCEITED GAMBLER UP.'

FIRST YOU KNOCK HIS <

1 HAT OFF iJ

SATURDAY AT REHEARSALS-- iRUE HANDLING THAT WHIP I'D BE

-----FRIGHTENED TO DEATH.',

>GOOD/\ (NOW SNAP THE CIGAR-,

JiETTE OUT > 17 0F HIS aVMOUTH'J

i^NOW, LASH, YOU .PULL HIS LEGS > OUT FROM V V UNDER HIM 1

WHICH 1 \V MAKES THE J 4\> GAMBLER A I-V ANGRY 'jJ

^HAT'S RIGHT, BROWW.i i YOU RUSH OFF AMD THE > CURTAIN FALL'S, END¬

ING THE ACT/

I NO ONE MAKES [A FOOL OF ME '

TAKE THAT.' J*

THAT’S RIGHT, BROWN, k, YOU GRAB YOUR GUN K NOW AND SHOOT LASH

FlTOLDYUH ™ HE'S CARRYING

THE MAP AROUND V, WITH HIM. 4 f JUST WATCH ] f WHAT MAC BETH \ { DOES NOW AND V YUH'LL SEE h

I STILL DON T | SEE HOW GET- J TING LASH

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

CORRECT, HEDSTRONG/ ANP AS SOON — ANP THERE'S THE GUNVYUH NJf HE USES TO SHOOT LASH A MEAN / AT THE ENP OF THE WHEN ACT-' NOW ALL WE >#BR0WN SHOOTS) HAVE TO PO IS \5l HIM IN THE PLAY,) SUBSTITUTE REALM HE'LL ACTUALLYJ BULLETS FOR THE LX KILL HIM ? A .BLANKS I rrtrp wffi, ^

SHORTLY AFTER-

HEY .'THIS ISNT YORE C ROOM, MAC BETH .' IT'S BROWN'S, THE HOMBRE WHO PLAYS THE VrrTf GAMBLER / trngmmm,

"THANKS' X SEE IT'S NOW LET'S GET OUT OF THE THEATRE BEFORE ANYONE COMES BACK ANP STARTS WONDERING WHY WE WERE HANGING AROUND/ THIS LETTER JUST CAME .

FOR YOU, LASH/^/f—J

BUT WHEN LASH REACHES THE ■P»SOL)NDS AS IF 1 VTHE OLD BOY’S Angry/i'd better

HEAD RIGHT BACK, [BUT FIRST I'LL HAVE 'TO TELL MACBETH THAT I CAN'T PER-T

> FORM TONIGHT/"^

LJi 'i'Mr1 SHUCKS! WO ONE S Ground/ since i can't wait, I'LL HAVE TO LEAVE A NOTE FOR MAC. MAYBE I CAN FIND A PIECE OF PAPER TO WRITE ON IN THE

WASTE BASKET/ ~g

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

THAT NIGHT, AS THE PLAY IS ABOUT I TO BEGIN-r-■ mmmmmmn* okav ! that's your ip CTpflfcUE ' GET ON STAGE ^■BWgSLTHE TWO OF YOU '

WHY,THIS ISPARTOFTME ENVELOPE IN WHICH SEN KEPT HIS MAP ' THIS SHOULD MEAN THAT SOME-, ONE IN THIS THEATRE HAS THE J MISSING SECTION AND IS THE 1 KILLER I'M LOOKING FOR' jM

--BUT THERE ARE SO MANY V PEOPLE IN THE CAST, IT'D BE “ HARD TO GUESS WHICH ONE / THE Guilts party is probably count¬ ing on catching ME OFFGUARD AND THEN STEALING THE MAPI IT LOOKS AS IF I'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH WITH MY PART TONIGHT, IF I'M GOING TO FIND OUT WHO THE

THEY MATCH,

DON'T WORRY, LASH I EVERYONE GETS STAGE FRIGHT V/HEN THEr CURTAIN GOES UP/ BUT AS SOON AS YOU SPEAK YOUR FIRST LINE, YOU'LL u FORGET ABOUT BEING jfE

'NERVOUS i -- HOPE SO'

LASH GIVES FINALLY THE i

• A FINE PERFORMANCE.' .CLIMAX IS REACHED —

>W THAT SORE vas exciting/-

B^dio you see hovv' [LASH HANDLED HIS L bull whip? he was Pi TERRIFIC

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

'■(GULP/) but I THOUGHT--;

[meanwhile, BACK stagF SO YOU'RE the L GUILTY.. PARTY/

YOU THOUGHT I WAS DEAD ! BUT SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW WHO THE KILLER WAS, I DIDN'T TAKE ANY I NOW TO GO THROUGH HIS S

POCKETS BEFORE ANYONE, DISCOVERS THAT ntf

[USH IS REALLY. DEAD'. ■■

MLLtK W«S,i DIUN I lAKt ANY CHANCES THE REASON I KNOCKED, BROWN'S GUN DOWN BEFORE y GOING ON STAGE--- - S

FIGURED THAT THE EASIEST WAY FOR THE KILLER TO GET RID OFX^ ME WAS BY SUB- ^ STITUTING real bullets-I FOR THE BLANKS I ALL 1 I DID WAS TO SUBSTl- M TUTE BLANKS FOR THE VT REAL BULLETS/ YOU \ MIGHT AS WELL CONFESS,) MAC BETH, WHERE'S 2 THE OTHER HALF OF TH; THE TREASURE MAP7

SECOND-

I FIGURED THAT SAND . BAG WOULD TAKE_ \CARE OF HIM /

■F GOOD WORK'] J NOW LET'S GET

THE MISSING J [PART OF THE V [ MAP OUT OF ■ ^HIS POCKET J

[jqvAMOOSE A

BUT AS THE VILLAINS RUSH OFF WITH THE MISSING PART OF THE AND IT REVIVES

W* OH, MY HE [THERE 'S NO' L THINK OF .TGULPI) I knocked] ^ OVER THE PAIL l £

WHAT^^^ r DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE!

^LETS GO /^

LASH LaRUE WESTERN

I'VE GOT TO SEE IF I CAN CATCH THOSE . VARMINTS BEFORE 4 THEY GET AWAY / V*

Je?S ^OME TO ALREADY/,

i MERE THEY

(GULP.O HE DETACHED ^ THE buckboard PROM THE HORSES WITH THAT WHIP/ j

P J'U LIKE TO DETACH rYOUR HEADS FOR ✓

BUT I'LL LET THE FOR ME / NOW 1'H THREE BACK TO 1

MARSHAL/

GREAT WORK;" r if Dtm I_ ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED

DPS OUT OF HIS POCKET O THE WASTE BASKET WE

WOULD HAVE RETRIEVED THE STOLEN MAP. NOW WE

CAN TURN THE WHOLE MAP -A. OVER TO POOR BEN’S y-

LOOKS AS IF YOUR I WORKED AFTER ALL