Monte Hale Western Charlton 086 1955

8/13/2019 Monte Hale Western Charlton 086 1955

1/36

A CHARLTON PUBLICATION | APPROVEDBY THEJ +jb COMICSCODE


2/36

: -INT&ReST/NG HOMME?

MONTE HALE WESTERNPublished bimonthly by Charlton Comic*Conn. Copyright 1955 by Charlton ComicVolume 1. Number H Avunt, 1955Group. Executive offices and office of publication Charlton Building, Derby.Group. Printed in the U.S.A


3/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN The foftowrfta outjtondmg mogoilnei are eatlly identifiedon their cort by Km wordi A CHARLTON PUBLICATIONATOMIC MOUSE * BADGE OF JUSTICE * BLUE BEETLE + COWBOY LOVE * COWBOY WEST-ERN * DANGER and ADVENTURE * FUNNY ANIMALSMERRY MAILMAN * GABBY HAYES *HOT RODS and RACING CARS * LASH LaRUE + MONTE HALE * MY LITTLE MARGIE * ROCKYLANE * SIX-GUN HEROES SOLDIER and MARINE * SPACE ADVENTURESROCKY JONES.SPACE RANGER * SWEETHEARTS * TEX RITTER * TKi \t SUSPENSE * TRUE LIFE SECRETS *TV TEENSDON W1NSLOW of the NAVY * WIN-A-PRIZE * ZOO FUNNIES, NYOKA, JUNGLE GIRLfcvery effort Ii mod* to incur* tltof theee comic maoounat contain rH* higheit quality of wholesome entertainment..


4/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN

THAT LOOK LIKE CrOOO .LAND IN THERE, MONTE-My PEOPLE HAVE COME ALON& DISTANCE, FROMSWEPEN AND DENMARKACROSS THIS COUNTRYTO FIND GOOD LAND /yuMPINS yiMINV, W&


5/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN


6/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN

_,J.OOK.' ^\THERE HE \GOES.' HE'S \HEADING; TO- \WARD TYPHOID 1VALLEY ON /__^~ AFRESH < CT,7\t HOR^-ysET \

1 r7 AFTER HIM, ]JJ I MONTE/^

r^f^MM&^M*Sm\v3r^/^-7^

i

'' * , V ' ^T*^^1 TTv^T


7/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN

tJLtHY, AjwSL' :ru--' ^kM/^OJUVJl |\\_\_ MJV^c4^^*ii^hir^tE^j\i \sLis T


8/36

MONTE HALE WESTERNWearing ike Soixvid of firing, LarsNelson and. ike olker settlers',ride up front ike lower valleq .'/

AND EVIDENTLY THEY'VEBEEN DOING- SOME MIGHTYSUCCESSFUL DIAMONDMINING t SUPPOSE ONEOP you HOMBRES TELLUS WHAT IT'S ALLABOUT .'

ST

you've gotus dead torights, hale-so we mightAS WELLSPILL THEBEANS.'

WERE OSSOODSAMD LAWTONS .'YEARS AGO WHENTHE REST OF OURFAMILY DIED FROMTYPHOID, WE HADTHE DISEASE BUTSURVIVED.' BUT THENWE DISCOVERED ARICH VEIN OFPRECIOUS JEWELSIN THE VALLEY /

so youDECIDEDTO HIDEOUT INTHEVALLEYAND MINETHEDIAMONDSYOUR-SELVES f

RIGHT.' AND \TO PREVENTOTHERS FROMCOMING IN*WE PLANTEDTYPHOIDGERMS IN THEWATER IN THEVALLEY.' I SOTA JOB IN THEFORT BAILEYHOSPITAL ANDBROUGHT INTHE GERMS '

SRADUALLY T WE ALWAYSIT GREW INTO FIGURED WE'DA LEQEND .' QUIT AFTEREVERYBODY A WHILE .' BUTWAS AFRAID WE KEPTTO COME GETTING- AINTO THE BIGGER ANDVALLEY- - BIGGER STOREUNTIL LARS OF DIAMONDSNELSON AND AND WE NEVERHIS PEOPLE COULD DECIDEVJZCVB IN/ J TO STOP/ ^^

jQr^MME-''''''A/^u\\^\ (1fi^m^Y/(iw.f wM\s&

WE GOT TO THE.CHILDREN SOONENOUGH TO CHECKTHE DISEASE/ALL OP THEMWILL RECOVER--AND PRONTO.'

UNTIL THE WATERIS PURIFIED, WE'LLCARRY ALL OF OUR

'; DRINKING- WATER.IN.' MONTE, WEOWE PLENTY TO

' you / youVE madeTYPHOID VALLEYA SAFE PLACEPOR US 1LIVE /


9/36


10/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN

^_^t^fHiP^l^llilsi |25>ia^P^

^M/y/^KWsf^C


11/36

MONTE HALE WESTERNQUICK ON THE DRAWt

By Clement Goodm t THE AGE of twenty. Jack McCrae** was tall, dark and rugged. He had an

easy, good-humored smile and there was usu-ally a twinkle in his gray eyes.The two old-timers, Jeb and Luke, were

busy at their usual occupation, whittling andchewing tobacco, when they saw the posse rideout. Jack grinned and waved at Jeb and Lukeas he passed, and Jeb said, Mark my words,Luke, that there young feller is going to bethe next sheriff. He's as brave as a wildcatGrimly, silently, swiftly, the possemen rode

southwest toward the foothills. They were hoton the trail of the Ghost Raider and his hench-men. The ghost was so-called because aftereach foray he seemed to disappear into thinair. No living person had ever seen himToday the Wells Fargo office had been

robbed, the guard shot. Quickly alerted, thesheriff and his men were able to pursue thethree desperadoes before the trail got cold.The sun was setting as they rode into themouth of Dead End Canyon.We've got 'em trapped, exclaimed one of

the deputies. They were plumb foolish tocome in here.

Take it easy cautioned Jack McCrea. Itlooks too simple. Maybe we're the ones gettinginto a trap.

Jack's right said the sheriff. Rein upand take coverHe had barely given the order when a rifle

barked, and the deputy who had said, We'vegot 'em trapped, plummeted from his mount.Jack leaped to the ground and dragged thefallen m^n to cover behind jutting rocks, whilethe others' scurried for hiding places. A hailof rifle bullets chipped the rocks all aroundthe lawmen. ,The Ghost planned to ambush us, rightenough, said the sheriff, but now that he'stipped his mitt, looks like we've got him bot-tled up.

* Only 'looks like', said Jack,What do you mean? asked one of the men.Only way they can ride out of Dead EndCanyon is by going past us.

True, this is the only way they can rideout, Jack agreed. But it'll be dark in a littlewhile. Then they can forget their horses andclimb out the other end. We won't be able tosee them, we won't know where they've headed.Once more, the Ghost will disappear into thinair. That's why I aim to belly around theserocks and see if I can't circle and surprisethem.

Now, wait, Jack urged the sheriff. That'staking a mighty big chance. If anybody's todo that, it should be me.Jack grinned. Sheriff, we all know you'd

never ask any man to take on a job you wouldn'thandle yourself. But all I aim to do is sort ofsmoke them out a mite. You've got to be readyto grab them.Jack crawled away from the group, keeping

to the cover of the rocks as much as possible.He circled wide in the fading twilight. Thesheriff and his men kept firing steadily to coverany noise Jack might make, but it wasn't reallynecessary 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.The rifleman turned and Jack's Colt blastedthe gun from his hands. A shot from the youngdeputy seared the wrist of a second outlawand caused him to drop his revolver and cryout in pain. But the third masked man hit Jackwith two quick shots and the young lawmantum-ijgd to the ground.The two wounded outlaws cried out as the

third scrambled away into the falling darkness.Hey, boss We're shot up Don't leave usThe boss' answer was two quick squeezes onthe trigger that provided two new candidatesfor Boot Hill. Once more the Ghost Raider


12/36

MONTE HALE WESTERNwas making sure there'd be no witnesses alivewho could identify him.He won't ever get to be sheriff now, Luke,

said Jeb.Reckon not, Jeb, responded Luke, A

sheriff can't go chasing owlhoots in a wheelchair. Too bad. Sure was a promising youngfellow. They both looked mournfully at JackMcCrae.Jack was crippled Two slugs had been dug

out of his right leg. Now they said he'd neverAgain be able to walk without a cane and cer-tainly he'd never be able to ride a horse. Jacktook it with his usual courage and a grin. Heeat on the porch of the Cattlemen's Hoteland kept his hands busy, not with whittlingas Jeb and Luke did, but with sketches. Hegot so he could make a pretty good likenessof anyone who would pose. And when no onewas posing he sketched the stage coach acrossthe street, the horses at the hitch rail, thefalse-fronted frame buildings or the distanthills.Most people were pleased and flattered to

have their portraits made. But Four FlushFarro, who ran the gambling casino, was dif-ferent. He was furious when he noticed Jackmaking a sketch of himself. He snatched thepaper from Jack's hand and tore it to bits

Not a good likeness? asked Jack, raisinghis eyebrows.Huh? Oh, I reckon it was good enough.

I'm just superstitious about having my picturemade. All gamblers are superstitious. Here,buy yourself some more paper.Farro flipped a silver dollar into Jack's lapAnd hurried away. Jack looked at the coin and(rinned. This is all right Maybe I can makea good living by not drawing picturesWeeks went by. Jack passed the time of day

idly chatting with Jed and Luke, or sketchingover the things he had drawn before. TheGhost Raider struck again, this time robbinga rich rancher, north of town. As the posserode out, Jack fidgeted. To sit around idle,useless, was not his nature. Later the sheriffand the men came back empty-handed, as usual.The chief lawman stopped by to give JackMcCrea an account of the futile expedition.

As he finished he wiped his wrinkled browand said, Gosh all fish-hooks, Jack, I wish youcould've ridden with us. You might've noticedsome clue that we missed.A few days afterward, Jed and Luke wereastonished to learn that Jack had taken a job.He was the new shotgun guard on the stageline between Pine Bush and Longhorn City.On Jack's first run, the Ghost Raider heldup the stage out on Prairie Flats. He gunnedthe driver without warning and as Jack leveledhis shotgun, a bullet ripped off his hat andred began oozing from his skull. Jack fellacross the seat. The horses, spooked by thegunplay, took off at a gallopThe stage horses charged into Longhorn

City and halted at the livery stable of theirown accord. They were there for a full minutebefore anyone noticed Jack lying crumpled onthe seat. He was unconscious. Beside him wasa piece of paper with what appeared to bethe beginning of a sketch on it. But it wasonly an ear, nothing moreJack was taken to the hospital in Longhorn

City. Doctors later told his old friend, thesheriff, they thought he'd pull through, but hemight be unconscious for days. He may haveseen who shot him, but he won't be telling fora long while.

He's told already, grunted the sheriff,looking at the sketch of an ear.The Sheriff arrested Four Flush Farro.You're the Ghost Raider, declared the law-man, as he slipped on the handcuffs. You'vebeen identified by Jack McCrae.

But he couldn't recognize me cried thegambler. I wore a mask . . . that is . . .

JED AND LUKE were so interested theystopped their whittling while the sheriffunfolded the story. . . . yep, the human ear isone thing that can't be disguised and it's asure mark of identification. Jack got a goodlook 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 rewardfor the Ghost Raider and Jack's going to getit so he can have an operation and have hisleg fixed up good as new. Likely he'll be thenext sheriff hereaboutsTHE END


13/36

YOUNG LACLf;


14/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN


15/36

MONTE HALE WESTERNI'M manse Benton/

I JUST RODE IN PROMMissouri / have youSEEN FOUR ROUSH-LOOKIN& MEN IN A

THE LINE OP WAITINS /VVASONS SURSES FORWARD.l

SHOTS .'THAT'S THESTARTING SIGNAL^LETS SO/GIT MOVING,you BLAMED ]CRITTERS /

AND AMIDST 'THE CONFUSION-NO TIME TO GOAFTER THOSE SUN-LOCO VARMINTS.'

I'LL HAVE TO TENDTo BENTONFIRST.'k


16/36


17/36

MONTE HALE WESTERNAS MONTE AND MANSEBENTON SEARCH, THEPAYS RACE BK'

VMONTE, I'M PLUMB DlSCOURAGED/ WE'VE JUST GOT ACOUPLE OF DAyS TO fSO ANOWE STILL HAVEN'T POUND ASINGLE CLUE TELLING USWHERE THE 7THEN, ATLAST---WHy, yES.'l RECOLLECTSEEING A BIG YELLOWCONESTOGA WAGONLIKE THE ONE YOUSPEAK OF.' IT MUSTBE UP THIS CREEKABOUT FOUR ORFIVE MILES /

THANKyou, MAM.'MONTE,


18/36

MONTE HALE WESTERNLET'S OFFER A ^\

LITTLE: BAIT AND SEEIF WE CAN DRAW THEMOUT.' FOLKS GATHERAROUND BI& CAMP-FIRES AT NIGHT,ANDQOSSIP SPREADSQUICKLY FROM ONE .CAMPFIRE TO ANOTHER.LET'S START SOMERUMORS ROLLINS -'


19/36

MONTE HALE WESTERNAs MONTE AND MANSE BENTONWALK THROUGH THE NIGHT, THESHADOWy FIGURES CONTINUE TOPURSUE THEM .' ,

uMbMMMM,AMERICA'S CMS/MB

OF1AWAND0PDEPnow t taut uui Mtwtrrun


20/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN

THAT MIGHT BE TRUE ANy OTHERyEAR, MANSE, BUT WOT THIS yEAR-THIS IS LEAP yEAR, AND TODAy ISFEBRUARy TWENT/-NINTH.' WE'LLHAVE TIME TO GET TO A TELE -GRAPH OFFICE AND SEND A ,MESSAGE TO THE WARDENTO STOP HIS HANGING-/


21/36

LASH LaRUE WESTERN


22/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN&BkBmrmmmRODEORASCAL


23/36

MONTE HALE WESTERNYIW CA4JSHT ME COMPLETg BY SUB-PRISE WtTH THAT TWEW CAPSJ?vuh know vo*P.e ONi>r suffcaepTO DO THAT WHEM I SAyeuOCi


24/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN


25/36

MONTE HALE WESTERNHE S1MIOS ARE FULL OF CHEERING,IXCTTEO ORPHANS ATHE RODEOOET UNDER WAYiI PROWISEO THEKIDS I'D DO A NEW ,STUUT.SOIAIMTO DO MY BUCKINGACT BLINDFOLDED:/

80V5, I'M SUPPERS SLEEK,RIGHTFUL KING OF THERODEO . AND I WANT \UTO HELP ME PROVE (T i


26/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN


27/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN


28/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN

oto SLICK cmomuHCHERiHOW COME yUHEAT THEMRAWCARROTS SOMUCH/ OLDSLICK?

as*/#* 4S AN ANTELOPECANNY AS A BLACK PANTHER

HER EVERY ACT A LIFEAND DEATH ADVENTURE..10( ON SALE AT YOUR FAVORITE NEWSSTAND 10c


29/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN


30/36

MONTE HALE WESTERNMOKTE AND PALE MOTLEY OUICKLYPREPARE FOR THE TRIP.' THEN---

r. MONTE, yOU'O BETTER TAKE THIS' ENVELOPE / IT HOLPS LETTERS OFAUTHORIZATION FROM ALL THERANCHERS HEREABOUTS-PERMITTING-VOU TO CLAIM THE CATTLE BELONGINGTO THEM.' YOU'LL HAVEto show rr To f thanks.CATTLE DRIVE J I BEN.' K%'LL


31/36

MONTE HALE WESTERN


32/36

MONTE HALE WESTERNPESPERATSL/, THE TWO MEW AND TH6I1SALLANT MOUNTS STRUGGLE TO REACH-A WAITING SANDBAR .'THE CURRENTCLUTCHES VICIOUSLYAT THEM, BUT

THE NEXT ^^^MORNINS ( f~~\ f LET'S TELLTHEM WHAT \HAPPENED /\ PRONTO, /-I MONTE//>

1KT LAST.' HERE'STHE DRIVE HEAD-QUARTERS, DALE.'^^feW ^cattle}21s1^\C^^P} 'M\VJHOWOy,


33/36

MONTE HALE WESTERNI'VE GOT AM IDEATOUR VEST ISSTILL WET FROMTHAT SWIM LASTNISHT, BUT IT /SHOULD BURN


34/36

MONTE HALE WESTERNLOOK'. LAZ/-J STEERS.AND CIRCLE-M AND FlYING-/.'THESE ARE THE MONTANACATTLE ALU R1SHT.' LET'SCUT WAy AHEAD OF THEM,AND STOP THEM AT THEHISH D1VID PASS .'

WELL, IF STONEWALLS WON'T HOLDHIM LET'S SEE IFA THOUSAND HOOFSCAN TRAMPLE HIM.'STAMPEDE THEHERD.'SEND THEM 'THROUGH .'


35/36

W6*TERHNOW AT YOUR LOCAL NEWSSTAND/ JO


36/36

Monte Hale Western Charlton 086 1955

Documents

Transcript of Monte Hale Western Charlton 086 1955