BONA FIDE HERO

By JOSEPH G. ROSA Photos Courtesy Author

Author's Note: Most legendary heroes of the Old West were part fact, part fiction, and the movie cowboys were rarely as authentic as their Old West counterparts. But as I was to learn when I started digging into the legend of Buck Jones, his publicity was based on fact. I was able to confirm important details with his wife, Odille, who still resides in Hollywood, and the National Archives in Washington contributed in­ formation on his army career. "KingING OF THE COWBOYS"-about a dozen Western movie stars have borne that .title since 1903. but, in my opinion, only three really stand out­ William S. Hart, Tom Mix and Buck Jones. Of this trio only Buck Jones was an Buck Jones with his ornately engraved Colt Peacemaker. En­ authentic cowboy. Hart was a Broadway largement of the gun (inset) is through courtesy Guns & Am­ actor of some considerable fame before mo Magazine, October, 1959, Peterson Publishing Company. he entered motion pictures in 1914, but he had never been a real cowboy. Tom Mix, on the other hand, had had some rodeo experience and knew something of toddling toward the nearest corral where After his initial recruit training, the business, but he was _not as authentic friendly cowboys encouraged him to sit Trooper Gebhard saw some service along as his later press publicity made out. a pony. It was not long before he was the Mexican border. On one patrol he Buck Jones, however, had been a cowboy able to ride, and cowhands began refer­ narrowly missed death in a thunderstorm ahd a cavalryman when the Old West ring to him as a real "buckaroo" which when lightning struck a steel bridge he was still alive. name was soon shortened to "Buck." It was crossing. Several troopers riding Perhaps his name may not mean much was a name he was proud to claim for ahead of him were killed. Later Troop to this generation, yet there was a time the remainder of his life. G was ordered to the Philippines, setting when practically every boy in the United­ By his fifteenth birthday wanderlust sail on September 7, 1907 and arriving States would rather have been Buck had seized the boy and he decided to see on October 9. For the next two years Jones than President. His action-packed, more of the great Western country be­ they fought Moro bandits, and in a full-of-excitement Westerns appealed to fore it became fenced in. At that time the jungle battle toward the end of 1909 youngsters and adults alike. Even cow­ best way to do it was to join the Army. Buck was badly wounded in the right boys liked his pictures and a Buck Jones "But he was too young and could only leg just above the knee. He was threat­ feature was sure to draw many off the join with his mother's permission," Mrs. ened with the loss of his leg, but recov­ range on a Saturday night. To millions Jones told me. "Together they went and ered to carry a 6½-inch scar for the re­ of fans he was the most beloved of the lied about his age so he could join." mainder of his life. heroes of gunsmoke and gallop. Buck's mother realized that to refuse According to army records, Buck left Born Charles Frederick Gebhard permission would only delay the event, the Philippines on November 15, 1909 (sometimes spelled Gebhart) on Decem­ so she agreed to the deception. At Colum­ and arrived back in the United States on ber 12, 1891, at Vincennes, Indiana, he bus Barracks, Ohio, on January 8, 1907, December 14 where he was honorably was only a few months old when his Buck enlisted in Troop G, Sixth U. S. discharged at the Recruit Depot, Fort father purchased a 3,000-acre ranch at Cavalry, and gave his date of birth as McDowell, California, on December 20 Red Rock, Oklahoma. Young Charlie December 12, 1888. This date and that of "by reason of short remaining term, for Gebhard learned fast. As soon as he was December 4, 1889 appear in most refer­ the convenience of the government." able to walk unaided he was to be found ence books. His leg was still troubling him and he

20 True West Wherever you happened to live, if it had a movie house, the wide, won­ derful and dangerous West was only a few coins away-through a narrow door and just past the yel­ low popcorn! Who can forget Silver? Who can ever forget the man who rode him? decided to return home. For a time Buck worked on his father's ranch and later for a brief period at the Indianapolis Speedway tracks. There he made a friend of Eddie Rickenbacker, who later became America's World War I aerial ace. Buck returned to Columbus Barracks on Octo­ ber 14, 1910, and was once more re­ cruited into Troop G, Sixth U.S. Cavalry. During the next two years Buck was promoted to sergeant, but found life too routine. He wanted a change and soon the opportunity for such a move pre­ sented itself.. By 1913 the United States Army was becoming interested in aero­ planes and Buck, who had a love of things mechanical, decided to apply for a transfer. Writing from Texas City, Texas, on March 19, 1913, he applied for a transfer to the Signal Corps, Aviation Squad. By special Orders No. 75, War Department, April 1, 1913, Sergeant Gebhard was transferred to the Signal Buck Jones and his original Silver in a scene from an old Fox movie Corps as a private, assigned to duty with the First Aero Squadron, Signal Corps. Buck's dream of being able to fly was swiftly dispelled. Enlisted men were not with everybody, including the preacher, but it was regular, and Buck decided to encouraged to become pilots, and even to be on horseback. On August 11, 1915, stay around Hollywood for a while in with the help of his friend, Eddie Rick­ Buck and Odille became man and wife. case his prospects improved. enbacker, he had no luck. To become a For the whole of their married life The top cowboy at Fox Studios was mechanic didn't have any appeal, so dis­ they were a devoted couple, and in the Tom Mix who, with his horse Tony, en­ gusted by all the red tape he let his days before motion pictures made him joyed immense popularity and was said enlistment expire and on October 23, famous, Buck and Odille worked equally to have earned $25,000 a week at one 1913, again became a civilian. hard to keep themselves in food and stage of his career. But Mix was a hard clothing. When war came to Europe it man to handle. He delighted in trick For SOME MONTHS he wandered had a decided effect on show business, hats and fancy suits which would have around looking for work and then so Buck decided that it was time to move made even a singing cowboy of the one day learned that the Miller Brothers' on. He got a job as horsebreaker for the 1940s blush. Yet for all that, he was 101 Ranch Show needed hands, so he de­ British and French Armies at a re­ convincing on screen. Like most of the cided to apply. "I put resin on my chaps mount depot set up at the Chicago Stock­ top stars of the time he disliked doubles, to help me hold the saddle," Buck re­ yards. Buck worked there until America but he realized that some scenes de­ called in 1938, "and drove horseshoe entered the conflict and was then re­ manded them. And that is how he and the nails into the heels of my boots to keep tained for the duration because his future Buck Jones came to meet. my spurs on. Then I went over and asked qualities as a horsebreaker and rider Legend has it that he and Buck slug­ for a tryout." were recognized as valuable to the war ged it out on a vacant lot because Mix The resin did the trick and he landed effort. was jealous of the other's superior rid­ a job. He soon came to the notice of Part of his job was to select the most ing skill, but it is doubtful if this story Zack Miller and it wasn't long before he suitable horses for cavalry and artillery is true because •by the time Jones was became a top rider and roper. By the use. As all the animals chosen were himself a star, the two were firm time the show reached Madison Square dark, any white or grey horses were friends and remained so for the rest of Garden early in 1914, Buck had firmly turned down. One day a rancher came their lives. When Mix was filming "Dick established himself. It was here that he in with a silver-grey which Buck had to Turpin," Buck crept into the movie as met a girl called Odille Osborne. turn down, but something about the horse an extra much to the amusement of them "I ran away from home and joined attracted him. Buck's offer of $100 for both. the show,," Mrs. Jones told me, "and the horse was accepted. He named the People soon began to notice the tall, that's the year I met Buck." Odille had animal "Silver" and later he was to ride well-built, grey-eyed, six-foot Westerner. been staying at her aunt's home in Phila­ him to a greater fame than Buck could Letters poured in, and toward the end delphia while her parents toured in possibly have imagined. of 1919 Fox put him on contract. Buck vaudeville. Although she could ride, she Jones' first starring role was in "The was not a very good cowgirl. AFTER THE WAR Buck and Odille Last Straw" with Vivian Rich as his Her career might have been short­ joined the Ringling Brothers' Circus leading lady. The film went on release lived if Buck hadn't taken an interest in at $50 a week. They bought a car for in the United States in 1920 and a year her and taught her enough to keep the $20 at the end of the season, and drove later was shown in England. The fans job. They fell in love and decided to get to Los Angeles. It was now 1919 and demanded more and it was quickly fol­ married, but before the final arrange­ Odille was expecting a baby. When they lowed by "The Forbidden Trail," "The ments had been made, they learned that reached Los Angeles, Buck rented a Square Shooter," "Firebrand Trevision" the 101 was due to leave for England on small apartment and set out to find and many others. tour. Having decided not to go they then work. Soon after the birth of a little At one point in his career, William joined the Julia Allen Show. girl whom they named Maxine, Buck got Fox tried to take Buck out of Westerns When the show played Lima, Ohio, work as an extra in Fox pictures, thanks and put him in straight acting roles such they announced their plans to marry, and to Scott R. "Scotty" Dunlap, later to as the famous "Lazy Bones," but his fans the show's publicity agent fixed it so become one of Buck's best friends. Work clamored for more Westerns. The studio that they would be married in the ring as an extra didn't bring in much money, (Continued on page 63)

July-August, 1966 21 only my blankets and a small pearl­ as the train pulled out. That was the CATCH THEM handle5f pistol. He looked at the gun and last time I · ever saw him. said, "All right, leave everything and When I reached Los Ang.eles I went ALIVE I'll let you have the money for fare." to collect my money from Bill Roach; Later that day the Indian walked but each time I showed up at his office AND UNHURT! down to the depot with me and while we he would stall me. I finally_ gave it up. Amazing HAV AHART rats. were waiting for the train to pull in, he One thing he did do for me was to have skunks, pigeons, sparrows, etc. Takes mink, coon without asked me how much money I had com­ my bedroll and pistol sent to me from injury. Stra ying pets, poultry released unhurt. Easy t o use-open ends give a nimal confidence. No jaws or springs ing from Bill Roach. Banning. I believe ·he would have paid to break. G alvanized. Sizes for all needs. FREE illustrated I said, "$30.00." Then he asked me if me my wages but I don't think he had practical guide with trapping secrets. I would like to make some easy money. it. Selling wild mining stock for a living " Sure," I said. wasn't too easy.. "Well, when you get your money, buy I really want to thank him for not two cases of whiskey.. You can get paying me, for I surely would of em­ 1,\ twenty-four pints for $11.00. Buy two barked on that wild adventure with my catches morel suitcases and put the whiskey in it but Indian friend if he had. In a way, Bill Easy to use! don't put them in the baggage car with Roach kept us both out of trouble. In­ HAVAHART, 232-T Water St., Ossining, N. Y. 10562 your bedroll. Keep them in the smoker stead of sitting here in my home writing Please send me free new 48-page guide, price list. with you and drop me a line before you this, I might have been on the inside start back and I will meet you at the looking out. depot and we will take the whiskey to my place. I can get $2.00 a pint for it Buck Jones-Bona Fide Hero from the Indians. That will put some (Continued from page 21) money in our pockets. tried to change his name to Charles "I have my horse and saddle and I Jones, and then Charles Buck Jones be­ can get you a saddle and horse cheap cause plain "Buck" wasn't sophisticated from an Indian friend of mine who has enough. Nobody liked the idea, least of all a little spread in the mountains. Then Buck, so back to Buck Jones it went and we will go out in back of Grey. Back he legally adopted this name on July 1, Mountain. I know where a lot of wild 1937. cattle have wandered in the canyons and Some of Buck Jones' leading ladies on part of the desert that don't belong Sec What Natural Gold Really Looks Like read like a Who's Who· of the Cinema: with this new beautiful 5 power pocket battery to anyone. We can drive a few head out Winifred Westover (who married Wil­ powered flashlight magnifying . glass. A host of uses. on some back trails that only I know liam S. Hart), Vivian Rich, Marguerite Comes · with small natural gold nugget, ready to where they are. I know a butcher who de la Motte, and the most famous of them operate. Weight 4 1/2 oz. Price only $3.95. pre­ has a small slaughterhouse. He will buy all, Carole Lombard, who was just six- paid and insured to you. May be shipped C.O.D. all we can bring him and no questions teen when she made her film debut with WHITE'S ELECTRONICS asked." him in "Hearts and Spurs." 1218 Main St. Dept. TW Sweet Home, Oregon I asked him if the cattle didn't belong In 1926 Buck visited England with to some ranch and he said they did at his wife and was · amazed to learn that one time, but they were wild now and over there he ranked in popularity with didn't really belong to anyone. So I Tom Mix. Unlike Mix, however, he did agreed to the deal. For a kid of sixteen not bring Silver, so could not ride up that was real adventure. the steps of the Mansion House to meet As the train pulled in, we shook hands London's Lord Mayor for lunch as Tom on it and I boarded and made my way up and Tony had! front to the smoker. I got a seat on the Back in the United States Buck heard depot side, stuck my head out the win­ that William S. Hart had decided to re­ dow, and waved goodbye to my friend tire. Producer trouble and income tax de­ mands were alleged to have been part ANSWERS: of Hart's reasons, but another was that 1. Typewriter. although his Westerns were realistic and KSTC Museum, excellent ( even by today's standards), Hays, Kansas the public didn't want him anymore. 2. Fluting iron. They preferred the hard-riding fast­ Sandhills Museum, action pictures turned out by Jones and Valentine, Nebraska Mix. In fact, apart from Ken Maynard, 3. Strap-on ice shoes for horses. they had only one serious rival for the Sandhills Museum, next four years. This was Fred Thomson, Valentine, Nebraska an ex-wartime chaplain who rode to fame 4. Butter mold. on a large grey Irish Hunter named Author's Collection Silver King.. In less than two years 5. Warning flare. Thomson had skyrocketed to fame only Harbaugh Museum, to die tragically following surgery on Wellington, K:ansas December 25, 1928. 6. Clothes stomper. S andhills Museum, WHEN SOUND MOVIES canie in, Valentine, Nebraska Westerns went into a temporary de­ 7. Ink well. cline, and Buck Jones was one of the few Simpson Collection who successfully made the transition 8. Nutmeg grater from silent films to sound. The going was Hastings Museum, hard, however, so he decided to leave BOHEMIA MINING DAYS Hastings, Nebraska pictures, and formed the Buck Jones July 14, 15, 16 and 17, 1966 9.. 32 calibre blowgun cane. Wild West ·Show. This venture proved a COTTAGE GROVE, OREGON Harbaugh Museum, failure, and almost broke he turned back Relive the gold rush days in town. Ride Wellington, Kansas *(See below) to Hollywood to find that he was very the train to the diggin 's. 10. Live coal tongs. much in demand. Tom Mix's return to Write the Chamber of Commerce for Harbaugh Museum, the screen in "Destry Rides Again" was information. Wellington, Kansas not a success, and Mix was destined to 11. Soda fountain. make very few sound appearances, one Wichita, Kansas of the last being a serial called "The SNAPS for WESTERN SHIRTS Historical Museum Miracle Rider." Universal Studios was Note to 9: The .32 calibre blowgun cane anxious to find a replacement and chose Plastic & Snyperl. Attaching Tools. fired a standard .32 calibre bullet. The firing Write for FREE COLOR CATALOG & PRICES pin was activated and released by a hard burst Buck Jones. of air. The cane could be fired by blowing By 1935 Westerns were booming again FASTENER SUPPLY strongly into the funnel-shaped head, or by and Buck was the undisputed "King of clapping the palm of the hand sharply against 319 East Washington Blvd., Dept.E the same funnel. the Cowboys." He formed his own pro­ Los Angeles, California 90015 duction company releasing through Uni-

July -A ugust, 1966 63 versal and Columbia, and supervised his his last film was "Dawn on the Great scripts to insure that excessive violence Divide," released· early in 1943. was avoided and that the finished picture would have an appeal for all ages. A THE ENTRY of America into World THE WAY Buck Jones Production was simply that. War II meant a busy time for Buck Unlike Tom Mix, off screen Buck was Jones. Along with other movie stars, he TRUE WEST and FRONTIER TIMES a quiet, studious person. He rarely wore combined his numerous radio and per­ cowboy clothes in public because he felt sonal appearances with bond-selling tours never get out of date. Filled with the it looked as if he were showing off. He to aid the war effort. timeless sagas of the Old West, the back lived quietly on his ranch in the San "He sold millions of dollars' worth, and issues are fascinating to read, and to Fernando Valley and was devoted to his autographed every bond sold," Mrs. wife and daughter. To millions of kids Jones recalled. keep. Begin the interesting hobby of everywhere Buck Jones was the per­ On November 15, 1942, he left Holly­ collecting them, and watch their value sonification of the hero, a fact that may wood and went East on another bond­ grow as they become more and more puzzle this generation which has no time selling tour. At Philadelphia, on Novem­ for hero-worship. So great was his popu­ ber 26, he was made grand marshal of scarce. As soon as we sell out of a back larity that when he organized the Buck Uncle Wip's Toyland Parade, and then issue, collectors immediately begin ask­ Jones Rangers, the world-wide member­ he was off to Boston. ing $1, $5 or more for a copy-and ship soon exceeded three million. Silver During the afternoon of Saturday, shared his fame and became a featured November 28, Buck visited a children's getting it! player in every picture. There were, in hospital. This was an unscheduled stop Issues on this page are available now, fact, four horses which bore the name, as he had originally intended to go to but won't be for long. Why don't you but it was the original Silver that was New York prior to returning home. But to remain Buck's special pet even when he was asked if he would visit the hos­ take advantage of this offer-pick a few he retired the horse in 1937. pital, and immediately agreed. Later in back issues to try. Each issue has the Anxious never to offend his young the evening he was the guest of honor same high quality, factual Old West fans, Buck Jones devoted his time to at a dinner held at the Cocoanut Grove writing and producing pictures which night club. The place was crowded with material you expect and get from current would appeal to them. The hero-worship people, many of them youngsters cele­ issues. they extended to him meant a great brating the result of a college football deal. When a small boy named Joe Col­ And don't forget that TRUE WEST and lins fell from an apartment window in game. Suddenly the place was filled with FRONTIER TIMES are really the same the Bronx, and severely injured himself, type magazine-we are just sneaky he amazed his doctors by stating, "I'm smoke and flames. Someone, later al­ not going to cry. Buck Jones wouldn't leged to be a fifteen-year-old boy, had enough to issue them under different cry." brushed a cigarette against one of the palm leaves which surrounded the walls titles so they will stay on the newsstands Buck was so touched that he arranged longer. Order now, before it's too late! for the presentation of a radio to the and it burst into flames. As panic spread boy and personally flew to New York and exits became jammed, many were to see him. In fact, the presence of his trampled, burned or suffocated. Buck WESTERN PUBLICATIONS idol contributed much to the boy's re­ Jones got out unharmed, but immediately fought his way back to help the injured Box 3668-BI Austin, Texas 78704 covery. Notice: Westem Publications will give 10% discount on Youngsters from all over the United and became himself a victim.. all beck Issue orders totaling $30.00 or more. States and overseas fashioned their lives Some 491 people died that night and on Buck Jones. Some even ran away Buck Jones was one of the 181 critically from home and went to Hollywood con- burned victims taken to the city hospital. vinced that Buck would put them on the For two days doctors fought to save his road to fame. Usually the screen star life, but on the afternoon of November was able to convince them of the pitfalls 30, Buck Jones was dead. The tragedy ahead and put them on the road home was to shock not only Hollywood, but to a more normal life. his fans all over the world. His own prowess as a sportsman was I vividly recall the morning of Decem­ a strong factor in his publicity. Buck ber 1, when, as a small boy in England, was an accomplished boxer and yachts­ I listened to the B.B.C.'s morning news man (he took part in several big races and was horrified to hear that Buck with his eighty-five-foot diesel-engined Jones was dead. At that moment some­ schooner Sartaria) as well as a pilot and thing of my boyhood also died. racing car enthusiast. By 1938 he was Buck's body was flown back to Calif­ at the peak of his fame, and even when ornia where it was cremated. "Buck's the singing cowboy, Gene Autry, came ashes were strewn over the ocean that 64TW-35c on the scene Buck had little cause for he loved so much by his dearest and best worry. friend," Mrs. JOnes told me. "This was When Tom Mix was killed in a car his wish." crash on October 11, 1940, Buck, sad­ The full impact of the star's death dened by his old friend's death, _readily came to his family some months later agreed to accept a small part in Univer­ when his original Silver, who had pined sal's mammoth fifteen-part serial "Rid­ for him, began to weaken. "I had to put ers of Death Valley," which was to be him to sleep in 1943," Mrs. Jones re­ dedicated to Mix, and as a special tribute called sadly. "It seemed .he missed Buck, to Buck, -part of the theme music _was and stopped eating. We hand-fed him, called Buck Jones' Ride. Starring with but he kept going downhill and that was Buck was Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo, the only thing to do. He was very old Charles Bickford, and Buck's son-in-law, for a horse-thirty-four years. The Noah Beery, Jr., who had married Max­ others I kept until I had to do the same. ine, on March 30, 1940. "Riders of Death They are all buried on the ranch with Valley" proved to be Buck's last serial, markers. perhaps his most famous being "White "I still have Buck's silver and gold Eagle" made for Columbia back in 1933. mounted saddle and all the trappings. In 1941 Buck played two entirely dif­ including his gold and silver gun and ferent roles-as a villain in Chester Mor­ belt. Someday I may give them to my ris' "Wagons Westward" and the lead grandson, Buck Beery, if he is still in­ in a new series for Monogram called terested in horses-at the moment he has "The Rough Riders." The Rough Riders turned to cars." series is on record as being one of the The revolver she referred to was most successful ever produced in Holly­ Buck's Colt single action army model of wood. Teamed opposite Colonel Tim Mc­ 1873, the 5½-inch barrel version. Pur­ Coy and Raymond Hatton, Buck made chased for a Christmas present to Buck eight action-packed pictures. Ironically, in 1925, it was engraved by Edward H. 27FT-35c 29FT-35c 30FT-35c 64 True West NOW-Erijoy your portable radio anywhere! The sensational "Wave Master" Signal Amplifier enables your small portable radio to operate with amazing volume in all metal trailers and campers where you now have poor or no reception, and may also bring in weak and distant stations. M'akes weak radios stronger! Operates with both transistor and vacuum tube models. Will make a two transistor model perform like a five transistor. No power required, no connections to radio. Costs nothing to operate. Lifetime guarantee. Price $15 or $5 down and per month. BONANZA ELECTRONICS P. 0. 246 Sweet Home, Oregon

Sems family first moved to the H Bar they weathered house above until Mr. Sems could build a new one.

Bohlin. Serial number 139166 ( which _major proportions and my dad could not dates it about 1891), the revolver has do it alone. Two other men came to help, ivory grips inlaid with gold, silver and Bill Hodge and John Hart. The latter enamel. On the right-hand grip is a was the father of Sam Hart who had diamond-shaped inlay with "Buck" en­ originally brought Mr. Arnold to our graved on it and on the left side a similar place. There were no contracts, only inlay engraved "Dell." The remainder of verbal agreements that each would share 613 . OS t r h k ii'Zlmil . the revolver is engraved with silver in­ in the treasure when it was found. P e s ac / lay. Mrs. Jones told me that she keeps A few months later, Mr. Arnold had the revolver in a hand-carved leather a Mexican friend come and survey the case which bears the date she presented work being done, look over the general it to him. The only time Buck used it area, and read the plat rock. He read POEMS WANTED was for parades and personal appear­ this exactly like Mr. Arnold had. This ances. Mexican bluntly said that no treasure To le Set To Music For Mrs. Buck Jones her husband's would ever be found because it was or of memory has never dimmed, because she guarded by evil spirits. He left and would for EXAMINATION. is constantly reminded of him by people have no part in it. in all walks of life. "I never realized so Later and at long intervals between, CROWN MUSIC CO., 49 W. 32 St., Studio N.Y. 1 many people still remembered him," she other Mexicans came. They, too, would told me with pride. "He was such a won­ read the plat rock exactly as had Mr. derful guy." The Cowboy Hall of Fame Arnold. And all were unanimous in their TRUE WEST MULTIPLE BINDER in Oklahoma also remembered Buck, and opinions-no treasure would ever be Mrs. Jones was asked to present a large found because of evil spirits. framed portrait of him for permanent Whether or not their predictions or preservation in its collection. beliefs were true it is difficult to say, Only Buck Jones is far from forgotten. He but friction arose among the workers. has earned his place among the immor­ Mr. Arnold and John Hart began carry­ tals of the Old West. True, his Westerns ing heavy revolvers. No one would co­ s300 may have followed the Hollywood pat­ operate with Mr. Arnold who was the tern, but in his way he made a genuine only one wl)o held the key to the mys­ contribution toward keeping a:live tradi­ tery and the only one who had the knowl­ each tions and memories of the. old days and edge to direct them. the people who lived back then. I have always believed if he had been It was fitting that Buck Jones, whose treated differently, perhaps something Postpaid dash, charm and verve endeared him to of more value might have been found. millions, should die a hero. But the trag­ Surely these things were not put there • Now you may obtain sturdy binder ic manner of his death inspired perhaps without some purpose. with fine simulated cover for Friction became so acute that Mr. your of TRUE WEST at his finest epitaph when W. H. Mooring, the Hollywood correspondent for the Arnold left and, with him gone, there $3.00 each, English movie magazine Picturegoer was no one to supervise the digging. wrote, "I dare bet Buck Jones didn't go For a few months, however, it continued • TRUE WEST in gold on at random. cover and backbone. to a night club once in five years. Odd he should have made his last roundup In the meantime Mr. Arnold returned beautiful, four-color photographs on briefly but he was upset and disturbed. front and back cover. among all the tinsel of city night life. He belonged so completely to the orange He and his wife had secured a divorce, grove, the nearby corral and the horses." and things never were the same again • to handle, it among the workers or with the digging. ( Many back avail­ Mexican Bullion on the Arnold seemed to have almost lost in­ No punching or mutilation of terest. He would show up occasionally your You'll like it Flying H Bar Ranch and remain for a short period, but he on (Continued from page 39) took no active part in the work again. TRUE pletely destroyed without even a photo­ QN ONE of his brief visits he took P. 0. Box 3668, Austin, Texas 78704 graph being made, as they continued me with him to cut some copper digging. They felt sure this was the en­ "trimmings" out of a tree. We came to I am enclosing $ ...... Send ...... trance to the underground village and one old oak where he stopped, looked and binders at $3.00 each to the following: treasure, but nothing else was found at "sighted," then walked briskly to another. that precise spot. He pointed to a mark on this tree and Name ...... A number of other copper kniv.es, cut remarked to me, "See this mark? This from the same type of thin copper sheet­ means to go east ten varas." Address ...... ing, were found close by, and every­ He stepped off these varas which led thing was buried in the same preserva­ to another old oak, the mark on which City ...... State ...... tive-pulverized oiled charcoal. meant so many varas south. When he By this time digging was taking on stepped them off we came to another old

66 True West