David Starr: Space Ranger

From the front flap of the Gregg Press edition: "Six billion people on Earth, dependent on imports from the farms of Mars for their daily bread, are threatened with extinction by an insidious poison in their Martian foods. And only the Council of Science is aware that certain men are planning to attack Earth at it weakest point, by denying it the food it desperately needs. The Council's newest member, young David "Lucky" Starr, undertakes a trip to Mars, determined t find a solution to this threat of disaster. From the moment he takes a job as "farmboy" on Mars' largest domed farm, the mystery of the poisoned food takes on fantastic proportions. Fortunately, he meets up with John "Bigman" Jones, a cocky pint-sized native who soon becomes his fast friend and partner in adventure. With Bigman's help, Lucky fights a strange duel without protection from the poisonous Martian atmosphere, survives a dust storm, penetrates deep into the ravines which are the gateways to the world of the ancient Martians. It is then he realizes his true mission in life - and the Space Ranger is born!"