 It's Hopalong Cassidy With action and suspense out of the Old West comes the most famous hero of them all Hopalong Cassidy starring William Boyd The ring of the silverspears heralds the most amazing man ever to ride the prairies of the early West Hopalong Cassidy This famous hero thrills his 60 million fans with action and dangerous adventure In the role of Hopalong Cassidy is the popular star of the motion picture series William Boyd And now another exciting story of the early West the mystery at Three Oaks There was a time when Three Oaks was a busy little town That was when the white lady gold mine was pouring out its wealth to those who bent their backs and took it from the bosom of Mother Earth But the mine simmered out and the town went back to normal The only business that flourished was the black deuce bar and dance hall run by Hank Butler a Stranger has just entered the black deuce asking for butler Luke said you want to talk to me stranger your name Hank Butler. That's right State your business. Well, I guess you're the man I want I'm Jim Acorn of the Tyrell Investment and Mining Corporation in Denver I'm here to offer you a fair price for your stock and their white lady gold mine white lady gold mine That mine ain't been worked for 10 years. I'm not here to discuss that my friend I'm here to make your bona fide offer a 50 cents a share for your 5,000 shares Hey, you bought any others. I'm buying 5,000 from Curley Waters buying 10,000 shares from a fellow named Clem Higby 5,000 from Hopalong Cassidy Hopalong Cassidy, huh? He don't live around here. I'm meeting him at the hotel this evening. He's riding in Uh 50 cents a share, eh? That's right, and I'm only making one offer You know fella, I'll be mighty glad to get anything from that stock, but Hey, what you so nervous about me nervous Well, how do you mean keep twisting your fingers like you twirl on a mustache and you ain't got one For the habit friend. I had one for 15 years just to shave it off today Yes, it can't be too particular who I'm dealing with as I'm only interested in cash You'll get cash my friend so will all the other stockholders GMA corn is an honest man. Hey, but look there's a cow folk calling the ruggers with the poor. Yes, eh? Excuse me a minute mystery corn before you leave. Maybe you should know who you're dealing with Here's my card and my letter from the firm. No need if you're seeing the letter It's a kind of private correspondence. Oh, it's all right with me. Just bring the cash That's the way I like to deal mr. Butler. I'm going over to the hotel now Lean up and get out to Clem Higby's ranch before dark You'll be open tonight sure I'll be here. Oh, he forgot his letter. Get your hands off that letter. I'm the one who's gonna read James a corn square by every share available of white lady mine We'll pay two dollars a share, but only offer that as a last resort Signed Tyrol investment company Denver boy that crawling horn to what's wrong boys playing me for a sucker, eh? Show that dude a thing or two. I'm beating him out to Clem Higby's buying his shares for 50 cents and I'll collect two dollars Yeah, they got to get up early to beat you. Yeah, look. Yeah, trade that dude Don't let him out of your sight no matter what happens keep him from seeing Clem Higby I'll get there first and buy his stock Yeah, but somebody said hop along Cassidy was riding in town. Are you car and coyote? I ain't afraid of no man that includes Cassidy. He may be quick with a six-gun, but I'm quicker under my hat Yeah, I get out of here. Do as you're told. I'll handle this Cassidy like he's never been handled before Now back to hop along Cassidy and our story the mystery of three oaks Up along in his pal are riding into three oaks to meet a man named acorn who wants to buy some shares of stock from hoppy Shares on the white lady goldmine It's been a long hot ride under the broiling sun and they're mighty glad to tie off back of the sheriff's office So they can rest for a spell on the shady green veranda Oh Here's plenty of shade I gotta find me some of that there shade too or I curl up like a overdone flap jet I know how you feel California cool spot looks pretty inviting right now Yeah, we better get our business over and get back to the bar 20 them new hands and everything We'll get an early start in the morning Oh This is his first Armagon this first chair Don't ask me to move out in this chair till dark I won't you just rest now drop over to the cafe with a sheriff and get some food the food You mean vitals. Yeah. Oh now hoppy. Maybe I ain't as tired as I thought Oh, there's Sheriff Curtis now. Hello, Sheriff Hop along Cassidy. Howdy and welcome to three oaks. What brings you money? Yeah Huh got a letter from the fellow offered to buy 5,000 shares and white lady mine. Oh You too, huh? Huh curly waters got the same offer on his shares All set the cell when he's his ranch house was busted into in the shares stolen Happen the very night a corner right in town. I'm gonna meet him at the hotel. Oh Sit back and breath. I just saw him all dulled and duded up right now the town toward the thing He come Higby's range. Oh, then we'll have to wait Hey, you saddle bump get off this porch. Mm-hmm. Oh, why are you gonna hands want to sleep? Get on for the black Oh That's California, and you're inviting off of the place chef my pal of you standing It is sure. Well dog gone to California. Ha ha I didn't recognize you Trying to find how to do you stand there a lot in the name Forget it California Nothing wrong with you that a plate of beans won't fix up. You know, hubby I'm dog gone glad you come when you did so much money changing hands around here, but anything's apt to happen Well, that's all well and good But we'll be a darn sight more help to you with a full stomach than we will or starve into death Mm-hmm. The only thing it enters me share of outside of food is Meeting this fellow who's willing to pay for a stock in a mind that's full of shale and rock All right, told you to knock before you come in look I had to see your boss now don't get to jumping over the traces when I tell you what happened Oh, what happened? Well, like you told me I trailed this dude who's got dark And he turned off the failed to Higby's ranch and I well I lost him well as long as no harm's done You got there first, huh? And I got the 10,000 shares from Higby good and at 50 cents, too Of course didn't have no time to argue. So I just gave him a dollar straight ten thousand dollars great And you get two dollars a share I'd like to see this dude's face when he finds out you out poxed him So would I huh? What do you mean boss? Nothing keep your lips sewed up about tonight. You don't have to tell me that Look here Luke. Let me tell you one thing. Oh, oh sounds like trouble out front It's a sheriff with a couple of cowpokes. Let me take a squint Hank is Cassidy. So yeah, I gotta get you do your own entertainment. I got other plans somewhere else My as well sit near the window here hoppy anywhere suits me here Just so they can get to the table with the grub another Stockhold in the mine runs this black deuce cafe hoppy. Yeah. Yeah, Hank Butler Kajah sort of fella doing right well with cards Ain't nobody can take him and poker and some of the dirtiest hands he gets four straight flushes Hank Butler You know I'm happy trying to think I don't remember that name the technique sounds familiar Well, you get to meet him. He's coming over this way. There's no card players here at this table Welcome to the black deuce cafe gentlemen. This year's up alone Cassidy and California Carlson Hey, how do you do gentlemen? Howdy, and they grab us on the house order up Well now that's right. I see a fella and what brings you to a fair city Cassidy Oh thought I'd sell a few shares in the white lady mine. Oh good Particularly about who you sell to not especially why I'm buying them up 50 cents a share or you can get You're buying them to all's fair in business gentlemen Well, I've made an appointment with a fellow by the name of acorn that dude who rode out the Higmas, right did He's too late. I have bought 10,000 shares from Hig me myself today. That leaves mr. Acorn high and dry I'm a businessman Cassidy You also play a little poker. I hear what do you mean by that? I'll wait a minute. Hey, no high-handed stuff here. I can handle this sheriff You know butler you couldn't buy one share for me at any price And I'm writing out the Higgies to find out how you got those 10,000 shares from him That's all there is to it. Mr. Cassidy butler got here first paid me a dollar share So I sold them. What do they corn say about it? Well, guess it's kind of mad But he only offered 50 cents. Of course. I can see why you made money on them Hank's a nice fella told me to drop into the black deuce tonight and everything's on the house Did he offer to play a little poker? I'm one fella. He knows he can't beat. Hi. Oh just thinking Better leave the 10,000 here when you go in tonight. I ain't no yearling. I've been weaned Cassidy Don't you worry none about me? Well, I guess we'll be going back to the hotel Get our business over with acorn and head to the bar 20. You'll get a better price from butler I did how can butler afford a dollar a share while acorn is offering 50 cents each shares numbered He'd better check them. Hey numbered Well, I couldn't tell you take no fair mine. No, I guess not. Well, you ready, California? Yep been ready for 10 minutes I'll see you in town tonight Cassidy. I'm sure you will. How do you mean that? You know Higgie? I'm sorry you asked that. Hmm. Yeah, I don't quite know myself what I meant yet Oh Hoppy you done all you could to keep that bullheaded Higbee from going in town tonight. Yeah California, how did butler know Higbee had 10,000 shares? And why would he pay a dollar a share? Figured he could get it back from him. It could be that acorn and butler and cohoops on this Yeah, but it don't make sense butler ain't paying for something that ain't no good Maybe when we talk to acorn, we'll have the answer. Well, we turn on the trail right up ahead. Yeah Hmm, what's wrong hoppy? Oh What what's wrong I asked you I was afraid of this, California It's a man laying on his face. Yeah, and I'll give you my 5,000 shares with the man's name isn't acorn Now back to hop along Cassidy in our story the mystery of three oaks Hop along Cassidy in his pal, California Carlson came to three oaks to sell 5,000 shares of the white lady mine to a fellow by the name of acorn Hoppy found that Hank Butler owner of the black deuce cafe had been doing some buy and two 10,000 shares at $1 a share from Clem Higbee Hoppy rode out to the Higbee ranch to find mr. Acorn and found him dead I built this in my bones hoppy since that acorn fella got in town not much you could do then share Yeah, and ain't a lot I can do now it'll I get some kind of evidence He seems to me you could start at that black deuce cafe. Yes. Yeah, I was thinking the same thing Hank Butler admitted he was out there on the Higbee ranch buying them shares. That's right share and that Luke fella has disappeared hired and hair He generally does but was dirty worthy of Butler didn't do his own I will soon know Deputy will it knows where Luke holds up when he's in trouble like it's not he's got him already And don't forget that Higbee acorn which killed on his way Yeah, but what would Higbee have to gain you already had his money butler. It don't make sense now I don't say Higbee did it it could have been possible for acorn to a met butler out there and Well disagreed. Yes, you're right. Hoppy. That's just what happened. You're right is right Butler may it is all get out because acorn caught him in his dirty work, but we have to have some proof Yes, I can't just drag everybody to jail sheriff looks to me like a killing for greed Well, then why wasn't he'd be killed? He had 10,000 because he can be relieved of that money without a killing. How do you mean hoppy poker butler? Yeah, oh, I'm beginning to see what you're driving at hoppy you do. What is it? Why a butler that is acorn tried to beat butler for the shares and Well, what did happen? We won't be sure till the killer tells us himself Well, let me be soon in your think hoppy. Yeah, I see I see deputy willard bringing in that Luke fella If we can get him to talk, it'll save a lot of time That ain't gonna do you one bit of good Luke to say that you wasn't around Higbee's place You were seen riding out that way just after this acorn fella left. There ain't no log in my riding that way There's a log in skill in a man. You got any proof I killed him? Not this minute, but I'll get the proof I weren't the only one who was out there butler You don't see me with no shares. Do you? Oh, you've been doing butler's dirty work Well, when you get more proof look me up. Well, I won't have to look for You'll be resting your bones in the cell Come on. Look get moving. You may be the law, but you'll pay for this. Yeah Well, suppose you tell me why you was found hiding out on that old spiritio I wasn't hiding I was rounding up a few straight. Yeah. Well, the only thing wrong with that story is it was dark And you ain't had a head of beef on that spread for five years Yep, I got that Luke hug tied in the cell. Yeah, darn good place for him. Just came from the hotel. I got my wire wire Yeah, when I left the bar 20, I wired the marshal at Denver. Here's the answer. We got a lot of help Does it tell us for sure who the killer is? No, but it gives us a pretty good idea Here's what it says no such investment company as Tyrol address given as residents of Sharper called George Watts Unable to locate. Well, go on it. Maybe the power acorn was really what no doubt about it, California Well, I'm only interested in who done the killer and I think I got him right back there in that cell That's Luke. Yeah, you're forgetting about Butler. No, I ain't You know happy I think I'll try a little that fancy stuff on this but fancy. Yeah Tell him that Luke's been talking then if he knows something he'll open up wide as a barn door Figuring that he'll he'll only tell one side up. Why don't go on it? Sheriff you go doing that and we'll have another killing You're a good lawman sheriff and I don't want to be offering advice Now don't feel that way at all hoppy two heads is better than one if they're not on the same man Yeah, but uh-huh. Oh, how do you mean hoppy? Well, I don't go much for this beating around the bush I'm right to the point and lock them up And then I figure it out. Mm-hmm Well, sheriff, uh, when do you say we take a walk down the black deuce cafe? I think you'll see a mighty interesting poker game Poker game with a killing waiting to be solved the black deuce might be a good place to solve it Yeah, and a fella can get a stack of flatjacks while he's figuring it out Always thinking your stomach aren't your California. I'm sure him team our stomachs learn a callus in my back boon Let's get down to that black deuce panel Don't look like the bar is doing much business No, everybody's standing around that table in the bank. Must be something big probably $10,000 Well, you think so? You mean that Higby's fool enough to play with that shopper? Some tellers ain't got even horsehands. Let's move up there sheriff. Well, we can watch this game Hey, not too close hoppy Looks like the game's over Higby's just staring at butler and it looks like trouble Are you dirty poke that you cheated me and you know that why do you want to move Higby and I'll gun you down Yeah, like you did that acorn fella, huh? Only I'm facing you. You do your killing from the back That's fine up boys. Put up that six gun buddy. That's the chance you take when you play. All right boys, break it up Get moving. Come on All right, everybody come on with your business Eric Tony play some music any time a man beats me when I got four. He's a cheat All right. All right. Calm down. Nothing you can do now I'll be talking to butler hoppy. I'll see you in a minute. Right sheriff and time something. We're done with that sharper You say you had four. Yeah, that's right four queens. You threw away one card and drew one Yes, that's good poker and he drew one card too. Yeah. Yeah, that's what he done And he had a straight flush to beat you. Well, how do you know you wasn't here? I thought I recognized that technique from somewhere now. I remember you do Somebody you knew before hoppy. Uh, yeah Higby was acorn angry about you were selling those shares to butler. He sure was He twirled that big mustache ahead like he was going to twist it off He lit out of my place like he could tear butler park How long after butler left with the shares before acorn came? Oh, not more than 10 minutes caught up with him and butler fought him and killed him. Higby I'm going to get that $10,000 back from butler. Hey, hey there be shooting. No, I don't think so I'll get it back at his own poker table. Hoppy. You need gambling? No, california. Just beating a crook at his own game You ain't going to be like that yellow friendly yours and snivel if you lose. Nope deal the card Me deal. Sure. Let's make it one hand a draw Steaks the sky Kings are better to open right Getting warm in here sheriff. Sure is. I don't know what hoppy's up to It can be turned sure he does Hey, you open cassidy? Uh, yeah I'll open for 10,000 That caset is no fiker, but there's many matching this fella. Well state Sheriff hoppy's got full jash. I see him. How many cards you're drawing cassidy? Um, give me two Oh, the four he's throwing away four how many uh, you say two that's right and off the top too. Uh Yes, of course here one Do now he's only got threes I'm taking uh, I'm taking one I'm throwing in another 10,000 butler You win cassidy. I Can't call and I'll tell you why you can't call jim pageant. Huh last time we met you were jim pageant Same old freki You expected me to draw one card the next card would have made you a straight flush. I don't know what you mean Here's what I mean I drew the sick and lacer clubs If I'd have drawn none you'd have had one end if I draw one you'd have had the other end Why butler you've been cheating these folks for years and it cheated me out of my 10,000 too And that ain't all he's done california Let me see those shares you bought butler You accusing me of something else. Let him see him butler. Why are they right here in my inside coat pocket? Yeah Can you tell anything by him hoppy? Yes, I can california Acorn about about 5,000 shares from curly waters and no shares was found on acorn. That's right Whoever has curly shares don't not killin See anything hoppy. Yeah See sure these numbers They're not consecutive From two different owners. Well, now that's something we can use for proof. Come on butler Luke's getting lonesome just a minute sheriff. We forgot something Here higby. Here's the 10,000 dollars. You lost the butler. Well, thanks a lot hoppy Hadn't been for you that makes you square with butler. It's your dirt hoppy. I'm all square No higby you aren't square. Huh? Not till you're hanging on the end of a rope for killing jim acorn Now back to hop along Cassidy hoppy. Ah, you know, I I thought you was plumb loco when you said that higby was the killer Well, higby admitted it. He confessed. Yeah And when them numbers wasn't consecutive Higby knew that he'd got them shares he stole from curly waters mixed with his own that he sold to the butler Numbers sure them numbers on the shares. Oh, oh, well, uh, those numbers weren't different sheriff What they weren't any share numbers Those were the severe figures on the location of the mine. Why hoppy you tricked him Acorn and higby had planned this whole thing to unload worthless stock They knew if the word got around that a big company was buying up the stock Hank butler would try to beat them to it Uh, but higby got greedy when he had the cash in his pocket During if I can figure who's had you're on hoppy Me neither a minute ago you was risking your neck and our money playing poker with butler just to get higby's 10,000 back When all along you knew he was a murderer That's because I can't stand to see anyone deliberately cheated And then the side of me must be tearing your heart out. Huh? I know what's coming cause every minute we waste standing here jabbering He's just cheating me out of more of that barbecued steer back into bar 20 You see sheriff the only thing that's really close to california's heart is that big hungry stomach of his Good boy from hop along cassidy Hoppy in california will be back soon. And of course, we hope you'll be with us You won't want to miss this next experience of theirs. So don't forget it. Well you Hop along cassidy star and william boy. It is transcribed and produced in the west by water white junior The mystery of three oaks was written by howard swat All stories are based upon the characters created by clarence e mulford. This is a commodore production