 Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill. Pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. Crisp fall days mean only one thing, football. When the pigskin parade is on across the nation, fighting 11s warm over the grid irons. In today's story, Henry and I are up north at Brighton College. It's my old alma mater and the event is homecoming. It's always a great time except in today's story when it's arson at Brighton College. Yeah, operator. That's right, Henry Scott. He'll be up at Ranger Headquarters, naughty pine. No, I don't know the number. Thanks. Oh, thanks, operator. Hello? Hey, hi, Henry. Fine. I just got your letter today. Sure, I'm glad you're coming up for homecoming. I called to see where you were staying. I thought maybe I could put you up here at our house. Oh, you and Mr. Jefferson already have arrangements? Well, I just wanted to say too that I'll have my dad's car and I'll take you out for a buzzer on town. Okay, great. Uh-huh. Yeah, fine. Okay, be seeing you then. So long. Ron. Huh? Oh, hi, Dad. Sorry, son. I didn't mean to break in on your conversation, but you won't be having the car. But, Dad, I just promised Henry Scott that I'd take him out when he got here. Sorry, but you know why. Well, yeah, but look, aren't you even gonna... Ronnie, you will grieve yourself that it was absolutely fair of me to withhold the use of the car for one month. Well, the month is not yet up. Yeah, I guess you're right. Oh, what a knucklehead I am. Wrecked the car just the wrong time, so I can't have a good time with a pal. Ronnie, the sooner you learn to stop and think, the sooner you won't find yourself in so many jams. And you'll find life a lot more pleasant. Time up there at Brighton. I'm glad you're taking off today. Give us a little peace around here. What's the matter, Stumpy? Bill been working it too hard? Of course not. Very well for now. I can handle anything that comes up. Ah, that right. You have good time now. We will. But if you think you might need a little assistance in case of an emergency, just call Brighton College and they'll be able to contact us. Maybe you, not me. I'm planning on taking a vacation, forest ranger or not. You know it's a good thing you're just sort of an ex-official member of this ranger outfit, Henry, or I'd have your badge right here and now on the spot. That's a spirit, Bill. Don't let these young whippersnappers get away with anything. Must have discipline in this work. Maybe Henry's getting to be too much like that young bear cub that just called him on the phone yesterday. Oh, you mean Ronnie Winters? He's got a point there. Oh, Ronnie's just a lot of energy. He's a lot of fun. Yeah, guys who are a lot of fun can get on the borderline and into trouble too. Well, you know, Stumpy, Henry can take care of himself. Ah, Henry, good boy. Hey, what is this? A meeting of the parent-teacher society? No offense, Henry. Stumpy just has your interest at heart. Ah, he's just reading our local sports editor. He's disgusted because Ronnie plays kind of crazy football once in a while. But he's a good sportsman and he sure can swim. I know. Well, mind yourselves and you better get going. You're going to miss that game. Oh, but, sis, maybe you can talk to Dad. I need that car. Well, this guy Henry Scott's coming up here and I'd like to show him around. Well, just why is he so important? Well, he's a fellow that swam against me in the swimming meet last year. Well, I think it'd be nice to get to know him. Did he beat you? Oh, no, no, I took him. But he's a good sport and a great guy. So look, Pat, you ask Dad for me, won't you? No, Ron. I'm sorry, I wish I could help you, but, well, you know what Dad would say. And I'm not going to get in on your problem with him. I hate to sound like a big sister, but we will just have to learn how to use your own head. This is quite a game, folks. Quite a game. It's 19 to 13, state you out ahead. But the ball is resting on the one foot line with one minute to go. Brighton has completed a 69-yard drive down the field and this tired team is really sparking. Team breaks huddle, Brighton up with a T-formation, Huzzer calling signals. The snap and it's Huzzer through the rights out of the line. He smashed at the line of scrimmage. Could he make it or not? Refs in there trying to un-pile. Not for Brighton. Huzzer in a magnificent power drive. Put it over. Uh-oh. Wilton's down. Brighton's right end. He's really flat. He heard him at last play. Nope, he can't continue. There'll be a substitution. Attention, please. Here comes the announcement. Your attention, please. Winners for Wilton at right end. Winners for Wilton, right end. Line winners of Prexy Sun. A good little ball player going in to replace Wilton. Teams are lining up again. It's Wiskowski back for the extra point. Sellers will be holding. A whole crowd waiting to see if this will do it. It's 19-19. 15 seconds left in the game. The center's over the ball. The snap, it's placed, and it's off. Oh, no, it's blocked. Somebody broke through right end and slapped the ball just enough to send it off line. That's it. The game's over. Tie score. Brighton 19 and State U-19. Too bad. Brighton could have had the game if substitute winners had held that right end. He got it, Bill. They lost. No, not lost, Henry. They tied. But the conference all is all tied up. That means that it's... Hey, there's Ronnie. Hey, Ron. Hi, Henry. See you later. He sure is glum. Well, any fellow that has the bad breaks he seems to have, we take it awfully hard. I guess those State U-boys just caught him off guard. Before he could catch on, they blocked the kick. Poor Ron. Never seems to do anything right. I'd like to have you meet my friend Ranger Bill Jefferson. This is Ronnie Winters. How do you do, Ronnie? Sure have heard a lot about you, but I'd like to have my assist-meet-you fellas. Pat, this is Mr. Jefferson and Henry Skye. How do you do? Oh, I'm happy to meet you. Ronnie's spoken of your both. And, Ron, you're President Winters' son, aren't you? Yes, but I try to forget. Seems as if the prompts have. Say, I guess I should take you fellas under my wing since you are, I guess. Oh, thanks, but I know you and Henry have lots to talk over, and I see some of my old classmates over there. Oh, fine. Take care of yourself. Look who's talking. See you back in the room. He seems to be an awfully nice man. Oh, none better than Ranger Bill. Best Ranger in the state. Come on, let's get going. They're holding up the proceedings for us. What a terrific meal, huh? You're not like most college bankers. This is the kind of food they serve here. Maybe I think about making this my college. Well, not so all the time. Cafeterias get a little boring. Gravy, please, Ronnie. I'll take some, too, when you're finished. Okay, here you are. Watch it! Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, Ron, write on your new trousers. I'm sorry, I should have grabbed it sooner. I wasn't your fault. I'm just a butterfinger. Maybe you can get it out right after the banquet. Yeah, I can get it clean. That won't hurt a thing. Some banquet? Yeah, the best part of it was the short speeches. I sure hope Pat didn't mind my horning in. Oh, not at all. She was the one horning in. Didn't get invited out this year, so I told her to come along. I'm upstairs here in the converted army barracks. Yeah, sorry we had to put you up there. They're long overdue for raising, but Dad hasn't been able to get enough funds to start another dorm. Oh, they've been fine. Neat and clean. Hey, I think I'll take a look downstairs in the janitor's room for something I can clean these pants with. I just hope old Ed Howard isn't around. He's always jumpin' his boys for invading his premises. Good. See you later, Ron. Maybe tomorrow. Okay, with me. You'll get a chance then to go through some of the buildings. Oh, where is that light? Ah, here it is. Oh, now to find the fluid. Have a good time? Terrific. Yeah, so did I. I met a good number of old classmates. Yeah, I saw you yakking the yak in your head off. Talk about a lady's gap fest. Well, your jaws didn't exactly rust out as far as I could see. Say, uh, plug in the portable. Give us a catch-up on the way. Oh, here it is. I guess this rag'll do. Looks clean enough. Hmm. Hey, plug in the portable. Give us a catch-up on the latest news. Did you fix that plug? No. I guess that wire's pretty frayed, isn't it? Yeah. But be careful. I think it'll work okay. Here it goes. Hey, there go the lights. Yeah. I guess I should have listened to you. Looks like we've blown a fuse. Don't worry. The light in the hall's still on. I'll get out into the hall and downstairs. Yeah, I ought to do it. Hey, what happened to the light? Ah, the fuse must have gone. We're in a world as a fuse box. Oh, fluid all over. What a mess. Hey, who's in there fooling with the lights? I was just cleaning it. Hey, you guys, I don't care who you are. I'm going to strike you. I was just cleaning it. Wait a minute. A match? Oh, fire. We've got to get out of here. Fire. It's heavy. Fire. Fire. I can't help it. Hey, look. Here comes Ronnie. He's all singed. Hey, Bill. Everybody get out? I think so. That sounded like your voice. Yelling after the explosion. Yeah, it was. You sure got singed. Where were you? Just down in the basement. Hey, you fellas, get out of here. That wall may break loose. Come on. Let's get moving. Is this okay? I guess so. What a fire. It looks like arson to me. Arson? Yeah. Hey, you're the kid that turned in the alarm, aren't you? And pulled out the janitor? Yeah. Good job. Sorry you had to get singed like that. Flames must have jumped up and hit you as you were getting him. Well, I was just pulling him out. Yes, sir. The guy that started this will really get it. That's too bad, isn't it, Bill? Yeah. Whole building's gone. The janitor is seriously burned. Sure ended homecoming in a sad way. Sorry we had to leave Brownsville, but without a place to stay, it was probably best. Hey, look at this. What is it? They really think it's arson. The way the building went up. Ronnie has a nice build up here. Here's his picture. It's a good thing he found the fire, or there would have been lots more trouble. Dr. Winters, I've told you and told you that you ought to tear down those old army barracks. But, Mr. Commissioner, I couldn't with attendance this fall best in three years. I had to have a place to put them. But we are the fire department's warrantier, and you wouldn't listen. Now you've really got trouble. Excuse me. Come in. Wait outside a minute, son, please. No, that's all right, Dr. Winters. Just this one last word. You ought to get the remaining temporary barracks down in a month. That's my advice to you. Good day. He sure was burned up, wasn't he, Dad? Yes. I suppose I can't blame him. This whole thing is really serious. Yeah, I know. So what did you want, son? Say, that was sure a nice ride up in the paper about you. Well, this helps to make up for some of the gruff times we've had. Well, Dad, thanks. But, well, there's something I want to say about the fire. I'm awful sorry it happened, especially to Mr. Howard. Oh, thanks for your interest. And I... Well, excuse me. Dr. Winters speaking. Yes. New evidence? Fine. Anything to help solve it? A broken bottle on the basement floor? Yes, it does. That's going to prove it was arson. I hope you really get him. And I'll spare nothing to see that he's prosecuted to the limit. Thanks for calling. Well, son, I think we're really going to get the fellow. That's good. No. What was it you wanted to ask me about? Well, well, never mind, Dad. I can see you're awfully busy. It can wait. Hey, Ronnie, good job. Thanks, Mike. Ronnie, I'm so happy you were right there to take care of things. I'm sure your father was very proud of you. Thanks very much, Miss Kimball. Son, I'm really proud of you. Why, I've known your dad for 30 years now. And I can see that you're just like him. I appreciate your words, Judge Parker. Ronnie! Ronnie, wait! Huh? Oh, hi, sis. But why the big sour look? I think all the glamour about being a hero really make you happy. Ah, don't rub it in. Sorry. Guess Dad's taking Mr. Howard's condition pretty hard, isn't he? Yeah, so am I. Ronnie, your trousers. Yeah, what about them? Oh, I know they're singed. I wore them because they're probably ruined for good anyway. The spot's gone. I thought you'd have real trouble getting it out. Mom cleaned it for you? No, I used some fluid. And? Well, gravy came out. Where you going? Ronnie, when did you get that spot out of your pants? Ronnie, please. Where did you take it out? Oh, what? The barracks, wasn't it? Yes, Pat. Oh, Ronnie. It was an accident. I didn't mean it. You haven't told them? Listen, you know adults, they wouldn't listen. I tried to tell Dad, but he was so busy I couldn't do it. But you are going to tell someone. I don't know. I don't know. Dr. Winters, the board of directors sent Mr. Conway and myself here this afternoon to talk to you about the fire. Oh, sorry, I wasn't in the office, Mr. Stoffer. But, well, the fire officials wanted me here at the scene. You gentlemen met my son and my daughter. Hello. Yes, we have. And a nice job, young man. Thank you, sir. Yes, it was. We're really concerned, Dr. Winters. Well, I can assure you no more than I am. But, Dr. Winters, concern doesn't make up for the fact that the school has a black eye. But, Mr. Conway, you can't help it if a building is set on fire. But it's not the arson we're concerned with. It's the fact that the old barracks purchased from the government weren't torn down. We expected that they would be by this homecoming time when the board of directors met. If they had been, this wouldn't have happened. Gentlemen, you know the facts as well as I. We've been overflow of students this fall. We've had to put them somewhere. I think that the suggestion from the board was that we should put extra beds in the larger rooms. That might have covered the situation. Well, it was only a suggestion. And I took the liberty of keeping the barracks going in hopes of the building program starting this fall. And the new dormitory finished by winter. But that hasn't worked out. No, it hasn't. Well, gentlemen, I can't understand why the board of directors is so disturbed. Simply this. If we don't get this fire solved, our reputation will fall in the eyes of the town and the alumni will stop giving. Again, sir, may I say something? I think the folks in town are rooting for us. They don't feel that way. Well, that may be the first reacting young man, but Dr. Winters, I think we'd best go to your office where we can discuss this a little more privately. Yes, I'd like to. Best not to display our troubles to the whole world. Glad to have met you again, Ronnie. Thanks again for your trouble. Come over to the office in about an hour, son. I'd like to talk with you. Those men practically tore that apart. And you've got a seam in an hour. What does he want? I don't know. You've got to tell him. But they think it's arson, and if Ed Howard dies... Well, all you've got to do is explain. Oh, I don't know. What's only going to get worse? You don't do it now. Pat, why? Look, I'll walk over to the office with you, and then you can tell him. Well, Mr. Brown, the state's attorney's office can be assured of absolute cooperation. The men that just left, Mr. Conway, installed for a sure deal of that, too. And my son should be here any time, and he'll help. But we've got to act faster. Can't you get the students together and see if there are any clues we can turn up? Well, it's afternoon, and they're scattered all over the city in employment. But don't you realize the man is almost dead. He's as good as dead. Well, we'll plan on a meeting tonight when the whole student body, as many of them as can be here, will be present. The rest will. Thanks for boosting my morale a little by walking over here with me. Now, hurry up and get in and tell him. I will. See you at home. I hope you bring home good news. I'll be there with bells on. Good as dead. Dead. I've got to get out of here. The state's attorney wants us to give some information about the fire, huh? Yeah, just a routine check, I guess. Did he say they have any new evidence? No, not a bit. I wonder how that old janitor is. Pretty low, I guess. Well, I sure liked him. Hey, watch out for that crazy guy! Man! What gets about God hit? You know who that was? No. It was Ronnie Winters. Ronnie Winters? Yeah, and he looked scared to death. I'll make a U-turn. We're going to follow him and get him to cut down that speed. Why in the world would he be tearing away like that? Can't seem to overtake him. Well, don't forget. He got a good start on us when we turned around. Yeah. Bill? Yeah? Is he supposed to have something to do with the fire? I don't know, pal. But I sure aim to find out. Just as I thought. That patrol car's following me. But I'm going to shake him and get away. Hang on him now. Sure are. His hilly, curvy country is making him slow down. I don't think he knows the road as well here. That's it. Bill, look! He's heading it down that hill too fast. He'll never make the curve at the bottom. I can't look. Hang on, Henry. Here we go too. Didn't make it. Look what's coming up ahead. Yeah. The curve where those fellas died last month. Henry, we got to force him to stop before he cracks up. Shout at him as we go by. Okay. All right now. Pull over, Ronnie. Henry! Come on. Pull over. You're going to hurt yourself. No one's going to catch me. Hang on, pal. I'm going to force him. Ronnie's leaving the road. Can you see him, Henry? Yeah, here he is. He took a bark off that tree. Yeah. Let me get this door open. Ronnie, are you all right? Yes, sir. If you can move, see if you can crawl out. All right, let's see. You look okay. Now, Ronnie, what were you doing? I was just taking a trip. Going all the way fast? You sure were, Ronnie. I guess I was. You could really hurt yourself. But to mention the blood all over your clothes and the car, I don't even like to talk about it. Only it wouldn't be like that graviest bill on your pants the other night. Say, those are the ones, aren't they? Yeah. Well, where's the spot? I've taken it off, but I still can't seem to get rid of it. Huh? I don't get you. You feeling woozy? No, I'm all right, but... But what? When you fellas helped me out, I'm in an awful jam. It's that fire. What is it, Ronnie? I've been scared of telling, but... Oh, Dad's car all smashed up. I'm gonna have to make an explanation. Go on, Ronnie. We're listening. I was down in the basement cleaning my trousers when it all happened. You were? Everything would have been all right. But a fuse blew or something. A fuse must have blown because the light went out. And I got up to fix them and knocked over the fluid. And then Ed Howard came in, and before I could stop him, he let a match, and... He got it. Yeah, I guess he was pretty bad. I guess I'm at fault, too. You didn't have anything to do with it. I blew the fuse. Come on, fellas. We've got to get back to Brownsville and get this whole thing settled. What's as if we're going to get some help? Ronnie. Son, are you all right? Well, thank goodness you aren't hurt. There wasn't much to say. I suppose Pat has told you. No, I haven't. That's your job, Ron. Well, Dad, I was in the basement using cleaning fluid when the lights went out and a fuse blown. And that's where we come in. We were responsible for that. And in looking for the light, the fluid bottle got broken. Ed Howard came in and let a match to find the fuse box, and that's it. I'm sorry, son. If only I wished you'd come to me sooner. It would have saved a lot of trouble. And, Ronnie, I stopped into the hospital to see how Mr. Howard was, and the report's better. Well, how'd you know Ronnie came out here? We only passed him by accident. Well, I was just coming out of the hospital when I saw him racing out of town, and so I ran to get Dad. Come on. The job isn't finished yet. Ronnie, we've got to get you to a doctor for a checkup. And stop the state's attorney in his hunt for an arsonist. Well, boys and girls, see you next week for more adventure with... This is Stumpy Jenkins, speaking for Ranger Bill. And say, and don't forget to hit the trail with us every week at this time for lots of exciting adventure with all the Ranger gang. Henry Scott and Gray Wolf and Bill, of course, and me, the old timer, are all on hand from time to time to bring you the best stories we can find. So you tune in to Naughty Pine and learn the latest that's happening around the Ranger Station, or in the mountains and forests nearby, or maybe even someplace further away, because that young fellow, Bill, gets into all kinds of situations and troubles and complications when he's trying to help somebody else. So you be sure to join up with us next week for this half-hour of storytelling, and then you won't lose out on anything that's going on. I'll be looking for you, so don't disappoint me.