 The Texas Rangers starring Joel McRae is Ranger Jase Pearson. Another authentic re-enactment of a case transcribed from the files of the Texas Rangers. This is in the following story are fictitious for obvious reasons. The events themselves are a matter of record. Before we bring you today's tales of the Texas Rangers, let's turn on our microphones down the hall in Studio A here at NBC's Hollywood Radio City. Where rehearsal for the Phil Harris Alice Faye show is in progress. Yeah, yeah, now that's the way we'll do it on the show. It sounded great, fellas. Bill, would you like to talk to the listeners during this break and rehearsal? Yeah, Bill, I'd love to. Folks, I'd just like to take a few seconds here to remind you about part of the fine lineup of entertainment for the rest of the evening right here on NBC. Right after Tales of the Texas Rangers, listen to the big show with Tallulah Bankhead and all of her darling guest stars. I know you'll want to hear the music and comedy. The big show is lined up for you today. And then we come on to keep you entertained with our show. Starring Alice Faye, Frankie Remly, Julius Abruzio and some band leader. Phil, what's his name? Well, please, will you slow up a minute? It's the Phil Harris Alice Faye show right after the big show today, and I hope you'll listen, folks. And now, let's return to Tales of the Texas Rangers. Now, from the files of the Texas Rangers, the case called Hitchhiker. It is shortly after dawn on the morning of April 4th, 1947. Hard Cotter of Boca County, Texas is driving away from his small ranch on Farm Road 102. Suddenly, he sees a man on the side of the road coming a ride. Want to lift, young fella? Well, hop in. You don't mind riding in this old crate? Just listen to her bore. Yeah. What are you heading for? El Paso. Well, I ain't going that far, but I can take you to Elkton. Well, I'll be fine. Find out your way, ain't you? Yeah. Last ride left me off up the line and spent the night under a tree. Yeah, that's tough. Nice mighty cold for this time of year. You can cut down to 80 from Elkton, you know. Yeah, yeah, I know. It's funny the way you popped out from nowhere. Dang near, didn't see you. I'm glad you did. Are you stopping? Here's for some water. Why, ain't in any rush, Ray? Uh, no, no, no, it's all right. Uh, can I look at this map? Help yourself. It won't take long. Not out of gas already. You just got some last night. All right, Charlie. No, we'll use water this time. I'll use it. No! Water capture is fine. Oh, let me see there. Yeah, it's that water pump leaking. Better let me put you in a new one, huh? Oh, well, not right now, Charlie. I've got to get into town. Don't go putting it off. That pump ain't gonna get no better. Well, I'll tell you what. I'll leave the car with you when I get back. Er, around noon. Fine. You figure to take the shortcut? I usually do. Fine. See, you're running to my boy, Clark, down at the junction. He's working on the roadblock. Constable deputized him about an hour ago. Roadblock? What's that? Haven't you heard? Some guy both jailed poker. Slugged a deputy bringing in his dinner last night. No! It's fact. He swiped his keys in his gun, tied the poor fellow up tight. Don't say. He's broken through the locker and changed clothes, too. Imagine that. What's he look like? They don't have time to get pictures out yet. The whole thing only broke an hour ago when the sheriff came on to relieve his deputy. Don't expect to find their man away over here, do they? They're crazy, ain't it? Last place in the world he'd head for. Oh, well, I guess they'll pick him up for long. I'll be seeing you, Charlie. Around noon, eh? Yep. Okay. Don't forget now. I won't. Ain't that something? That guy breaking jail? How far away is that junction the gasman was talking about? Are you just around the bend up ahead? But, Pop, when we go through that road block, I'm going to be your nephew, understand? What? Huh? Are you kidding, mister? This gun will show you if I'm kidding or not. Well, hey, man. Don't think I won't use it. When I ask you who I am, I'm your nephew. I'm from Dallas. I've been staying with you a few days. Get it? Hey, you ain't... You ain't fulfilling the... What are you thinking? Watch where you're driving! Now look, mister. Shut your trap. There he is, driving us down. I got a bad cold, see? I'll keep my face covered with this handkerchief. This gun's under my coat point straight at your liver. I ain't fooling Pop. I got nothing to lose. One break and you're gone. All I got to do is let loose this hammer. Morning, hon. How do you, Clark? We're checking everybody. Count the jailbreak. Yeah. Your power telling me. I'm kind of new at this roadblock business. First time ever been on one. Matter of fact, there's a bus car stop. You don't change. Yeah. Sheriff's gonna get regular deputies here soon. Here's his call for the rangers, too. You seem to be doing a good job, Clark. More fun than working in the gas station, anyway. Who says where they hide? I'm supposed to check, you know. He's my nephew, Fred Smiley. This is Clark Hollister, Fred. You met his dad up the road. Yeah, yeah. Howdy, Clark. Oh, I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Smiley. Fred's been down and visiting me the last couple of days from Dallas. Oh, Dallas, huh? Was up Dallas myself last year. See, you got a bad call? Yeah. I can't seem to shake it. Don't you think we better get going on call? Yeah. Clark, can we move on now? I've got a lot of things to do down to Elton. Well, gosh, I'm supposed to ask strangers for denification, papers and stuff, you know. Oh, shucks. You're being hot, nephew. Oh, sure. Go ahead. Okay, boys, pass this one through down there, huh? At 9 a.m., the deputized citizens of the roadblocks had been replaced by regular law enforcement officers. A manhunt under the supervision of Texas Ranger Jase Pearson and Sheriff Sam Ford combed the county with dogs and horses, but failed to locate scent or trail of the escaped prisoner. Next afternoon, Ranger Pearson and the sheriff were completing a routine check near the eastern edge of the county. Not many folks around here, Jase. A couple of small ranchers in the store or two just thought wind it up. Doesn't look too promising, Sheriff. We had another roadblock at that junction we just passed. I see the constable's already called it off. And how much use keeping the boys out any longer? A man's probably a long way off by now. We must have got through yesterday morning before we set the blocks up. That's the way things break sometimes, Sheriff. There's Charlie Hollister's gas station up ahead. Charlie gets to see everybody in these parts. Anything out of the way happen to you know about it. Howdy, Charlie. Shake hands with Ranger Pearson. Glad to know you, Mr. Hollister. Likewise, Ranger. Got a line on your jailbreak again? We're still working on it. We're pretty sure he's out of the county, anyway. Any cars reported stolen? No, but he could have caught a ride before the news broke. Have you seen his picture, Mr. Hollister? Oh, they had it in the newspaper, but this is a lot better picture. How about that young fella back there? That's my son. Clark, come here a minute. Yeah, Pa. Meet Ranger Pearson, Clark. You know the sheriff. Oh, hi, Ranger. Sheriff. Hello, Clark. Constable had you working on the roadblock, didn't he, Clark? Yeah, just for spell. May I keep you busy? No. You've seen Ray's picture, haven't you, Clark? Oh, yeah, yeah. Sure didn't come through while I was on duty, though, ain't you? Well, appreciate your helping out, Clark. Not at all. Anytime you need me, Sheriff. Thanks. I'll call on you if I do. See you later, Charlie. All right. We're going to check a few more houses up the line. So long. Oh, say it, Sheriff. Yeah? Hey, you're biggin' to stop at Hot Cottage. Yeah, why? Would you tell him I'm still waitin' on him for that water pump? The old so-and-so was gonna leave me his car yesterday. Do a thing, Charlie. I'll tell him. Probably got all about it. Nephew visitin' him and all. What nephew? I never had Hot had no nephew. Neither I tell him I met him. Been with him a couple of days. Hot, say. Sure is funny. I've known Hot 30 years. He never mentioned any nephew to me. What does fellow look like, Clark? Well, couldn't rightly see. He had a bad colo. He was blown his nose and big-hacked you. You better take another look at this picture. Try to remember. Well, Jim, I'm not sure. But Hot told me it was his nephew. Wait a minute. Hot was ridin' some young fellow when he come through here. Let me see that picture again, Ranger. Does it look like him? Well, I ain't too sure. Come to think of it, he had his face buried in a road map. Well, didn't Hot tell you it was his nephew? No. Funny, ain't it? You'd have thought it was just some hitchhiker Hot picked up. Sheriff, maybe we better get up to Carter's and check on this nephew. That's Hot's place up there ahead. I'll pull up here. Hot lives here alone, runs a few-hated cattle. You'll get a kick out of Hot. The old coot's a real character. Doesn't seem to be in. I guess not. We could go in and see if anything's been disturbed. Hot never locks up. Left his breakfast stuff on the table. Yeah, Hot never was much of a housekeeper. This isn't today's breakfast, Sheriff. How'd he mean, Jayce? Looks like he's been gone a couple of days. This milk sour. The butter's turning rancid. You're sure right. Sheriff, what is it, Jayce? Didn't Carter say his nephew'd been stayin' here with him? That's what he told Clark. There's only one plate here. And one coffee cup. Hollister said the man with Carter looked like a hitchhiker. Yeah. Hit his face behind a map or a handkerchief when anybody might see him. I...Golly, you don't think... Sheriff, we were hunting for one missing man. Now I got a hunch we're lookin' for two. Charlie Hollister and his son gave us a few more details, and then I put out an all-points bulletin, including a description of Hot Carter's car. Sheriff and I started west, the direction the car'd been heading when last seen. All night long, we woke up sleeping gas station operators, grocers, and cafe owners. Don't seem likely they could go this far without eatin' or gasin' up. Now I must've turned somewhere along the line. The question is, north or south? We'll have to check both. You know, Jayce, I'm worried about Hot. I can't see Reeves luggin' an old man very far. Well, Carter got him through a roadblock. Maybe he figured to use him again. You said everybody knows the old man. Yeah, Hot's a fixture around this country. Been here longer than I can remember. Ornery cost sometimes. He painted him as a hog on ice. But you couldn't help like me. I don't give him up yet, Sheriff. No, he's borrowing trouble. Yeah, I guess not. County line up ahead a couple of miles. You gonna stay with me? I'm glad to have you along. I'd like to, Jayce, like to a lot, but I oughta be... KTXP to unit 10. KTXP to unit 10. Unit 10 to KTXP. Go ahead. Contact unit 10 directly. Unit 10 located approximately 80 miles west of Boca, is unit 22 outside my range? Yes, it's Starrett. Ask unit 22 to stand by. Unit 10 raising balloon aerial to receive unit 22 signal direct. 10-4, unit 10 clear. Balloon aerials in the trunk. Wanna give me a hand, Sheriff? Sure thing. 22, that's Clay Morgan's unit. You know him? I can't say I do. Ah, here she is. I'll hook up the gas. Think he's got news on Reeves, Jayce? That's possible. Starrett, it's long way south of here. I got 50 feet of cable here. That'll give me plenty of pickup. I was thinking, Reeves sure gave us a slip. He's way down there. We'll find out in a minute. You raise the balloon the rest of the way, Sheriff. I'll get back on the phone. Careful not to get any kinks in that line. I'll watch it. Unit 10 to unit 22. Unit 10 to unit 22. Signal clear, unit 22. The 8 was observed at Starrett at 7.30 this morning. You hear him all right, Jayce? Fine. Place as the car was seen. 10-4 is identification positive unit 22. Positive unit 10. Witness here identified driver from Porto as fugitive from Boca County. What about heart, now check. Unit 10's bulletin described two men in car. Did you witness identify the second passenger also? In just a moment, we will continue with Tales of the Texas Rangers starring Joel McCray as Ranger Jayce Pearson. This week nearly 3 million of our nation's youth are celebrating the 42nd anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. These 3 million youths are currently benefiting from the Boy Scout program and on the sidelines looking on with approval are more than 19 million former scouts. For the past 42 years, the Boy Scouts of America have been training good citizens. Today the program goes forward through the efforts of the nation's 735,000 adult volunteer scout leaders. Perhaps you would like to help as a scout leader if you would call your local scout headquarters and volunteer your services. This year the nation's scouts are setting forth on a new 3-year program known as Forward on Liberty's Team. The scout leaders see the new program as a challenge that the youth of America may have available a program of character development and may be trained on their honor to do their duty to God and their duty to their country. Happy birthday to the Boy Scouts of America. And now let's return to Tales of the Texas Rangers. We continue now with Tales of the Texas Rangers and our authentic story, Hitchhiker. I dropped the sheriff off at the next town where he could phone for a ride back to Boca and I really burned rubber. I pulled up in the rear of the highway patrol office in Starrett where I'd arranged to meet Clay. Clay was saddling his horse outside. Hey, sure made good time. Oh, Clay, I didn't want to hold you up. Well, I think we really got your fugitive bottled up this time. Yeah, I came through one of your roadblocks. I thought we might take our horses down the other way and work in. That's a good idea. Why don't you load your horse in my trailer with charcoal? We can take my unit. All right. Come on, Dan. Over this way. Come on. What's the story, Clay? Reeves pulled up at the 5-point station just outside town. He got his tank filled and high-tailed off without paying. All right, well, Dan, hold it up, boy. Which way do you go? Well, he took off east from the station. East, huh? He's been heading just about every way but up since he broke jail. Yeah. Reeves must know the car is hot for this time, Jase. No word from old man Carter, though, eh? No. He'll find him in a gully somewhere. We got men backtracking toward Boca for his body. All right, in you go, boy. Come on. Hey, you mind getting that phone, Jase? All the boys are out of the blockades. I'll take it. There you are, Danny boy. Right away. Thanks. What's up, Jase? Carter's been found on a side road, 12 miles south of here. How is he? Pretty bad, but he's still alive. Let's get going. The ambulance here, Jase. Yeah. Pardon us, folks. Stand back, please. Hey, let us through here. Thank you very much. Let us through here. Mr. Carter. Ranger. How is he, Jase? He took a real pistol whipping. If you want a movie, it might be a concussion. I'm all right. Does it hurt you to talk? No, no. Reeves do this to you? Yeah. I run. He slugged me. How long goes this been, Mr. Carter? I don't know. What time is it now? Stand 15, Mr. Carter. An hour, maybe. A little longer. It must be longer than that, Jase. The air station man reported Reeves was alone. That's nearly three hours ago. I was with him, then. You were? Yeah. He made me scrown his down on the floor. He kept that gun on my neck. He'd use the tools I'd let out of people. Well, that puts us a lot closer to him. Which way did he go, Carter? I couldn't say. Go every which way. Kept off main roads. Did he get that car moving from here? Don't try to turn your head. Yeah, the car's gone. Didn't think he'd go after running to that tree. Must have been that tree there, Jase. Yeah, it took quite a smack from the looks of it. Hey, the engine's coming, Jase. He was driving. There was three bit of wheels. I see. But you don't know where he was heading. I don't know. Yeah, wait a minute. He did say once he was going to try for Mexico. Right over here with the stretcher, boys. Over here. Thanks, Mr. Carter. You're going to be all right. Did he say Mexico, Jase? Yeah. We got to stop him before he gets there. Time was running short now, and we knew it. We alerted all officers to be on the lookout for Reeves within 50-mile radius. Then we continued up that road, wandered into the foothills, getting worse all the time. Reeves have to be pretty desperate to take this kind of punishment. Yeah, road's not much better than a cow path from here on. You've been up here before, Jase? Yeah, and it goes a few miles more. A couple of Mexican families have shacks up there in the hills. Reeves will never make Mexico on this road, then. Yeah, he wouldn't know that. He'd think it goes straight through. Man on foot might keep going, rough hiking over those hills, though. Reeves might not have any other choice. Maybe sooner than we figure. How so, Jase? Look at our temp gauge. Boiler, he's driving. We'll be blowing up by this time. Yeah, you'd think so. Keep an eye out for it. He might have... What's the matter, Jase? Look behind us. Hey, how do you like that? Hard car is car. Not a bad hiding place behind those rocks. Coming from odd direction, you'd have never guessed it was there. I wouldn't have seen it at all if I hadn't been watching the rear view mirror. Oh, that wreck sure didn't do this car. I don't think that's what stopped it, though. See that puddle under the radiator? It's like water pumps still leaking. Reeves might have pulled up here for a little shut-eye while the engine cooled down. Yeah, and while he waited, water drained right out of the bottom. There's not a house inside. Mr. Reeves drew himself a long walk. Here's his track. It's down the road. Uh-oh. What, Jase? He's turned off to the right. Yeah, it looks like he's aiming for that dry wash. Nothing ahead of that, but the mountains. He's still figuring to get to Mexico. He's sure doing it the hard way. Yeah. Unless maybe he saw something out there, something we don't see. Come on, Clay. Let's get the horses and find out. He seems to know where he's going, all right. Yeah, heading straight for the mountains. I can't see why. I didn't stick to the road. Oh, Reeves knows what he's doing. He's been playing too smart so far to pull any... Whoa. Whoa, Charlie. Whoa, boy. Whoa, Dan. What's up out there, Jase? Here's our answer. Burrow tracks. So that's what he saw from the road, a burrow. He came up to it, got on. See where the marks overlapped Reeves' footprints? Yeah, I see. Then he rode off toward the mountain. Yeah, wait a minute. Somebody was on that burrow already. See, the trail coming toward us, a grazing animal, wouldn't walk that straight. Yeah, you're right, Jase. I don't want to weigh the tracks, they're deeper. Can't double. He said there were Mexicans in these hills, huh? A couple families. They'd have water and food. Yeah, and Reeves' needs both. We better keep going, Clay. We followed the burrow trail across the drywalls. From there, it took practically a straight line through the brush and rocks toward the base of a jagged ridge in the distance. But before we got there, a figure came in a view from behind one of the lower foothills. Jase, there's your burrow coming this way. Yeah, I'm a Mexican on him. Come on, Charlie. Yep, let's move, boy. Come on. Whoa, whoa. Hold it, hold it. Howdy. He's big surprise to see you range your way down here. Yeah, we're looking for a man. Here's his picture. You seen him around? Gracias. Pero sí. Sí es the same man. So good. You are looking for this man? Yeah. Where'd you see him? But he is in my house. Now? Sí, señor. I meet him on the road. I ride him on lita here to the house. I leave him to sleep and hammock. He's very tired out. He asked me to put water in his car and drive it back to the house. He promised me a dollar. He won't give you a dollar, my friend. More likely give you a bullet. Oh, my Dramia. He's a bad man. He's plenty bad. Now tell me, is there a way we can ride up to your house without his seniors? Sí, de verdad. Sí, de verdad, pero es en la otra. We may have to rush him, Jez. No, no, señor, es por favor. Mi esposa, mi menor. Yeah, we can't do that, Clay. This man's wife and children are there. Please, señor, they will be killed. We'll have to get Reeves away from the house somehow. Yeah, señor. You say this man expects you to drive his car to your house for him? Sí, sí, sí. you're not going to disappoint him let's go back and get the water in the car you mean I'm going to drive the car to him the way you want me yeah only we're going to be in the backseat come on play let's go Chuck your range I am very scared there's nothing to be scared of you just do as we tell you is that your house up ahead this is your way down you will see you okay Clay we'll latch on a Reeves little trick down on the floor right Jason see him yet I can see the hammock senior but he is not there no what could have happened down play yeah I guess Maria my wife she's maybe giving him something to eat in the house okay stop the car off to one side 50 feet from the house I am almost there senior all right now remember what we told you I am plenty scared buck up just don't cross it you'll make out I wish I could believe that myself and say that again so far so good I didn't get in the car before we take him I am sorry I didn't know senior I don't want no money senior please I know you say you pay but he's all right I don't want it you're going to work for war what do you mean you don't want money you need money bad what's a big idea anyway just what do you know come on up with it I have to take him now play with you get away from her put your hands up good work Jason got him pulling that gun that was a mistake Reeves I'm sorry I didn't kill you all right just try these cups on precise read oh my head yeah let's see it now you're just nicked but it'd be a long time before use that thumb again for a hitchhiking in just a moment we will tell you the results of the case you have just heard hello friends this is Jack Parr I'll be with you later this evening with the $64 question but right now I'd like to remind you about some of the other great shows this evening on the NBC radio network in just a few minutes you'll hear the big show with Tallulah Bankhead and a big array of guest stars and of course Meredith Wilson will be on hand to direct the big show orchestra and chorus you will hear 90 minutes of scintillating comedy and music today on the big show and then right after the big show sick around for the Phil Harris Alice space show with Frankie Remley Julius Abruzio brother William and the entire Harris household it's a program that sure to please you later today theater guilt on the air will bring you stars from Hollywood and Broadway in an exciting Broadway play and right after theater guilt on the air I'll be back with a pocket full of money and the $64 question I'll be talking to a lot of contestants tonight and maybe you will hear one of your neighbors so why not stay tuned right now to the NBC for a whole evening of great entertainment I'll be looking for you in our radio audience tonight and now let's get back to the tales of the Texas Rangers and now here are the results of the case you have just heard how Reeves was returned to Boca County where he was convicted not only the crimes for which he had been waiting trial but for jailbreak armed robbery and kidnapping as well sentence was set in 10 years on each count 40 years in all to be served in the state penitentiary at Huntsville and here once again is the star of our show Joel McCray there's an interesting story I heard a short time ago from a good friend and technical advisor captain M. T. Lone Wolf Gonzalez it seems that a good many years ago a ranger captain was assigned as bodyguard to escort president William H. Taft on a tour through Texas at every stop made by the party the ranger captain was required to proceed the president as they stepped from the train amid shouts of there's a Texas Ranger the president of the United States found his popularity and appeal in Texas second to that of the ranger somewhat embarrassed the ranger turned to the chief executive and said Mr. President don't mind them they just don't want me to feel bad so long folks see you next week Joel McCray in another authentic reenactment of a case from the files of the Texas Rangers they will soon be seen in San Francisco story a Warner Brothers release the cast included Tony Barrett Tim Graham Luke Krugman Nestor Piva Ed Begley and Herbellis technical advisor was Captain M. T. Lone Wolf Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers this story was transcribed and adapted by Lawrence Goldman and the program was produced and directed by Stacy Keith Hal Gibney speaking next the big show brings you 90 minutes of drama comedy and music on NBC