 of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McRae as Ranger Jase Pearson. Another authentic re-enactment of a case transcribed from the files of the Texas Rangers. The story are fictitious for obvious reasons. The events themselves are a matter of record. Before we bring you today's story of the Texas Rangers, let's talk a moment with Phil Harris and Alice Fay during a break in the rehearsal for today's Phil Harris Alice Fay show. Thank you, Bill Foreman. You know, folks, I welcome this opportunity to talk with you about the great lineup of stellar entertainment to store for you this evening right here on NBC. Right after Tales of the Texas Rangers, Tallulah Bankhead will bring you all of her darling guest stars on the big show. And I know that she has some of your favorite entertainers with her today, and I hope you'll listen to the big show. And then right after, Tallulah and her guests, it's time for my show, the show- Our show. You could be right. Our show, the Phil Harris Alice Fay show with Frankie Remley, Brother William, Julius Abruzio, and Little Alice and Phyllis. And don't forget the Theatre Guild on the air, Phil. That's right. Immediately following our show, you'll hear your favorite stars of Hollywood and Broadway in great plays on Theatre Guild on the air, so we hope you'll stay tuned right here to NBC. Thank you, Phil Harris and Alice Fay. And now here's today's adventure of the Tales of the Texas Rangers. From the Files of the Texas Rangers, the case called Prelude to Felony. It is 8.30 Wednesday morning in his mother, Texas, July 7, 1951, as Sheriff Alan Hankins answers a phone call in his office. Hankins speaking. Oh, morning, Buck. What can I do for you? Well, first off, you took place last night. You sure they couldn't have strayed somewhere? Well, sure they've been missing, Buck. I told you, just since last night. Smart. Yeah. She turned back and seen some of the calves were missing. Well, did you take a look yourself? I'll come right on out, Buck, and see what we got to go on. Went out immediately to Buck Watley's ranch. Upon investigation, he could find no clue to the whereabouts of the missing calves. And by 10.30 a.m., he had called for the aid of a Texas ranger. Ranger Jase Pearson was assigned and approximately 11.45 arrived at the Watley ranch. Hello, Sheriff. Well, howdy, Jase. Mighty glad to have you give us a hand. This is Buck Watley. Morning, Ranger. Morning. Is this the gentleman who thinks he had some cattle stolen? Think. I know. I had eight calves out that field there, and four of them just disappeared into thin air. I just came back from checking the fences, and there's no way they could have strayed, Jase. Hey, hey, hey! What is it, Reno? We're busy. You kids beat it now. Whoa, whoa. Hey, Dad. Go on, Reno. Don't bother me now. I'm talking to the ranger. Listen, Dad. Well, this is my daughter. The kids are sort of excited this morning, because they're the ones that discovered the calves missing. I'm trying to tell you, Dad. We found them. The calves? Yeah. Where about? Over at Smith's Place. Oh, that dirty crook. Right near Sal Field. Aren't they digs? Yeah, that's right. Honest. Well, sure as you never can trust anybody. Are you sure they're your dad's calves? I'm very sure they are. You see, we took a shortcut over by his place on our way to school, and we just happened to see him. Four of them. And I know they're my dad's. Come on. I'll show you. Now, wait a minute. You've been running that pony too hard. Now, take it easy, kids. Let those horses rest a minute. They're pretty winded. Well, I had to get back and tell my dad about Smith having the calves. You going to arrest him? We have to be sure he stole them first, don't we? Well, I just told you, we found them right over there in Smith's Field. What do you know about this Smith's sheriff? Oh, I've known him for a long time. Jayce lives there with his little daughter. Oh, it seemed like an honest, hard-working old fella to me. I'll tell you, Ranger, he stole our calves. Well, we'll look into it, Reno. Say, how come you kids aren't in school now? The range is right, Reno. You kids make track for school. Go on, beat it. Oh, but we want to see you arrested. You do, like I said, Reno. We're out 10. You're good. Come on, do these arresting? Maybe you better do what your dad says, Reno. We can take care of things all right. Get going, Reno. You shouldn't let the kid run the horse that way, Mr. Watley. And she'll ruin his mouth yanking at it like that. You're right, but it ain't easy to tell Reno what to do, especially when her mother's away. Effie's up visiting her sister this week. And I got my hands full. I can tell you. Those kids ride, Jase. I shouldn't have a horse if they don't know how to take care of them. Well, we might as well go on over and have a talk with Schmidt, I guess. You want to come with us, Mr. Watley? Well, if they are your calves, you'll have to identify them. All right. You can all go in my car. Where do I head when I get out of the ranch here, Sheriff? We're to see over the undercarst field where the kids are riding. Yeah. Well, it's straight over that way, but we got to go around. And I'll be mighty surprised, Watley, if Gus Schmidt ever did any stealing of any kind. Well, I guess we'll soon find out. Well, this is the place. Well, aren't you coming with us, Mr. Watley? You mind if I wait in the car? I'd rather you talk to him first, suit yourself. There he is, coming around the house now. Hey, Schmidt! I didn't see your drive in. I was out in the back making some sausage. Gus, this is Ranger Pearson. Oh, yeah? I wonder if you could answer a few questions for us. Of course. Yeah, of course. Gus, four calves were found missing from Buck Watley's ranch during the night. Four calves? And Watley's daughter, Reno, said she saw him on your place this morning. That's fantastic. You don't know anything about him, then. Me? Of course I don't. Tell me, Mr. Schmidt, have you got any cattle on your place here? Yeah, just a few. How many? Let me see. We have six all together, I think. Up if we have them only for milking and making butter, you know. No calves, eh? Yeah, we got two. Where do you keep them? Just down there in the field. Yeah, see? You don't mind if we have a look at them, do you? Of course not. Come, I show you. You coming with us, Buck? You better come along, Mr. Watley. Good morning, Mr. Watley. Good morning, Schmidt. Well, no, I hear you have some calves missing. Yeah, four of them. Oh, you think they strayed away? I know they didn't. Oh, look, Mr. Watley, we have been good neighbors, yeah? Surely you don't think I took these calves from you? Well, it seems believing where I come from, Schmidt. Oh, look, Mr. Watley, if you want to look on my place, why don't you come and say so? Instead, you bring a sheriff and a ranger, too. Like I'm a thief, yeah? Well, my kid, we know said she's seen them here. Ah, he's seen them. She tells family lies as they are fleas in Egypt. Now, look, Schmidt, I don't like your talking that way about my kid. Well, it's true. All right, just hold it, both of you. Let's have a look at your calves, Gus. Yeah, yeah, I show you. I have two, and they are mine. Come on, Watley. Fine neighbors I have, yeah. If I find anybody's calf on my place, I bring them back myself. There are those kids again. They haven't gone to school yet. Yeah, playing hooky. And they're not staying on my place, I tell you. Beat it, Reno. You heard me? Yeah, that's the fact. You tell her to go. Just cram, get out, all of you. I'll give my own kid order, Schmidt. Well, she does not come on my place again. Now, I tell you, Mr. Watley, she is a devil, this Reno. She's a darn sight smarter than your kid, Schmidt. Narca is a good girl. Reno, she's smart like a hyena, yeah? She puts cement in my well, on gravel in the mesh. You keep that little devil off my land from now on, Mr. Watley. So you don't like the kids snooping around, Ash Schmidt? I tell you, I chase them off when they come here the next time. No wonder. No wonder, Watley. So Reno's a liar, is she? Yeah, I say she is. How many calves did you say you had, Gus? I have two. Better count them, Schmidt. One, two? Ah. Three, four, five, six. You've got six here altogether. Yeah, it's true. And four of them is mine. How about that, Mr. Schmidt? Well, actually, I don't know. Gus, I'm afraid you've got a little explaining to do. But, Watley, I explained. I got two calves, and here are six. I don't know how they come to be on my place. Oh, yeah. Now, wait a minute, Watley. Mr. Schmidt, four of these aren't your calves, then. No. You haven't any idea how they got here? No. If they are yours, Mr. Watley, take them away. I don't want anything that is not my own. Well, I guess we found what we were looking for, but... Yeah, we sure did. Mr. Watley, I'm sorry they should be here on my place. But how? I don't know. Well, I really ought to have the sheriff run you in, Schmidt, but now that I've found them, I guess I'll just run them on home. Hey, James! The kids are still hanging around. You don't mind very well, do they, Watley? No. And I tell you, Mr. Watley, the next time the daughter of yours should come on my place, I send for a sheriff myself and have her arrested. Oh, you will, huh? Yeah. Saying that I am a thief, she should have her mouth washed out with brown soap. Now, look here, Schmidt. If anybody's going to be arrested, it's going to be you. Now I'm going to show you. I'm swearing out a complaint against Schmidt for cattle theft, sheriff. Doc, go ahead. Swear then. You're going to do you no good. Oh, now, wait a minute. No, I was going to let him off, but now I ain't going to. Let's get on down to your office, sheriff. Oh, my God. Come on, Gus. I guess we've got to take him. Oh, no. Let go of me. Nobody's arresting me for something I did not do. Come on, come on, Smith. This kind of thing isn't going to do you any good. Let's ride down and talk things over, shall we? No. Nobody's taking me in for a thief. Well, the calves were found here, Mr. Schmidt, and since Watley's preferring charges, I'm afraid you're under arrest. But I did not take those calves, I tell you. Maybe not, but you're coming with us anyway. All right. I come then. In just a moment, we will continue with Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae as Ranger Jase Pearson. Today, more than ever before, America needs all of us. It needs every ounce of manpower that it can muster to out-produce the world, and only through production can it gain strength, industrial strength to remain a free and independent nation, strong enough to be beyond fear of aggression. Now, that means using all of our manpower, including thousands and thousands of handicapped persons, both veterans and non-veterans. So, if you are an employer, don't overlook this opportunity for added production through added manpower. Hire the handicapped. How do you go about it? Simple. Just get in touch with the nearest office of your state employment service. Now, if you are a handicapped man or woman and you want a job, you also should contact that same office of your state employment service. Remember, to remain strong, America needs all of us on the job. Hire the handicapped and keep them on the job. And now, act to tales of the Texas Rangers. We continue now with tales of the Texas Rangers and our authentic story, Prelude to Felony. We dropped the sheriff and Wadley off at the ranch to pick up their cars, and then I drove Schmidt on down to the sheriff's office with me. After Wadley filed charges against Schmidt, he went home to wait for an order to recover his calves. Meantime, the sheriff and I were having our troubles with Schmidt. Gus, you've already told us the calves we found on your place were not yours. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's true. But still, I did not steal them. Gus, listen, we're not asking you to say you did. All we want you to do is sign a statement that the calves don't belong to you. No, I'm not shining those statements that I'm a thief. Gus, look, my secretary here has been taking down everything you've said in your own words. Just let her type up a statement and then sign it and we'll let you go home. Yeah, yeah, how long will it take? Only about a half hour. No, I cannot do it. Narca will be coming home from school now and I have promised I will take her to a party at my sister-in-law's. Well, Gus, I'm afraid you can't go till we tell you to. But Narca, she will be frightened. Yeah, it is getting late. I tell you what, Gus, I'd like to talk to Narca about this anyway. So why don't I ride out and drive her over to the party while you sign those papers, huh? Would you do this? I'd be glad to. Ah, so Narca will show you where Ali lives and would you see that she has her little sweater? She takes cold very easy, Narca does. I sure will, Gus. Oh, and Mr. Ranger? Yes? Please, could you say as little as possible to Narca about this? While the sheriff was holding Schmidt at the office, I went out to his ranch to get the little girl. When I turned in the road, I saw the same gang of kids that had been hanging around earlier. They were gathered in a bunch by the ranch house porch. They saw me drive up. They mounted and took off in a hurry down the road. Narca, I'm Ranger Pearson. Say, what's the trouble? You're going to a party, aren't you? Your eyes will be all red. Nothing's worth crying that hard about. I don't want to go to the party now. What were those kids saying to you just now anyhow? They said my father's a thief. Who said that? Reno and Dink, they all did. They said he's a thief and he's going to jail. Mind if I sit down on this step with you a minute? Did you come to arrest my father? No, I came to drive you over to the party. You did? Wait till Reno hears about that. Reno's just mean. She's not only mean to me, but she's mean to Satan. Well, if I had a nice little horse like that, I'd never... Narca, listen. Your dad told me you're a pretty sensible kid. Did he? Where did you see my papa? In town. As a matter of fact, I just left him. Where is he? He's all right, Narca. And he'll be home when you get back from your Aunt Ali's. Why isn't he here now? If you know anything about my papa, then you better tell me. Especially if it's true what Reno said. What did Reno say? She said papa's a thief and he's going to jail. Narca, do you know anything about four calves that were found in your field this morning? No. Yes? I mean... Yes, I do. I took them. When? Yesterday morning. I'm afraid your story isn't very good, Narca. Caves disappeared last night. Oh. You know telling stories never helped anybody very much. Besides, if your dad didn't take the calves... Well, he didn't. Well, there's nothing to worry about. He's just down talking to the sheriff and he'll be through in plenty of time to pick you up. Now, come on. You don't want to miss any of the party, do you? Oh, by the way, I promised your dad I wouldn't let you forget your sweater. Where is it? It's on the fence. Why don't you run back and get it? All right. What's the matter, Narca? I can't find it. Are you sure you didn't leave it in school? No, it was right here. They took it. Now I know why Dink was acting so funny. Who's Dink? No, he's Reno's boyfriend. He was making fun of my sweater. I guess he stole it. That's what he did. Couldn't you arrest him? Well, not unless I was really sure he took it on purpose. Well, he did. Where does Dink live? He lives over on the other side of the wash. Well, let's stop by that way, shall we? Yes. Come on, then. Let's go. Your dad tells me you walk to school every day, Narca. Maybe that's what gives you those rosy cheeks. Have you ever thought of that? Oh, I don't mind walking so much. But I wish I had a horse. Any kind of a horse. Do the other kids tease you for walking? Uh-huh. You'll have a horse someday, Narca. I betcha. There he is. There's Dink. Yes, son? Me? Yes, you. Yes, sir. You stay here, Narca. I'll handle this. All right. You want me, Ranger? Yes, I want to talk to you. Yes, sir. Did you take a red sweater from Schmidt's place just now? No, sir. I didn't. Are you sure? Yes, sir. What's this piece of yarn doing in the catch of your saddlebag? Huh? Right here, this little piece of wool. Let's see what you've got in here. You can see there isn't any sweater in there, sir. Yes, I can. And that's why I want you to tell me where it is. I don't know, Ranger. You better tell me. I'm not fooling now. I'll give it to Reno. You can get in trouble for taking other people's belongings, son. Guess you know that. Yes, sir. What'd you want to take a little girl's sweater for anyway? Well, Reno said she wanted it for tonight. What's going on tonight? Go on, speak up. I can't tell you. Well, you better tell me. Come on out with it. Well, Reno wants to plant it. Plant it? Well, you know, she wants to make it look as though Nalka did it this time. Did what? Well... Hurry up. Well, we took some calves from Reno's dad. You mean you kids took those calves over to Schmidt's place? Yeah. What's the big idea of all this anyway, Dink? What do you kids want to stir up all this trouble for? I don't know, just for the heck of it. I didn't want to do it, honest. Reno's the one who thought of it. She said that... Well, Reno's going to be talking out of the other side of her mouth when I get through with her. Now, tell me. What is it that your kids are up to tonight? Well, we was going over to Cafeteers... And steal some more calves, I suppose. Well, yeah. And leave this sweater so little Nalka'd get blamed for it, huh? Well, gee, Ranger, I didn't want to do it, honest. Reno's the one that thought it all up. Now, listen, Dink. I want to tell you something. I've been a Ranger for a long time, and I can tell you that jails are full of people that let somebody else talk them into doing something they knew wasn't right. Yes, sir. What time are you meeting? Nine. And I want you to say anything about this to Reno or anyone else. Do you hear, Dink? Yes, sir. But, gee, I'm going to feel like a stool pigeon tonight. I'm leaving how you're going to feel tonight, strictly up to your dad. Come on, Dink. Where do you live? Right over there in that white house. All right, get moving. I'll be along in a minute. Yes, sir. I told Dink's parents to go easy on him because I didn't think he'd be getting into any more trouble for a while. But I asked them to see that he didn't leave the house or use the telephone at all that evening. Then I took the little Schmidt girl over to her aunt's. By this time, I was pretty sure the best person I could get to help me was Reno Watley's father. So about 8.30, I went out and called on him at his ranch. Well, hi there, Ranger. Howdy. I'm glad to see you. You know, I've been feeling pretty bad about turning old Schmidt in today. We've been neighbors for a long time, but I ain't going to let anyone talk about my kid like that. Sit down. Can I fix you something? No, thanks, Mr. Watley. Where is Reno tonight? Oh, she's going to that young people's party at the church. You know, they have square dancing and games. Try to give the kids a nice wholesome time. Good idea, don't you think? Yeah, it would be if the kids ever went. What do you mean? I mean, I don't think Reno's over there tonight, Mr. Watley. You got a telephone at the church? Oh, sure. Well, then I think you better find out. Okay. Hello, Mrs. Crane? This is Buck Watley. Can I speak to Reno, please? Huh? Well, if she does come in, tell her to call her dad, pronto. Well, Mr. Watley? Look, Ranger, would you mind telling me what this is all about? If you know where my kid is, I'd like to know. Is she in some kind of trouble? I'm afraid she is, and she's heading for more. That's why I came out to see her tonight about a little matter of cattle theft. Cattle theft? Was your own kid stole those calves and drove them over to Schmidt's place? Huh? What are you talking about? Simply this, Reno and her friends thought they could put the bee on old Gus. But what in blazes would make Reno want to do a thing like that? Well, the whole gang of them out here seem to get some kind of excitement out of making mischief for people. I'm afraid Reno is at the root of it. Are you sure about this, Ranger? I'm pretty well convinced. And the worst of it is, tonight they're planning to steal some calves from Cafferty's and pin the blame on Nelka. Schmidt's little girl? But why? Seems they've got it in for her because she's shy and doesn't have a horse of her own like the rest of them. Do you mean those little whippersnappers that do that just because the kid don't have a horse to ride? Yeah, I guess without one, she couldn't be one of the gang. Reno's just a kid, but I never thought she was mean. And I just can't believe she'd take anything that didn't belong to her. I heard you tell Schmidt this morning that Sien's believing. Yes. Well, then I think you better come along with me tonight. What do you say? Yeah. I think maybe I'd better. Wadley and I got to Cafferty's a little before nine and staked out behind an old shed not far from the crowd. We'd warned Cafferty's to let the kids go through with it just to be sure we'd caught him without anybody getting hurt. We hadn't been there too long before we heard him coming. There they are. Yeah. That's Reno all right. I don't know. He's always leaving. Hey, Jan. You and Mike hold the horses. All right. Okay. And Blokie, you come with me. I just hope I can keep the lid on my temperature. You tell me it's time, Reno. Hold it, Wadley. Really catch him in the act. We're going to open up that crowd gate any minute now. Okay, Blokie. Open her up. Minimum house. All right. I'll get it. Wait. Wait. I thought I heard something. Okay. It's all right, I guess. Come on. Okay. Get up there. Come on. Let's move her a little closer. I'm going to plant something on her backside before long. Okay, Blokie. Let me just put this year on the fence. Yeah. And then we'll drive on calves over to Smith. I'm leaving this year for Mr. Cafferty. You're playing some of these calves. Wait a minute, Mr. Wadley. Wait a minute. Okay, come on. All right. You can give that sweater to me, Reno. Seeing it isn't yours. Who's there? Come on. You kids stay right where you are. All of you. No, you don't, Reno. Get down off that horse. Leave me alone. Leave me alone. Leave me alone. Give me that quirk. Let go of me. I said give it to me. Now get off that horse. I won't. You hear me? I said get off. I owe you that quirk on you, Reno. Come here. I'm sad. Yeah, I want to shake your teeth down your throat for stealing your own dad's calves. I'm planning to blame it on a little kid. You make tax for the ranch as fast as you can, Reno. Do you hear me? Okay. The rest of you kids go on home and stay there. You'll be here for me. Reno, I thought I told you to beat it home. I'm not just the beginning. When I get through with you, I'm going to have a couple of fun and get moving. And don't stop moving till I tell you to. My kids. Ranger, I don't know how I'm ever going to face old Schmidt again. We used to be pretty good neighbors, too, for this. Well, on account of his little girl, I'd get that complaint off the books as soon as you could. Well, I'm going to. I'm doing it tonight. That won't undo all the harm's been done. I wish I could do something to make up for this. Yeah, they were pretty upset, both of them. Kids teasing that poor little girl and all. Ranger, I want you to do something. I want you to go down by the prettiest little paint you can find and charge it to me. Take it over to Nalke, will you? Okay, Mr. Wadley. Only don't let on that it come from me. Old Gus is kind of proud and I don't know if he'd let her accept it. I thought you wanted to make up for things, Wadley. I do. I do. Well, then go on over. Give it to yourself. 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 a 64-dollar 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 will 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 Face Show with Frankie Julius Abruzio, Brother William, and the entire Harris household. It's a program that's sure to please you. Later today, Theatre Guild on the Air will bring you stars from Hollywood and Broadway in an exciting Broadway play. And right after Theatre Guild on the Air, I'll be back with a pocket full of money and the 64-dollar 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. Let's get back to the tales of the Texas Rangers. And now, here are the results of the case you have just heard. By 11 that night, Buck Watley had withdrawn his charge against Gustav Schmidt. No further complaint was filed. But the juveniles involved admitted to various acts of vandalism and petty theft and were warned that further occurrences would bring about disciplinary action of the court. They were placed in the custody of their respective parents. We'll pray in another authentic enactment of a case from the piles of the Texas Rangers. In San Francisco's story, a Warner Brothers release, Colleen Collins played the part of Reno Watley. Buck Watley was Ed Bigley. Marion Krushen played Nalke Schmidt. And Boris Lewis was Gus Schmidt. Harley Bear played the role of sheriff. Others in the cast were Tony Barrett and George Peroni. Technical advisor was Captain M.T. Lone Wolf-Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers. He was transcribed and adapted by Betty Meary and the program was produced and directed by Stacey Keek. Hell, give me speaking. Next, enjoy comedy, drama and music on The Big Show on NBC.