 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 Boyce. The jingle of the silver spurs heralds that fabulous figure of the early west, Hopalong Cassidy. The same hoppy you cheer in motion pictures. With the same California you've laughed at a hundred times in your local theater. These famous partners come riding into radio just as you've asked for them. William Boyce as Hopalong Cassidy and Andy Clyde as California. Our story tonight, Dead Man's Hand. With winter coming on and the snow beginning to crawl down the distant mountains, there are a hundred things to be done around the bar 20 ranch. But Hopalong Cassidy knows that some of those things will have to wait, for he and California are going to have another job to do. Or it might be an easy job, like just giving a friend a helping hand. Then again it might mean tangling with a treacherous gang who put gold nuggets about human life. Hoppy, how incarnation am I going to get my work done with you snaking me and opening the range like a lame duck dog? No, I wouldn't have sent that writer out after you without a pretty good reason, California. Well, my ears are up, let's have her. You remember Kit Kribby? I remember Kit, why he was one of the best hands we ever had. He's in trouble. Listen to this letter I got this morning. Dear Hoppy, I'm writing you because I think you're the only friend I got left. Gold is where you find it, they say. And my partner Joe and I found it after three years in these God forsaken mountains. Our first samples have saved $500 to the tons. Gee, Willie, that's a rich price. Sure is. We thought we were lucky until the day Joe left with the second batch of samples, and I found him ten hours later in white water paths with a bullet in his back. So I'm alone now. But that's not why I'm writing you. My wife Sally is alone, too, in Indian Spring, and she needs help, Hoppy. You're kind of helped. That's all I can say now. Wish me luck, pal. Kit Kribby. Which sounds like the boy's got his shelf in trouble. Yeah, I believe Kit's in real trouble. More than this letter tells. Because, you see, I know Kit's handwriting, and this letter is a bad imitation. You mean it, eh? Someone wants it to come to Indian Spring, California, and they want it badly enough to forge this letter. Now back to Hapalong, Cassidy. Right behind them, when Hoppy and California pulled into the rough, dirty little town of Indian Spring, and as they walked into the town's rickety hotel past the poker game to the bar, Hoppy knew that only gold would bring Kit Kribby to a place like this. Jackson, better to open. I'll raise you it. How many? How many what? Well, I always got Twisky, so I don't ask what do you want. I ask how many. And suppose a fellow wants a room for the night. Well, how long you staying? Does that make any difference? Well, not to me, but might to you. If I was you, I'd ride on to Siwara in the morning. You know, mister, well, Sam, I'd say you were scared or something. Well, it ain't only me. It's everybody around here. Look, if you're smart, you get right back on that horseshoe. Jerry! Yeah, Luke. You're around here to 10th bar, ain't you, Jerry? Sure, sure. Well, of course, you're shooting off your mouth and soft them their drinks. Yeah. You're here. Right away, Luke. Jerry the jackrabbit. Look at him jump. Talking. All the time talking. Any objections? Yeah. Talking can get a man into a heap of trouble, pal. Well, remember that on your way out of town tomorrow. Okay, boys, this is the money hand. I want to be in at the start. Then he's part of that one, sir. Gosh, Hopper. I wouldn't turn my back and hitch and post it in this town. Look at that poker game. $20 limit. Well, it feels like naked here without a six-gun when he's hit. Here comes Jerry. Look, mister, this town's no place for a cowpoke on the loose. Now, take my advice. Ride on to Siwara. Trails playing and you'll have a move. Why Siwara? They've got the law in Siwara. Government marshal. You mean there's no law around here? Well, I don't know. Nobody's seen the sheriff since day before yesterday. Now, that Luke Berry over there, he's a killer. Got the whole town buffaloed. Oh, there's going to be trouble. I can smell it. Maybe I don't smell as sharp as you, Jerry. You're very strong, double-check me, will you? I'll show you. Get down! What's happening, son? You sure got Luke? That was fast-going, Don. You saw him pull a gun on me. Self-defense. I had to shoot him. Well, sure, sure, Don. Well, I'm still a doctrine. It's my duty to see what I can do for him. Help me get him over to my office. You come up behind the bar now, Jerry. Luke? What was it? Was it Luke? Why, nobody ever pulled a gun on Luke before. Well, better get him over to my office fast. I'm afraid it's too late, but I'll do what I can. If you're all for concern about a fellow, he's just shot. Who is that, Jerry? Oh, it's Doc Sheldon. He's still hanging out right across the street. Come on, California, let's take a look. Uh, look for what, Poppy, ain't we already seen a note? Hmm, this is a funny one. Why are you looking at them cards? Well, this is the dead man's hand, California, and I find it very interesting. This, uh, this Luke fellow sitting here, wasn't he? That's right. And the fellow who shot him was here? Uh, oh, okay. Well, what do you say? We just forget the cards. Wait a minute, California. Luke said something about the other fellow double-deckering. Pull these guns first, that right? Well, sound it like that. I was under a table by that time. Take a look at the cards. Luke's got a full house here. The other man held a pair of pens. Now, why should that guy with a winning hand pull a gun first? Well, maybe, uh, maybe he was drunk. Oh, not that drunk. Watch on your mind. Oh, just something to think about, that's all. Fix us up at the room, will ya? My name's, uh, McKinney. This is California Jones. Looks like we'll be here in Indian Spring for quite a while. Well, it's your funeral. Maybe. Don't you think... And, Jerry, could you tell us where Kit Kirby's wife lives? I'd kinda like to write out and see her tonight. I'm so glad to see you, Mr. Cassidy. Kit is very close to me, Mrs. Kirby. Oh, we do need help. We're afraid, the whole town's afraid. I wish 1,000 times Kit hadn't found that gold. You think that has something to do with it? I've had everything to do with it. The night Joe brought in the first sample, someone broke into the assay office and stole the reports. That's how news of the strike got out. Joe went to Sheriff Underwood, but I guessed someone else got there first. Ah, how's that? Well, the Sheriff seemed afraid to do anything. Then Mr. Sice at Wells Fargo called a protest meeting. He was attacked on the streets the next night. Left town after he got a note threatening his family. Well, didn't anyone do anything about it? The editor of the weekly paper tried to. He wrote up the story together with what he knew about the gold strike, but the paper never came out. Well, why not? His office burned to the ground last week. Presses and all. That bartender probably knew what he was talking about. Um, when was Kit's partner shot on the trail? Just before the fire. That's when I knew it was more than I could handle, Mr. Cassidy. Sheriff Underwood promised me he'd do something, but... Yeah, but he left town in a hurry, too. You've got any idea who's behind this, Mrs. Kirby? Oh, I thought it was Luke Barry until the Saturday morning. You heard about the shooting? Yes. I want to give you something, Mr. Cassidy. Yeah, but it'll tell you how to get to the mine after the trail leaves Whitewater Pass. I just threw it for memory. No one knows how to get there, you see. There's a maze of mountains and canyons beyond the pass. Kit's up there now, huh? He hasn't come out for a month. I haven't even seen him in that long. Well, now, uh, isn't it surprising that I got a letter from him dated less than three weeks ago? Uh, I-I-I definitely... I thought maybe he'd send it out by you. But you say you haven't seen him. You know, Mrs. Kirby, it's awfully hard to help when you just know half the story. All right. I'll tell you. I did write that letter, but it was only because Kit needs help so desperately. And even if he could get a letter to you, you know how proud he is. He'd never ask anyone for help. I know. He's got more spirits than Topper. That's saying a lot, because Topper's a mighty fine bit of horse flesh. It was wrong of me to sign Kit's name to that letter, I know. But you do understand why I did it. Yes, I do, Mrs. Kirby, but, uh, just don't make a practice of it, or somebody else might not understand. Now about Kit. He's afraid he might get the same reception as his partner if he starts down the trail. So, he's just sitting tight, huh? Yes, but he has to come out, Mr. Cassidy. It's snowing up there already, and he's almost out of supply. What about the gold? Well, that's up there, too. Over $40,000 worth of it. And it's got to come out sometime through Indian Spring Wells Fargo. Tell me, uh, is there anyone in town you know you can trust? Just Doc Sheldon. He's one of Kit's best friends. He re... Oh, I see him coming up the walk now. He'll be still... Uh, Mrs. Kirby, uh, we'll be in the next room. Don't tell him we're here. But he's... Please. Oh, all right. Come on, California. Right behind you. Hello, Doc. You, uh, heard about Luke Berry? I heard he was shot. Is he...? Died in my office an hour ago. He drew a gun on me first. Peer-cut case of self-defense. Have a dozen witnesses. I, uh... Thought you'd want to know, Sally. Luke told me everything. What... What do you mean, Doc? He was back at the whole thing. That business at the assay office. The fire, all of it. Hello, honey. I think we're out of the woods now. The rain of terror is over. I'm not so sure. You still think Luke was working for someone else? Oh, I don't know, Doc. He's been such a nightmare I can't think anymore. You've got to think, Sally. But, Chip, you've got to get out of the mountains before the snow bottles him up. Any news on the shelf? Haven't heard. I think he's gone to Suwara for the marshal. Uh, take a look out the window there. Hmm? What? That sky. The snow could hit those mountains again tonight. It doesn't make sense, Sally. We've got to go up there and get Chip out. I told you I arranged for the sheriff, Doc. I tell you, the secrets of business is only hurting Chip. Winter doesn't wait for anyone. All right, Doc. If the sheriff isn't back by tomorrow morning, I'll take you up. That's better, Sally. Now you're being sensible. I'll be here tomorrow morning. Yes, sonna. Yes, Doc. I'll be ready. Good night, Sally. Good night. Can you trust him? Oh, I can't, so. I hope so. You mean I shouldn't have promised to guard him up there? No, that's all right. But stall him as long as you can tomorrow morning. Come on, California. Where are we going, Hoppy? Best place I know at the moment is to bed. California. California. Wake up. Oh, no. California. No, thank you, ma'am. No more of me, boss. I could all roast turkey I can eat. Oh, we're thinking of food. California. Hoppy. Hoppy. Oh, what time is it? Why are you... Get your britches on. Oh, it's dark. What's the... Why are you... Get your britches on. I got an idea. Great time to get ideas, Hoppy. Run me ragged old days. Duck and lead in the bar room. And ain't got the decent... Hurry up. Can't find my boots. Maybe my eyes are still closed. Never mind the boots. Just the britches. Huh? You ready? Yeah, but... Come on. What's got into you? What time in the morning is it anyway? It's four o'clock. Don't be very quiet and follow me. Right down the stairway into the bar room. What is this? I want to try a little experiment. I give up. I'm going to give you a nice, quiet job in the truck wagon somewhere. Getting up at four in the morning to do spermage. When a man works as hard as I do, Hoppy, he needs these 40 winches. There we are. This is the table. Uh, what table? Well, the boys were playing both of us afternoon. Now, you sit there. That's it. And I'll sit here facing you with the bar in my back. Now, you're Luke Baren. You're holding the high hand. But for some reason or other, you tell me I'm double-deckin' and drawin' me. Uh, what kind of... Wait a minute. Oh, I'm a long-suffering fritter. Why, I... Go ahead. Go on, Hoppy. I'm Luke Baren. You shoot once and miss. Then we trade shots. You miss again. I don't. Then I fire two more and it's over. Now, we can go back to bed. I don't get it, California. You miss me twice. What happened to your bullets? Look, not a mark on the bar. If you shot high, you'd have busted that mirror behind it into a million pieces. Wait a minute, Hoppy. You mean them shots were... Hoppy, where'd you learn to? One of the tables. Come on down and help me look. What you're looking for? Well, it's female. If it weren't for a mighty dart, it could help you find it. But that is, if I knew what it was. Of course. Ah, here we are. I thought Doc Sheldon was pretty hasty. If I can look very out to his office. What you got? Ah, there was no killing here this afternoon. I was a put-up John to make sound I could be think Luke is dead. Now back to Hoppillong, Cassidy. Hoppy in California has been in a lot of strange places. It's a very odd hour. At the moment, they are under a poker table in the Indian Spring Barrow. It's four o'clock in the morning. And they are just sitting and thinking, trying to make sense out of the discovery that the shooting of Luke Berry was staged and undoubtedly for Sally Kirby's benefit. This piece of warding is what I found under the table in California. A piece of warding from a blank cartridge. Blank cartridge? What do you know about that, Hoppy? Doc Sheldon knew Mrs. Kirby would take him up to the mine if he thought Luke was out of the way. Shh, quiet. It's the dead man in dark. Yeah, Luke Berry is just about as dead as I thought. You better settle up now. Write it for that bluff of a white water pair. Be a long way. We can't afford to be spotted. What we plan is still murder, you know. Best protection you've got is staying dead. Ha, ha, ha, ha. You're gonna hate to miss my chungal in the morning. Now, what are our plans? What about Kirby? We ought to hit the path on the way down about three in the afternoon. Mrs. Kirby will be first. Then Kirby. Remember that. Number two is Kirby. I'll bring up the rear after the fact news. You won't be able to tell who's who at that distance. You'll draw your bead on number two. And don't miss. I didn't miss before, did I? He talked after you left him. I didn't like that. Yeah, don't worry. Kirby won't talk. And remember, I gotta get out of this clean. Everything depends on that when the boss files for Kirby's clean. I'll see you in six weeks in Santa Fe. All right. And remember, I want you on your way to Whitewater Pass before Santa Fe. Of course you will. Why then dirty double-crossing skunks. Let's grab from Hoppy. Not so fast, California. But Hoppy, they'll get Kirby as he comes down that trail. If we grab these two right now, the boss they mentioned in Santa Fe will send somebody else after Kit. The only way to settle this right is to find out who's behind it all. So we'll just have to play along. Well, let's check in my instincts. But, Doug, go on. Hoppy, you always seem to know best. It gets down right. Monotonous. You trying to flatter me. Come on. It's almost daybreak, and we got to hurry up and spruce up a bit. Well, don't folks always dress up to go to a funeral? Funeral? Hoppy, you mean... Yes, Luke Berry's last right. And I have a hunch we're going to find it mighty interesting. You're an Indian spring. I just thought that I'd get up and take charge here. Now, as you know, we're sending Luke Berry to his reward. And at a time like this, we're supposed to say something nice about the deceased. Now, being the deceased is Luke Berry. That regulation puts me at a whopping handicap. Hoppy, what a nation. Take it easy. I'll tell you when. Anyone present got anything nice to say about Luke? Well, that being the case, sermon's over. Let him down, easy boys. Yes, sir, ma'am. What's the matter, mister? Let's not be too hasty putting old Luke away. I'm one of his best friends and I'd like to see the body. I'm sorry, mister. She's nailed down to stage. Rip her up. I want to see him. You get back down. You heard what I said. Take the lid off of that coffin. Well, you'll get tough with me, will you? And it isn't customary for the parts to pull a gun on the chief mourner. California. Yeah? Take the lid off. Right, Hoppy. But it's more easy. One of the boards is cracked. Stop it, will you? I'd shut up if I were you. Here she comes. Who's in it? I don't know. Never seen him. Good Lord. Well, it's your underwear. Oh, my goodness. Just a minute, folks. Just a minute. I know I'm estranged at all of you, but I'd like to say something. Well, speak up, mister. Yeah, what do you got to offer there? Since I rode into this town yesterday, I've seen nothing but fear. All of you are shaking in your boots. Now, you're only as strong as you want to be. You want to lie down and keep taking it? But here, rats will keep walking on you. It's up to you. How much longer are you going to take it? Well, what have you got to offer there? Okay, mister. We're listening. All right, you got a jail in town. I saw it. Put the person here inside it, and I'll have another one for you by nightfall. Come on, California. We got a job to do and do fast. It's all right. If we don't get ourselves in the dirtiest places, here we are, making our own trail up the mountainside with a window whistling through our whiskers. God, isn't that bad? Not even enough food to keep my ribs warm. I'll buy you a nice big steak just as soon as we get back to Indian Spring. No one look burries up men peaks above us. I ain't too certain of ever getting back. You aren't concerned? No. You're scared. I think we'd better split up here. You know what you're to do, don't you? I got to do some mighty hard riding to reach the party before they get the white water past. It's been a long wait up there, Sally. Seems good to be headed down this trail. It doesn't even be afraid of now, kid. Look, Barry is dead. Doing here. Oh, Topper needed a little exercise. How are you, kid? Oh, golly, it's good to see you, Hoppy. Hey, wait till you hear about my gold strike. We've had a fine trip, Mr. Cassidy. Doc Sheldon's been keeping a sharp lookout. Oh, have you two met? Mr. Cassidy's an old friend of Kit's, Doc. No, we haven't met. Howdy, Doc. Guess maybe I'll ride back to the end of the line and join you, if you don't mind. Maybe I can help you watch for any danger. Oh, I don't know what to do. Mrs. Kirby, when we round this next bend, we'll be in white water past. Can you make your horse stumble and not hurt yourself? I don't understand. Please don't ask questions. Just do as I say. All right. Now go back there behind the dock and we'll be on our way. All right, get on! Yes, Cassidy. I can tell you that I'm here to protect Kit. Then we have a lot in common, Doc. Well, just don't try it. If your horse is tired, why don't you come back here with me and let Kit lead the way. All right, Mr. Cassidy. Well, what's the matter with you? That's a good idea. Head through white water past this way. Kit, first. Doc, second. No, wait, wait. Sally, third. And I'll bring up the rear. All right, let's get going. But Cassidy, I don't think we should ride this way. Kit's out front. He exposed everything. I'll change places with him. I wouldn't have hired you, Doc. I have my gun handy in case of any emergency. Cassidy, Cassidy, I can't ride here. I'm sick, I'll tell you. Mountain sickness. And there's nothing like a good ride to cure mountain sickness, Doc. Especially in number two spots. Wouldn't be surprised if you never got sick again after the day. Poppy, that was a shot. What do you know? Someone's out shooting coyotes. Oh, what can we do? Leave this to me, Sally. Keep your places in line. Cassidy, please. Who's your boss in Santa Fe, Doc? There's no one. He's running the whole play up here, isn't he? After Kit's mine. Bound to get it no matter who he has to kill first. I'll tell you, I don't know, Cassidy. Listen, Luke Berry's up there. He's shooting at me because I'm riding second. Sure, you put him there. And he's going to keep shooting until you talk. Luke Berry, but I thought he was dead. Too bad, Doc. That was a good hat. Look at her float down the gorge. Stop him, I'll talk, Cassidy. I'll talk. Back to hop along, Cassidy. I'll take charge of the prisoners for a while, Poppy. You won't have any trouble with the Doc, yeah? And it's surprising how a tap in the head will tame a fellow like Luke Berry. So you were in on this too, California. It all came so suddenly. I don't even know what happened. Well, you see, Kit's California and I thought Luke would be up on that peak of a white water path. So when I rode up the trail to meet you, California kind of sneaked up on Luke and took over the job. Like taking candy from a baby. Then it wasn't Luke shooting at us at all. It was... That's right, it was California. But the Doc thought it was Luke. And he instructed Luke to kill whoever was in number two position. Why, that's where I had been riding. Oh, Kit! And with a bullet's whiz and passing the Doc, you sang like a bird. What do you know about the whole crooked mining outfit in Santa Fe? Good old Doc. He just needed a little persuasion. That's right. Hey, by the way, there's something I forgot to compliment you on, California. Yeah? I'm blushing already. Uh, what is it? That's shooting in white water paths. Brother, when you shoot to miss, you sure don't leave much room to spare. Miss, did you tell me to miss him? I was done and they're heading back to the bar 20. But they'd be mighty pleased if you join them again next week for another story of action and excitement. Up along Cassidy, Starling William Boyd is transcribed and produced in the West by Walter White Jr. Dead Man's Hand was written by Harold Swamp. All stories are based upon the characters created by Clarence Mulford. This is a Commodore production.