 Hopalong Cassidy With action and suspense out of the Old West comes the most famous hero of them all Hopalong Cassidy star in William Boyd The ring of the Silver Spurs heralds the most amazing man ever to ride the prairies of the early West Hopalong Cassidy This famous hero thrills his 60 million fans with action and dangerous adventure In the role of Hopalong Cassidy is the popular star of the motion picture series William Boyd And now another exciting story of the early West dead or alive Right now after competing in the big rodeo at Amarillo Hopi and California are headed back toward their home spread the old bar 20 With two more days of riding ahead of them the country becomes wilder and more desolate with each pass and mile But their hearts are light and their spirits gay For Hopi is one most of the rope and riding events and there's folding money in their belts and silver in their jeans Hopi when them waddies back on the bar 20 hear about that new Bulldog and record you set There'll be a hot time in the old town that night Hey, what do you pull up for Hopi? It's like another group of riders cross the trail here. Look at those hoof prints, California made right reason to Yeah Now a bunch of them maybe a dozen more than that looks like the same bunch whose trail we crossed some miles back when we hit the Hood Hills probably some wranglers rounding up strays, you know better than that. You don't write bunch stuff like this looking for strays Oh, well, let's go Whoever they are those riders must be looking for something but not cattle Well, I guess we'll hit town a red dog before sundown We'll bed down for the night there you shoot me. I never cost this range myself You seem to know it right. Well, well, I ought to I did a bit of prospecting around here quite a few years back In my old partner hard shell Hank Brady who Hank Brady? We called him hard shell because he sure was a tough nut Temper like dynamite with a heart of gold. I teamed up with him soon after his wife died Get a little boy a nice little fellow who took care of them Oh hard shell used to hire a squall from one of the tribes around here to look after him while we mose it around these Hills looking for pay dirt You must have been nine and ten years ago. I've never forgotten that kid tough little hombre Just like he's pa Did you two ever strike it rich? No, I never did Pretty well mined out the best thing we ever hit Peter that fast We split up soon after and I went back to cow punchin. What happened to old hard shell. No, I'm a bad luck. I'm afraid I heard later. He got into a fight and killed a man Send him up for life. Oh tarnation. That's tough. What happened to his little boy? I've often wondered California never could find out I wrote Hank up the state panic a couple of times but never got an answer That's a long time ago listen That's coming from across that long side. Yeah, something's going on those riders whose trail we've been crossing a Hunting party maybe huh could be Funny that many of them all hunting together all the pens. What do you mean on what they're hunting? They are a hunting party. There's only one kind of game. They could be looking for and the way they're organized I don't think it's coyotes or mountain lion. No me neither. They're looking for a man, right? Well, ain't none our business. I wonder let's go topper I'll be this country's getting wilder by the minute. You're sure you know where we're going California I know this territory like I know the inside of the bar 20 punk house. I hope What is it find those trees ahead of us to our right and left looks like we've met up with that hunting party I'll be quick. No, don't touch your gun. They got us covered Now back to hop along Cassidy and our story dead or alive While hoppy in California riding home from a rodeo where hoppy won a considerable sum of prize money the two cowboys are way late and captured by a large gang of horsemen as Their leader rides up to take their guns hoppy sees the star pinned to his vest and recognizes him Sheriff Thompson, what do you think you're doing keep your hands up? Don't you remember me? Well, I'll be Old Hank Brady's partner hop along Cassidy. That's right. Come on. Of course. I remember you It's all right boys. I think you better be sure So you what's going on here anyhow, sure if this is my partner California Carlson if you don't mind We'll lower our hand. I suppose you tell us first what you're doing back in this neck of the woods I were heading home from the rodeo in Amarillo. Who do you think we were anyway? I'm be figured you might be two of the convicts that broke out of state fan couple of days ago convicts Yeah, there was three of them headed for these hills Funny darn thing you turning up just about this time Cassidy. What's so funny about it? One of those escape convicts in case you didn't know is your old partner hard shell Hank Brady you mean he that's what I said He and two mighty mean killers hombres that should have been hung long ago Broke out together and kill the guard and that out for this territory. I figure they're holed up somewhere around here We trail them as far as the foothills kill the guard I'm sure if I'm mighty sorry to hear Hank Brady's mixed up in this he'll hang for it Cassidy All three of them and anyone that tries to help them is asking for a whole heap of trouble. What do you mean by that? That's what I said First old Brady's boy disappears from Red Dog Taking a whole parcel of grub from the folks have been keeping him and all of a sudden you show up Brady's old partner wait a minute. You mean a little Eddie little Eddie Brady is 16 Cassidy. He's got a gun and that makes him as big as any man. You'll ever want to meet You don't know nothing about this. I give you my word sheriff. It's all news to me And I hope so If we catch the boy will probably find out where his paul knows other two convicts are hiding that grub and medicine He took was for them and no mistake medicine. Yeah for his paul. I reckon Hard shell was hit by the fire one the guards as he went over the wall He was seen to fall but he got up and kept going. We don't know how bad he was hit but it sure didn't do him No good. I see. Well, he'll be right in Cassidy. Sorry to bother you. That's all right. All right, boys If you see a sign of the boy or them coyotes were after you might tell one of my deputies the red dog I'm afraid your ex-partners in a mighty bad fix hobby. Yeah, but it isn't him I'm worrying about as much as that kid is Eddie. We got to find him in California find him Oh chances are hard shell and those other two are hiding out in one of the old claims We used to work years ago the boy would know about them But nobody else in these parts would like to remember him after so many years Let's have a look at a few of them Well, this is about the fourth place we've looked happy and not a sign Well a few others say wait a minute there's an old cabin I recall where we used to cash grub about a mile further up in the hills. Come on There's the cabin all right Caught on a side of bacon. It's like I'm in a bin drop for somebody Yeah Maybe when he hurt us company There's someone behind us. Don't move Don't move or I'll kill you this shotgun won't miss Take it easy Eddie find if we turn around and face you get your hands up for you. All right turn around My you sure have grown remember me Yeah hop along Cassidy So you've turned against pop too, huh? The sheriff had to get you to help run him down now hold on Eddie I'm not working for the sheriff my partner, California. I came up here looking for you. Why? To take me back to red dogs and my father can starve to death or die of his wounds No, because you can't help your father and you're ruining your own life. It's my life and I'll do my dog on please with it The law isn't going to grab pop now if I can help it and nobody's gonna stop me Eddie There's a good guy He shot that crooked pole cat and self-defense and they sent a prison for it. It was wrong and he could take him back Eddie get out of here get out of here before I forget what good friends we used to be and kill both of you Get going Okay, Eddie come on California Are we sure found Eddie all right? We let him go. I could have jumped as we left No, I wanted him to get away California. Oh pull up No, he's taking the boy back by force. He'd only run off into the hills again I guess the only way to save him is to well Catch a hard shell hankin those two thugs with him. That's a mighty interest and proposition Just how do you figure we're gonna do that wait? Listen Eddie must have had a horse tethered back in the woods. That's what I figured come on. We're following him Not too fast. I want him to get a good start. That's why I let him get away He knows where hard shell is hiding. I think he does he'll lead us straight to him Gone we've plum lost his trail on these rocks hoppy. I told you we should have followed him closer No, we got to give him time Seems to me he's heading straight as an arrow the last four or five miles for that mountain dead ahead See you way off there. Yeah, but that don't mean nothing He might turn off a dozen times before he got there. He might but I don't think so. That's old smoke stack mountain Hard shell and I made our last strike there Other mine is before his mind that old mountains are fairly the whole thing is almost hollow with shafts and passages You think they might be hiding out there. We can ride over and find out come on Blasted young idiot. Why didn't you take some of that group with you in the high tailor from the cabin? I'm sorry, Mr. Griggs, but I wanted to get here as fast as I could to warn you this little hop along cast me Boy along Griggs Eddie you should have never come here in the first place. You should have stayed in town I couldn't dead. I knew you'd been shot And if you don't get a small grub, he's liable to starve. See I Don't dare go back to the cabin. Mr. Griggs if hoppy to the posse I don't care where you get it Just get it and make dog going sure nobody follows you here. Do you understand? Don't worry. Why shouldn't I? How do I know Cassidy didn't double back and folly here? He couldn't not the trail I left on those rocks. You better be right Let him alone Eddie Eddie Pile up more of these old dead leaves around me. I'm cold never mind. I'll do it get going boy We need grub and more kerosene for that lamp. You hear kerosene. I'll try That better. Yeah, thanks. I don't want Eddie mixed up in this you're here I don't want you to ask him to help us. It ain't right Greg's right. What are you talking about? It's our lives He's got to help us. Where's Rico? Standing guard the mouth of the upper shaft I'm going up there now The chances are there won't be nobody coming from this side of the mountain But you keep your eyes on the mouth of the shaft over there understand sure Rico and I'll cover the main approach That Cassidy ombry and his pal did follow Eddie. We blast him before they get halfway across the clearing Come on. Remember we shoot the kill Now back to hop along Cassidy and dead or alive While riding home from the Amarillo rodeo hoppy in California learned that three escaped convicts are hiding out in the rocky terrain near red Dog one of them is hoppy's former partner hard shell Hank Brady Hoppy's on the trail of the convict now open to find them before Brady's young son Eddie gets into trouble trying to help his dad escape Hoppy has narrowed down the search to smokestack mountain a jagged peak that he and Brady used to mine As soon as we climb over this last ridgeline have a clear slope all the way to the foot of smokestack mountain Well, are we gonna tell if hard shell and those other two convicts are holed up there? That is before they start shooting at us. We're not when they start pumping lead. We'll know Sounds pump dangerous. Well, honey gonna blow is a little risky sometime and hot and three of them is three times as risky There you can see the foot of the mountain through those trees. Yeah Looks like the trees run down just halfway There's quite a piece of clearing before you get to the base I know those black openings all up and down the bare wall of the mountain used to be mine shaft entrances If I'm gonna be our sitting duck at least I'd like to be in a shooting gallery where I'd get paid for it You're just waiting to be coaxed. Come on Okay, keep back in the shadow of these trees California those men are there we'd make fine targets Planning to cross that clearing to get into that lower mine shaft will make even finer targets I don't propose any such thing. We're going around. Oh, why didn't you say that of war? Getting my goose pimples up this way. There are a couple of abandoned shaft openings on the other side Where the woods go clear to the base of the mountain. Come on. This is the main entrance and back You mean we're gonna crawl into this hole in the ground the shaft winds up and around crosses most of the main tunnels Let's go quiet Someone they're all right. Don't move any of you. We got you get your head Well, it's just one man laying on the ground hard shell. Don't grab for anything. It's me hop along Cassidy So it's you where are the others that I'm up you your cupboard. Well, I guess that answers my question Get their country cool. It's easy since when are you lined up with a law Cassidy? We're not with that posse if that's what you mean Hank You got us prom long. So you ain't with a posse, huh? And you better wish you was because I'm gonna drill eggs you fool put on that gun. Why don't you see? They're the one chance we got what what do you mean keep miss hostages. They they'll cover our getaway Hmm. Hey, I think maybe hard shell Hank has got something there Maybe Okay, Rico time up both of you with pleasure Griggs as soon as he's home breeze is hog tide you you and Rico get back to the upper shaft and keep your eyes open There might be might be more coming like and you're strong enough to keep them covered Hank I'm still strong enough to pull a trigger. I ain't gonna listen to no more of this happy you and your pardon to just lie They're quiet. I'm tired of hearing your pull over tonight. I mean business Okay, hard shell seems to me you ought to be seeing a doctor Worry, don't you if you don't care about yourself. You might think what you're doing to that boy yours What kind of a father are you? I haven't shut up. I told you once already All right, Hank. All right. I was just thinking the time when you and I worked side-by-side in these diggins Remember how you planned and green with the things you're gonna do for Eddie Send him to college bank. He's happy happy. I'm a warning you and then you had to turn killer now It was self-defense. I swear it happy was killing that prison guard self-defense. It was that gun crazy pole cat griggs I didn't even have a gun not then anyway But it's hang of a rolling for now for a court. I Know I'm finished happy after I was hit. I told the boys to head out here. I I Figured if I had to die I'd die here in the free air of the hills not in prison Yeah, well, what about that boy a urine you're coming out here ain't done him no good Why don't you send him to his mother's folks back east with what? You're worth five hundred dollars Huh dead or alive? So that's it a reward out for me, huh? Hank, believe me. I didn't come here to help run you down I came here just to save Eddie's more trouble. You'll cut us loose and let me take you in I promise you'll get every cent of that reward Big hearted ain't you? Let's face it Hank you're through you have nothing to lose and your son has everything to gain Hoppy Hoppy are you on the level you ever known me to go back on my word? all right, I I'll take your word hoppy, but Eddie Eddie mustn't know it's blood money. I promise you he won't we'll tell him you saved it and hit it away for him There you'll be here both of you. I'll cut you loose good man Hank, can you reach me? Yeah There your hands are free. Thanks. Give me that knife That takes care of the rope around my ankles Oh still California. Yeah, yeah, your hands are loose In your ankles. Okay, get up Like a movie tour. I'll give you what I just gave up. How hard show double-crossing the coyote What are we waiting for? Let's finish them. Wait a minute Listen someone's coming Just put the stuff down and drop that shotgun Eddie Bob, what have they done to you? We go get a shotgun see run Eddie. What's that? California grab Rico. I've taken care of griggs hang on the Rico's gunhand. I'll get him The lamp that lamp smash these leaves are on fire Eddie get out of here California carry hard shell out. I'll pick it up. These other two Get out this might I'll be a person Now back to hop along Cassidy I Know how you feel Eddie your dad was a good man Yeah, and I'm sure glad he lived long enough to tell you it was griggs that shot him and not us Why did you have to save those two? So why why didn't you leave me there to burn? Listen Sounds like the sheriff's posse head in this way. Yeah, I figured they'd be seeing that smoke for him from the mountain by now It was sure nice of you to riding with me all the way to the railhead poppy We're proud to do it Eddie. Yes, sir. It was a real pleasure Shucks with you all dressed up in them new duds I plum felt like one of them railroad porters are carrying the boss man's bags. Oh Oh No fool enough. I'll never forget what you two fellas have done for me. It's not us nearly so much as it was your dad Eddie I know Well better climb aboard Eddie. I know you'll like it back east with your Mars folks. I hope so Goodbye, Hoppy California. Goodbye. Good luck to you He's gone. We might as well run Yeah, I hope he has a nice trip Poor kid. Yeah, let's go Topper Well, California, we've been kind of delayed getting back to the home ranch, and I guess it was worth it Yeah, my reckon it was Eddie looked mighty spry in them new eastern style clothes Brandy new suitcase ticket divorce. Yeah, I ain't books showing a nice balance Yes, sir. I reckon it was worth it. All right, best of all, California He's got proud memories of his dad. Of course. We had to tell him it was his dad who didn't the money away for him Of course, he'll never know that it was his dad's blood money that paid for all that Funny thing what? Nobody else seems to know it either. Huh? What do you mean? Nobody else seems to know it Who's just talking to the sheriff a couple of days ago after he brought those two pole cats into red dog We was waiting in town to testify at the coroner's in quest. What's so funny about that? What the sheriff said sad about what? Reward money, which you told hard shell hank was posted for him $500 debt or alive. Oh, I just happen to mention it the sheriff Thompson. He just looked at me and asked me what I was talking about There wasn't any reward not a dime. I see He said that huh, that's what the man's head. Well, what do you know? It just kind of give me a idea give you an idea. I hope you were kind to it. It was in a strange place Oh, I shucked happy why don't you come right out and admit it that there are $500 come right out of your own pocket The exact amount of the prize money you wanted the Amarillo rodeo Well, why not wasn't it worth it? It made a hard shell feel that he was a some good to that boy here. He loved that boy, California Yeah, I know and it gave Eddie a warm spot in his heart for old Hank gave him a feeling that his dad had been thinking of him I'm trying to provide for his future In fact, $500 is a downright cheap price for the proud feeling at Eddie will carry with him for the rest of his life Good bye from hop along Cassidy We hope you'll be back with us soon when hoppy will again bring you more adventure and excitement Hop along Cassidy star and William Boyd is transcribed and produced in the West by Walter White Jr Dead or alive was written by Howard Swart. All stories are based upon the characters created by Clarence E. Mulford This is a Commodore production