 With action and suspense out of the Old West comes the most famous hero of them all Huffleong Cassidy starring William Boyd The ring of the Silver Spurs heralds the most amazing man ever to ride the prairies of the early West Huffleong Cassidy the same hoppy you cheer in motion pictures and the same California You've laughed at a million times Raw courage and quick shooting have built a legend around this famous hero Huffleong is a name to be feared respected and admired for this great cowboy rides the trails of adventure and excitement William Boyd as Huffleong Cassidy and and declined as California What's our story this time hoppy the phantom panther we call this California and I were at the end of a long day's trek through the Mesa country on our way home to the bar 20 We were thinking about setting up our overnight camp when I saw something. I didn't like California hold it. What's the matter hoppy? Yeah. Oh, yeah Manda that rock holding a rifle. Let's go up easy Howdy stranger He looked friendly enough. He does now. He was holding that rifle as if he was ready to use it. Evening, mister Would you get down and sit a while? My name's Purvis folks hereabouts mostly calls me pop I'm a hop along Cassidy. This is California Carlson my partner Cassidy sure pleased to meet up with you. Howdy Carlson. Howdy Excuse me mentioning it, mr. Purvis, but you seem to be keeping a sharp eye on all those steers out there Yeah, and it may sound local to you gents, but I'm watching for something that can't be seen Sure does sound right, California Mr. Purvis, I don't mean to be too curious Maybe you'd like to tell us what's bothering you about those critters out there. Sure sure I'll tell you Practically every night for four weeks Something's been killing off them steers and them is ain't killed for getting skinny and off their feet from being stampeded Steers killed and stampeded. What's causing this Purvis the panther a panther Oh one bullet from that 30 30 you got there should stop any panther. I ever saw yeah And he ever saw but no one has ever seen this moment. This here is a Phantom panther Cassidy a fan of me here. He's a ghost cat Phantom panther Killer I tell you in four weeks. I've lost 40 calves and a dozen crime yearlings Well when it first began I got together the local ranchers and we watched and we hunted for that cat But he can't be seen he can't be seen and he can't be killed But why are you out here watching over yourself tonight Purvis? Oh, nobody'll help no more folks. So it's no use hunting a ghost Fact is they're all just plain scared and she has gotten to the idea of hunting a ghost panther myself So all your neighbors have given up just about we're holding another meeting tomorrow morning at the bank over at broken era Don't know what good it'll do. Well go anyway Purvis California. I'll show up, too Right now you get on home for a good night's sleep We'll stay here and watch your herd tonight. Well now. That's right friendly and I sure do thank you And you'll be at the bank tomorrow. You can count on us and good night to you Josef had if I don't think maybe we'll get that panther yet. We'll try Purvis. Good night What's your figure? I'll be I don't figure yet, California. I was thinking a phantom Panther What in blazes was that a panther, California? Let's get him Circle left. I'll cover this side clouds are blocking this but I'll try to help you How sure we're fidgety that panther scared him. All right, but looks like we missed him But he didn't miss California. Look here that calf dead Killed by the phantom panther now back to hop along Cassidy and our story the phantom panther Hoppy in California have met pop Purvis a rancher whose steers are being killed and stampeded by a phantom panther While hoppy in California are standing watch the panther strikes again and leaves a clawed and dead calf Now the next morning hoppy in California enter the broken-arrow bank for a meeting of the local ranchers About the problem of the phantom panther This looks like the place, California Long Cassidy sure glad to see you shake hands with Bart Lomas here He's our banker and this year's dad Dixon has the valley spread next to my range. Hi Loomis Dixon This is my partner California Carlson Purvis I got bad news one of your cans got clawed to death last night couldn't get to it quick enough to see What did it again that panther? Oh, no, I'm sorry to hear it and frankly I'm worried I certainly don't want that cat getting down the valley to my herds This is serious mighty serious in a few months. We'll be driving cattle over the trailer to market This rate you're not gonna have much to drive pop Oh, I know it better than anybody Bart with my daughter Jane marrying up with a decent boy from over the valley for winter I want to pay off that mortgage you're holding and give them a good start with a paying ranch and healthy stock on it This way all they look to get is a Dern fine water hole on Dern good range land and not a stand and critter on it all Well, when I give you that mortgage, I didn't expect anything like this to happen, but We better get on with the meeting. Everybody's in the next room here. Let's go then come along, California Trouble here we come So what I say is Setting up a watch for that panther won't get us anywhere as pop You said yourself he strikes in one place one night and a couple of mile away the next man If enough of us was to circle the herd he'd have to cross the line somewhere to get at the stairs Stands to reason ain't no reason to that panther He can just drop out of the air into the middle of the hood. You're talking crazy. He does it every time That's right. Sure. He does Cassidy Cassidy you just come on to this thing. Can you make any sense of it? Yeah, tell us what you saw last night Cassidy. That is if and you saw anything. I saw a dead camp with his throat torn out Maybe nobody's seen it yet to me that's no reason why everyone should sit back and see pop purpose ruined Mr. Cassidy, I I don't think you understand the the overall situation here as you may know this is all new range country fact is Purpose and I moved out here about the same time two years ago It was and the spread pop purpose took up has it seems certain Disadvantages a good water hole and plenty of grass rains don't spell out disadvantages to me Dixon I'll tell you what Dixon's been polite about saying Cassidy that mason land where my rain sets once was some kind of engine Holy ground their old medicine men did their hocus-pocus up there bad medicine It was supposed to drive out their enemies now What folks around here are all thinking is that the panther that's killing my stock ain't a real varmint, but a spirit Engine bad medicine spook critter you mean to say all these men believe that granny talk He ain't heard it all yet Cassidy the night we all watch why 12 of us was riding that rains that catclaw two critters dead 12 of us was there and we didn't see it But just last night you was there yourself Cassidy on your didn't she not there You are Mr. Cassidy now, maybe you understand the situation better. Maybe I do understand Dixon At least I understand there are a lot of scared hombres in this room And just what do you propose to do about it Cassidy just this phantom or not? I'm going to get that panther That'll be dark tonight no moon we keep moving around the herd one of us might cross the track of that cat Just let me sight it once that's all I care you say pop How come you ain't moved your cows off in this rain seems like you're just inviting that panther to get it I'm only placing and get enough water the three adjoining ranches got barely enough for their own herds But I won't have no problems once I site that panther Well, maybe it'll be soon purpose right now. We'd better get set the watch suppose you swing around to the left We'll go the other way shoots me Right, let's go California You know hoppy it ain't exactly my idea from this hunting an invisible wildcat You don't mean you believe in spooks California Well, uh, well hoppy I once come in a fellow who showed me a hole in the ground He claimed it was the deepest well in the territory. Well, maybe cause and maybe wasn't I didn't tell that fella I believed him and I didn't say I thought he was alive On the other hand, I didn't go jump down that well hole to find out if he was right or wrong Shame with spokes and spirits if I leave him alone. I never have to decide whether I believes in him or not Well, this panther is one spook we're not gonna leave alone I wish we was back in the bar 20 right now Hold it California It's across the range the wave purpose went come on Ain't been no shot wrecking pop didn't see the panther those cars are moving Let's get a mill on a circle. There's stampede and hoppy. I can't swing him That was the wildest ride ever took since I tried to ride in the range buffer. Yeah luck was with us We hadn't been able to make the leaders veer off the whole herd of the gun over that block One of where pop purpose was doing all the commotion. He is on the wrong side of the herd to help in a yeah, probably waiting first now California Look there pops horse. Huh? Yeah, it and the saddle's empty There's purpose on the ground. Let's get down and take a look Trampled to death by his own cows. No, California. Look at these throws ripped open The panther killed purpose. Oh pop said all he craved was a sight of that panther. Well He got it. I wonder if he did see anything now back to hop along Cassidy and our story the phantom panther I just want you to know miss Jane that California and I are staying and seeing this thing through I'm grateful to you mr. Cassidy, but what reason is there for going on now the same reason your father had? He built up this ranch for you and trying to protect it. He died Yes, and hoppy and me will just take over from where he left off But I can't let you to risk your lives for me like that. Let that be our look out miss Jane Well, you seem to have callers miss Jane Come in Hi Mr. Loomis mr. Dixon Clark and Ben It's most kind of you to call at this time not at all miss Jane not at all Personally, I want to say that the as your neighbor and friend. I hope you know you can count on me for anything Thank You mr. Dixon miss Jane I don't guess I have to tell you how every one of us feels for you on a count of old pop I mean your pa any lot of the woman folk will be coming over soon to do what they can miss Jane You're almost there. There's something else miss Jane maybe this ain't exactly the right time to bring it up, but All the men feel it's kind of important you hear it right off while they well up long cats You can hear it too. You can talk to me anytime Loomis. You know that please say whatever it is. Mr. Loomis if it's so important Yes, and Miss Jane Well, your father lost a lot of cattle to that phantom Panther we say leave it alone before anybody else gets killed you'd see this killer go loose This ain't no ordinary cat Cassidy. I She ain't plenty of Indian medicine in my time And I tell you nobody'll ever see this cat and nobody'll ever kill him Well, there's something in what Clark says Cassidy lots of things just can't be explained or understood Suppose you explained just where this idea of yours leaves miss Jane purpose Yes, I'd like to hear that part of it. Mr. Loomis. Well, it's except you miss Jane of course But maybe you ought to sell out your herd now At least you'd get some cash that way 10 cents on the dollar Would that be enough to keep you from foreclosing the mortgage on her range land Loomis? Well, the business is business Nobody had taken any price not till that phantom panther gets himself back to where he come from and that might be never Well, I wouldn't go so far Clark now as a neighborly gesture to give miss Jane some Further financial assistance. I personally would be glad to take an option on this range, of course You miss Jane should decide return why the papers can easily be torn up I guess that about covers everything or have you men got more ideas. Now. Look here Cassidy We're doing this to save trouble and maybe save lives So you'd best stay out of this till you're asked into it Well, I'm asking mr. Cassidy into it because I'm staying on this range That's what dad would have wanted and and that's what I'm going to do yippie quarter gal I think you've got your answer gentlemen and whatever you say miss Jane and Cassidy I still say this to you if you want to go on risking your skin hunting that phantom panther Well, just go ahead I intend to tonight and every night until I get that killer or mr. Cassidy Until it gets you Just too many cows here for just the two of us to watch hoppy We've got only one thing to watch for California the panther. Yeah, and where's he gonna strike from this time? Well, there's a breeze tonight and a panther would approach from downwind so the cows wouldn't get his scent Let's see just over there between the herd and that gorge Yeah, this is about the right place. We're downwind of the herd here quiet now cows are getting restless hoppy and maybe Something's among them and they may smell something keep watching Hoppy hoppy. I don't like it. Them cows is listen He's in there among them. We got a break into that herd. We can't do it hoppy. They're coming right at us solid Quick blast of shots that may turn up It hoppy there's Sam Peter and they're moving this way fast Hoppy we can't stop them and we can't get out of this gorge They'll smash us again the cliff head for that cliff the rocks, California Right for your life Yeah, miss Jane hoppy and me have had plenty of narrow escapes But last night were only a little narrow crack and the cliff saves us from being trampled more ham mr. Carlson Well, I've already er. Yeah, don't mind if I do. Thank you I'm beginning to believe that panther is everything they say besides stampeding the herd He killed two more yearlings last night. I'm beginning to believe we've been wrong wasting our time I'm glad you think so mr. Cassidy because I don't want you men to go on with it The ranch and all the stock aren't worth any risk of lives. That's a nice spread though In fact, I'd like to look it over mind if we do some exploring today, miss Jane Well, you're welcome to of course and you won't hunt the panther any longer. We won't miss Jane Just a minute hoppy you really mean we're finished watching for that spook cat That's right because I've got a hunch that tonight that panther will be finished Well Cassidy miss Jane tells us you wanted to final get together So here we are and we hope it is final all right then first of all this morning, California I did a little exploring on this range. We found three caves caves What's this all about Cassidy if that panther is a real live animal? He's got the hole up and one or another of those caves Now I've I've drawn a map You all can see where I marked the cave. There's one and two and three Very interesting mr. Cassidy now just what do you propose? I want two men to cover each cave We don't find the panther. I'll agree. It's a phantom and give up And so we'll all be satisfied with whatever happens. That's only used men who haven't openly opposed me on this Panther business really that lets out me Dixon Clark Ben and let's see both of them, too Let's all understand this now Cassidy if no one sees the panther, but he still strikes tonight You feel that it'll be useless to make any further attempts to stop him. That's the idea Dixon He'll strike all right ain't no use trying to trap that phantom, but if this thing will find a convince everybody I'm all for it Hoppy Still don't see why you didn't tell me about this fourth cave at me because California I didn't want anyone to know we were gonna cover it You see this fourth cave is the only one that showed signs of anything having been in it. You mean Panther sign well at least not signs of any kind of panther. I ever ran across before Wish it weren't so dark It'll be darker in the cave Now here we are be quiet and be careful. Don't worry. I ain't aiming to invite no attention to myself Make out anything copy eyes aren't used to the dark yet Easy now. There's a bell in the cave back here. I'm right behind you Well, I hit you above you hoppy look out Watch out Where are you hoppy? Oh? It's getting away Ain't sure I got him hoppy hoppy. I Hoppy hoppy all right Hoppy now back to hop along Cassidy Well, Cassidy what happened to you last night was all your own doing You're lucky that panther just knocked your head again a rock Now suppose you'd head during the purpose call this meeting to tell us you're finally all through yeah We're through and so is the phantom panther and I reckon he's dead carcass is invisible just like he was Yeah, I didn't say he was dead yet As for the carcass I'll point it out to you when I'm ready. Well, what are you talking about? Please everybody let mr. Cassidy explain thank you miss Jane when I examined that fourth cave yesterday I saw marks on a smooth flat ledge Marks were something maybe claws had been sharpened Something had been using that cave and unless the panther was a ghost it had to have a hideout I Figured that cave was it that don't mean nothing it meant plenty I've noticed another thing each time any cows were killed in the herd stampede the panthers cry came Right from the middle of the herd Any wild animal will cause the commotion among the cattle as soon as they smelled it That convinced me the phantom panther had to be a man What man could be such a low-down Varmint the man whose wrench really had disadvantages not enough range and water That man played on the old Indian bad medicine legend to ruin pop purpose By making it seem a ghost panther was killing and stampeding his stock Day before yesterday, he thought he finally had scared everyone off Including Jane purpose and so offered an option to buy a ranch cheap He'd never have torn up that option like he pretended he would Yes Dixon there is the phantom panther Why Everybody Cassidy you made a serious charge here, but so far it's all talk you improved the thing last night California fired two shots in that cave and we found traces of blood never miss at that range Take off Dixon's shirt and you'll find bullet wounds. I won't stand for this. I tell you and how about this Dixon? You drop that when you attacked me in the cave last night a glove with sharp steel claws riveted to it The panther's claws you want to try the glove on and see how it fits Your games up Dixon you might as well give in and take what's coming to you that's all Well first mr. Hop along Cassidy you take what's coming to you. He's gonna shoot Nice shooting California you picked his gun right out of his hand sure I didn't want to hurt him much Well gentlemen and miss Jane California and I'll leave you to deal in your own way with the Phantom panther mr. Cassidy. I don't know how I can ever thank you miss Jane When you're ready to marry that Gleason boy, suppose you just invite California and me to the wedding Of course, I will and will you really come? Oh sure sure. I just love weddings Slongs that don't happen to me Even a ghost panther on the prowl hasn't a ghost of a chance once hoppy makes up his mind to track him down So hoppy puts an end to the old Indian legend of the Phantom panther In next week's thrilling episode hoppy in California take a few days off from the bar 20 But just a friendly visit to the Wilson ranch But their social call turns into an action-packed experience when hoppy plays a hunch Hop along Cassidy starring William Boyd is transcribed and produced in the West by Walter White jr The Phantom panther was written by Paul Adams with original music under the personal direction of Albert Glasser All stories are based on the characters created by Clarence E. Mulford. This is a Commodore production