 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 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 appearing as that laughable old character California is Andy Clyde Now to our story Renegades of the San Rafael Evening shadows spread across the San Rafael range to touch the Sunbake little town of Curnyville There's an ominous quiet in the air broken only by the stump of restless horses tied to the Hitchin rail in front of the schoolhouse Inside the schoolhouse as the creek of gun harness and the ring of spurs on the plank floor as angry ranchers mill about a Slim brown haired girl stands beside the teacher's desk trying to make herself heard about the mutter of their voices There must be some mistake mistake nothing John Carter sold out his neighbors I Uncle wouldn't cheat anybody And why don't you show up and deny that he showed his ranch to the triangle water company so they can take over and run the Rule in this valley. Come on. Answer me that my uncle will be back to explain his actions I'm sure of it John Carter's run out on us He's a coward because he ain't got the nerve to face the folks. He's wrong. You can't say that about him My uncle has been a friend of you all ain't no friend now Him and Dolan is in there together. They're both crooks just a minute there. I represent the triangle water cup Oh, sit down. I don't know where Carter's gone. I don't care But I have a bill of sale his ranch and the damn my company will erect is going to benefit everybody Reminds you boys of something The laws of this country don't favor one group over another Farmers or sodbusters as you call them have as much right here you know Soon as the dam on the Carter ranch is finished. There'll be water for all The more shares the man buys in my company the more water you'll get pay for the water We used to get for a business man not a philanthropist Carter sold his ranch talk to him not me. He didn't have to sell I wrote we'll try them up to the first grade. I'm sorry miss Carter Perhaps if we could get word your uncle, I don't know where he is Well, then let's hope you'll stand a cover to this thing quiet down. I Don't think uncle John went away on his own free will what do you mean miss Carter? Something's happened to it. I know it. Well, honey your friends seem to share that viewpoint. There's one friend I can turn to who's that hop along Cassidy. You'll meet him soon enough and Whoever is responsible for uncle John's disappearance will pay and pay dearly Back to hop along Cassidy It's a beautiful spring day down at the bar 20 where hoppy in California Are lounging on the ranch house porch looking over the mayor one of the cowhands just brought in from town California gives the half-dozen envelopes an idle glance then suddenly picks one out of the bunch Oh gone at hoppy. That's all we need to disturb the tranquillity of this year ranch You mean tranquillity California, well supposing I do look at here. It's just a letter. What about it? What about it letter from a girl smell the smell them you mean the perfume? Yeah, yeah, it's from miss Carter Laura Carter. I wonder if Well, that must be old John Carter's niece envelope post mark, Ernieville Well, I sure hope they eat inviting us up there You promised we wasn't gonna leave the bar 20 for a whole month Well, let's see what she has to say before you start worrying You're all gone at hoppy. All I want to do is just sit right here. The spring fever's got me Really got me something terrible. You might as well read the bad news yourself, California. Yeah, bad news, huh? Mighty odd to me Well, I'll be there so John Carter up and sold his ranch and lit out to the back country Yeah, his friends are gonna lynch him if he returns looks like the cows in trouble Happy and too bad to I promise we wouldn't be leaving the ranch Oh, no, who said they wanted to stay around here. You think I want to grow old lane in this hammock Throw a saddle on top of a while to get my horse and let's go see what's happened That's all I can tell you mr. Cassidy I'm so worried. I don't get yourself upset Laura. Maybe your uncle just went visiting sure Probably just one to change the scenery. I don't think so, California Also, so mysterious no one saw uncle John leave town. I inquired at the stage depot and everywhere I could think of well John might have had to go someplace to take care of business I'd have known about it if he had you took care of things for him I wrote all of uncle's letters and read his correspondence to him Oh, I see and how come you didn't know about your uncle selling the ranch still Dolan shows up for the bill of sale That's what's so strange Laura Do you have a copy of your uncle's signature around? Well, yes, there should be something in this day Copy why do you want that signature? You figure there's something funny about old funny isn't the word for it, California Here's an old receipt. Let's do sure just the thing only What's the matter happy? Are you sure this is John Carter signature? Of course. I know it isn't very legible Uncle wasn't I mean isn't very good with the pants You go ahead and cry Laura. It'll do you good. Come on. Yeah shopping woman sure does sadden a fella Just taking a little ride in the town. I want a real close look at Dolan's bill of sale In front of the mercantile, I'm getting me a bottle of cesspirelli. Oh, it's your shot This shop a blacksmith shop or why your horse has a bar off his shoe right for leg Look at the footprint there in the dust. Well, sure it is. Well, it ain't hurting nothing No, but it'll make it mighty easy for anybody to trail you yeah I reckon the tracks would be sort of different at that. Well, there's the blacksmith shop up younger and I'll just Hey Hoppy, what's the matter? See that fella sitting on the bench in front of the blacksmith shop the one with beers. Yeah What about it? Well, he kind of looks familiar. That's all well, don't let it worry you But it does worry me hoppy somehow that fella and trouble go together. I can feel it in my bones I've seen him somewhere. Uh-huh. Hi golly. I got it. His name is Milo Milo birch Well, I'm glad that settled know him about 15 years ago. Oh, he was a bad on them Yeah, it doesn't look like he's improved much. No, what's Milo doing in a one-horse town like this hoppy here His gun was always for sale to the highest bidder. Maybe he's between job. No Milo ain't very bright But he'll always be where somebody's shall note the money. Hmm Well, suppose you renew an old friendship when I see what there is to learn about the triangle water company You know hoppy. I talk with Milo might be interesting. Yep real interest Hey, hey, mind if we sit down the bench? Yeah, I do mind not even for an old friend friend Sure, I know you wouldn't turn away. California Carson California Carson Well, I'll be you sure was almost almost what almost hang that time in El Paso, huh? Remember Yeah, it wasn't you with a bunch that run me out of town me Oh, no, I reckon you ought to know me better than that Milo. I don't know. I ain't so sure But don't go on it. Anyway, you and me are going to drink to the old days, California Yep, soon as the jobs I'm doing is through. We'll have champagne. That's brilliant for me. All right. That's brilliant I'm full of it. Hey, you must be carrying a full money belt, huh? I sure am, California I got something big Nope. Sheep, huh? Or maybe it's gold. Uh, uh, ain't no gold But I can look out my front door and see a couple of poor fools trying to pound some you don't say And they ain't had any luck at all Milo Birch has all the luck. Yeah. Yeah, and Milo. Where is this here job? 30-minute ride from here. Mm-hmm. Well, uh, now as seen as how we're old friends here, Milo Maybe you know don't don't don't I'm sure he california, but they ain't room for no more. Come on. Come on, and I'll buy you That's us really nothing. I'll just sit right here in the sun. Milo. I got some thinking to do Well, thanks for showing me the bill of sale, Dolan Not at all, Cassidy As you can see the transaction was perfectly legal. Deed's been recorded. Any idea where Carter could have gone Frankly, Cassidy, I feel that two things prompted him to leave this valley First the cattleman are against him and the others Well, maybe John Carter wanted to see the big city a few wild oats He forgot to sew and he's you that doesn't sound much like John Carter The 15,000 that paid him for the ranch might change his thinking maybe so If one of you plan to do with the ranch Take a look at this map, Cassidy. Oh the Carter ranch Yeah I plan to cut it up into small farms with big springs dammed up the farms will have plenty water for irrigation What about the cattle ranchers? Yeah, the dam won't bother them Only this time they'll pay for their water and how about the price Dolan that'll be taken care of Do time I wouldn't press those boys too far Here's the E when I want your advisor to ask for it. You might be asking for it sooner than you expect, Dolan Good day Oh Whoopie, I ain't a bit hungry. I'm not either but a hotel dining room is a good place to talk and look over the citizens of this fair town What did you find out from Milo Birch? He admitted hubby, but it didn't earn a darn thing. Well, you must have found out something What did Milo say? Nothing except he was going to make a lot of money But he ain't going to work very hard for it if I know Milo. Uh go on Well, uh, oh, yes, he ain't working in town because this job's a 30 minute ride from here Anybody working with him? No, I don't think so. Only fellas disease are a couple of prospectors pan and gold You know counter for you, I think you found out a lot Uh, Joe gone and hoppy don't go riding me. I just uh, oh, oh look coming this way. Oh, it's lark hunter Oh hoppy, I'm so glad I found you. Yeah, sit down What's the trouble? Dolan is breaking ground for the dam tomorrow morning. He's moving kind of fast, ain't he hoppy? Yeah, maybe he believes a good offense is a best defense But hoppy, that's not all the ranches are holding a meeting tonight at the schoolhouse. That sounds like trouble They're going to vote whether to prevent Dolan from going ahead with the dam If I know them part it'll be guns talking not vote. Maybe so california, but there's still time before the meeting Oh, if uncle john would only come back, they'd string him up to the nearest tree No, lark is right. We need john carter and if he's alive, I'll find him before the meeting This is john carter as sold his ranch to a man named Dolan who plans to erect a jam and form the triangle water company And raged by this the valley ranchers are threatened to take a rope to carter if he ever sets foot in the district again At the moment hoppy in california are talking to lark hunter in the hotel dining room Oh hoppy, did you see dolan? Yes, and the signature on dolan's bill of sale is genuine compared to the receipt you gave me I just know uncle would never sign away his ranch and then That man out there. I don't see nobody through the front window. Well, she's pointing at your old saddle park, california Milo birch I'd forgot about him until now He's the man who came out to the ranch and bought a horse from uncle john. Well, there's nothing strange about that I don't know About two weeks ago. He bought a broken down old grave that uncle had been trying to sell I wasn't at the ranch, but uncle pointed him out to me on the street one day A broken down grave Hoppy, I told you milo was kind of stupid. I wonder if he's that stupid Uncle fancies himself quite a horse trader and it tickled him to put something over on this man By any chance did your uncle give birch a bill of sale for the horse? Well, yes, uh come to think of it. He did Laura you get back to the ranch and say that But what if the ranchers come out and start trouble the meeting's right after sundown If everything goes right those ranchers may have a surprise when they call that meeting to order california I have a job to you. Yeah hoppy when milo birch leaves town see if you can fail him Sure, but wait until after I've talked to him. You're gonna speak with milo Oh, yeah, I mean you keep out of sight. Don't let him know we're working together Wrecking milo birch will be plumb surprise. You know, I was the partner a hop along cash He'll know in due time Please be careful hoppy. I'm sure that that man is dangerous. Don't you worry about me It's milo birch that'll have to do with the worrying Friends and party Are you gonna go for a ride? Would you think I'm taking this inch for a course? I'm taking a ride if it's any of your business. Maybe it is my business Just what are you getting there? That's a nice pinto you got there. Yeah A good line Sound horse You don't know how to pick horse flesh. Sure I know a good horse want to see one and have to get up before breakfast to beat you in a horse trade Yeah, reckoning sure would then why did you buy a broken down old grave from john carter? Hey, I How'd you know that? Well a carter told me now. Looky here. I don't need to start no trouble neither do I Where is the gray horse? I got him past your deb yonder. Do you have a bill of sale conjugated? That ain't none of your business now get out of here. I want an answer birch here and now here's your answer Oh Greak and warm Don't ever pull a gun on a man unless you're fast enough to use it. I'll drop that gun Drop it. All right. All right All right, sir This dude, why are you anyhow stranger? The name's cassidy. Hump along. Cassidy Huffle along. Cassidy. Yeah, if you were a younger man, you'd have come out worse than you did The next time we meet it'll be different It's sure well, it's lovely to be at that Milo your kind usually winds up at the end of a rope Go on get on your horse while you're still able. I ain't forgetting this Puffy California. Where are you over here in the alley? Milo's right now town. Yeah, I'll follow him But you better do something. What do you mean? I just seen some of them ranchers right in They're packing rifles and spoiling them for trouble. I'll go have a talk with them. See if I can cool them off You take care of Milo. Sure, puppy. I'll find his hideout or my name ain't california carlson Came this far a note Pretty slick riding up the creek so he couldn't be trained what you're doing up here california Why Milo, uh, I was just getting some fresh air. I figure that you've been following me Why that ain't so Milo. I've been sitting up here watching you come up the trail Now would I be doing any harm to an old friend like you and another thing? I've been thinking it over and I'm almost sure you was with that bunch had run me out al-paso Now wait a minute Milo put up that gun. You'll be shooting somebody if you ain't careful It'll be you unbuckle your gun belt. Now Milo, what would I say? All right, all right What else can I do with a gun? I'll stand at my wishbone There Now get on up ahead and don't try nothing. No, uh, uh Where where are we going to see the boss? He'll know what to do with their likes of you There ain't gonna be no holding the boys or something ain't done Pronto Us ranches is from sick of things. Well flying off the handle won't solve anything Never said it would but we figured Dolan and Carter is trying to free us out of the country Dolan maybe but not Carter. Now, wait a minute Cassidy I know your reputation and I'm willing to string along But some of my friends think it's awful funny how you keep sticking up for Carter Carter is my friend Then why don't you get him to tell the truth if he's all fired honest? I will if I find him alive alive Are you hitting that Carter's been killed? I'm not hitting at anything. Well Well, I can't do any more than I have car Cassidy Just get the boys to hold off until the meeting tonight California should be back soon. Yeah, you've been saying that for an hour Where is this partner anyway? That's what I'm beginning to wonder California should have been back before this where'd he go? Oh some place. It's about a 30 minute ride from there He could have rode 30 minutes in any direction. That don't mean nothing That's a place where they're paying in gold. There ain't no gold around here Not even a couple of prospectus. They'll try to turn up some dust Huh, come to think of it. There was a couple of fellas working out along the crooked creek road Crooked creek road, huh? Yeah, out west of town. Thanks, mister. Thanks a lot Well, well if that don't beat all This town's like a powder cake with a fuse half lit and he's going off the pan gold I just can't understand you my lord Me and you being friends for so long shut up and quit looking at that rifle by the door I'll put a slug in you before you can get off that chair. I've never seen the beach. You sure are a suspicious umbra There's that uh thumpin sound again Under the floor. It's a win. Yeah It couldn't be old man Carter down there, could it if you don't shut up. You'll get down there with him So it is John Carter. You've been holding him pretty if you don't shut up you Somebody's coming. Yeah He said there in that chair and don't move. It's a boss. I didn't know you were that stupid But Dolan I told you never to bring anybody out here, but he was following me so I brought him along Myself Dolan, I will take care of you and Carter, but Dolan I thought you wanted to keep the old man alive in case you wanted him to sign something We don't need your signature now Get your hands up Dolan. You too Milo. Hoppy. What's the idea Cassidy? I've been out there in the brush for 10 minutes I figured Milo was waiting for the boss and I knew that his name was Dolan Why you've been eavesdropping hoppy. Well, I'll be your guard getting back guns caliber. It'll be a pleasure You're not gonna get mine. Look out hoppy for a while Dolan, but you're not hurt Try to pick up that gun next time. I'll do more than shoot it out of your hand Hoppy, we got Carter downstairs. So I heard we'll get him in right into town What do you figure to do with me? You and Milo have a nice long time to think of your sins up in state prison But first we're all going to attend a meeting in Curnyville The ranchers you tried to swindler gonna be very happy to learn the truth Dolan Crosses that line will find himself in trouble. Go ahead Carter. Tell him the truth The ranch ain't sold just like before How come you signed the bill of sale if it's a dog on Donna's Carter? I'm a proud man boy. That was because if you couldn't read you'd never sign away your land I was so happy to get the best Milo birch in that horse deal It I just didn't think when it signed that paper that'd be a bill of sale from a ranch As long as they quartered my springs you'll get all you're sure that Dolan birch was working together Birch wanted to fight when I had to see the bill of sale for the horse He bought them Carter an honest man wouldn't do that. Ah dog on a topic with the renon and tell me How come you found the hideout so easy? I just looked where you'd be and there you were It's working as easy as that. I see another who prints along that trick bank She's only one step that belongs to a shiftless lazy fellow who wouldn't take the time to have a new shoe Put on his horse by golly. You're right a problem forgot about that mission bar But uh, how do you know where to look you told me? Oh, I told you Well, sure you said two prospectors were panning gold And you said that Milo claimed to took him 30 minutes to ride to his job I found out the prospectors were working on crooked creek and sure enough There were the tracks of your horse. Well, dog god, huh? I sure helped, didn't I? Oh, you helped a lot Oh, and another thing hoppy. How come you knew Carter couldn't read a right? Laura told us she read these letters to him, remember? That's right never thought of it Carter could read either at his own letters Well, I guess there ain't nothing else to do but head for a hold How about getting a new shoe for your horse? Uh-oh, there ain't no hurry about it Never pull off till tomorrow what you can do today What's so funny, California? They're putting off business Yeah, it's a good thing. I didn't think of that yesterday. How do you mean? Well, if yesterday I'd have done what I could have done today, uh, I mean if I'd done today, what? And the next step, huh? My dog's on it Yeah, uh, what I'm trying to say is this if I'd have had that shoe fixed yesterday You wouldn't have seen that mission bar and never found me And uh, looky, what would have happened today? I have nothing to say Hmm, I gotcha hoppy, huh? But for once you ain't good at answers You ain't got a word to say Goodbye from Hoppillong Cassidy We hope you'll be back with us when Hoppy in California again ride out from the bar 20 for another dangerous and exciting adventure of the old west Hoppillong Cassidy starring William Boyd is transcribed and produced in the west by Walter White Jr Renegades of the San Rafael was written by Dean Owen and Howard Swart All stories are based upon the characters created by Clarence E. Mulford This is a Commodore production