 It's Hop along Cassidy With action and suspense out of the Old West comes the most famous hero of them all Hop along Cassidy starring William Boyd the ring of the silver spurs heralds The most amazing man ever to ride the prairies of the early West hop along Cassidy This famous hero thrills his 60 million fans with action and dangerous adventure In the role of hop along Cassidy is the popular star of the motion picture series William Boyd and appearing as that laughable old character, California is and declined Now to our story hoppy takes a chance September at the bar 20 Like all cattle ranchers is a happy months for the line writers The lonely cowboys whose duty it is to patrol the boundaries of the ranch and see to it that the outfit stock stays on the reservation It's a happy time because it marks the end of the season for them and the friendly atmosphere of the ranch House just around the corner But Bob Cranston was different from the rest There was a frown on his face as hoppy rode up to him on the ridge south of the bar 20 ranch house Hi there, buddy. How's it going? Can't complain hoppy good I figure on sending you out of Sunup tomorrow make a circuit of the ranch boundaries run down the stairs and kick any of Sounders cows back onto their own territory. Take you a week or so. Okay, boss. How do you like the new job fine? I reckon Wonder if I might keep right at it on through the winter after cutting out from Brandon You mean you want that winter job? Sure. Why not bucking the snow drift run it down weak doggies in a blizzard I'm most of my boys jammer like a stuck pig when I had them an assignment like that Oh, I don't know I ain't much of a hand around the ranch house like to be off by myself I don't mind the cold you could give me the job. I'd sure work at it hoppy Well brother if you want it you get it come on topper. Let's get back to headquarters You'll be Selinger here sure hello, Mr. Selinger have a chair Great I sent one of my line writers out to hustle your stock back on the reservation Seems an awful lot of circle seek out like bar 20 grass better than they own save your ride or a lot of work Cassidy I sold them off last week. I needed the money. I see. Yeah, Mr. Selinger got famous before delivery and shipped $12,000 out by stage day before yesterday happy. Yeah, they off alone on his range. Yeah It didn't get very far. What do you mean about as far as the blind turn on the stage road Road agent shot the driver outright. Wait a minute. Clem Yates was guard on that stage shot him down in cold blood Clem how could anybody yeah, that's the way we all feel happy folks in town are ready for a lynching You got any leads we know who it is his name is Johnny MacIver. That's so yeah We talked to the only passenger on the stage a girl named with Anne Richard. She described him for us Who is this MacIver young fella about 25 or so just got out of prison came through this part of the country a few days ago looking for a job We Wondered if he came by here. I'll keep on the lookout for him. Sheriff the town's people have put up a reward He shot Clem Yates. That's all the encouragement. I need You'll get it sheriff California, huh? Oh, how are you hoppy? I was just frying up half a dozen eggs here to tide me over till dead Forget your stomach for one hoppy eggs is brain. I don't need your brain I need the seal your pants and a saddle right now watch out I want you to ride down the south ridge and pick up Bob Cranston. You mean the new hand you put on yesterday That's right. I want to find out why he calls himself Cranston when his real name is Johnny MacIver Now back to hop along Cassidy and our story hoppy takes a chance Two men have been murdered one of them the beloved Clem Yates when the male stage out of Bakers crossing was held up and robbed By a masked bandit The sheriff and the townspeople are sure of the robber is Johnny MacIver a young ex-convict And while they scour the country for him hoppy is talking to him in the main room of the bar 20 ranch house You've got to believe me hoppy. I had nothing to do with this. I didn't take it easy Bob I'm not accusing you yet. How come you changed your hand for me seems to me. We hired a hand name Bob Cranston I told you California people just can't deal next convict a straight hand I can understand that you didn't need a new name around here We take a man for what he is not what he used to be. I wish they were all like you Mr. Selinger didn't look at it that way Selinger. Yeah, when I first got to town a few days ago I hit him for a job. When was that? Let me see you Wednesday afternoon And the stage was held up that night at eight What does Selinger tell you he told me to come back about ten o'clock said he'd let me know then so you went back on yeah I started back from town about seven didn't see anyone till I got to that place where the Fords a creek, you know, there's a a global cottonwoods there. Yeah, I know the place There was a fire going and a couple of men boiling up some coffee. They said they were from Selinger's ranch What did they look like? One of them was heavy set or a pair of side whiskers. That'd be Sam Wellman who Selinger's ranch foreman What about the other one? He was redheaded kind of short. Yeah, it's red Conroy. What happened then? They told me Selinger wasn't back to the ranch yet asked me to have a cup of coffee with them It's pretty chilly and I figured a cup of coffee. It tastes good. So so you accepted the invitation. Yeah They said mr. Selinger had passed right by there on his way back Well, we sat around a while then the redhead pulled out a pack of card and suggested a game Them fellas assured that that poker, huh red and Sam or a couple of pretty slick poker players. How much did you lose? I didn't lose. I won $300, honey. You're wasting your time as a cowpoke Anyone who can skin them coyotes at draw poker is wait a minute, California You pretty good at poker Bob. Oh just fair. They played pretty stupid I took $100 pot with a pair of 10s, huh plain again, red Conroy and Sam Wellman. Oh, wait a minute Maybe this makes sense What did you do with the 300 Bob? I saved it. They told me a lot of places. I could blow it in town But I didn't know they did huh now watch that got to do with it hop. I'm not sure yet But I got an idea a coach was robbed at eight o'clock. Where were you at that time Bob? That was about 30 minutes before I met the two men. I I was at the trail quite a piece alone no alibi I guess not about a half hour after the robbery you run on to red and Sam and win $300 from the poker They figure of course you'll roll in the town and blow it sky-high When did Selinger finally show up? Well, I don't know about ten. I guess and he turned you down. Yeah So you didn't want any truck with jailbirds. I see Fine before we start out I want you to know I'm gonna give you every break I can You tell them the truth. I'll stand up with you against the whole town if you're not I'm not worried about that hoppy. Okay. Let's get going where? The blind town the stage road where the coach was robbed maybe we can find a few tracks Bob yeah You can check your gun here at the ranch house California now take care of any shooting that has to be done Any luck hoppy no not a chance to find any tracks on the road here Someone came through here with a bunch of cattle after that and that was Selinger that bunch of stairs He just sold tell me something California anything you weren't hoppy my brain did you serve well harness it up for a minute? You plan to hold up the male coach here. Where would you hide out? Since right behind the tree under that's what I thought Come on. Hey, I said over there behind the tree Sure, so naturally a smart bandit would hide up on those rocks above the turn Up along cash it is sure. Don't get in solid, California. You got a wonderful pair of feet Pretty hard to find me tracks and these granite rocks hoppy Yeah, especially when the robber was careful not to make any getting pretty dark now, too. You got a match Bob. No, I don't carry him Oh Well, how are you looking around here in the dark as well right over to that cottonwood Grove of the creek? See if there's anything like a thing left of that campfire that you sat around No guys shopping there ain't a thing that you're when you've been here not a track Not a shine of a campfire, but I told you the truth hoppy. I was here someone's clean the place up. I know it, huh? You mean you believe me. I think I believe you from the first Bob now. I got proof But we ain't found a thing hoppy how can you that's just it not what we found It's what we didn't find what do you mean one of our lion riders use of this place regularly Builds his fire right here in the clearing the ashes be here if someone didn't have a reason for cleaning them up The new Bob would come here with a story. They want to make a liner out of him giving their salmon red Yeah, and thankfully at the blind turn we didn't find any tracks on that granite, but I found something else What was that? That's why I asked you for that match. I never saw a cigarette smoker yet Who didn't carry matches one of the robbers left this behind? Cigarette, but yeah, you think it was salmon red and someone else the man who planned the job I Can't think of a single reason why I'm in a driver hurt a cattle six miles out of the way Unless there were some embarrassing tracks he wanted to cover up Lord of mighty Challenger that's right Hoppy amigo you come here to my fiesta saloon once in the blue moon. It's not the gorilla. She is on me I'm afraid I haven't time for drink Mike. I got a lot of things on my mind You tell Mike this echo, huh? Maybe I can't stop it What do you know about soldier Mike seems to me he was up against us for money for a while back What do you ask of it? It's pretty important right now your kid named Johnny McIver That kid he make one big mistake when he killed Glam Yates. You think he did it the whole town thinks so His life. She's worth two Centavos maybe less. You know why Mike because the kid has a prison record See He's the second man who came to Baker's Croson with a record Mike See and he feels like you did when you got out He wants to go straight up the people here to let him alone You have kept our secret well these ten years But why do you ask about Selinger because I think you know how bad he needs money See he he tried to borrow ten thousand from me two weeks ago. He's a ranch or the circle see She's in one by fix. That's what I thought He got his money Mike. Yeah, what do you mean? He figured by shipping that candle money expressed and robbing the stage you collect from Wells Fargo, too Nice way to double your money. You got a young ex convict handy to take the blame Mother the view you mean selling. Yeah with red Conroy and Sam Wellman to give my hand Poppy you can prove this There was one passenger on the stage a girl named Anne Richard. I think she knows more than she's telling Oh, but the word of a young senorita against Selinger. No, she's no good hoppy. She's not enough Mike see That's just why I came to see you Now back to hop along Cassidy and hoppy takes a chance Hoppy is sure now that Shelby Selinger and his two henchmen engineered the robbery of the male stage carrying his own Money no one that Johnny McIver a young ex convict would be blamed But it's quite another matter to prove it That's why hoppy is called on and Richard's the one passenger on the stage during the robbery and the only living witness Please Mr. Cassidy, that's all I know. It's just as I told the sheriff. I tell you I want to know the truth Mr. Richard I want to know exactly what happened on that stage in a minute the driver pulled up at that blind corner But I told you what you told me what someone's forcing you to say Yeah, Fred Conroy standing across the street. I just seen him through the window. I know, huh? I made sure he saw me come here. Keep an eye on him You know what you're doing Mr. Cassidy, he's watching this house. He'll do anything kill me anything wait a minute miss Richard I wonder if you know what you're doing. I tell you he'll kill me you understand that he'll stop it nothing to me You're the only witness to that robbery because you said so they're out looking for one man instead of three Because you said so they'll hang Johnny McIver because he has to have a prison record in no alibi I can't help it. I can't if you want it in plain English miss Richard. You're yellow They're willing 11 innocent man hang to save your own skin, but it's too late to do anything now The people are ready to lynch him. I can't stop them. What can I do you can tell me what really what happened out there at that blind corner? You're right, I guess I am a coward. I don't know when they came here and threatened me who Conroy and Wellman They said they'd kill me if I didn't tell the story the way they wanted it Well, let's have it now. There wasn't just one man. Mr. Cassidy. There were two Conroy and Wellman I think so. I couldn't identify them out there on the road They wore masks and one kept calling the other McIver. I see I was inside the coach when they forced Clem Yates to get down He was right next to the window. I heard him say McIver. You're not McIver. Then what? That's when the shot came. Hey, he's coming across the strength. There he is now get behind the door when I open it You know what to do stay right here miss Richard. Ready? Let her rip Hello Cassidy Conroy what can I do for you? I can talk better inside Especially with a gun in my hand. You think that's gonna get you anywhere red? Put your hands up Cassidy That's better. You know you got a bad habit messing around and things that ain't your business And I'm gonna break you with that right now before you get your nose caught in somebody's keyhole Keep those hands up Cassidy Nice work, California hit him too hard. I'm a gun but I'll never be the same You see miss Richard these tough guys aren't so bad when you use the right kind of diplomacy Get some rope out back California. We're gonna trust this turkey up so he won't come undone till roasting time Right, okay. Why are you going through his pocket? Here we are A letter? Yeah, it ought to be just what the doctor ordered. You see miss Richard We can hook red and Sam on your testimony. There's no way we can touch Salinger That is unless either red or Sam decide to talk They'll never do that. You don't know them miss Cassidy And miss Richard, you don't know Mike DeSico So she's changed the story hot yeah, but not good enough I want Salinger too and she tells her story now. We lose any chance of getting him wait, huh? Don't turn around the sheriff just came in quick like this. Okay, a letter read Conroy wrote to a girl in council city Oh Howdy chef anything new didn't keep him mighty busy happy me too Have no business hanging around the fiesta here. I get on back to the ranch just a minute hoppy Huh, don't run off but you might like to know Johnny McIver was spotted by a posseman an hour ago Riding line on the bar 20 which means what which means you're under arrest Concealing and giving shelter to a public enemy Sorry hoppy, but you're going to jail. What can I do for you? What can I do for you gents Harry? I'm California Carlton this here is Mike DeSico I don't see a hop long cash if you don't mind Well, I don't know sure if there's no one to see him Okay, that means why not in Mexico already told you sure if there's no one to see him Well, nothing to do but wait until the chair gets back in I can show my mind if we sit down The country here public property said any way you please That means thanks You shouldn't chair there Mike and I'll sit in this here packing box Excuse me minute chance. I just want to check up on the person Could you get a look at them with cell keys hanging from his belt? Can you get him? Can I get them at the age of six? I was the second best pick pocket in Mexico City Who was the bear? My papa We'll get him when he sits down. You pull the chair and grab his gun, no? Here it comes Torn walls do not a prison mate, the fellas says He ain't never seen the baker's cross and dale, I reckon Oh, old hoppy, I wonder if he's had his dinner Oh, don't worry sheriff, we'll bring him something when he gets back Hey, fellas stay calm Thought we might have a game while the waitin They've got a dick, they're right here since they can draw the steps Oh, yeah, here we are Ah, maybe a little, um, fanny ante, no? Tenth of a cent, I always say, now Uh, suffering snakes, sir You hurt yourself? Let me help you Chair went right out from under me Don't know what happened Here, here, I'll give you a hand Foot slipped under the desk, caught on something down there Oh, what a tongue nature What's the matter here? Oh, you're stuck, I'll put them in the spit tube Trapping, trapping like a wretches No dice, no dice Oh, let me get a new hold here That won't work neither, only make them a leg longer Gotta move the desk Yes, sir There she goes He's had a world like that since I stepped in the bar trap One within Montana Let's get the desk back on her feet Hey Uh, what's the matter? Where's the other fella? Oh, you mean Mike Well, dog gone, looks like he went Time to pull the ball over my eyes, eh? He's back there at Cassidy's cell, that's where he is I'll show that fella rules of rules Yep, my god, you show him What do you see? Look at that, door's open, tag busted, he took my keys Well, I'll take a look inside Maybe Hoppy's hiding under the bed or something I can't find it, I can see, can I? Jesus, and here's the day she was made You got him? Come on, let's get going, yeah, we have much time Wait a minute, Joe Robinson, help me, huh? Adios, amigo Goodbye, in Mexican The justice is done That's why I've come out here to the bar 20 after Johnny McIver If he's found guilty by a jury After he's had a fair trial He'll get the full punishment under the law And not until I don't think we can hold out much longer He hasn't got a chance He don't deserve a chance The law says he gets a fair trial, Sam That mob ain't gonna take him without a fight 12 men against that mob out there, you're out of your mind, Sheriff You got any ideas, Salinger? Yeah You went out on the porch there and grabbed their attention The kid and I might be able to get away from the rear Say, that might work, Sheriff If we could get him back to the jailhouse We might be able to hold him off And if the mob spotted you That's the chance we have to take Now back to Hopalong Cassidy I don't know about that, Salinger If you take Johnny McIver out the back way And make a run for it And don't you see it's the only chance And then your gut won't stand up against that mob For two minutes Well, I guess we'll have to try it But an awful lot depends on you You just leave it to me, Sheriff And things will turn out just fine I'll bring the kid in Come here, McIver I want a Cassidy Hello, Sheriff You're just in time for the payoff What are you talking about, Cassidy? This Well, what's that? A little billy-do from your pal, Red Conroy Starts out, the following is my true and complete confession On the hold-up and murder at the blind turn At eight o'clock on the night of September 12th Let me see that Not so fast, Salinger Want to take a look at it, Sheriff? Yeah, just a trick Shut up, Salinger It's Red Conroy's handwriting, all right What'd you do with him, Cassidy? He's, uh, taken it easy in town And while I stood guard at the bend Sam Wellman walked up to Clem Yates It's a lie, Conroy killed him Get up, Sam! Double-crosser ain't gonna frame me And you ain't either, Salinger I never pulled a trigger Sam, get away from him, Salinger Salinger shot the driver's shell That's the truth to Wellman I was keeping watch And it was Red who walked up to Clem Yates, huh? Yeah, yeah Stay where you are, Salinger Keep your hands up Can anyone now, Salinger? You're gonna turn around While I march the two of you out on the porch And read this confession to the crowd Come on now Get going Going out on the porch Was your mic too close for me, Hoppy? It's too galavonian How about me? You got a clean slate now, Bob And you're on in, it's up to you And you can thank Mike here For small favors Oh, it was nothing, amigo As they say in Mexico La cuerda se rompe por lo más delgado The rope she break at the weakest point Is very bad, no? Yeah And we all have another secret to keep Eh, Mike? Huh? What's that, Hoppy? That confession of Red Conroy's Or maybe you didn't know That Mike Decico in his heyday Was the best forger west to the Mississippi It's mighty peaceful at the bar 20 Now that this Johnny McIver affair is over But somehow things never stay that way for very long Hoppy in California will be riding into More dangerous adventure real soon Up along Cassidy, starring William Boyd Is transcribed and produced in the west By Walter White Jr. Hoppy takes a chance, was written by Harold Swampy All stories are based upon the characters Created by Clarence E. Mulfer This is a Commodore production