 With action and suspense, out of the Old West comes the most famous hero of them all, Hop along Cassidy, starring William Boyd. 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 now, another exciting story of the early West. Melody of Murder. As the morning sun slips over the ragged peaks of the distant range, the stagecoach rolls along the dusty narrow road bound for Pleasant Hill. Looking very pale from the constant rockin' is California Colson. Hop along Cassidy at his side is pretending not to notice his pal's plight. The other passenger, a Chinese gentleman and evidently a scholar, does his peacefully in his seat. So gone and happy, riding this stage is worse than trying to ride a steer. Ha ha ha, getting too sick California? Well, no, but I'm kind of losing interest in the scenery. Well, next time we take this trip, Papa will be in shape and we'll ride in style. I wonder who our Oriental friend is. Why, he ain't said a word. Looks like he's kind of scared that every minute's gonna be the next. Your profound interest in me is very flattering, my friend. I didn't know you heard me. No offense, Mr. Being the sole occupants of this conveyance, perhaps we should know each other better. My name is Wong Lee. Well, Mr. Wong, my name is Cassidy. Hop along Cassidy and this is California Colson. You are cattlemen? Well, yes, but I've spread 100 miles from here. The bar's 20. Say, aren't we going a little too fast? Yeah, I noticed it myself. And look, there are pin-turns just ahead that are called to the driver. Perhaps the drive-off fell asleep. Driver! Hey, driver! Hey, you don't answer. Hang on, it's too late. We are signing off! Look out! Ah, California, you all right? Well, where do I feel my ribs? Feels like I've been dragged through cactus. Yeah, look, our Oriental friend is out. Do you think he's dead? Wait a minute. No, he's breathing. Get him out, kick that door open. Take his legs. We'll lay him on the ground. Easy now, California. Easy now. He's sure heavy for a so small man. Get that canteen there. Open his shirt. Yeah, maybe a drink or... What's wrong, Hoppy? This little silk bag around his neck. Bag? Look. Thousand dollar bills. Well, I never did see one of them up close. I'll tie it up. I bet this German driver had something to do with this. I'll give him... California, save your breath. We don't have a driver. Those horses were running away. No driver? And look at the stagecoach. And wonder how it happened. Well, it wasn't an accident, California. Let's see if we'll close. Broke clear through like mad sticks. Not broken through, sawed through. And I aimed to find out why. Now back to Hoppillone Cassidy and our story, Melody of Murder. Hoppy and his pal, California, were taking the stage to Pleasantdale when the stage turned over going around her pin bed. They discovered the driver was missing and while caring for an injured Oriental passenger, found ten one thousand dollar bills wadded up in a silk bag around his neck. Upon inspection the stage closer, Hoppy learned that several spokes in the stage wheel had been sawed through. It is two hours later in a hotel room in Pleasantdale. Who is it? Hey, let me in. Come on, get in quick. Where's the cash? I didn't get it. I said where's the cash? So help me, Red, something happened. Let me tell you, you slipped up your buzzard base. Doctor, it's Cassidy's fault. Who's Cassidy? Hoppillone Cassidy. You mean he saw you? No. I slugged the driver like he told me before they come to hairpin turn and the horses run away and the sawed spokes let go but I couldn't get to the money because Cassidy was with him. He hid in the rocks and I rode in the back way. I stand to lose my spread, my beef, the whole setup. Because you botched the job. By eye order. Ah, now wait, it ain't too late, Red. The oriental's got a room here in the hotel. I've got to get that money. And don't forget my cut. This guy's relative, what runs the laundry, knows this fella's going to buy a ranch. Oh, selling in yours? He'll think so. But after he pays over the door, he won't have no need for a ranch. What about me? Well, Peter, I'll tell you. After the way you botched up sawing them spokes. Ah, yeah, I see. We're through, huh? Yeah, that's right. Well, that don't make me mad because I got a better way of getting the dough without selling a phony ranch. I tell you, Sheriff, them spokes were sawed through Slick's butter. Somebody tried to kill us. Yeah, sure looks like it. He picked up Woody Watts in the driver this morning. Not on his head. Did someone jump him from behind? Woody says he don't remember a thing. Well, somebody must have been after the oriental's money. Oriental's money? Thousands of dollars. We saw it. Anybody else know about it? No one else on the stage but us. I wonder why he was packing so much with him. Yeah, I wonder. Got any ideas, Sheriff? Well, I don't know. Last year, a fella came to town with a big bankroll. We found him out by the flats. Two months later, money was gone. He'd been dead a week. Did you find the killer? Not exactly. I got suspicions with no proof. The bartender heard him say he was in town to buy a red chiwis ranch. Maybe this here could be another them deal. What makes you say that, Sheriff? The same chiwis in town again. I understand he's here in business. Selling another ranch? Could be. Well, it won't take long to find out. He's bunking up at the hotel. That's where Wong Lee is staying. Might be interesting to look at that, Sheriff. Let's go. I'll join you in the dining room right soon. I got a couple of little things to kind of clean up for you. We'll take a look around over at the hotel. Maybe meet this rancher. Uh, what do you say his name is? Red Chiwis. Yeah, I'd like to meet the gent. Yeah, good idea. He might interest us in buying his ranch. Oh, you gentlemen can sit right here at this table. I'd sure like to sit at that there one, so I could look out in the street. Well, I'm sorry, sir, but that table's reserved. Mr. Chiwis would be awful mad. Uh, Red Chiwis? Yes, sir. Oh, this table's good enough, California. Well, it ain't my fault, Mr. I just work here. Nobody said it was. Where's that paper with the vitals on it? You mean the menu? That's right. Well, I'll get you one, but I could tell you what we have yesterday. Dog gone hoppy, this dining room is sure fitted out in style. Yeah, music and everything. That fella plays pretty good. Where's the Dern piano? Find those potted plants. Yeah, music ain't gonna take the praise of food. Where's that Dern Gale gone? Come on here, let's have some grub. California, I'm ashamed of you. You calling me friend? Is there something I can do for you? Uh, no, my friend here doesn't like to wait for his food. Well, I don't blame him. The service here is brutal. You sure wish he'd come back. Well, I'll take your order, but hurry up, because if the boss don't hear that piano going every minute, he thinks he's getting cheated. The piano sounds mighty good. First-class shape, too. Ah, you play a piano? Me? Not anymore. He used to could, though, when he was a little button. Well, it's all in keeping him in shape, you know. I'm a very parrot and I tune it myself, and it's all his first class. How about some ham and eggs, California? He suits me just fine. And there's only one more thing. Yeah? Get him here, Pondle. Yeah, well, I'll have the girl bring him. I gotta get right back when he gets to work. California, look who's coming in. A warm lean car with a red-hitted couple. Red cheevers, or my name isn't Cassidy. I'd like to know what's going on. Let's walk over the bar. How's this? Perfect. Turn your back a bit. I reserve this table, Mr. Wong. You are a very considerate person, Mr. Cheever. I ain't much for talking. I'm, like, straight out and fair, dealing across the board. The price is $10,000 for water rights, grazing, and $200,000. Well, if I am stealing California... Your description is excellent, but as I told you in my letter, I must see before I buy. Well, you see, I'm making it low because I want to clean everything up today so that I can see a sick sister in Denver. You have the title for Wong Ling to see? The title? Oh, well, I can get that quick, but, uh, maybe you ain't got $10,000. I'm not gonna have it long. Wong Ling, keep his word. Proof is in the seeing. Here, in this little silk bag. $10,000 and that? I do not make either talk, my friend. Observe. $1,000 bills. Ain't chance the gal is still busy back there, so... Hey, is that real dough? Get out of here, you saddle-bum-beater. Well, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. So, you see, the money is here, but I must be sure. Uh, yes, well, um... I'll go get the boundary maps, the water rights, and the title and the stuff, and I'll meet you in your room in five minutes. Very well. I shall be willing to consider them. Guess we can go back and eat in our California. Mr. Wong is a very clever businessman. That, there, grub was mighty good, happy. We could have used a few more eggs in it, though. Listen. That was one of the first pieces I played when I took the other lesson. Yeah, when you was just a little button, man. Yeah, that was a lot of years ago. It certainly brings back my boyhood days. The early days on the old bar 20. Yeah, yeah, we should be getting back to the bar 20 with these harnesses. The stage leaves tonight. Yeah, it looks like we're wasting half an hour eating in your California. Sure, I'll be glad to get outside where I can hear something besides that piano playing. Why, he ain't led up for 20 minutes. He's probably tired of it, too. Sounds like it. Poppy, hear that? Someone's screaming. Sounded like in the hotel. You're right, California. Come on. There goes the clerk up the stairs. That's where we're going, too. The sheriff's just coming in the front door. Come on, Poppy. Something's wrong. Be right with you, sheriff. Up these stairs. Right behind you, sheriff. All right, lady, get to one side. What's wrong? He went in his room just five minutes ago. All right, lady, all right, all right. We'll talk to you in a minute. Now close the door. He's gone for sure, Sheriff. Whoever did it didn't waste time getting what they wanted. His little silk money bag is all so gone. Now back to Hopalong Cassidy and our story, Melody of Murder. A Chinese gentleman by the name of Wong Ling was injured slightly when the stage coach in which he was riding with Poppy in California was wrecked. While Poppy was aiding Mr. Wong, he discovered a small silk bag containing several $1,000 bills. Wong Ling met a character by the name of Cheevers in the hotel dining room to discuss buying a ranch and made an appointment with Cheevers for five minutes later. An appointment with death. All right, just go on, Mrs. Davis. Well, I brought some blankets about five minutes after the gentleman went in his room. And when he didn't answer the door in, I went. Uh-huh, and saw a Wong Ling lying in him. That hid wound hoppy. Looked you like a gunshot? I don't think so, Sheriff. The size is right, but no one heard a shot. Looks like we've got to find a weapon made out of metal with a small hole in it. Could anyone have gone down the back stage? Oh, I just seen him, sir. Uh-huh. Well, hoppy, it looks like we start to stretch. The father could be 20 miles from here, but now... Or he could still be right here in the hotel. We can find out by checking with the clerk. I'd say the killer knows his way around this hotel mighty well. We ain't found a thing yet, hoppy. And this is the last room. Yeah. Hmm. Nope. Nobody in here. I never saw such an empty hotel before. Wait. Somebody's out in the sun without his hat, or he's around somewhere. Yeah, I see it, I see it. Lying on that wash stand. Cover me, Sheriff, till I see what's in this clothes closet. Hmm. Lose something, mister? Well, come on. I'm not killing him. I hide him really quick. What are you doing in here? Whose room is this? Why not know? I hear ladies scream. Lee Ling tied quick in the room. That's your hat? I know where hat. That belonged to man. What man? Why not see? I run in room as fast. Something hit Lee Ling on the head. Oh, belly by the bump. See? Yeah, you got a pretty good clout there. You sure you didn't get the cloud in Wong's room when you were taking the money? No, no. I'm not steel. Wong my nephew. He's a very good man. This hat, Sheriff, belonged to a fellow with a pretty big head. Got some initials in the band. Oh, is that you? Can you make them out? Just faintly, Jay C. Jay C? It'd be just like I thought. Cheap. You know, Mike Lee Ling go to jail? No. Oh, now wait a minute. Argin ain't gonna do you any good. Looks mighty bad for you. Hiding his way, Ling. And it's a sure you're telling the truth. Oh, yes. I not tell you lies. Lee Ling, your nephew had $10,000 not over half an hour ago. I know. I call on his nephew. We have a talk. He say I'm a very good man. Look, he give me $1,000 for my birthday. Golly, a choreage. A $1,000 bill. Where the rest of them, Ling? No, no. I got no more. He tell me go on. He talk with man about he buy ranch. He make a bargain. He laugh. He say, man, think him fool. You left and what were you do until you heard the scream? I standing on the stair and listen to pretty piano music in a dining room. Go, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong, dong. Oh, that's enough of that old man. I'm taking you in, Lee Ling. No, no. I have to tell you all the truth. You're taking him in, Sheriff? Yep. Then we'll go to recorder's office and locate a ranch. Ranch? Uh-huh. And when we locate the ranch, we'll maybe find a head to fit this hat. Come on, Lee Ling. How long you been here? I lit up when I heard that gal scream. You know, I thought you was dumb when you botched that stage crash. I got a hand to you. Me? Yeah. A good clean job. And you're in the clear. Me? Yeah. I watched in the blacksmith shop. Saw him taking the Chinese laundry man to jail. Looks like we're in the clear. I don't get you, Sievers. I'm only here to see that I get my share of that money. Well, I'm willing. You sure deserve a half of it. Well, doggone, Sievers, you fooled me. I was aiming to take it out of your hide. Oh, boy, I'm a square fella, Pete. Come on, get it out, and we'll take our cut and hit the trail. Get what out? By the money you took off with that Chinese fella. Me? Well, I thought you had it. Well, you double-crossed. Yellow double-cross. Where's he got the money? I gotta find it. And hit the trail. I'm facing a hang-news now. Why's Ling Ling's in together? Maybe you're right, Sheriff. That dog-gone little bump on Ling's head weren't born at half. Why should Ling Ling take only one bill? The way I see it, he took them all. And Sievers only give him one of them for his share. Why should he give Sievers any? Well, he could have been... Oh, doggone and hoppy, I always bring up something to spoil my reason. I don't aim to, Sheriff. I'm as mixed up as you are. Well, we'll soon know. Just over this ride, you'll see the cabin. And we better be mighty careful, too. Smoking this red head out is a man's job. Well, sir, I'm just the man that can do it, too. So be careful with that six-con. I want this homebrew in life. Get down. He's trying to shoot his way out. Gotta wing him before he gets to that horn. He stumbled, hoppy. That's good shooting. He's quitting. He's got one arm off. Come on! Don't try any tricks, Sievers. All right, I ain't hangin' for that killin'. I'll take that six-con, Sievers. Pete done it, Sheriff. Pete? Who's Pete? He's in the house. I tried to bring him in, but he fought me. I think he's done for. He's better off than you are, Sievers. I didn't kill a wong. Somebody did. Somebody who knew he had the money. And someone who knew where his room was. That's right, hoppy. I'm gettin' this Lee Ling, fella, and Chief is together. And one of them is gonna be busted big. I'll have a bite of grub with you, hoppy. Then I'm gonna take that laundry apart until I find that little silk bag of money. You're pretty sure you got the right man, Sheriff. Sure am. Chief is a swing for doin' away with that fella in the cabin, ain't he, huh? Dog gone to the fella who gets the worst service in this dining room. Hey, how about some grub? I'm sure much obliged for your help, hoppy. Hi, late gents. We're just about to close up, and I don't know where the waitress is. Oh, but we're plum-starved. Well, I guess we could give you a little something. What'll it be? A egg so high with a slab of bacon on top. That's good enough for me. Sheriff? No, no, no, I ain't eatin' yet. I'm gonna have a little talk with the desk clerk. Maybe he knows what time this Lee fella went upstairs. Oh, Eddie, how about a little music with the bacon and eggs? Well, it's kind of late. Ah, just one more tune. It's relaxing. Well, I guess I could. You must like music. I do. You know, Eddie, I took channel lessons when I was a kid. Lessons? You're different than me. I never learned a note in my life. You know, music just comes naturally. Hurry up with that grub, will you? Yeah, I'll be ready in a minute. Plenty of it, kid. Hey, you know, Hoppy, that Lee fella never said where he was after he left the old man's room. You just don't remember? He said he was standing on the stairs listening to the piano music. Oh, yeah, I remember now. Hmm, I wonder. Yeah. Think he was lyin'? Huh? Oh, excuse me, California. You know, Hoppy, I'm sorry for one thing. I never got to meet that coyote who saw them spooks on the stage. I see, I never got to be... You ain't listening. I'm listening, but not to you. Go get the sheriff, California. I think we can hand him his killer. Now back to Hop along Cassidy. Hey, what's this California says about the killer? You know darn well I already got him. I think I'm right, Sheriff. Come on. Huh? Give the sheriff the money. Money? What money? That little silk bag of money you took from Wong when you killed him. Well, I didn't kill nobody. I was playing the piano when he was killed. I got so happy I don't see how. Take off the front of the piano, Sheriff. No, no, leave it alone. Leave it alone. I think you'll find it hidden by a couple of strings on the sounding board, Sheriff. Okay. I don't like nobody messing around with my piano. Go on, I ain't done nothing. This is just a haunch, Eddie. Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. There is something here. No, that's just a piano. It's tied to the string. No. Now wait a minute, wait a minute. Yes. Yes, here we are. Well, I didn't see that. That little silk bag. Well, I'll be horn swaddled. Well, where did that come from? What's the matter? Is that wrong with the piano? Young lady, we're just finding out what made a bum note. Bum note? Why, it was all right this afternoon when I was practicing. Well, she wasn't even around. Then you were the one who played that little exercise. Sure. Eddie, let me practice now, then. I'm learning notes out of a book. Well, you sniveling little... Come on, Eddie, come on, save your breath. You'll need it for climbing some steps to a hanging. A plastered girl, open in her yap. Well, what's the matter with him? Oh, nothing much. He's just going to jail for murder. Oh, I see. He just... What? Don't take time to figure that out, girly. Just go get our hymn in. You're all wrong, folks. You're all crazy. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Uppy, how did you know it wasn't Eddie playing the piano during the killing? Eddie himself told me when he said he never took a lesson. The music we heard during the murder was an exercise. So it was the girl practicing, eh? But how did you know to take the front off the piano? Because Eddie took pride in his piano, and I knew it wasn't neglect to cause that bum note. It was the hidden money bag. Well, I'll be darned. Eddie's music was his alibi and his giveaway. That's right, California. One rotten apple spoils a barrel, and one bum note spoils a murder scheme. Goodbye from hop along Cassidy. Hoppy and California are hitting the trail homeward again, and after this little adventure, the bar 20 is going to be a restful sight. Hope you enjoyed this friendly visit, and that you'll remember to tune in next time these two fighting cowboys get involved in another thrill and escapade. Hop along Cassidy, starring William Boyd, is transcribed and produced in the West by Walter White Jr. Melody of Murder was written by Howard Swart. All stories are based upon the characters created by Clarence E. Mulfer. This is a Commodore production.