 Stand by for crime Hi Chuck Morgan talking KLP newscaster You know people who live in Los Angeles sooner later find their way down into old Mexico Well Carol Curtis my blonde secretary and I took a day off last week and drove down into Tijuana to have a look around It was dark when we got started back The customs that turned out that one of the offices was a friend of mine So we were waved ahead with no more than a cursory glance inside the Jalopy Well, we're back in the good old USA glam of us. You feel good. Oh, frankly, I don't feel any different than I did ten minutes ago Gosh Chuck, there were an awful lot of cars lined up with customs. That's unusual, isn't it? And probably some of the boys got a tip that an attempt was going to be made to get some marijuana or something else through Oh golly, it's lucky. You knew where the customs office. We might have been there for an hour or more That's how it is when you have influence. Oh now don't start bragging. It wasn't that important Go to sleep glam of us. I can see you're spoiling for a fight Maybe that isn't such a bad idea Well, aren't you going to move your shoulder? Oh, here. Yeah, how's that better? Good night, Chuckie boy Climb up us climb up us wake up Oh, it's not there's a roadblock up ahead. They might think you're drunk if they see a spot out like that I'm not sprawled out. What's the roadblock for a moment a minute now? You don't have to fix your face There are only a couple of cops They women I'll never understand them Hello officer, you must expect something pretty hot coming over tonight. We do You've been below the border. Yeah, that's right. Have a look at your driver's license. Oh, yeah, sure Yeah, thanks What's he doing in our trunk apartment, mr. Routine check lady Yeah, what is it then could possibly be in the trunk apartment excites so much interest I haven't that faintest idea the last time I looked there. There wasn't anything but a depleted inner tube Okay, you two we found what we're looking for in your trunk apartment. It did what is it a dead body? You weren't murderers carrying our victims around in the trunk compartment of the car Mike Tanner the border patrol officer who'd stopped us called my friend a customs then he called happy Mansfield owner of KOP Then he called bill makes a police headquarters in LA Well, I guess you're clear Morgan. Sorry to have inconvenienced you. Well, I should think you would be shut up. Come up us What's all right, Mike? Now that the excitement's over who was a stowaway we packed across the border names Jose Gonzalez a wetback Wetback But Mexicans didn't become wetbacks until they got over the line. This one had been over and went back again Oh, well, that sounds like something I could use them one of my dog cast you mind filling me in well I don't know we've been keeping this pretty quiet. Oh Chuck will give you plenty of publicity Mike You'll make a hero out of you. Won't you Chuck? I'm a person. I should shut up. I'll pop you up Well, I was only trying to help as a matter of fact a little publicity wouldn't hurt the border patrol a bit Maybe if more people knew the job we had to do down here and how badly in a man We were it might plant a seed it would bear fruit. That's a good deal. Mike. You can cut me in now What's all the hubbub about we've suspected for a long time that someone on this side of the border is operating a wholesale smuggling ring Hmm is guaranteed to get any Mexican into the country and get him a job at a price What makes you think that? Because this operator whoever he is knows exactly when and where the border patrol is at any given time As I mentioned before we're under manned we have to concentrate on one spot at a time I suppose you suspected a leakage in your own ranks and checked. Oh, yeah Repositive it isn't an inside job. What makes you so positive? Well a week ago. We found four corpses in a place called dead horse canyon for all of them were wetbacks And all of them had been shot with a 30 30 special Well, how does that make you so positive because originally there were five in that group One of them was a member of our patrol He'd gone below the border and set himself up at a laborer who wanted to get into the United States He came across with four others Apparently the American contact got suspicious Decided to kill all five rather than take chances in the fifth one your man got away, huh? That's right. He escaped back into Mexico Yesterday he was murdered His body was the one you've been carrying in your trunk compartment Jose Gonzalez Well, that wasn't a pretty picture The American smuggler apparently wanted to show the border patrol was wasting his time They probably picked my car by design knowing I give the stories of publicity Which would serve as a warning to any other patrol members who got ideas of becoming a spy Well, Mike Tanner told me the location of dead horse Canyon and then Carol and I started north again Golly, I'm glad we're getting out of there Now I do feel better that we're back in the United States Chuck Chuck Morgan now, what are you up to? What do you mean one of my up to just driving along my own business? Well, that's just it You're not minding your own business. You're minding somebody else's business. I know you. What do you think you're going to do? I know what I'm going to do grammar first First I'm gonna put you on a train at the next time and send you back to LA you are not you're to tell Pappy That if I'm not back by seven o'clock tomorrow night to get a substitute to do my broadcast I won't do it then I'm going to take a run over to dead horse Canyon then I'm going and if you don't shut up I won't even put you on a train. I'll let you hitchhike your way back Finally persuaded Carol to take the train by promising I do some serious thinking about making a down payment on the diamond ring She'd been needling me about ever since she decided we were engaged Then I turned the Jalabi around and headed back south My watch told me it was 3 30 in the morning when I came to the turnoff that Mike Tanner It said would take me to dead horse Canyon By 5 o'clock it was full daylight I rounded a curve in the mountains and stopped short A rogue gang was just starting their day's labors One man was sitting on a boulder cleaning his tools For others were emerging from a tent that was pitched on the only available threat area women miles I got out of the car and approached the man on the boulder Hello there didn't expect to find a rogue gang way down here. What was the ass in your the road must be maintained even way down here Suppose you're right. Where's the road lead to an hour this route to dead horse Canyon? That's where I'm going What do I find when I get there? There's nothing there, senior Why the road the road senior is a short car into old Mexico. Oh, who uses it? The rancher senior who tried with Mexico also the border patrol Yeah, I haven't seen a ranch or a human being for the past two hours. What are these ranches located back in the hill? There are eight How far did you say it was to dead horse Canyon ten miles in your boat? There's nothing there you're looking for somebody Yeah, it could be why the one who killed the four wetbacks. Maybe you know about that, huh? Oh, see this Very bad things in your to shoot people. Yes. I'll buy that with a four who were shot friends of yours Oh, no, they were from below the border. I am an American Any idea who did the shooting? It's a strange thing, senior We're here working on the road all the time and there's no one who passes by except the border patrol man Yeah, that is strange. Isn't any other road, huh? No, no, senior This is the only one and the man who did the shooting must have come in by horseback or walk See, oh, perhaps it came up from Mexico. Yeah, that's possible. How far is it to the border? About 20 miles Expecting the border patrol through here today one never knows Sometimes it's every day and sometimes it's only once a week. All right. Thanks for the information If you see any suspicious characters around, let me know where I'll be along this road someplace. Yes, sir. Adios. Yes, I Climb back to the Jalopy and start a south again Maybe some member of the rogue gang was getting the information about the location of the border patrol through to the smuggling agent That was out. How could he do it? There weren't any telephone or telegraph lines Wasn't like the other than messenger could try to get through if the patrol were infiltrating the district So I kept on driving and the day kept getting hotter and the country more desolate and rugged looking After a while I came to what must have been dead horse Canyon It was a narrow gorge running between two high-flung ridges before the canyon was as dry as a bone The ridges were without vegetation. I Slowed down. I was thinking about getting out and taking a look around when There wasn't any doubt but that shot was meant for me the bullet plowed up a small geyser of dust in front of the Jalopy I Instinctively stepped on the gas thinking it'd be a good idea to get out of there fast, but forgetting there was no place to go The second shot proved that the marksman in business the bullets socked into my left front tire The Jalopy slewed around almost turned over. I clamped on the brakes and got out There was a boulder 10 paces away that offer good cover I shot a glance up at the left-hand ridge Saw a man with a rifle standing out in full view the muzzle of his gun trained on me Then I started for the protection of the boulder fast. I covered half the distance when Now the conclusion of stand by for crying I was dreaming that I was lying on the ground with my head in the lap of a beautiful girl She was stroking my hair and talking softly Everyone's in the wild asked for water and she'd hold a canteen to my mouth and the cool beautiful liquid would flow between my lips and Let the dream continue for as long as I dare and then I open my eyes and said Hello Senior Morgan you are better. Yeah, I think I'll live Just keep stalking my head. Oh, but senior you have been sure. Yeah, I know oh Who bundled me up in this bandage you see senior. It was I thanks. What's your name? What'd you come from ain't your mercy? How did you know my name and who shot me? Those are many questions that once in your I shall answer them in order My name is Rosita Rosita. I like that. I came from up there on the rage And I know your name because I looked at your driver's license. Well, it figures now Can you tell me who it was a shot at me? Oh, yes, senior. It was I who shot at you A thousand pardons for the mistake I made you shot at me now wait a minute that calls for an explanation Oh, and you shall have it senior. You see at first. I thought you were someone else But even thinking so I did not intend to hit you. I Aimed in front of you. You run too fast. Yeah, I was traveling all right But I didn't think I was going fast enough to outrun a bullet Who was this other guy? You thought I might be the man who murdered my husband, senior Where did you This is getting more interesting by the minute. Hold on a second. Is it's your last name Gonzales? Yes, senior And you're the widow of the border patrol agent Jose Gonzalez. See I came up from Mexico last night by horseback I shall not rest until I have avenged my husband's death No, what makes you think you'll find the murderer up here Jose was shot in Tijuana wasn't he before Jose was shot Down he told me about the terrible thing that happened here in the horse canyon I'm convinced that the murderer is an American smoker of Well, the smoker of poor Mexicans and that sooner or later he will appear once more in this place Do the authorities know what you're up to? I have told the authorities nothing So far they have been unsuccessful in apprehending this man in the way backs us through the canyon at will And you think that one lone woman can clean up this gang of smugglers, eh? It is because I am a woman that my chances are good so far no one but you knows of my presence here You will tell no one senior. I see today. Is that a statement or a question? You must throw the senior Or I shall have to hold you as my prisoner It's not that idea. What you can't proceed it. I Disappear in a little glade. There is a spring and I have food. Do you feel strong enough to walk? Stop spinning around like that man. Oh there you see you are not strong as you think put your arm around my shoulder So Thanks I like this. Let's go The dizziness past as we walked up to visit his camp, but I didn't take my arm from around her shoulder. I'm no fool Anyhow by the time we got to the glade I was pretty weak Rosita's bullet had clipped a hunk of flesh out of my left shoulder and a loss of blood wasn't doing any good It takes more than 30 minutes to reach the camp But it was worth it. It was cool beneath the shade trees and the crystal clear stream flowed up and beneath two huge rocks There sit here in the shade, son. You're in rest. Yeah, thanks You picked yourself quite a spot Jose and I camp here often when he When he was a member of the patrol. Yeah, I'm sorry that this must be pretty tough on you See it is as you say tough But look here. I command the view of the entire cannon. You see no one can pass without my seeing him There's a good vantage point. Oh, I would say and I spend many days here waiting for the smugglers But they never came only when we were on the other side of the mountain. Did they use dead horse? It was most mysterious But now he must prepare some breakfast. Then you must rest and not talk, sir I hadn't eaten since the night before until one and I hadn't thought much about it But when I smelled the bacon hot cakes and coffee that Rosita threw together I became ravenous Later I must have dosed because the next thing I knew it was past noon. Rosita was gone a Moment later. I spotted her. She was changing the flat tire on my jalapé Then something else caught my eye a flash of sunlight on steel possibly a rifle barrel It didn't come again, and I didn't see the man was holding it But I began getting ideas. I walked over to where was either left to rifle and picked it up 33 spatial I ejected the shells put them in my pocket place the rival back where I found it Rosita was coming up the slope the sunlight bright in her dark hair There's no job for a lady. You should have waited until I woke up It was nothing senior and after all it was I who made the tire flat Do you feel strong yeah, I'm fine. It is a fellow you're ready to leave leave Look Rosita, it's foolish of you to think you can stay here and fight a whole gang of smugglers I can't stay with you so you're Morgan. You do not understand. I have been on many patrols with my husband I am quite capable of it. You're coming with me, and I say I am not I Say are you going to shoot a hole in my other shoulder? I will shoot senior if you try to force me to go with you I'm bet you wouldn't stop senior. I warn you that I should now receive you don't I'm gonna take that rifle away from you I'm sorry, Rosita You I would that shoot This is where I want to stay This is what Jose would expect me to do. I don't think so I think that Jose would want you to go to the patrol and give them any information you might have I have no information on it. I think you have Rosita quite a lot in fact and that added to a couple of theories I have will clear up this whole mystery now come along. Let's get started So Rosita and I sticked out our horse near the spring and started back north Was after four o'clock when we passed the road gang their eyes bugged out at side of my passenger Rosita waved called a couple of names and they yelled something to her in Spanish Just After dark we put up in front of the border patrol station at Las Vegas I wasn't too surprised to find Pappy Mansfield's green coupé parked outside He was there in the waiting room and glamour purse, of course was with him Well, what are you to come from never mind that where the devil you've been and now Pappy don't get excited I know is this with you this glamour purse is Rosita Gonzalez. She's pretty isn't she? See doing here I found it down in dead horse Canyon Mike. She just wrote in with me I guess it's the first time she's talked of Jose to someone who knew him. Oh, I see. Yeah, baby I know it's tough, but those things will happen. We'll get the guys who did it Don't worry about that. I wish someone would explain to me what this is all about What's that bulge on your shoulder Chuck? Oh, I had a little accident. It's okay Didn't care I'll tell you about the swell story I latched on to she told me you sent her home and went gallivanting off To a place called dead horse Canyon, so so I came down to see what was all about and keep you out of trouble And what did you come down for Carol? Yeah, big squealer. Well, I just came along for the ride, but I can see now I made no mistake Where did you say you spent last night? I didn't say and you tour a couple of liars You thought there was going to be some excitement and you want it in didn't you well isn't there isn't a what going to Be some excitement. Yeah, I think we can arrange something for you Pappy Mike How about that rogue gang working north of dead horse? I've known him for years. I checked him just to make sure there wasn't much to check It's the only way they could get a message over into Mexico is by mule bank It wouldn't be time for that even if a spy could get away from the camp without being missed which he couldn't Yeah, that takes care of that a month ago We had a three-day rain period remember where any wetback smuggled across during that period now that's a good question Typical well, that's kind of hard to remember I'd have to check the record now I know you won't like know you won't because I can tell you right now. There weren't now Here's my theory and here's a plan. It might work Tomorrow morning send a couple men down to Dead Horse Canyon At 10 o'clock that night Carol Rosita Pappy and I riding a my Jalopy all of the tail light of a border patrol car Containing four officers up into the hills on the other side of the mountain from Dead Horse Canyon Just before midnight the patrol pulled off the road and stopped This is spot Mike up ahead around the bend. We'll have to walk I didn't want to warn them with our headlights right now you go ahead. We'll follow So we walked up the road around the bend and found the two of the officers had rolled a boulder into the road between the high-end Bankments that served as a perfect roadblock Chuck you take your gang up in the left bank and keep them down and out of sight We'll be over here. There's any shooting. I don't want the responsibility of any of you getting hit. Don't worry. I'll keep him quiet Good we probably have a weight of about an hour or two any questions. I know questions. We're fine. Come on everyone An hour or two only spoke with me frozen stiff You can go back if you want to climb up a sister of time and leave you here with Pappy, I guess not and you think you had come on up up you go So we climbed the embankment found as comfortable spot as possible behind some live oak and that underweight To wait is right It was an hour before we heard it The sound of a truck it was still miles off But it was coming steadily toward us There wasn't any question that was on the road where we waited simply because there wasn't any other road Then we caught glimpses of its headlights as they swung around the sharp mountain curves This was it wasn't any telling what might happen I Diggan regretting allowing Carol and was either to come along in this party, but it was too late for regrets now The truck had made the last curve and was roaring down the dirt road straight for the boulder It seemed to me the driver was blind. He didn't see the boulder until he was practically on top of it then All right, you two in the cab come out with your hands up It was a cargo the truck the wetbacks who'd stampeded up the embankment on our side of the road But when they saw a peppy and me charging out at them from behind the live oaks They must have thought the place was alive with border patrol cops They went back down the embankment into the waiting arms of Mike Tanner and his men Well the next day Mike went down and arrested the foreman of the rogue gang on the Dead Horse Canyon Road Why? Because it was a foreman who'd been signaling a lookout on a mountain ridge about the activities of the border patrol He'd been using one of the oldest and simplest signaling systems known to man Heliography the art of flashing messages by reflected sunlight Usually a mirror is used but a mirror isn't necessary This one used a shining surface of his shovel, which he kept scooped. He honestly polished Well that same afternoon Carol Papi and I drove back to LA We got there in plenty of time for dinner at the Nicaragua Hotel before my 7 o'clock broadcast Well, Papi, I guess the time has come. I guess it has Carol. You know some time We're going to pull this lad by not asking. I'm happy. That's all right with me Well, well what how'd you know? Oh, oh that? Oh get him. If he didn't know what we were talking about All right, Chuckie boy. How did you guess about the signal love business? I didn't guess I figured it out Yeah, sure. Yeah, sure. Well, I did The foreman of the road crew was polishing his shovel before he started work. Now a good laborer cleans his tools after work Not before well that figures. Oh, what else? Well when I was sitting in our camp I caught the glint of sunlight and what I thought was a rifle barrel Well, he couldn't have been a rifle barrel a rifle barrel is too dark. This glint was too far away Oh, that reminds me what reminds you what about that promise you may what promise well You promised that if I take the train back to LA you'd buy me a ring. I didn't I said I do some serious thinking about it I didn't say any such thing I can't afford