 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 Appear in as that laughable old character, California is Andy Clyde Now to our story the failure No question about it Branch Patterson was a spellbinding a quiet crafty man for three years out of every four When an election year came around he blossomed out slap folks on the back became the good good friend of every citizen of Shotwell So right now in this good year of 1886 branches in his glory as usual on the speaker's platform among the red white and blue Bunton Letting the people know as only branch can I like to call him honest like I But I'm not through no sir not by long sight I Have here a letter from old Evan Hardin our beloved sheriff who's retired from office after so many years of good service to this community As you all know old Evans taking it easy back in the big city, New York. He says here Dear branch, I want you to know I'm getting along fine. The weather has been fine these past two weeks And I'm happy myself a good rest Reason I'm writing is to congratulate you and the rest of the folks in Shotwell on your choice of Ike Iverson is my successor There ain't a man in Shotwell can fill my boots better than I And I wish him all the luck in the world signed Evan K. Hart I can't add much to that But I think you all know by now that a vote for honest Ike Iverson is a vote for law and order in Shotwell County Now I think that steers about done to a turn and there's plenty of roasted corn and free drink for all Now he puts on a nice show Sure does happy Once every four years. Mm-hmm. I wonder now if it was worth the ride. I'm an awful long ways from the bar 20 Yeah By the way, where's California? Oh, I left him behind to run things for me This election is kind of a personal thing with me anyway But what can we do? That's a good question. Oh Don't mean to butt in I just saw you sitting here and I figured there must be three of us around to see through that for flusher Yeah, and we won't count much in an election. I'm a hop along Cassidy and this is Janie Malloy How do you do? Janie runs the newspaper here in Shotwell. My name's Ted. I have a ranch over Dakota way on the little Missouri Oh, I had one. What do you mean? I just sold it. I guess I'm a failure at ranching, too Wait a minute. Don't get me wrong. I'm not giving up 28, you know got a few good years left in well I should think so I thought I'd drop by here before I take the train back east get a look at Western politics in action I'm a little disappointed. You mean it's different back there. No, it's the same Give people a good time a free barbecue promise them the moon and get yourself elected Say, yeah, who's running against honest Ike well It just might be a very fine upstanding young man named Bill Dixon who also happens to be Janie's fiance He's luckier in love than he is in politics. Thank you, sir So what are you gonna do sit around and let this barbecue or run off with the election? Branch Patterson owns this town from one end of Main Street to the other and it should be a delightful battle Delightful, huh? I've already decided to let my trip east wait for a while Mr. Patterson comes first. We must defeat him Good you just tell us how it did you tell me this How did Patterson get along with mr. Harden the former sheriff not at all? Harden was the only man in town. He couldn't control. What about the letter Ted sound right to you Yeah, there's a chink in mr. Patterson's armor. I'm afraid According to the letter mr. Harden is comfortably retired in New York Delighted with the weather there Well according to a friend who just wrote to me It's been raining cats and dogs there for a solid month Which means of course that mr. Harden isn't in New York or any place near it and if he isn't there Where is he? A man from the east a man who calls himself a failure has sparked hoppy's curiosity about the common election for sheriff of Shotwell County and the letter from Evan Harden the outgoing sheriff supposedly written from New York It's late at night after the barbecue that hoppy walks through the star saloon to branch Patterson's office Hello, how are you? Hello Hello, Frank. Well hop along Cassidy. Why you old vomit. I haven't seen you for years Yeah, have cigar no, thanks, French. Yeah, what brought you to shot? Well hoppy. Maybe I come to get a free dinner And maybe it's just that I'm curious about you and old Evan Harden What about me and Evan Harden last I heard you two were at each other's throats Seems the sheriff office was the only thing in town you couldn't control. Oh me and Evan had an understanding finally he Mellowed as he got older must have mellowed off of fast Here's the bar 20 a few months ago and told me we've got to get your hide. All right. I said he changed a lot Maybe so by the way work Bert Bert for an holiday used to be your number one assistant Oh, we're just going to Colorado. Yeah, it's gonna open up a new place for me there I see Yeah Well Cassidy, I want to rush you off and I've got a lot of work to clear up here. Nice sure Oh just one other thing Mind if I take a look at that letter from Evan or any particular reason. Yeah, I won't do boys some money I want to send it to a New York. I see Well, I don't want to open the safe now, but he's living at the Hudson View Hotel there on the 65th Street Thanks, French that ought to do it Cassidy, yeah, when you write to him send him our love will you sure Hello Oh, there you are Well, any luck? I don't know Paterson says he's living at the Hudson View Hotel. I know the place on 65th. Come on Let's get down to the telegraph office and this message going to New York. Yeah here. I'll read it to you Mr. Joseph Alderwood six eight four Park Avenue, New York City Urgent you wire description of man residing Hudson View Hotel under name of Evan K. Harden Tire Pinkerton operative if necessary. Oh, here's my name. I'm staying here at the Golden. Oh I know it hoppy, but you can't win an election on suspicion. What about that then? It's all they had against boss tweed to begin with you You don't know this town branch Patterson owns it but voters are behind him to a man We had our branch Patterson's in New York State. We got rid of them And I don't think voters out here any difference. Well, what do you want me to do get up and tell them branch Patterson is a cook But I think the letter from Harden's a forgery Bill by the time we're through you'll be able to tell him more than that like what? We don't think Evan Harden's alive Huh? What are you talking about? We got an idea branch kill him and fake that trip to New York Hey, that's pretty strong stuff. Can you prove it? We're gonna try How do you feel about running now? Sure, I'll run You give me the ammunition. Okay, it might take some digging, but we'll get it No, mr. Cassidy, I thought you'd gone up to bed. Sorry miss Anderson. I didn't mean to start with I just ain't used to having rumors round again. Sure. It's only been a month or so since Sheriff Harden. What are you please? Don't talk about Sheriff Harden I miss him much. I he was a roomier for a long time 20 years. Yeah Wonder why he suddenly decided he'd like it better in New York I ain't a mind reader mr. Cassidy, and I'm running a room in-house knocked an information bureau kind of jumpy, aren't you? I ain't jumpy. Okay, miss Anderson. I don't want to upset you It's just that I might have found the bowl Evan Harden too. Hey It was a wonderful man was well, I mean, it's almost like he's gone forever Way off in New York. Sure. I know Did you see him off? What do you mean tonight? He left town. Did you help him pack or anything? I didn't see him till around midnight when he was about to leave his horse was saddled outside waiting Remember what he had on now see here mr. Cassidy. You can't I'm just testing your memory miss Anderson He had on a salt and pepper soup to black Stetson red dye and pan high heel boots And that's all the talking I intend to do about Sheriff Harden. Sorry. I guess I'm just naturally nosy My dear nice channel you guys here looks new Did must have cost a piece of money. I just come into a legacy. Yeah That's what I thought Yeah, I'm sorry, mr. Cassidy. I didn't get the question I just ask if you knew Evan Harden Sheriff Harden sure sure I knew Evan Oh, I still know him. I reckon that is if I ever see him again Well, you want duty here at the station the night he took the trainees. Yeah. Yeah took number 68 I remember old Evan rolling up in that book board of his come up and shook my hand and they was tears in his eyes Hated to leave shot. Well after 20 years. Yeah, I guess he did Do you remember what he was wearing? Sure a salt and pepper suit black Stetson red tie and tan high heel boots He is sitting going close. I reckon. Hmm to the strike you a strange Haven't pulling out for the east after all these years not strange Sensible just what I'm gonna do next week. Oh gonna leave this burg and head east myself Time I started taking life easy. Yeah, you must have saved your money. Yeah. Yeah, that's right. I saved my money I like What's the latest we've tailed Cassidy day and night for a week now even asking questions all over town look branch I'm getting uneasy about that up. I told you I had it fixed and it's gonna stay fixed someone's gonna spear I get it They won't talk cuz they know what'll happen if they do. I hope you were right Yeah, have a cigar right? Yeah Like That's better You're my boy. I you're gonna win this election and you're gonna stay right in my pocket where you belong We'll do big things together here in Shotwell County Now you leave Cassidy to me run out and slap a few more backs After all like you're the town hero, aren't you? The people's choice Happy it's you. Hello, Bill Janie dad Hop along Cassidy private investigating. Well, how'd you come up? I'm a horse from asking questions and I've got so a feet that I got a lot of answers to Harden left the rooming house at 1130 took the creek road to the station got there at the midnight or so the stories go Witnesses. That's the funny part. There are two That's the Anderson at the rooming house and the picket agent at the station. No one else. No one Nothing wrong with that but late at night only must have passed the Peters place on the way Mark was Harden's best friend around here, and he was up all that night with a phone there Why didn't hard to stop him to say goodbye? And here's another thing Ted. Yeah, I guess you better tell them. What's the matter? What's eating all of you afraid we made a slight error happy, huh? Wire came today Read it Tim. Yeah See here. It says them checked Evan K. Harden about 65 gray hair six feet 180 pounds black dyed moustache brown eyes scar on left cheek smokes cornpob Hope this is sufficient. Joseph Alderwood And it satisfy you happy Yeah, it sure does it's Harding's description to a team that satisfies me that there's another guy in Patterson's bought That gang I hadn't figured on who's that the telegraph operator that wire never left his office You ran up the Patterson's office with it and let him figure out the answer. You know, maybe he's right sure I'm right the landlady and the picket agent were bought and paid for I can see the money in their eyes Both of them had the same description of Harden on the night he left word for word Can you remember what genie war 30 days ago bill? Can you? well No, hoppy, but you can't and another thing according to their stories Harden left the boarding house at 11 30 on a horseback and pulled up the station 45 minutes later driving a buckboard by George Hoppy bully for you. What? Where do we go from here Ted? Can you leave for New York tonight? Hate to rush off, but I suppose I can good. You've got a job to do back there. What do you mean better? Get comfortable. I want to get things straight before Ted goes because of it comes off Yeah, Patterson will go up for the murder of Evan Harden, and you'll be sheriff of Shotwell County It's late at night and eastbound number 68 is puffing up the grade a few miles out of Shotwell Taught a pair of riders waiting in the shadows near the track Well, here she kind of test right on time not as convenient taking her on the fly this way We couldn't risk having you seen leaving for the east still think we're taking a chance Everything's a gamble in this country a lot will depend on you though. I can take care of that My George has done me a lot of good watching you fellas work. Don't feel like a failure anymore I don't believe you ever did matter of fact. There are a couple of pieces of unfinished business in the east I think I'll tackle while I'm back give it the old Cassidy treat You forget about can't get around that way Got it Remember to ship my baggage coming up my fast break so long, Mr. Mr. Mr. See what was that fella's last name? Hello branch. Well Cassidy I'm kind of late for a sass perilla drinker. Aren't you had an errand run? Yeah Offhand I can't think of anything. I like to do less than eat crow branch But sometimes it has to be done. Well, I'm a willing listener. I made some cracks. I'm sorry for I want to apologize Really? Yeah, I may as well lay it on the line branch. I thought Evan Harden was dead I thought that letter you read at the barbecue was a phony Yes, I'm just naturally not a trusting soul So I sent a wire to New York and got my ears pinned back Harden's living at the Hudson view all right fit as a fiddle Why are you telling me all this Cassidy because I might have done you some damage asking questions around town at all I Had a good reason of course what reason to miss Anderson You knew I was staying at her rooming house What about miss Anderson first night? I stayed there She woke me up walking down the hallway in her sleep talking a mile a minute about Evan Harden being murdered Ah said so yeah Seems to me. She mentioned your name a couple of times. I couldn't quite make it out Anyway, that's what started me off on the wrong foot. Is she she say anything else? Well, she did it almost every night for a week did an awful lot of talking Said she was afraid someone was gonna kill her because she knew too much Long about then I realized she was crazy Mm-hmm that all well toward the last she got pretty wild Said murder had been committed in her house and she was an avenging angel Well, that was last night just before she took off Took off. Yeah, haven't you heard? What miss Anderson ran off early this morning. Nobody knows where she went Well, anyway, I wanted you to know the whole story branch Hear anybody spreading gossip around about you. Just send them to me and I'll straighten them out Yeah Sure, thanks. Good night branch nice I can yeah, what is it old lady Anderson's gone crazy run off somewhere crazy. What do you know? I don't know, but she's talking I get the boys together. Tell them to get in the saddle and stay there until they find her Confounded I quit pacing the floor shut up branch. Oh Getting smarter get too big the obretches. I've had a belly full of you and your crazy schemes Don't worry. I they won't talk. They're afraid of me big bad branch Patterson. I got the Indian sign on That won't do you no good branch. No, nothing's gonna do us any good now Shut up. Yeah me knock off harden bribe yourself a set of witnesses grab the sheriff's office just like that Don't look so easy. Now. Does it well that dame running around the hills for a week now offer nuts screaming that we killed him, okay? Put the gun down branch You wouldn't plug me in the back room of your own saloon. Would you know that wouldn't be smart You'd have me shot out in the hills somewhere and bribe yourself a few witnesses Give me that Okay, what is it Willis look why I just came in down to the telegraph office lucky. I was on duty instead of the release. What is it? That's from New York holiday Hester Anderson arrived here went to authorities told them where harden lives Pinkerton should arrive shot. Well tomorrow Holiday where harden lives. I couldn't say more in a wire She told him where we put the body and the mine shaft at Connors bluff What are we gonna do branch? We better get out of here. No, no, that's no good They can't get us if they can't find Harden's body group. He's dead. You mean that yeah Come on. We're going out and get rid of it This time for keeps Hold the light up That's it. I think it's farther on. Yeah, you were too scared that night to remember Yeah, here's the place. I remember that quartz vein on the wall hurry. We have much time. Ah, come on. I How deep is it never mind that just move rocks hold that light up? Well, it's doing the bitch. Okay. Wait a minute listen That noise Somebody's over there get the light Willie. No, you don't stay right where you are Branch Okay Cassidy How'd you get here? We've been tailing you all week waiting for you to get our telegram Your telegram yeah friend of ours New York Senate and signed holiday his name He's in custody by the way What about me Sanderson? She's resting comfortably out of Bill Vixen's ranch By the way, Phil's outside with a posse Wanted me to tell you how much he appreciated you're leading us to Sheriff Hardin's body just in time for the election It's election night in Shotwell and the citizens are gathered on the rodeo grounds for a torchlight celebration I'm so proud I could split He's gonna make a good sheriff Janie wouldn't be surprised that there were some pretty drastic changes around here What would you and your weekly editorials and bill in charge of the law? It was a long chance a lot of guesswork But we won. Yeah, thanks for that and that wire from New York couldn't have come at a better time. Why everyone? Here we go. Why everyone quiet? I I've got a lot to say to you tonight about what we're gonna do together to make Shotwell a better place to live You know at another rally here not long ago a young fellow walked up to us and told us branch patterns And was a skunk and it was high time someone got up enough nerve to lick him Well that fellas in New York now, and I just got a telegram from him that I'd like to read Bill Dixon Sheriff Shotwell County Hope voters there have learned that good government is more important than a free barbecue every four years Congratulations on your election Hope I have as much luck this November when I run for mayor of New York City regards Teddy Roosevelt We hope you'll be with us next time when hop along Cassidy will again ride out from the bar 20 for another dangerous and exciting adventure of the Old West Hop along Cassidy star and William Boyd is transcribed and produced in the West by Walter white jr The failure was written by Harold Swanton All stories are based upon the characters created by Clarence E. Mulfer. This is a Commodore production