 It's Papa Long Cassidy With action and suspense out of the Old West comes the most famous hero of them all Papa Long Cassidy starring William Boyd The ring of the Silver Spurs heralds the most amazing man ever to ride the prairies of the early West Papa Long Cassidy This famous hero thrills his 60 million fans with action and dangerous adventure In the role of Papa Long Cassidy is the popular star of the motion-fiction series William Boyd and appearing as that laughable old character California is Andy Clyde Now to our story the Red Death It was a long ride to make even for a friend like Kit Kavanaugh South from the cool rolling hills of the bar 20 to the Mesa country From a land marked with place names like Peep Sight and Deadwood to the Alkalai desert still carrying the stamp of the Spaniards To the arena de la Muerte the desert of death To ultimation to the Rio on the end all the mysterious stream which suddenly vanishes underneath the ground California we're happy that's it ahead that's what I had the real on the end all the earth The disappearing river He drops under the ground right there and never shows up again corn sharp nasty over considering the country to the south 120 miles of the gold blemish dry buzzard infested stretch a desert beside a How do you feel sore feet sore seat and the powerful Well, we'll be down at Kit's ranch in a day or two if we ain't buzzard bait for them Which way you reckon we're gonna push them Cadillac here's right up through the desert past here I know it. I know it. It's times like this one. I know that you'd retire ten years ago If I had the brains of a jackass Now don't underwrite yourself you're smarter than a jackass I ever knew There's a nice right and it won't be much of a trick pushing 500 add up the arena All right, honey. Just do me one favor you ride back in the dragon keep an eye out for straggling doggies If you see one flatten its face in that Alkalai dust just handle it gentle. Of course, it will be me Come on. Let's get out of the stream and fill up our canteen. It'll be dark in a few minutes We can cool off down there and hit the desert after sundown What's that Scott's over there? Come on No use California. He's gone. Did you get a look at each horse to guard? That critter was past as a streak. Hey, what you're picking up there in the trail? Oh, nothing Where'd the shots come from down there by the spring? Come on. Let's take a look Probably someone's partner to Jack grab it. Yeah, why do you write off like a posse with that? That's a good question wait hold it. Huh? Look You know against that rock over there next to the water. You're right. It warned Jack right come on Poppy a man. Yeah, but look at him red He's ready to beat clothes. He's face Everything yeah, and he's not only red. He's dead It's two days now since the shots and the fleeing horsemen led hoppy in California to their amazing discovery at the edge of the Rio and the endo the body of a man colored a brilliant red from head to foot Meanwhile at the ranch house of kid Kavanaugh, you know something kid I don't think you're being very smart. Why not? Well, you'll never get anywhere with this outfit. You know that I'm driving 500 ahead north in a couple of days. Cantrell. That's nothing to sneeze at Besides there's something else. What's that? You haven't told me why you want to buy me off. What do you mean? I just finished telling you Even if you are short of water, you've got some good grazing here my water. I can build this up to a thousand head Besides I need the right away. Now look, I've only been here a couple of years But I think I know what's going on around here The dozen ranches and one miserable town all squeezing out every drop of water there is This country won't support one more beef critter than is here already So don't you tell me you could put five hundred head more on this place if you bought it. I offered you a fair price didn't Yeah, they are too fair You've made it a couple thousand less. I might have thought you were on the square Okay, kid For now For now. Yeah, never can't tell something might happen to change your mind Yeah, what is it Martha? I don't know something's wrong. The cattle out by the corral they act like they're sick or something sick You see what I mean kid. No No, I don't just think it over with By the way, your friend Castle is in town. I just saw him heading for the sheriff's office Now take it easy gents if you think I'm gonna swallow a crazy yarn about a blood red cork But that's just what it was sure we don't burn him there right by the river mark the grave with a heap of rock red His clothes his hands his face everything We'd have packed him down here, but we were loaded up already and well a hundred miles a desert the cross Yeah, but red a dead man that's red ain't he what's that sir? Oh, oh this here's doc Galloway I sent from when you told me about this hello, honey. How do you dog doc? Would you say if I told you these jets run across the red corpse? Great. Yeah, where Rio on the endo right where she disappears near the water. That's right It it can't be Red death the one the red death it swept through this section years ago Sort of a legend now, but it does have a basis of truth What are you talking about the springs that water holes all through here suddenly turned red became poisonous Killed humans horses everything like the plague Probably a bacteria some kind of germ that suddenly increased beyond all reason and all this wasn't anything like that Doc this man died from something else entirely 40 poor either sudden Concentration led in the sacred Elias. He was shot. We got a glimpse of the killer as he rode off Well, I'll send a deputy up after the corpus delectae and maybe we'll know more about this red business Reckon we'll be able to find a grave if you marked it like you say Kid how are you boy? Okay, I hope California kid. You don't know how glad I am. You're here. Yeah, I'll be no no wait a minute doc I want to see you too want you to come out to my ranch if you can what's wrong I don't know a bunch of my cattle suddenly took sick like they were poisoned or something poison. Yeah And a funny thing that's spring of mine the waters running red What do you make of it doc? I don't know kids and come on doc. Tell me please doc Well I'm afraid they are poison. I knew what I knew Please I can't help it kid. It almost seems like something's working again. Look dear. It's not gonna help I know what I I guess I'm just a coward or a quitter or something. It's just that it's happened this way every time We build a lot of hope we start out telling ourselves that this time we'll look at it What's the world got against us can't matter you don't know how you're making me feel like your Paul duck I sold you this ranch. You couldn't know about I know that but Look, let me do this for you. What I'm all alone. I have no family. I've got plenty to get by on What if what if we just forget there ever was a deal? You mean you know let me test the water first. We'll make sure before we go any further It's what I think it is. I'm willing to call it off You know the old saying satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. I Don't know what to say doc. Then don't say I'll say this much. I Don't do business that way If I took on a load of poison water with this ranch I'm stuck with it kids. I'm sorry Martha. Here comes can't thrill. Yeah Brace yourselves everyone What's the verdict doc read me if it is you'll know soon enough can't feel yeah When it hit this country last time it took every ranch in the district funny thing doc I'm not worried at all and kid. Yeah, the office still good. You want to sell out only the price has changed Goes down a thousand dollars a day under you make up your mind Maybe you'd better get out of here can't travel sure doc, but just remember that kid $1,000 a day Yeah, would it hurt too much for you to wise me up or should I go on John? Where we headed? Ah There is sure is What the Navajo saloon? Let's drink them for him and I'll to make that you're going in and another is desperately a bench I Want to talk to the proprietor your old friend of mine? For a teetotra, you know more bartenders than any man live and sometimes I've got my doubts Hmm his name is Eustace Eustace cult ever and if he ran for president, I'd vote for him. Well, here we are After you, California. Thank you, Mr. Cassidy Oh He knew me when my name was still California California Carlson used to call pepper. All right. Hey, I'll be with you in a shake, Bill. Sure. Go ahead No, Fred. What sit down in California? Oh Excuse me stranger not at all coffee. What's this got to do with them pys and steers? Not here You new in town stranger just coming through my name is Cassidy. This is California Carlson. I'm Mike Ritten. Howdy Just passing through you say that's right. You you and the cattle business written. No, I see Quiet in here. Hey, I like it quiet Yeah Now bill or hop along it is now It was bill when I know I'm up north now used to all them were the days they up along Let me tell you he was a tiger than church social You just ran the drugstore up north when I was a kid Well, I can't show her look your fish. Hey, maybe you and me quick. Oh, no, you don't California Tell me you what did you do with your equipment when you gave up the drugstore and took the bartending? Oh, still got her stashed away in the barn out back. You remember anything about the drug business? Sure do No, I wanted to patent medicine for a while put out the slickest concoction. You ever laid a tonsillon Tasted wonderful wouldn't cure nothing, but I sold gallons of it You're just a fellow I'm looking for California you sit here with Mr. Reardon while you just and I take a trip out to the barn Just let her set till she clears up you sure you're right why not Well, you haven't run a test like this for 30 years the equipment's rusty, but I ain't I hope not. This is pretty important Where'd you get this and a kid came when I was spring. He stopped turned up sick this morning What makes you think to see I don't think anything yet. That's why I got you to drag out this equipment Yeah Funny ain't it that pink color. Yeah, how's it look now? Well, I'd be able to Yeah All the lantern up so I can look good. There you are Oh What about it you're right about that water bill. What's in it arsenic? I'd answer your question that answers the little one What's the big one? What's a dead man colored red from top to toe sitting by a stream 120 miles from here Got to do with a batch of sick cows on Kit Kavanaugh's ranch Well, that's you That's quite a question indeed. It is you sir. Indeed it is It's late in the evening and hoppy in California returned from Alta Mesa to Kit Kavanaugh's ranch at the edge of the desert Hoppy. Yeah, kid. Do me a favor. Will you stop pacing the floor shacking the motion? I'm getting nervous I'm sorry Things beginning to get me. It's simple enough. I bought myself a spring full of poison water It's not that simple. Why not? This isn't the first arsenic well around here I bet it's the first one turned arsenic overnight Now there's more to it than that Cantrell is still willing to buy you sell to him and I'll break your neck. You're a little late, huh? You mean you know, no, I didn't sign anything not yet But every day I wait cost me a thousand dollars. What did you tell him said I'd be willing to talk business in the morning Now wait a minute. You listen to me kid. I'm too listening to anyone Who's ran kids at yours? Who's gone broke of the cattle guy you kid? Oh, I Sorry, I Guess I'm falling to pieces. What would be Martin and all the things about sure. I know But there's something more to it something none of us know about Look the ranch goes sour spring runs poison That look at Cantrell willing to buy and at a pretty good price, too And doc ready to give you back your money and take title for the spread. Does that make sense? No I can't help feeling all of us has got something to do with that dead man. We found up north Oh, but dog gone hoppy. How can that I don't know all of a hunch if you want everybody's getting jumpy around here And I take that deadhead power we set with back at youth discol-pepper soon. What was that channel for you? That's howler. We sat with what did you call him dead head? Why dead head? Oh, well, that's about the only thing you tell me done always business or nothing But when I asked him how he got to out of major he said something about he dead headed in on the stage You're sure he said that yeah, but what that's it. I knew there was like an action between that man It's disappearing river and this thing here. What are you saying? I'm going down to the hotel He's probably staying there. I want to talk to that bird right now Sorry, mr. Jordan just checked out, and I don't know where he went. Could he leave town? I run the hotel here not the transportation business now. I don't mind telling you Yeah, sure Henry yeah, you just never get up to heaven that way Henry. What is it useless? Henry straying a mite from the gospel He knows he has was mr. Reardon out the back door of this flea bag not a half hour ago used to show Henry I've seen it with my own eyes The road all toward Lazy C Ranch with Steve Cantrell. Thanks, Eustace You just got right now you never busted your work to Cantrell Henry I mean for that five dollars. He's good to shut up right after all who's me the told Cassidy I Don't like this Cantrell. I'm not used to being Shanghai. No bad feelings ridden. Just want a little private talk That's all I know why you're here, and I think I can help you that is if you play along with me Go on Cantrell. I can deliver what you want tomorrow morning at a price, of course There's only one thing. What's that? When are you planning to make this thing public tomorrow? I'm gonna call a meeting of the cattleman Suppose you would have holed off till I get this little thing of mine straightened up can't do that I'm afraid you'll have to What kind of a remark is that cantrell? It's all of the thread of your water. You're riding up to my ranch tonight, and you're gonna stay there until it Wait a minute Go on cantrell. I'm interested to Cassidy. Go ahead rich for your gun. Okay? Better trot home to the lazy see and poke your hand We'll be seeing you at the cattleman's meeting tomorrow cantrell maybe sooner than that Cassidy The man talks tough now you'll get over it. Now. What about you all right? What about me? Don't you think you'd better tell me why you're here sure at the meeting tomorrow night You already gave yourself away ridden when you told my partner you've dead headed into out of Mesa on the stagecoach Only a railroad man has say that All right So I'm a railroad man and the only reason I can see for a railroad man to be an Alamasa right now is to lay out the Location for a railroad across the arena at Dale and Wreckie To maybe link up with the line on the West End. You're a pretty good guess. I try to be So when you start thinking railroad you automatically start looking around for something out of Mesa hasn't got in quantity at least Water, that's right Okay, Cassidy you win. It is the railroad and it is water He sent a man here weeks ago to look the place over last we heard from him He said he'd worked out a brilliant idea to find it for us then what nothing dropped out of sight I think I know where you'll find him. Yeah in the back room of the sheriff's office That's down on a table covered from head to foot with red dye and pretty dead. You mean yeah Come on. I look California and I found him two nights ago 120 miles north of here at the edge of the Rio and Dandil You know ridden that's something else. We ought to take up at the cattleman meeting All right, doc good to see All right, now I have your attention, please You've already been told that the railroad I represent is planning a line across the arena del Muerte to link up with the other side I don't need to go into what that'll mean to this section Here at the edge of the desert a town will spring up that will grow into one of the big cattle shipping centers of the southwest But all of our thinking up to now has run up against a stone wall The one thing that keeps this section down the thing that limits the number of cattle You can raise the thing that keeps this town down to a crossroads is water Every drop of water available here now is being used We'll need a hundred times as much if we're to think about running the railroad through here or building the town to go with it Now let me draw a diagram on the blackboard here Here's a triangle At the point of it at the top is the spot where the Rio and the endo disappears into the earth 120 miles north of here. Well, what could that do in us if we could tap that river under the ground We'd have all the water we need and more besides Along the bottom line of the triangle is the alzamesa country right here with its dozen or so ranches all Existing on the seats that come to the surface The engineer we sent here a few weeks ago figured one of those seats might connect with the river itself under the desert If we could find which one it would be simple to develop it to drill down and tap the mainstream But which one of the seats So our engineer figured out a simple plan he rode north to the point where the river disappears and poured red dye into it for three days Sure enough day before yesterday the spring at one of the ranches here ran red the kept Kavanaugh ranch out at the edge of the Mesa Mr. Kavanaugh now holds the development of this section in his hand. I hope we'll be able to work with him in following it through There's one thing more Mr. Reardon left it to me to mention that the railroad engineer and will it tonight to see how his plan succeeded Because someone someone in this room Who had an eye on the money that watered bring here Murdered the engineer and left his body up there by the Rio and the end. Oh, I think we can find out who that is His horse dropped the shoe on the trail up there right at the killing He rode him over a hundred and twenty miles a desert trail on a bear hook the left hind one Everyone a peepee seat while my partner checks the horses at the tie rack outside If the horse isn't there, we'll all stay right here while the ranchers are searched till we find him Let me out of here Doc Don't get away I shoppy I don't know how to thank you for all forget it. Yes. Let's think about those cattle. We're gonna start north tomorrow Oh, that's not it Don't gonna copy sure pull the rabbit out of the hat where that cost you I was wondering what you picked up back there at the real. Yeah You know see an old use of cow pepper reminded me of something I learned when I was a kid and my mother made me go to Sunday school Something in the Bible that says the guilty plea when no man pursuers. Oh come well you saw that horseshoe in your California No, why? That's the guy picked up on the trailer bin there's a 49 and Besides it never belonged to a horse anyway. It's belong to a mule Ha ha ha ha ha ha Hoppy in California are hitting the trail homeward again and after this little adventure the bar 20 is going to be a welcome site Hope you enjoyed this friendly visit that you'll remember to tune in next time these two fighting cowboys get involved in another thriller Nascar page Up along Cassidy star and William Boyd is transcribed and produced in the West by Walter White Jr The Red Death was written by Harold Swanton all stories are based upon the characters created by Clarence E. Mulford This is a Commodore production