 Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the Guardian of the Forest, Ranger Bill, pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. You know there's one good point about winter. Despite the cold weather and the snow, winter gets rid of the pesky skaters. Oh the mosquito is a little fellow all right, but I've never known such a little creature who can be such a big pest. Of course there aren't any of the pint-sized buzzbombs around Naughty Pine now. They've all been frozen out. But in today's story, which takes place in the summer, our rangers are soon going to get their necks full of the pests as they're called to Central City, a city in the heart of the Southern Forest District. What do you say we travel south ahead of the fellas and hear the story, Sleeping Death. Right now Dr. Amos Midge stands outside a hospital room pondering the symptoms of one of his patients. He talks with his intern who is completely puzzled as to what the diagnosis can possibly be. Dr. Midge, I'm stumped. I'd give a lot to know what's wrong with that man. I think you know Dr. Why don't you tell me? Yes I know what it is. It's just that I can't believe it. It's a very unscientific remark. I know. It's the dread of an epidemic that I'm thinking about right now. This horrible disease is carried by a little friend, the mosquito. Mosquito huh? I know it's not malaria. It couldn't be elephantitis could it? No it's not. It's sleeping sickness. It's 50 miles over to the town of Carter. It's there the Dr. Lewis LeForge talks with an ambulance attendant in the emergency room of the General Hospital. Both men have a grave look on their faces. Some more sleeping sickness Dr. LeForge? Yes Ben, it makes the fifth case you brought in this week. It isn't even a week, just three days. Why are we finding it here in this area of the States? Certainly it's rare but not impossible. They had an outbreak in Indiana not so long ago. What's the cure? A profound question my friend. The cause we know but the cure we aren't sure of. Some respond others do not. Those that don't just kind of sleep on and on like living dead. Now let's take another trip to another hospital located to the west of Central City and look in on a staff meeting of the Morris Clinic and Research Foundation. Professor Joel Morris is present. Gentlemen, gentlemen, we must call a meeting of all the doctors within a hundred miles of our institution. It has to be determined at once the extent and the seriousness of this sleeping sickness. I hope our fears will not be substantiated. Believe me I never hoped and prayed for anything in my life more than that this sleeping sickness be restricted to a few people. But we must find out. When do we plan to have the meeting? I'm calling the meeting for Saturday morning. No it's short notice but we can't afford the delay of a weekend. Our office staff will send special delivery letters to everyone at once and telephone the doctors living too far out. Gentlemen, there isn't any need to use valuable time in surveying further the number of sleeping sickness cases you're now treating as we're all very much aware that there's but one topic of conversation among us. I agree Joel. I'd like to chair to appoint committees immediately so we can formulate plans to combat this epidemic. I'll second that. Very well gentlemen I I think that's a wise decision. I would like to ask Dr. LaForge and Dr. Midge to join me on plans for mapping preventative measures. And Dr. Plon... Paperwork is necessary to efficient planning but it doesn't get the job of killing the disease carrier is done. That's right Lewis but now we've an idea of the area over which the epidemic is spread. Our pencil efforts are ended now we're ready for action. Yes and in record time I'll call the mayor and the health commissioner and ask them to meet with us in half an hour. I only hope they have... We've taken in the counties involved Mayor Peters and we want to spray this whole area. That's a pretty big order Dr. Midge. You mean you can't do it Mayor? We can do it Dital of Forge. It'll take a couple of weeks to cover the area you gentlemen have marked off. Two weeks? That's right. Gentlemen the mayor isn't telling stories. We have mosquito abatement equipment but it's small scale. It takes us at least two weeks to spray the city under normal control measures working the man eight hours a day. Commissioner this is extremely urgent. We must spray this area at once. Not this area only. We've got to spray the whole country for 50 miles around and do it quickly. We need more equipment we need it right now. The longer we wait to kill the pests the more sleeping sickness cases will break out. Yes this can't be an ordinary spraying job. Gentlemen I know this is a serious problem. I'll be glad to work my men night and day and even hire more men to get the spraying done but I can't make a promise of a sudden and efficient job. Mayor or commissioner where can we get more equipment? Professor Morris I suggest you ask the county and state authorities for help. The meantime we'll start spraying the city on a round the clock basis. Only has three spraying rigs. Any help you can give us will be valuable superintendent. Is it possible to get men and equipment from the surrounding counties? Yes but their equipment is just as sparse as ours. There are several companies that do this kind of work too. Fine we'll get the authority and then we'll get them spraying too. Well don't get too optimistic doctor. All the combined equipment we can lay our hands on will not be enough to do the job you need done. We're not equipped to handle an emergency such as this. I've been afraid of that. How long will it take to get the sprayers operating that you can get your hands on? We'll start operations in half an hour. Mr. Secretary you must be joking. I wish I were Dr. LaForge. The state hasn't any equipment for fogging. We leave that shore up to the county and local city governments. Uncle Sam takes care of the national parks. I'm sorry to hear this. We need equipment and we needed badly. I'm sorry too doctor. I wish I had a hundred pieces of equipment that I could rush to your area. Say why don't you contact the ranger boss in your area. Perhaps he can give you the help you need. I believe you have something there. If the ranger in charge can't help he might know where we can get the help we need. Be sure and let me know if there's anything I can do. I'll inform the governor. I'm sure he'll be of the same mind. Thank you Mr. Secretary. Goodbye. Goodbye sir. Gentlemen my committees laid all the facts before you. We're making headway but it's not enough. The whole area within a 50 mile radius of Central City must be sprayed within a week. But who's going to create a miracle? The way we're gone it'll take a month and every citizen in the area could have sleeping sickness by that time. Gentlemen we've been given the suggestion to call in the ranger in charge of the Southern Forestry District. Call is being placed through this gentleman now. I can't make any promises but it's certainly worth a try. Ranger headquarters Ralph Hodges speaking. Mr. Hodges this is Professor Joel Morris. Oh yes sir yes sir how are you? I'm fine thank you. I wondered if you could come. Yes I can. May I ask why the invitation? Yes you can. We've got a baby epidemic of sleeping sickness on our hands. We need your help to keep the baby from growing up. You don't say. Well I'll be in your office in half an hour. Professor Morris I'm Ranger Ralph Hodges. Oh I'm happy to see you made such good time Mr. Hodges. I'd like to meet my two colleagues Drs. Midge and Laforge. Sit down Mr. Hodges and we'll bring you up to date on our problem. Thank you. As you may or may not know sleeping sickness is carried by the mosquito. It's very rare for an area such as this but the facts are that we have an epidemic on our hands. Now that you know our problem can you help us? You're our last hope. We're already using all the available equipment we can get for hundreds of miles around. Yes gentlemen I can help you. Oh great thank you. What kind of help can you give us? Well I have two large truck rigs that can fog a thousand acres a day. Wonderful. And I have a fogging device rigged on a small plane. How soon can you put your equipment into operation? As quickly as I can get back to headquarters and get my men and equipment back into town. Well you can leave now if you wish. We can talk with you later after your men and equipment are working. Fine I'll be on my way then. The sooner we get this plague under control the better off we'll be. Ralph returns to headquarters and within half an hour the two large trucks and the plane are in operation. He puts his men to work using an efficient plan to cover the country between headquarters and central city with a killing fog. However all of the men and doctors haven't been trained like Ralph has. Soon chaos results from good intentions and sincere effort. Some parts of the terrain involved aren't being sprayed at all and others have been sprayed two and three times by different crews. Professor Morris tries to direct the operation to the best of his ability but his efforts are futile. He finds Ralph and tells him of the additional problem of lack of coordination and system. Ralph what do you suggest we do to get all the men to work together? Professor what we need is a general. This is an army of men and they need a leader who knows how to handle this type of operation. You're right but who will we get? There aren't any of us who have enough experience for such an operation as this. Wait a minute. Yes Professor. I've got the man. Well that's fine who is he? You. Oh no no no not me but I recommend Bill Jefferson of the Northwest Forest District who could also bring in more equipment. Ray Wolf take a look at the teletype will you? I watch now. Bill come quick. Yeah. What's up Ray Wolf? It's a message from Ralph sonny. He needs help. Great Scott sleeping sickness. That plenty bad stuff. What are we gonna do young fella? Stand around with their hands in her pockets? No we're going to swing into action old timer. Ray Wolf will you answer the teletype? I'll stump you and I get the men in and ready to move out. I do right away. Fine. All right let's get to work Stumpy. Stumpy's going to see to it that you fellas get the trucks and flying boxcars and get you and your equipment flying south as soon as possible. You said it Bill. Let's go young whippersneppers. We got a job. Central City putty fast. I'll say well even if he has to fly them there himself. I think you want us to fly two spray planes down to Central City. That's right. We won't have a co-pilot a radio man but I think we'll make it all right. As long as two engines keep going like clock we not have trouble. That's what counts all right Ray Wolf. Let's get out of the airport. We'll let the flying boxcars take off first because we'll be able to get there ahead of them anyhow. Flying boxcars. Stumpy got them off in good time all right. Our planes are ready let's take off. See you in Central City Bill. Right. Wish the throttle is wide open as you can. Six o'clock this evening. Oh that's good news Ralph. Over and out. When you have the job done by sunrise Mr Jenkins. Good work Mr Jenkins. See you in the morning. Bill I have to hand it to you. You and your man have worked a miracle in getting this spraying job done. Thanks Professor Morris. We're used to this type of work. It's just a matter of practice. Well I don't agree but have it your own way. Say what about the planes you brought in. You haven't used them yet. Well use them in the morning. I'm keeping them for the double dose. Also to spray the swamp and river areas. They've got the most powerful fogging equipment made today. They'll cover this whole country in several hours. We'll start while the dew is still on the ground. The Grey Wolf's truck is pulling up in front. Let's see what he wants. You're sure fast. Are we not finished yet Bill. Why not. Why'd you come back. There isn't any swamp or you fellas are supposed to be working. But they're a man by name of Cy Boone. What's the matter with him. Cy Boone got his road barricaded. He's done guard with rifle. Cy is biting off more than he can chew. How far did you go. Central city. And almost all area 10 miles around has been sprayed. But this man keep us from finishing job. Professor Morris. Yes. I'm going to be gone for a while. You please take over any call to me come in. All right. I can get you on the radio if I need you. Yes. I'll be out paying a call to Cy Boone. I want to get stumpy and then find out why Cy won't let us spray his land. Please. You're a real pole cat. You have much concern for other people. Well there's always one like Cy Boone in every crowd. We don't spray his place. The folks for a couple of miles around here will be in danger of catching that they're sleeping death. Holy Gravel. There's the roadblock that you told us about. What you do now. I'm going to remove the roadblock. Bring old Betsy along Stumpy. You don't think I'd leave my rival behind. Do you. Let's go. Catch him in the brush. But I don't see any signs of a human being yet. See him yet. Nope. Shot came from the place. Keep walking. Give Gravel time. OK. But I ain't always stumpy. Drop gun to you. Keep hands up. Walk out into road plenty quick. You only got a busted hand. Good work fellas. Now we can find out what this is all about. All must be that big shot range of boss they shipped in here. That's right Boone. What's more he's used to handling tough guys that don't try any more shenanigans. Yeah. We're just waiting till my hand gets to feeling better. I wouldn't make any threats Cy Boone. We don't scare from the likes of you. Now what's the big idea of blockading your land so we can spray it. That's my business Ranger. You all just get up and get. This is private property. Now I see you ain't spraying and that's what I mean. You plenty big fool. You catch sleeping sickness and then you wish you let us fog. I ain't up to listening to any of your elaborate not get. All right let's go fellas. He's within his legal right. Well I do declare a ranger with brains. Don't consider yourself the winner Boone. I'm coming back with a court order. There's Cy Boone's place down there. When are we going to get the court order so he can spray his place. I sent Ralph over to the county seat to get it Stumpy. He should be back by the time we get through a spray. I'd sure like to give Boone's land a dose from up here where it's safer. Somebody is shooting at us. You're not joking old friend. I can see somebody standing in the yard down there shooting at us. I'm turning out. They'll play well fellas. Sure is. Doing the shooting is crazy. I'd sure like to know why Cy Boone won't let us spray his land. Yeah so would I. We'll find out just as soon as we get the court order in our hands. Yes sir. And if old Boone starts acting ornery we'll put him in the pokey and let him cool off while we cover his place with fog. This is Professor Moritz. Yes. Are you sure? Yes the ranger just walked in the door. I'll ask him to investigate immediately. Goodbye. What's wrong professor? The phone company just called and told me they've been getting calls for help from Cy Boone's place. Well I say just ignore it. No Stumpy. Maybe he changes mind. Let's go fellas. Stumpy you try to knock this apart with some of the tools in the car. Grey Wolf and I'll go on to the house. Okay. We go now. Honey fine. We run half mile now. He's got a lot of land. House must be around the bend in the road up ahead. There it is. I can see roof through trees. I'm sure glad you all got here. We could have gotten here sooner if it went for your miserable roadblock. What's happening? My wife and son are sick. Must have got what you were talking about. Guess you men were telling the truth. Now I've been a fool and now how are we gonna get them out? Forgot all about that roadblock. We take a look at wife and son then we figure a way to get them out. Sure sure anything you say. They're in bad shape Boone. We've got to get them out of here quickly. Oh what a fool I've been. Why didn't I let you spray my land and this wouldn't have happened. How will you get them out Bill? Get dark now. Maybe small plane land close by but not in dark. We'll have to take them to the roadblock in Boone's car then transfer them to our car. All the handling won't do them much good but can't be helped. Let's get them out of the car. Listen Stumpy get through roadblock. Gentlemen gentlemen we have good news for you. There's much to be thankful for. Sleeping sickness is well underway to being controlled. There were two new cases today but there have been no deaths in the last two days. With the area now completely covered we can rest more easily and I know you'll want to give Mr. Bill Jefferson and his men a token of your appreciation. Mr. Jefferson we of the medical profession and of the local government in this area thank you for all you've done. Gentlemen thank you for your generous applause but I would remind you that your own leaders were big enough men to invite someone from the outside to come in and that in itself is commendable but I do want to add that the whole area accessible by roads has been covered by ground crews and a second dose by the fogging planes. Now tell me what happened to Saiboon's folks doctor. Well they got under care just in time. Well Doc you could almost say it was a good thing that those people got sick so as we could get in and spray the land. That's what a man gets for being so stubborn. Well actually Mr. Jenkins the mosquitoes probably did their job of infecting his folks even before the spraying started. Well what do you know and we're fortunate that we didn't run into lots of other folks with the same antiquated ideas. Looks like it took sleeping sickness to wake him up. See you next week for more adventure with Ray.