 It's Hop along Cassidy With action and suspense out of the Old West comes the most famous hero of them all Hop along Cassidy starring William Boyd single of the Silver Spurs heralds that fabulous figure of the early West Hop along Cassidy the same harpy a cheer and motion pictures with the same California You've laughed out a hundred times in your local theater These famous partners come riding into radio just as you've asked for them William Boyd as Hop along Cassidy and then declined California our story tonight the Coltsville terror It's amazing what a threatening set of weather conditions can do at the moment They're joining forces with Hop along Cassidy to get California into a church a deserted church in the deserted town of Coltsville Black clouds are piling up overhead and the church stands silent and foreboding like the rest of the town I'll take in the saddlebag you tie the horses and that lean to and back hoppy This infernal ghost town is bad enough, but why do we have to pick an empty church to bunk it? Well, what's wrong with that? Lots of people go to church. Well, yeah, but it ain't the church hoppy It's that marble orchard out and back there You know how I feel about them things. They get under my scalp and tickle my brain. I Just calm your goose temples, California No one out in the graveyard is gonna hurt you ten miles back to Fenwell if we don't get out from one of those big black clouds We're gonna have to paddle our way home to the bar 20 But this conch on Coltsville not a soul around all them empty buildings And you know what I think I'd be interested to hear. I think you're just afraid to be alone with your conscience Oh, why don't you forget to go some take care of the horses while I Well, listen Yeah, you're sure this year church ain't occupied hoppy. I don't know. Let's take a look Sounds like it's coming from that room over there Yeah, they are in here with a wind blowing through the pipe up in the loft. Well, the lot What do you know the wind through the now I feel better But not much better Come on now. There's a wood stove in the next room and I could use some of those beans are yours You know, it'd be nice having music with our dinner. Hey, California How on California, you know, you'd make some woman a wonderful wife. Oh, she really thinks a hoppy wife That's a good one What's the matter? I'm either losing my mind or I'm hearing that organ player tune. Well, most organs do play tune Don't go and stop being so calm hoppy. I didn't want to come into this here Spooky church in the first place. Oh, would you rather be out on that downpour and took no work? I didn't like it when we first came into this church with the organ howling away and you were telling me it was the wind and Now it started playing a tune Well, well, what do you got to say? Oh me? Oh, I'd say Coastville has very remarkable wind And as much as I regret leaving these beans, I guess we better investigate come along, California Back to hop along Cassidy and the Coltsville terror Hoppy in California have found shelter from the storm in an abandoned church in the deserted town of Coltsville Or at least they thought the church was abandoned until a moment ago Common California depends where you're going. Take a look at that organ again Why don't I just stay here and mind these beans? Well, you'd rather be alone second thought I'm right behind you hoppy Never seen you so scared before I ain't scared enough and I can draw a beat on but when it comes to my ghost here we go I'm sorry if we frightened you miss you see we Yes, you did frighten me. Would you mind telling us what you're doing here? Well, ma'am We we thought we'd spend the night here out of the storm. I'm hop along Cassidy and this is California Carlson We figured the church was deserted like the rest of the town and and as you see it isn't so if you don't get my minute mother This was your father's church season. I see no reason why it should be used as a whole time I suggest a minute mother It happens to be my church now Father used to think of it as a place of shelter as far as I'm concerned it still is If you care to spend the night here, Mr. Cassidy, you're perfectly welcome. Thank you very much I'm Susan Crowell and this is my mother. How do you do? Mother and I come down here even to play the organ very little else to do around here I see you say this would your father's church. Yes He's out in the graveyard now. Mr. Cassidy. Oh, I'm sorry my mother and I and Deacon black are the only ones left in Coltville now. Deacon black? Well, Mr. Black isn't a real deacon We just call him that because he's a fine man who helped father build the church. He's been very faithful to us and His father was killed last spring. Well, it seems to me that's about the time people began leaving Coltville We'd prefer not to discuss that now. Mr. Cassidy. I'm sorry Still I can't help to be a little curious as to what would make a hundred people suddenly pick up and leave town Sounds like we'd do for another downpour ma'am. We'd be happy to take you home with me. That's a good idea We live just on the street, Mr. Cassidy. You can see the house in this window here The beam it came down from the loft up there. You all right mother? Oh, it's just miss miss that's underclap jarred loose Down on the organ that's right where you were sitting Susan under ration that was a might too close for comfort Let me see that this church is only two years old. I don't see how an accident like that. Wait Wasn't an accident ma'am Well, this timber has been sought almost true I think someone figured the vibration of those organ prices jarred loose so it would drop right on the bench I don't know who miss proud it looks like somebody was trying to kill you I think so Now why don't you be sensible and tell me about this cold bill business, but nothing can be done about it now Maybe not but I'd like to hear about it anyway All right, Mr. Cassidy Good right now though. I think the best place to talk is home You say your father built the church miss proud Yes with his own money the land was donated by the community He intended to give it to the people in a few years and that's when it started mr Cassidy what started this feeling of dreads and terror It fell over the whole town like a shadow and there was shooting strange Disappearances no one knew who'd be next everyone kept their doors locked or or moved away There was no reason for it. No explanation only fear everywhere But didn't you suspect someone that was the terrible part of it. No one else had any idea who was behind it Folks picking panic sticking and whispered about the coast in a carer father refused to run away He tried to get the people together to fight us Then four months ago on his way home from church one night. He was shot from ambush. No warning nothing I've just talked to mr. Riker and Mr. Black this is mr. Cassidy black How do you do mr. Cassidy and his friends are spending the night over at the church on account of the storm Oh, what were you saying about mr. Riker? He was completely unreasonable Incits the church belongs to no one since it stands on public land. You mean he's going to tear it down, mr. Black I'm afraid so he has no right to tear that church down my father bought the lumber and bill with himself I told him that I told him abandoned or not. It was still a place of worship I said he was committing a sacrilege. He wouldn't listen to me Excuse me You say this man wants to tear down the church. That's right. He's been threatening to for a week. Why he claims He needs finished lumber for a mine building. Oh, that's a funny reason. That's funny. I finished lumber and Fenwell You don't know what this means to us. Mr. Cassidy the three of us Susan Mrs. Crowell and I have stayed here in Coatesville We've defied this terror Risked our lives in the hope that someday the people would return That'd be a real congregation in that church again yet this uh This riker fellow wants to tear down. It doesn't belong to him. Mr. Cassidy. How can he seems to me? That's a question for the court to settle does he have permission or an order of any kind? Oh, he isn't that kind of a man. Mr. Cassidy He told me he'd be at the church tomorrow morning with 10 of his men ready to start I couldn't reason with him at all. Maybe you didn't talk the right language. Mr. Blacks California now beyond and when mr. Riker pulls up in the morning. Don't you ladies worry? We'll uh do our best to make him understand He can start ready hoppy right put the last away. Uh, uh, I'm over the window Well, what is it? Looks like mr. Riker in party or right on schedule. All right boys. Let's get rolling We'll hold out the two of us Howie brung an army with him got a lot of foresight that man First time I knew a six gun with standard equipment for a carpenter come on california. This gang means business Now back to hop along cassidy and the coltsville terrace A violent and evil force has driven away the inhabitants of this little town And now a gang of thugs from a neighboring town have come to tear down the abandoned church Hoppy is determined to protect the interest of the late minister's daughter susan crawls So he and california have been waiting at the church waiting for riker and he's going to arrive and attempt the demolition Uh hoppy or uh, are we going right up to him? Or there's a lot of them and only two of us Hey, you two men can start turning down the steeple. You must be an old attend men can frighten you All right hoppy don't go out of there. You must be mr. Riker. Uh Who are you the name is cassidy? What are you doing here? Well, we just spent the night in the church You just made it pal It won't be here another night. We're tearing it down. You um, you've got the owner's permission I got all the permission I need mr. It's here church stands on public land. It's abandoned And in my law book that means she belongs to the man who can best use her You know, um I don't see it that way at all Oh, you don't Take it easy boys I'll handle this This budinski if you don't mind mr. Riker keep your hands off in your hips while hoppy explains I don't think I need to explain mr. Riker knows as well as I do that He has to have a court order to demolish a building Excuse me, mr. Cassidy. I'm just straightening things out for mr. Riker mr. Crow. You didn't straighten out nothing That church is coming down and no one's gonna stop it mr. Riker. I tried to tell you last Let me shut up too black I'm through talking about it. Where's your mother susan? She's here too You better take her inside the church. Uh, would you go along with a mr. Black? Mr. Cassidy I'm trying to consider susan's father in this Rather than have more violence more bloodshed. I think we should let mr. Riker do as he wants What about it cassidy susan? No, it's not right and I won't stand for it. That's all I want to know. Come on mother. I'll go with you That wasn't so thoughtful cassidy They're able to get hurt in there when we start work. Tell me something riker Yeah, what are you really after you wouldn't go to all this trouble for some second hand lumber You could buy for 20 dollars and spend well the cattle business is a great game cassidy Maybe you'd better stay in it Now get out of this town before I lose what patience I got left I'm not getting out. Will you show me a court order to demolish this church? Okay That wasn't smart riker not smart at all I'll show you who's running Nice work coffee quick into the church Get out of the wall those walls are thin. Mr. Cassidy are you hurt? No keep down I knew this would happen. I knew it easy mrs. Clowell sometimes it's better to fight mother. That's what your father said. Look what happened to him I told you mr. Cassidy. We should it's too late to do anything about that now At least riker knows he'll have a fight on his hand California take a look out that window. What are they doing? Looks like he's talking to his man out there in that grove of trees I could pick off riker like a fly in a white sealant. Put your gun down I don't mean to argue hoppy but looks for me like we've gone about as far as we can with diplomacy I gotta think this out That's how much sure wants 20 dollars worth of lumber I wonder why Keep down everybody. Mr. Black you stay here with the women There might be some old furniture or something in the basement. We'll need it to barricade these windows Mr. Cassidy, how long do you intend to keep this up until mr. Riker decides it's cheaper to buy his lumber and fend well. Come on, California. Let's see what we can find That bench ought to do for the front window I got it. This thing looks like a bureau. They need some help getting it up the stairs. I Watch uh, what's the matter? You smell something funny. I got this bench. No one knows. We'll put it down Yeah, now smell nothing Well, I sure do I wonder uh, could you wonder just as well after we get this stuff upstairs? I mean before riker shoots out all the windows. Wait a minute I think I know why riker wants this lumber. Yeah, I wonder if I could get through to fend well They'd have the records. They're in the courthouse Come here. Let's take a look out the window. All right. What's he eating now? I can hardly see through this thing. The glass is all There I might have known it. They run off our horses. I like to steal one Oh, and your mind tell me what you're talking about how you're gonna have to hold the fort alone, California Give me five minutes and let's go with both the coat and the wind chester from the south side of the building Never mind aiming just get their attention What'll you be doing stealing one of their horses? I got a date with a man in fend well I didn't bargain for nothing like this. Yeah, I won't shut up We'll never get away with this strong arm stuff and you know it I got the law in fend well You heard what the boss said didn't you? That church comes down by nightfall or else. Yeah, but I don't make any difference to the boss where the law is Once that church is down the crowds are licked Now look gerry You're in for your percentage same as the rest of us If you've got a beef Why don't you take it right to the boss? Well, I ain't gonna walk up to room and neither am I I get around to the south side with the rest of the boys You can't say you want to shoot it out It's okay with me. That won't be good enough riker. Huh? Oh Boss I shut up How to break your lousy neck. I'm doing the best I can. Well, it's not good enough You had Cassidy right under your nose this morning 10 men behind you Why'd you let him get inside that church? I couldn't shoot him down or you're gonna have to do it now. Huh? I've got a hunch. He's gonna try and break through get over to fend well Well That's all you're worried about boss enough, isn't it you ain't got a chance We got the horse riker Riker what's the matter gerry cassidy? What about cassidy just saw him right away grab one of our horses You see what I mean riker get the boys gerry Mount up and follow him but he run off all our horses Their spread clean out over the country side. Don't stand there riker get the boys together I don't care how you do it, but you've got to stop cassidy before he gets to fend well We're gonna need it jeff and do it quick. You mean there's trouble not yet, but there will be soon We're riding into coltsville join a posse to ride into coltsville, ma'am. Oh, no Dad you can't you know what always happens for somebody's got to do it. Mary. You're all I got left dad They they even got my husband sheriff. You can't take dad But if we could clean this awful mess up we could move back to coltsville Wouldn't you like that, honey? There ain't nobody ever going to clean that up It's evil and terrible. There's one man that can do it ma'am Up along cassidy cassidy. He's here. He's on his way into coltsville now alone That's why I want to round up this here posse quick. Why in tarnation didn't you say so before? What do you say now, honey? Don't just stand there dad get your horse Why if I didn't have on a skirt I'd hitch up to horse myself Stand in more of this Susan. We've got to hold out mother. I've done all I can do Susan I risked my life by going outside to see mr. Riker I pleaded with him and he's finally agreed to let us all go in peace if we leave now Mr. Galvin I refuse to stay here a minute longer. I'm sorry ma'am Hoppy told me to hold the fork till he got back and we're staying right here Good heavens, mr. Carlson. Can't you be reasonable? It's dark outside. We've been here all day And maybe you can tell us why mr. Cassidy walked out without so much as a word to it Mrs. Crowell, I don't know how long many years since I took to riding with hop long cast here I trusted him the minute we met and I I've been trusting him ever since So far I ain't ever been wrong. Mr. Carlson's right mother. This is no time to give up But how do we know he got through? He might have been shocked. They might be holding in anything Oh, it's not quite that serious mrs. Crowell Hoppy, where have you been? Over in Fenwell trying to find out what made mr. Riker so anxious about getting this lumber It's an interesting question, mrs. Crowell, and I found a very interesting answer How to conclude the story the Coltsville. Hoppy has just returned from Fenwell Sure now he has found the answer to the riddle of mr. Riker's lumber And the answer too to the terror that has struck the little town of Coltsville What do you mean hoppy? What about the lumber? It wasn't the lumber. It never was. What is it mr. Cassidy? Why? A few minutes after I got to Fenwell to look at the property records on this land the stage pulled in There was a man from the east on it selling named Edward Hines. Anyone ever heard of him? No Well, I had to talk with mr. Hines I found out that all the land in Coltsville except for the 20 acres of church property here had been bought up By one man. What? I thought the land was worthless. No, this one seller didn't He planned to sell it to mr. Hines for over a hundred thousand dollars Provided he could deliver the property on the dome itself dome What uh, what's a dome hoppy? It's what the church sits right on top of california An oil dome the rich that the oil is sleeping in the basement. That's what I smelled this morning. Well, go go And who's been buying up the property? Well, it's been bought in the names of a dozen men most of them that bunch with riker working for a percentage But there were private arrangements between them and the seller they called the boss and this man was responsible for For what happened here? Of course. He was He's the kind of a man who will stop at nothing Murder robbery terror that's enough cash. Mr. Black. So it was never mind that now Oh, hey, okay. Yeah, okay. You hurt. I'm all right. That's second one. Did it california? Well, I think mr. Black's career is about over Yes, the deacon I can't believe it neither could I until I saw it in black and white. What uh, what about riker? They got the fenwell just in time to meet the party Well, it looks like you got a job on your hands, mr. Susan convincing the folks who left town that colesville wants them back only this time to live in tea I don't know how to thank you mr. Cassidy Then just forget it. I I like doing favors for people Happy, what is it california? As a special favor us being partners and all yeah Next time we get caught in a thunderstorm and we run across an empty church What do you say we just get wet? Oh Hop along He and california are heading back to the bar 20 now and they hope to get a spill of red But you can just bet that won't last for long. There'll be somebody in trouble and then hop you'll go into action again Hop along cassidy starring william boys is transcribed and produced in the west by water white jr The colesville terror was written by harrell swanson All stories are based upon the characters created by clarence b. Muller. This is a commodore production