 It's Hapalong Cassidy With action and suspense out of the Old West comes the most famous hero of them all Hapalong Cassidy star in William Boyd The ring of the silverspears heralds the most amazing man ever to ride the prairies of the early West Hapalong Cassidy This famous hero thrills his 60 million fans with action and dangerous adventure In the role of Hapalong Cassidy is the popular star of the motion picture series William Boyd And now another exciting story of the early West Hoppy takes the bull by the horns It's a lovely autumn day on the bar 20 ranch one of those days What a nice hammock swung between two shady trees is the greatest contentment known to California Carlson pearl of Hapalong Cassidy But it so happens that hoppy is doing the swing and while California relieves the cook on his day in town If you think this makes California happy well, you have another thing coming Concerned I just ain't gonna do it. I ain't no cook and I ain't gonna take the cook's job while he's going Go on break. Just one less pain to wash when you get those pans clean, California Tell you what I'd like to have you do when I get these pains done. I'm arresting for the rest of the day I don't want to never see another cook You've just worked yourself up to such a fever and you're not gonna be able to mend fences or anything I ain't meant to nothing. I'm humiliated Me wearing a white apron like a ordinary gasper. Well, then maybe you'd like to take a trip Yeah, I just ain't gonna Trip. Yeah, well now dog on it. You're talking stuff. I can understand. Oh, when do we leave tonight or two silver Creek? That's a pretty darn good ride hoppy. Is it important? It sure is, California Remember, I tried to buy old man Parker's bull at Herford with all the prizes Oh, no, just a minute. Don't tell me Parker'd ever let nobody buy that bull Parker won't but his son wrote and said if I wanted to buy the bull he'd sell Well, what does old man Parker say? Nothing. He passed away a week ago and his son ain't got no more respect than that for him I know, but if he is going to sell it don't seem right But I know how hard you tried to buy him. I already believe my is California, but there it is right there We'll let you have the bull for four thousand. Why that's stealing hoppy that critters worth three times that much I know that's what's funny. Well, then I guess we'd better be getting ready to ride I know you sure want to get there and see that bull Yeah, and I'd also like to get there and see old man Parker's son. There's something wrong here, California I'd like to know what it is Now back to hop along Cassidy and our story hoppy takes the bull by the horns Hop along has an offer to buy a famous bull which he has tried to buy for two years The offer comes from young Parker who took over the ranch when the father died The price is four thousand dollars While hoppy appreciates such a bargain. He also is suspicious about the whole thing However, he draws the four thousand from the bank in new one hundred dollar bills And heads for the Parker ranch at Silver Springs But I'm sick of hanging around this forlorn section of the country Ruth Let's take your share and go back to denver where we'll be happy look jack Out of respect for my father. I'd appreciate it if you'd stop hounding me to go I was raised on this ranch. I love it. I love my father. Of course you did But Ruth we're married now. I'm your husband your first duties to me. That's partly true Yes, but I've had a talk with mr. Curtis and according to him I have no voice in the handling of the estate. I get one four in cash jack Answer me honestly Did you go into silver springs and gamble again now wait ruth? I I see so you have After promising you'd never touch another card. It was just a little friendly game ruth. How much did you lose? well Around three thousand, but I'll pay it and I promise it with what? Wait Maybe I could borrow it from that lawyer fella. I'm sorry, but mr. Curtis hates cards and gambling in any form But I have to get the money ruth This is the fine man. I'm married Crawling and sniveling and weak. I am uh, all right. I'll show you. I'll pay it back myself I'll get the money If you were listening you did How now says is that a way to talk to your brother who's been gone 20 years? You're not a brother to me. I know it must be strange seeing me after all this time, but I'll not bother you long I'm selling the stock You're selling the stock No, you can't it's the only way I've invited hop along cassidy and his partner here tonight for a barbecue He's buying hair for giant for four thousand four thousand that In cash, I thought money would interest you jack. I'm an heir too. Don't forget that And I'll keep here for giant if it's the last thing I do, but Ruthie dear. He's nothing but a male cow I mean that both of you that bull never leaves this ranch I've been looking for you cassidy. He must have slipped by me sit down here in the patio moment Oh, how do you do mr. Curtis as soon as we rode in this young parker fella grabbed us and made a deal You mean he sold you the bull. That's right Wish you'd have seen me first mr. Cassidy I'm afraid there's going to be trouble over that deal. Well now it's legal, ain't it? Oh, you're in the right But uh, Ruth the daughter will never stand for it. Uh, that kind of makes a difference, mr. Curtis But a deal's a deal and young parkers got the money You've already paid him in cash and I have a bill of sale from him. I'm afraid this means trouble, cassidy Oh, here you are Curtis. I've been looking for you You didn't look soon enough now look here. Am I the legal owner or not? Well, of course it was your father's. Don't talk around the subject legally. Yes, but morally you have no Anything, huh? Well, if my buying the bull is upsetting you, uh, it's legal mr. Cassidy and it stays that way I don't mean to eat a fear parker, but my position in this matter is one of importance There's only one thing of importance Curtis and it's this see Money four thousand of it and more tonight when I sell those yellings or they ain't ready for sale yet young fella California It's really none of our business. Yeah Well, Curtis while I'm busy you might as well be a good host and show mr. Cassidy and his friend the ranch Yes, I'll join you with the barbecue. I want mr. Cassidy to enjoy Enjoy himself Like a tender not California Done all I can Cassidy. I've been thinking a bit Curtis about this young parker. Well, of course you remember 20 years ago and little misfortune His wife left for the boy and the old man parker raised the girl she married last month in denver a city dude Yeah, about this son. Where's he been? Says he's been in south america Just come back the day before the father died. He should have stayed in south america the upstart Doesn't seem to have much affection for the ranch. Yep And we even suspicion that maybe he wasn't really the parker boy But his sister and I asked him things that happened when he was just a little fella and Nobody not one other soul could have answered the questions. We asked him and he answered them right down to the time His mother dropped a wagon tongue on her foot and went around with a cast for a year Then he remembers the big wind that blew the roof off the shed and killed his little pony Even told us the name of the pony Zippo was its name. Well, dirty if I ever had a son like him. I'd horse whip some sense in his skull And That's how things are I'm only telling you because I know you're an old friend of parker's senior That's right, and I don't envy you your job handling the affairs as they now stand I'll go take another look at her for giant I'll join you after I get washed up and we'll be in time for the barbecue Eat, huh? Well, now that's the first interesting thing I heard since we come Uh-huh, and I got an idea, california. It isn't the last interesting thing That there is the shed where the bull is hoppy Uh, I don't think anybody's going to care if we look at our own bull on california I reckon not But you know hoppy that young parker fellow was mighty anxious to get his hand on that cash That's not our affair Hoppy, huh? Who's this cutting around the fence heading this way? It's a man, nothing wrong with that He's coming right toward us Are you ready for most anything? I've been a doing just that ever since we got here Mr. Cassidy, I gotta see you a minute. It's something important today Oh, it's uh, roost husband Yeah Say, Mr. Cassidy, you bought the bull, I understand That's right And paid in cash What's wrong with that? What? Nothing, I I was just wondering if you'd like to buy some of those smaller cows We have a lot of money, I'd sell them very cheap You mean those yearlings? I don't know how old they are, but if you'd buy a couple hundred of them I'd take almost half price Oh boy, that's right down, down right We're close to stealing Oh, no, no, it's not Ruth, my wife owns some of this stock and we want to go back to Denver Why are you so anxious to make a deal out here in such a hurry? I just told you, that is, we'd like to get our share and leave Well, I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll talk to Ruth and she puts a fair price on them No, no, no, no, no, don't say a word to Ruth I don't want her troubled with such things Well, young fella, there's something sour about your dealings Yeah, California's right I don't think there's any way we can get together on this Very well I trust you gentlemen enough to say nothing about my proposition You can depend on it, unless Unless what? Unless it becomes necessary Now, excuse me, I want to take a look at that here for giant I'll be right back, California, and we'll get over to the barbecue Right, Hoppy No difference who I am I'm here to see that bull don't leave this barn But I just bought that bull They might be quiet and well-behaved Let me get a look at you And don't get no notions that I'm an ordinary run-ahead I'm not looking for trouble I raised this here bull from the time he was a day old I helped him grow up And I promised old man Parker I'd see to it that nothing happened to his bull You'll have to take that up with young Parker I aimed to Now go on, get out of here Just a minute I bought the bull, paid for it Don't let you mean stinking 4,000 How do you know so much? Why are you... Well, I got ears Does young Parker discuss his business with you? Why you... Here, here What's going on? It's not going on, it's all over What's the meaning of this, Hank? More than you think There's them around here that's gonna wish they was never born Believe me, Hoppy, this has been a nightmare since young Parker came And Ruth's husband hasn't helped any, has he? I... I don't care to discuss that, Hoppy Of course, I know how that cow-ion feels Yes I'll check and see if Hank's been feeding her for a giant right I think California and I'll pull out early in the morning Things seem pretty tense here Honey, hey Enough to last him if Hank never comes back Well, shall we walk over to the barbecue, Hoppy? Sure, California's waiting for us outside the barn Oh, is he? Well, herpes giant is getting a little restless I guess having the visitors is too much for it Yes, maybe he'd rather be by himself Yes, so Well, let's get our share of that barbecue, eh? Why don't you say California's? I left him right here Look at the smell of that barbecue, got him Yeah, looks like most everybody started to eat Yeah, it's a pretty sight Get cider beef cooking over the redcoats Funny isn't it how folks can be singing and laughing like this Yet under me feel nothing but suspicion and distrust I can't understand how... What's the matter? Give me a match What? I can't sleep with a fire line, I want a match Oh Great Scott, isn't that a man lying by the path? Yeah, that's young Parker And he's lying here because he's dead Now back to Hop along Cassidy and our story Hoppy takes the bull by the horns Upon the death of old man Parker The son offered to sell Hoppy a prized bull for $4,000 Knowing what a wonderful buy it was Hoppy rode to the Parker ranch, paid the $4,000 And immediately became involved Not only in family feud but murder as well Young Parker was found dead behind a barbecue spit While members of the family nearby were enjoying the music Day is just breaking As they all wait for the sheriff to arrive Are you gonna stay and help the sheriff Or are we heading for the bar 20? I don't know California Since I found these letters on the body There's some explaining to be done You mean you ain't gonna keep the bull? Maybe not But he's got your money The whole $4,000 He has? Well, what I mean is he had it It's the same thing It ain't your fault he got a knife in the back I'm coming up the trail, all right Is he sure beating the dust? I bet it's the sheriff I can just tell from the way you're looking That you're planning to stay on, doggone Hey, howdy Cassidy Oh, yes, Sheriff You didn't lose any time getting here Well, I like to be punctured on each and every kill in the county Voters like it that way Where is he? The body? Right over here Yeah, I'm sure I'm gonna have my hands full of that Everybody's mad at everybody else You might try finding the money, too, Sheriff $4,000 $4,000 That'd make a pretty good size watch That's right You won't find it on anybody Whoever did the killing had to hide it fast That'll look good around the barbecue patio I look under every stone If it's there, I'll find it Hey, where are you going? To send a telegram Telegram? Now, how in tarnation is that going to help? It may answer why a man named Parker Would be carrying around mail Belonging to a fella named Lige Draper You told the telegraph man to bring the message here? Yeah, he knows we're grabbing some breakfast here in the cafe Anything else, gentlemen? Yeah, doggone, you was gonna bring more bread Oh, so it was Forgot all about it And how about that coffee? You ain't concentrating on your work, are you? Well, I ain't the regular waitress I'm just doing this to help out Start it today And you'll be going tomorrow if you keep this up No, California I'm a stranger in town Maybe when you know me better, you'll think I'm a good waitress Oh, I don't pay any attention to heaven Oh, Hoppy, look, there's that telegraph fella Yeah, looking for us, I guess Now, how do I go get the message? Now, I better go get that coffee before he starts complaining again So, you're new in town, are you? And I ain't too sure, I like it I work awful hard for what I earn Is that so? Sure, do, Mom I'll follow by today Oh, dial Here you are, Hoppy Ripper opening, let's see what it says Hold your horses, California See now Man known as Lines Draper left town 10 days ago with new employer Lived at Mrs. Burke's rooming house She can identify Draper No further information See, that's sure good That Mrs. Burke can tell us if it's Draper Huh? If we wait three days for her to get here Oh, yeah, that's right Oh, but never mind, Hoppy But we can go back out there and I say we can go back to the ranch and Hoppy, you ain't listening Uh-huh Oh, I'm sorry, California, I was thinking of something else You watch? Well, what about? I was just thinking An identification might force a confession But doggone, if you said it would take three days for her to get here So I did Well, California, you go back to the ranch and help the sheriff I'll be out soon What are you going to do in town here? I'm not sure But if my plan works, we'll be heading for the bar 20 tomorrow Yes, sir, California, I caught the ombre red-handed Heading for the county line Do you mean the fellow who took care of the bull, sheriff? Yep, named Hank as much as he'd made it he'd done it Well, I'm sure glad you cleaned it up so quick Well, that's what they put me in office for You can't fool the voters See, looks like Hoppy riding in Can tell him as fur as I can see him Yeah, that means you can load up your bull and head for the bar 20 tonight Ha-ha, doggone, that's good news Yeah, sure, I'd like to buy that dead horse of his Yeah, there ain't enough money in the world to buy topper No, I reckon not Well, Hoppy, we can get headed for home now Yeah? Yep, I got him hog-tied and was just waiting to tell you Simple as that, eh, sheriff? Well, I ain't wanted to be doing no bragging But he's as good as convicted this minute It was Hank, Hoppy, the fellow who takes care of the bull Well, congratulations, sheriff You found the $4,000 on him Well, no, but I can get him to tell where it is And did he show you where he hid the knife? Knife, eh, well, I figured I could find it any time A jury'd want to see it Now looky here, Cassidy, you're making out like I don't know what I'm doing Or he ain't no Sid's thief Yes, he is, and I don't like it You want the killer, Sheriff? I've caught him I don't think so Is everyone else here? Yep, that fellow who married Parker's daughter Eh, you know, for a minute I suspected him But I can see he didn't have nothing to do with it Well, California looks like we'd better get our bull and start for home Well, it was darn nice of you, Hoppy, to want to help Uh, uh, where's this bull? Out in the barn Here, come along You never didn't see a bull like this one, Sheriff Why, he's... Uh, good one, eh? Well, uh, let's take a look at this here, Bull Hoppy It ain't helping none to find the money, but... I think you're wrong there, Sheriff Huh? All right, dog gone I wouldn't have a wild bull like that He ain't that way all the time, Sheriff When Hoppy first saw him, he was like a kitten Sheriff, look, isn't something moving behind that hay pile? Where? I don't know, I reckon you were right Come on in there, whoever you are, and get them hands up Come on, you're covered Don't shoot, please don't shoot Ruth What are you doing hiding like this? I'm here to see if no one takes our bull away And that means you too, Hop along, Cassidy But this gun... I'd have killed anyone who tried to take him And I can believe you would, too Yes, even you, Mr. Cassidy Why don't you go back where you came from and leave us alone? Miss Ruth, I'd like to do just that But there's a killer around here There ain't no more You cause nothing but trouble Even the bull knows something's wrong All this fuss over an animal Suppose he's smart enough to tell us who done the killing Sheriff, that is the first really intelligent remark you've made Well, if you've got something to say, Hoppy, say it quick Cause me and Hank are heading for the jailhouse I didn't kill them You didn't like them? Well, neither did I Does that make me a killer? Jack, please If you'll let me say just one word before you go, Sheriff And the rest of you folks, let me have the floor a few seconds Let's have no more of this nonsense The sheriff has to leave I know But before you go, Sheriff Here's a lady you'll all want to meet A Mrs. Burke runs a rooming house Mrs. Burke Mrs. Burke? Yes Would you step into the patio here And tell me if you see the man who came to your rooming house And offered Drake for a job impersonating young Parker I already see him Is that man there? That's great Look out, Hoppy! Ow! Now back to Hop along Cassidy You better get Curtis to a doctor, Sheriff My bullet creased his hand pretty bad Well, of course, him or you, Hoppy And I'm mighty glad it weren't you Why, California, I didn't know you cared Yeah, enough of this, beloved What evidence you got again, Curtis Hoppy? This, Sheriff Well, that looks like the knife Where did it come from? I searched every inch of the ranch Who told you where to find it? The bull And now wait a minute That's right When I first looked at the bull He stood there quiet as a kitten Then Curtis came in, went into the manger To see if there was enough hay And the bull immediately became excited All right, so the bull's temperamental He just didn't like the smell of human blood On the knife Curtis hid in the hay Oh, Mr. Cassidy I'm ashamed of what I said about you causing trouble I understand Now hold on here You ain't solved things to my satisfaction I got my voters to account to Oh, what about the roll of money? Think I can tell you where to look for that too See that handkerchief Curtis has wrapped around his hand? I suppose he has it hidden in there Look at what's on the handkerchief Sure, blood from his hand No, too bright a red for blood Looks to me more like chili sauce That is dried on the handkerchief I'm beginning to catch on Reach down into that crock In the rock stove California And see what you find Right Whoever killed Draper had to get rid of the money fast The handiest place was a big crock at the barbecue Now there ain't no good sense to all this There's lots of sense to it Curtis paid Draper to impersonate young Parker Together they'd sell out the ranch and divide the money But Draper got greedy and Curtis had to get rid of him Hoppy, hoppy, here's something all rolled up in paper Yep Oh, well, wipe it off and put it in your pocket, California We'll be the only folks in the west with garlic flavored bills Mr. Cassidy, I said I'd never part with Father's bull But now No, don't change your mind, Miss Ruth He belongs right here Sure, a smart animal the way he helped solve the killing Maybe you better run him in the next election What do you mean by that? Now looky here you bull-legged cow folk Think we better get going, California Hey, Mr. Cassidy You promised to get me back in time for the dinner Oh, Mrs. Burke, I want to thank you for identifying Curtis here We'd never gotten a confession without you I may need to call on you again when the judge starts his trial Oh, sure You'll find me the cafe across from the telegraph office Oh, what? I know we better get going, California Come along, Mrs. Burke Oh, sure And Sheriff, I hope you pay as good for me identifying Curtis as Mr. Cassidy here It's a lot easier than waiting tables What? Why? Why? Well, I didn't know I could still blush Good boy from Hoppe in California once again They're riding back to the bar 20 now And I imagine they'll be sitting around an open fire Telling all the other wattage about this exciting escapade you just heard And if things don't happen too quickly Maybe they'll enjoy a bit of quiet ranch life If you'd like more of these two gun adventures of Hoppe's Don't forget, you can see him in the fine Hoppe-Long Cassidy pictures at your local theater Meanwhile, don't forget to tune in next time Hoppe-Long rides the airwaves To bring you more action out of the thrilling old west Hoppe-Long Cassidy, starring William Boyd Is transcribed and produced in the west by Walter White Jr Hoppe takes the bull by the horns Was written by Howard Swart All stories are based upon the characters created by Clarence E. Mulford This is a Commodore production