 With action and suspense out of the Old West comes the most famous hero of them all Huffleong Cassidy starring William Boyd The ring of the Silver Spurs heralds the most amazing man ever to ride the prairies of the early West Huffleong Cassidy the same hoppy you cheer in motion pictures and the same California. You've laughed at a million times Raw courage and quick shooting have built a legend around this famous hero Huffleong is a name to be feared respected and admired for this great cowboy rides the trails of adventure and excitement William Boyd as Huffleong Cassidy and and declined as California Here's hoppy now with another new story. We call this story the band of the Blackton Bend You never had to carry a travel to Blackton Bend the town always had plenty of it waiting for you It lay on the line that separates Texas from Oklahoma Part in one state part in the other with its friendships as divided as its law It was a bleak town a brooding town and its mood was mirrored on the face of a middle-aged woman who stood outside the Texas saloon listening Until suddenly she twisted away as if running from the violence brewing within Illy piano Eddie Got things to say It's more of the same dameron. You'd better strap on a pistol because I'm not going to take it You don't have to take it now mr. Hattesty there's ways of settling things without using guns. Yes, and you've been planning on that haven't you dameron You've been hungering to use those big muscles of yours eight that you are You get a reputation of being good with your own muscles as well as your newspaper mr. Hattesty Why don't we go out in the street right now and settle what's between us. Hey, no, I got a feeling mr. Hattesty don't want no part of anything like that. You came here. Well supported isn't your dameron Hope Myers on one side of you chuck blot on the other But you're wearing a 45 hook you're going to have to use it if you make any more noise like that rare Mr. Hattesty is my pigeon We know you're good with a gun mr. Hattesty, but I always heard you was good with your fists Oh, of course that might have just been talk Talks cheap ain't it all right dameron you get your way. Let's go outside and settle this Thank you mr. Hattesty. I've been waiting a long time to hear you say them words Where hoppy you must be plumb slowing down here We ride 60 miles to get to town and you head straight for the post office The main reason we came in wasn't it so we could mail this letter. I'm going in to get it done You've been a hop along custody in California. Oh, yeah. Hi, lads Ouch, what the blazes is that almost tripped me in my ear Better watch the stuff California. That's a keg of blasting powder Blasting powder. What's it doing here? Oh, that stubborn old moss back of a clam Phoebe's brought it in Want me to ship it to LB firm and I said the US mail don't handle no explosives He liked that flew through the roof and he walked out left it here Guess he figures if he leaves it long enough I'll give in and handle it for him. Yeah, he's gonna find out the US mail is just as stubborn as he is Ain't you taking chances leaving that stuff around? No, ain't nothing gonna happen to blast and powder unless somebody sets it off I ain't worry none. Well, you've got to live with it What's that you're open a reward poster just come in what was it you wanted hoppy a stamp for this letter? Oh, yeah, here you are Face it on drop it in the slot there. I see that post Fellow looks like a dude don't sound like no dude though. Listen to this Wanted for post office robbery James Carlisle age 26 armed and dangerous Shoots left-handed is fast and deadly Send information to United States Postal Inspector Dodd City, Kansas 500 bucks reward, huh? That ain't bad picking if you win for a war. Yeah, no, it ain't Here California, let me get by you so as I can tack this thing up on that board there How's Dan Sebastian lies? Is he still Marshall on this side of the line? Yeah He's still Marshall with Steve Lewis running the law in another portion of town and they ain't no better friends than they ever was You know, I always claim we'll never have no peace here Do we go a whole hog into either Texas or Oklahoma? Killer can burn a man down on one side of the street and get away from the law by just stepping over to the other I like it like it ain't no town like Blackton been for excitement here. Come on hoppy. Let's go Well another day you close enough lies. Yep. I'm closing up one side throw that bolt nobody else comes in Even the president himself couldn't get that rule broken Well, I got some work to finish up here I knew I saw you right into town. Hello, Mrs. Fife We were just you're a friend of Matt Hardesty's ain't you Matt Hardesty sure I'm his friend You'd better help him then He's been talked into a fight with Newton Amaran a fist fight a fist fight That's only a couple of weeks and Hardesty was thrown from a horse. Don't I know it? But those men don't seem to care and if you don't help him out of it That Newton Amaran will just beat him to death Now back to hop along Cassidy and our story the bandit of Blackton Bend In Blackton Bend Matt Hardesty publisher of the local newspaper Stands in danger of being badly beaten by brutal newt dameron Hoppy knowing that Hardesty isn't physically fit for a fight hurries to his friends a Before we start this brawl anybody like to bet on mr. Hardesty's chances never mind the speeches dameron Let's get your fists up. No hurry mr. Hardesty. I never mind a hurry with you at all I'm gonna take care of your eyes first and I'm gonna work on the rest of that pretty face of yours But I ain't gonna be a no hurry about it. Let's stop the gloating and get started No use asking him to do that Matt Dammit would rather gloat than eat Wouldn't you newt Cassidy? What do you want you set on having this fight Matt? It isn't of my choosing hoppy Dameron's the one who said on it newt can be talked out of things like that. Can't you newt stay out of this Cassidy? Hardesty is my friend. He has no business fighting anyone with his fists Matt was thrown from the horse a couple of weeks ago, and he's not over it yet Hey, now ain't that real sympathetic Maybe you'd like to take his place I am not begging for the chance newt you make it mighty tough for any man you fight I came into town for fun not bruises and back off and let Hardesty and me settle this thing Why not just check the bet because I wouldn't like it that way, but I would and I'm set on making my point Hear that newt set on making his point He's wearing guns to push it who's your friend newt don't believe I know him hulk Myers hoppy He's a gunman from the border country. I can speak for myself ain't backward I'm saying you ain't stopping this brawl Cassidy. Stop working yourself up, hulk Nothing known on you that a cool drink won't cure. Now that I think of it I'm glad you moved in on this. You're a big man around here, ain't you got quite a reputation for yourself What are you looking for hulk a cheap kill? You won't find any bargains in this town You could even get the short end of the trade and that's a mighty permanent condition a big man with a big Reputation well, I'm asking you not to try it hulk. I'm blasting at reputations here and now No, I'll be up newt. I got you hulk might as well lay him down newt might as well lay him down gently Sorry, hulk. There just aren't any bargains in this town. Come on, California Let's go over to my face for the lodgings one thing hoppy Watch out for dameron. He generates a lot of hate and he's going to turn it all on you take care of yourself That's the whole list Bart except for some chew on the back of a chunky the cook We'll pick it all up first thing in the morning. See you later. Oh Oh Excuse me, ma'am. I just wasn't watching where I was going Yes, certainly weren't happy. Hello, mr. Hardesty. I'm really sorry about bumping the young lady I'm sure it's all right. Yeah, miss Carlisle. This is hop along Cassidy. How do you do? How do you do, ma'am? Haven't seen my son around have you happy? I was with him half an hour ago left him at the Colorado Saloon. Yeah Come to think of it Maybe you're a better bet for what we want better bet hop along Cassidy knows that country we were just discussing miss Carlisle He could probably do more for you than anyone else What he helped I never heard him turn anybody down yet Would you walk over to the clarion of us with his Cassidy and something we'd like to talk over with you? And That's the gist of it hoppy This boy is miss Carlisle's brother and back in Dodd City They have positive proof. He didn't commit the crime that put him on the run if you could only see him You'd know that mr. Cassidy. I've already seen your brother's photograph miss Carlisle You have where on a reward poster put out by the postal department. Oh So it's come to that But I swear Jim had nothing to do with the robbery He's headstrong wild even he's always been ready to fight But he'd never commit a robbery. How do you figure I could help? You know that rim rock country hoppy That's where we think he's hiding out. How do you know? Well, Jim got a letter through to me describing where he is Mr. Hardesty recognized the spot for my description of it If you could find Jim for me and tell him to come home I'd be everlastingly grateful I'm afraid that if Jim keeps on the run and he might do something desperate You want me to talk him into going back to Dodd City? Maybe even standing trial. Oh, tell him he won't even have to stand trial. I can promise him that All right, I can find him. I'll talk to him. I knew you'd say that hoppy and now if you don't mind I'll run along. I wish you'd come into town off now hoppy Maybe you could straighten things out for a map and me that seems to be fretting about something Actors though. He's under a strain Guess the paper hasn't been the financial success that Matt expected Probably because I've been playing the reformer a little too heavily. Maybe I've been stubborn about it. I Begun to realize that reform editorials can cost a paper of friends and business. I Guess that stuff is sort of like giving people medicine Something they ought to have but they hate like blazers to take it. Yeah, I see what you mean I've been impatient. I wanted to see it come in my time, but Yeah, let me help you up. Yeah, you all right, sir. I'm all right, but that was an explosion Cassidy Hey, Pete, what happened post office just blew all the smithereens post of us and lides Watkins Hasn't been by on his way home. He must have been in it Now back to hop along Cassidy and the bandit of Blackton Bend a Heavy explosion has just jarred Blackton Bend bringing everyone in town panting to the scene And now a mass of smoldering embers serves as the total remains of what had once been the United States post office How about it Marshall? What's the story and Lige Watkins? Well, it's bad. He was waiting to put his shipment of money on the stage and he's in there He's in there. We found it Marshall. The body? Yeah, so Lige. All right. You better take Mrs. Fipe away Tom Levitt recognized that elks tooth Lige always warned his watch chain. Well, how about the box? No sign of it We went to the members like rats through a green bin. What's this about a box Marshall? A metal chest that was scheduled to go out on tonight's stage money in it about 10,000 in bills Oh Sad about money begins to look like this was a robbery, mr. Hardesty with a thief covering himself by blowing up the place Which would make it murder as well as robbery. That's right And I don't have an idea in the world as to who might have done it. I have an idea. I have a good idea No, mr. Hardesty, no, I'm sorry young lady, but murder is murder. I told you about my brother was incompetent I can't condone murder miss Carlisle no matter under what condition I heard your story What is this? I know of a suspect Marshall. No, mr. Hardesty. Don't tell him the man who's hiding up in the rimrock country He was accused of a post office robbery in Dodge City only a few weeks But he didn't do it. I explained about that And I'm afraid I can no longer accept your story want to get a posse started Marshall I guess we'd better start routing up men Pete. All right, man. Will you go? How about it hoppy? You know that rimrock country? Well, all right, Marshall, mr. Cassidy You're my only hope. There's something you've got to see before you go Please please come to the boarding house I can give you proof about my brother but the way it looks All right, Marshall. I'll need a few minutes. All right hoppy We'll be gathering in front of the saloon the texas Don't take long the sooner we start the better chance we have of coming up with that fella You've just got to talk those men out of the idea that jim did this If they come up to him he'll fight And then they'll kill him Maybe he can be talked out of fighting. I'd better take off my guns You know my five won't stand for guns coming into our house I have the letter upstairs mr. Cassidy if you're waiting the parlor You will wait won't you sure I'll wait We'll be in a minute. How about you mr. Hardesty? You're coming with us? No, no Marshall. I'm too old for such acrobatics Let's bring that fella back. How you want him dead or alive? Where's hop along Cassidy? He ain't showed up yet Marshall. Maybe he don't want to show up. He knows that country. We need him I'll get him for you. I know right where he is Thought I'd get a slicker Marshall and a little food. Well, that's a good idea might be a long pull Where's hoppy? He'll be along. I just sent newt dameron for him. You sent who? Dameron why? Well, has he been deputized? Yeah, I deputized him, but go on and get over to five's boarding house quick On you're holding up the party. I'll be along dameron in just a few minutes. Now you ain't got nothing to do that's that important you Hey You ain't wearing your guns Nobody wears guns in this house my five won't It's on your mind dameron. So you ain't wearing guns You don't think I'm gonna pass up a chance like this. Do you meaning what I'm a deputy marshal All legal like I was sent to bring you over to the posse Now if you say you won't come you're Resisting an officer and that gives me the right to I haven't said I wouldn't come I didn't hear it that way Cassidy I didn't hear it that way at all You're excited over nothing mad. Oh, oh boy. Oh Well, here we are now They're fighting in there. Well then separate them Yeah, you must have been right mad here somebody help me get my heft off this man Here comes hoppy now What happened Cassidy did dameron nothing serious dan gun went off by accident newton. I did a little scuffle for it You're sure that's how it was Well, let's get going We got a man hunt on and an all night ride ahead of us Let's get going Well, here's the draw marshal shank will be about a quarter of a mile up. Well, we made it before daybreak Now if he's only there holy boy And this is it marshal hold it down dameron sound will carry up that draw like fire What are we gonna do if that fella's in there? We're up against a dangerous man He's robbed a post office and committed murder If we take him with gunplay some of us are liable to get it So I'd like to take him before he knows what's up Well, how marshal Well, we need a man to snake up that draw and another one to go by way of the ledge there I take one of them myself, but I'm too heavy to be much good So I'll take the first two volunteers. I'll take the draw. I'll take the ledge You dameron. Oh, I don't know I want cooperation and you fought with cassidy said you take the first two volunteers It's my right. Well, all right You'll get there first hoppy. So wait a few minutes before you move in Any gunfire bring us all up Now remember both of you this fella's a killer We've made noise and he could nowhere here. So watch out for that knife in the dark Watch out for that left-handed draw hoppy. You're both ready. I am me too. Go ahead then and good luck to both of you Don't move you're covered Who are you? What do you want? I want to help you so keep your voice down Are you jim carlall? Yes, but I your sister ellen's in black and bend. She told me about you Right now there's a posse closing in on this shack They're out to get you for blowing up the blackton post office. I didn't do it. I I haven't even been in town I know that now, but take it easy. There's a lot of moonlight and we're gonna have to get out of here in a hurry So you ain't going nowhere neither of you Got them guns cassidy drop them Got here sooner than you thought didn't I cassidy? That you think the boys are gonna feel about you after this Let's see now a man ain't quite safe with two prisoners Then I think I'll just tap you to sleep cassidy with this You got a man. What a punch. I used to have it coming to him for a long time Shame he had to get it doing law enforcement work. He's out cold We better be getting away and that shot is going to bring the posse here in a hurry. Come on Boy, this is mrs. Fife boarding house your sister's here Well, you're sure you don't want me to come in with you. It's better if I go alone I might not find what I expect so to be a good idea if you got ready to make a run for it In that case and things will be tough for you too. Won't they I might be able to talk my way out of it You're you're doing a lot for me cassidy. I won't forget it My sister won't forget it either. Maybe we'll all be lucky. I'll see you Matt I just got him down too Guess I should have started back sooner. You must have remembered what you said Yes, I remembered But not soon enough not soon enough to get here and really hide that box No, not soon enough for that Get still in the house hoppy then they'll find it. They will if you told them I have to tell them that it's another man's life Or mine I've had to think about that too And the fact that we've been friends You haven't asked me why I did it That's your affair If it weren't for carlyle, you wouldn't concern yourself carlyle and lies wattkins Lies you'd live most of his life hoppy and this kid can get away. I'll help him and you and I They could never look each other in the eyes matt time heals many things hoppy It wouldn't help young carlyle. He spent his life a hunted man I had to do it hoppy here. I've been gambling too much. You couldn't help that. I can't help this Well, there are stronger things than justice I'm your friend. I find it hard to believe matt with you holding that shotgun across your knees Self-preservation hoppy. It's the strongest force in the world even stronger than friendship matt even stronger than friendship I'm sorry hoppy, but I'm afraid you've made it a matter of you or me. So You got me You were too fast after all you're not badly hurt No matt make another move for that shotgun and I'll have to kill you Are they're here? Yeah, they're here. I have my regrets too matt deep deep regrets Now back to hop along cassidy and the bandit of blackton bend Well stage is ready to leave sis better climb in. Goodbye mr. Cassidy I hope you know how I feel hoppy. I don't seem to have the words to say it Good luck to both of you already down there all set driver There they go all smiling and sassy. Yeah, nice to see wouldn't have been like that if it weren't for you hoppy How'd you figure matt hard esteem for the killer anyway? Was that reward poster a reward poster? Lodge wattkins closed the post office when we left remember and you never said anything about that poster Did you know the word never thought of it? I figured not so outside of lies only three people could have known what was on it You and I and the man who saw it later When he murdered lies for that money So so out at rim rock matt hardest. He gave himself away By mentioning the information that had been on the poster When he warned me to watch out for carlyle's left-handed draw Well, I'll be doggone So will I come on california. Let's hit the trail And so hoppy proves to the unbelieving bandit of blackton bend that justice is stronger than friendship In our next story hoppy and california set out on a week of just fishing in lofen What little do they expect they will get no rest from action and danger when they meet up with a lady who wants to be a timber queen Don't miss hop along cassidy's next thrilling adventure hook line and murder Hop along cassidy starring william boyd is transcribed and produced in the west by walter white jr The bandit of blackton bend was written by buckley angel with original music under the personal direction of albert glasser All stories are based upon the characters created by clarence e mulford. This is a commodore production