 The dependable Dodge Plymouth dealer in your neighborhood. The man who sells and services the elegant new 54 Dodge presents The new Roy Rogers Radio Show. Yes folks, it's the new Roy Rogers Radio Show for the whole family. Adventure, suspense, mystery and music. Starring Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys and Dale Evans, Queen of the West with Pat Brady, the mellow man and an all-star cast. And now here to greet you with a song and a story, our Roy and Dale. As I walk down here, as I walk down here. Well, good evening folks. Here it is another Thursday and here we are again with a story and a song. I'll bet you recognize the song already. You know, that tune has really got two names. Some folks call it the Cowboys Lament, but mostly it's known as the Streets of Laredo. And whenever I hear it, I think about Charlie Simmons. Charlie and his wife Jean own a small ranch down there, Laredo, right on the Mexican border. As a matter of fact, you can walk right out of Charlie's backyard and go wading in the Rio Grande. Well, Jean and Dale were old schoolmates and every few months Dale would get a letter from Jean inviting us all to come down and visit. So we finally took her up on it and made the long trip from California. And when we finally arrived, the entrance to the Simmons Ranch sure looked mighty good to us. We drove up to the main house and honked the horn to let them know we were there. We sat and waited a minute or two, but nobody came out. That struck us being kind of funny so we got out of the car and went up to the house. The front door was unlocked so we went in. Nobody was around. Then from the bedroom we heard the sound of a woman sobbing. Dale ran in and found Jean lying on the bed crying her eyes out. Jean, what's the matter, honey? In just a moment you'll hear the entire story of what happened to Roy, Dale and Pat on the streets of Laredo. 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And now back to Roy and Dale and the story that happened on the streets of Laredo. There now, Jean, drink your tea. It'll make you feel better. Thank you. I'm sorry you found me in such a state. This certainly isn't the happy reunion I planned. Now stop fretting, Jean. You just pull yourself together and tell us some more about what happened. I don't know what happened. All I really know is Charlie's been gone for two whole days and that's not like him. Why, he's never been away from home for a single night the whole time we've been married. Well, maybe he had some kind of an accident. Well, I thought of that. I called the hospitals and the police station. They haven't seen him, huh? Not at trace. When he left, did he take any extra clothes with him or suitcase or anything? No. He said he was just going into town for a while to see Mr. Merton. Mr. Merton? He's a friend of ours, businessman. Well, is Charlie's car missing too? He didn't take the car, Roy. He rode into town on his paint. Paint? Well, a horse like that shouldn't ought to be hard to locate. Pat. Yeah, Roy? Get Trigger out of the trailer and borrow one of Charlie's horses and saddle him up. Where are you going, Roy? Into Lareda. A man just can't disappear off the streets like this. There's got to be a reason. I guess it's right up these stairs here. Yep, this is it. L.B. Merton. Mr. Merton? Yeah, that's right, sir. L.B. Merton. I'm Roy Rogers. This is Pat Brady. Howdy. Roy Rogers? Well, yes, of course. I'd recognize you anywhere, Mr. Rogers. I've seen your pictures. Thanks. What can I do for you? Well, it's about Charlie Simmons. I was wondering if you could give us any information. Nothing more than I told Jean. Charlie kept his appointment with me Monday morning. We discussed a loan on the ranch and he left. And you ain't got no idea where he might have gone. Oh, not the slightest. He said he was going home. I see. Well, thanks for letting us bother you, Mr. Merton. No. No bother at all. Sorry, I can't help you. Come on, Pat. Where are we going now, Roy? To the sheriff's office. We'll see if he can tell us anything. Hold it a second, Pat. You got any change on you? Change? Oh, just a minute. Let's see. Yeah, here's a quarter. Let me borrow it, will you? Sure. Well, that's funny. What? Did you notice that blind singer standing there when we went up to Mr. Merton's office? No. He wasn't there then. Well, this is a pleasant surprise, Mr. Rogers. Never thought we'd be honored by a visit from you. Well, thanks, Sheriff. This is my sidekick, Pat Brady. Howdy. Yeah, well, it brings you down right away. We came down to visit Gene and Charlie Simmons. Oh. You, uh... You friends with Charlie's? Well, actually, Dale's a good friend of Gene's. I suppose you know that Charlie's disappeared. Yes. Yes, Roy, I do. You got any idea where he might be? No, not exactly where he might be, but I think I know why he disappeared. Yeah? Did Gene tell you how Charlie was dressed and what he was riding when he came into town last Monday? Yeah. She said he was wearing his white linen suit, his white 10-gallon hat, and he was riding his paint. Yeah, that's right. She even showed us a picture of him in that outfit sitting on his horse. Charlie was quite a dresser, and he sure was proud of that paint he rode. Got him quite a reputation. Come here. Did you ever see this picture? Well, that's a wanted circular. Charlie Simmons wanted for smuggling. You mean you've got Charlie in jail, Sheriff? No, no. This circle is about seven years old. Charlie served his time for that, and when he got out, he married Gene. Well, does Gene know that Charlie did time and stir? No, Pat, he doesn't. Well, I don't follow this at all, Sheriff. What's it got to do with Charlie's disappearance? Charlie didn't disappear, Roy. He's up to his old tricks. Smuggling. What does he smuggle? Dope, wet backs. Anything will bring a price. How long have you known about this, Sheriff? Me and the board of patrol have had our eye on him for several months. But we never could catch him with the goods. He's plenty smart. So you think Charlie went away deliberately? Yeah. I figure he's stashed up a lot of money in Mexico, and now that the heat's on, he's skipped the country. And left Gene? I'm sorry, but that's the way it looks to me. What makes you think Charlie's at the head of this gang of smugglers, Sheriff? Every time we've had a report on him, it's always the same. A gang of men crossing a border in the dead of night, led by a fella in a white linen suit, wearing a white 10-gallon hat, and riding a paint. You're acting awfully mysterious. Why'd you bring me out here in the back of the ranch? Well, I didn't want to talk in front of Gene, and you must never tell her, Dale. Tell her? What? Well, Charlie's done time in the pen-tenture for smuggling. Oh, Roy, I can't believe it. Poor Gene. Well, I know how you feel, but after all, we didn't hardly know Charlie, and I've got no reason to doubt the Sheriff. I saw the wanted circular with my own eyes. Who's there? Roy! Say we are whoever it is. Do as he says, Dale. Hands up. Oh, it's you, Roy. Sheriff, you gave us quite a scare. What are you doing out here this time of night? Well, just taking a little walk with Dale. This is the Sheriff, Dale. Hello. Howdy, ma'am. I wouldn't stay out here if I was you, Roy. We've got to tip the smugglers might try it again tonight. We figure they might come this way through the river and over the Simmons Ranch, and got the whole border patrol hit out in those bushes waiting for them. Well, thanks, Sheriff. I better get you back in the house, Dale. Look out! Get out! Yeah, there they come. Well, they won't make it this time. We're ready for them. Sheriff, look. Huh? Where? Out there in the middle of the river. Yeah. A man dressed in white riding a paint. Roy, is it Charlie? Yeah. They got Charlie. He's falling off his horse. And we've got him on the run. Come on, Roy. Let's get him. You shouldn't be out here. Go back, honey. No, why are they shooting? Deal. That man. That man in white. Is it... We'll return to Roy Rogers in part two of a story that happened on the streets of Laredo in just a moment. Tomorrow, stop by your nearby friendly Dodge Plymouth dealers and put an elegant new 54 Dodge through its faces. You'll find that here is the car you've been waiting for. Here is the Dodge with more than ever before. Yes, you'll find more new luxury and driving ease and flashing performance than ever before. For instance, Dodge's new fully automatic power flight drive delivers more starting power more smoothly than any automatic transmission ever built. You take traffic in stride, master hills and highways with ease, and there's new Dodge full-time power steering that takes all the work out of driving, leaves all the pleasure in. Once more, the new 54 Dodge offers you a real bonus in power and performance. Dodge's famous Red Ram V8 has been stepped up to 150 horsepower. Your dependable Dodge Plymouth dealer can open a whole new world of motoring enjoyment for you in the great new 54 Dodge. And now back to Roy Rogers in part two of a story that happened on the streets of Laredo. Looks like most of them got away. Yeah, I rode back across the river into Mexico. Well, at least we got Charlie. There's a fine info man to come to, Roy. Lion face down in the mud of the Rio Grande. Boy, that white suit of his ain't so pretty now. Yeah, I'll turn him over. That ain't Charlie Simmons. Yeah, I see. But he's dressed just like him. White linen suit, white 10-gallon hat. And when he came across the river, he was riding a paint. Sheriff, it begins to look like somebody's been impersonating Charlie Simmons. Yeah. So now the question is, why was he doing it? And where's the real Charlie Simmons? I'll get it. Hello. Roy? Yeah? This is the Sheriff. Could you come into town and see me right away? Well, I guess so. Why? What's up? We caught one of the smugglers last night. Mexican fella. I tried to question him, but he wouldn't talk. All he'd say was that he wants to talk to you. Me? Yeah. Seems he knows that you're down in these parts and he wants to see you. I thought if you could come in, you might be able to get some information out of him. I'll be there in a half an hour. Thanks. How come you brought Bullitt along to town, Roy? For the exercise. He likes to snoop around new towns, don't you, boy? Hey, Roy, there's that blind singer again. Yeah. You got any more loose change paths? Oh, well, I see. 22 cents. That's fine. Let me have it. Come on, Bullitt. Get out of his way. Can't you see he's blind? That's funny. What? Oh, nothing. Come on. The sheriff's office is on down the street. His name's Miguel. I'll weed out here. Okay, Sheriff. Your name, Miguel? C. They tell me you wanted to see me. I'm Roy Rogers. What did you want to see me about? Señor, I am no good. I've done many wicked things in my life. I will pay for them. But it is no right that my Pedro shall suffer on my account. Who's Pedro? My little boy. Such a small one. Muy poquito. I do not want him to grow up to be like his father. Señor Rogers, you are his great favorite. He will listen to you. I don't think I understand you, Miguel. What do you want me to do? Go to him, Señor. Talk to him. Maybe look after him. Señor Rogers, will you go to see him, please? Por favor, Señor. Miguel, if I do this for you, would you do something for me? Si, si, anything, Señor. Do you know a man by the name of Simmons? Miguel? Well, in that case I... No, no, no. I... I will make a bargain with you. Go to my son. See that he will be taken care of, then come back and I will tell you everything I know. That's kind of unusual, Miguel. I don't think the sheriff would approve of it. No, I'm sorry. I can't accept your bargain. Please, Señor. But I'll go see your son whether you talk or not. I just happen to like little buckaroos. What will I find you? Oh, thank you, Señor. Here. I have drawn you a map. You take this road and follow for about two miles into this... Thanks for coming along, Dale. I figured with a little boy... Well, you know what they say, a woman's touch. Sure, Roy. I'm glad to help in any way I can. Is it much further? It should be right around this bend in the road. Miguel said it was a small shack. Yeah, there it is. Come on. I don't see anybody. Maybe he's in the house. Volta. Is your name Pedro? Si. Well, can we come in? No. Well then, if we can't come in, will you come out here and talk to us? No. Pedro, I have a message from your father. I'm Roy Rogers and this is Day 11's. Your father asked me to come and see you. He said that you could tell us where to find a man called Charles Simmons. Go away. What? It is just like they said. Go away. Quiet, Trigger. Quiet, boy. Well, okay, Pedro. If that's the way you want it. Come on, Dale. Wait. You call yours Trigger? That's right. Is he really Trigger? Sure he is, honey. Would you like to come out and see him? Si. Well, come on. No. Please go away. Dale, you suppose there's somebody inside with him? I don't know. He sure looks scared. Pedro, is somebody in the house that you're afraid of? No, no. Pedro, listen to me. The man your father was working for are not good. They're bad, bad, muy mal. You understand? Si. Your father asked me to come here and get you. We want to take care of you. Find a good home where you'll get good food and go to school. Dale, when I break past him, pull him out of the way and duck back. Right. So you see, Pedro, we want to help you. I've got him, Roy. Good. I've got this, hombre. Enough. Enough. Dale. Yes, Roy? Look here what I found. Mr. Merton, Mr. L. B. Merton. Or should I say Mr. Smuggler Merton? No, Roy. You've got it wrong. I'm not the one you want. I'm only... Look out! It's too late. He's gone. Roy, Mr. Merton's been shot. Yeah. Senior Rogers, senior... Well, what is it, Pedro? This man you asked me about before, senior Simmons. Yes, Pedro. What about him? He's in a carbon two miles from here. Roy, seek. Good boy. Can you show us how to get there? Oh, see. Well, come on then. We haven't got much time. Senior? Yeah. Could I... Would you allow me to ride with you on Trigger? I'll say I will. Oh, senior, this... She is the most happy day in all of my entire... whole life. There, senior. Okay. We'll trigger. Oh, buttermilk. You and Pedro stay here, Dale. I'll circle around back and try to take him by surprise. All right, Roy. But please be careful. You must be kidding me, Roy. You mean to say that blind singer was the real head of the smuggling ring? That's right, Pat, except that he wasn't really blind. I didn't think he was when I saw him step out of the way and avoid getting close to bullet the day we went down to the sheriff's office. But what was all that shouting and those shots when you were going up to that cabin? Border patrol. They had the place covered, too. It seems that after I left the jail, that Miguel had a change of heart. He told the sheriff the whole story. Oh, what was the whole story, Roy? Did Charlie Siemens have anything to do with the smugglers? No, not really, Pat. Charlie was trying to go straight. But Pete Allridge, that's the singer, the fellow who pretended to be blind so he could move around the streets of Laredo and spy on people. Well, he met up with Charlie a few months ago by accident. He knew that Charlie had a prison record, so he threatened to expose him unless Charlie let him cross over the border back of his ranch. Well, where did Mr. Merton fit in? He was the fence. He disposed of the stuff the smugglers brought over. Charlie agreed at first in order to protect Jean, but then he changed his mind, so Pete Allridge kidnapped him and kept him hidden in the cabin so Charlie couldn't tip off the border patrol. Then I suppose he had one of the smugglers dressed up like Charlie in a white suit and hat and ride a paint, so the sheriff would think that Charlie was the head of the gang, huh? That's right. Hey, Roy, you know I just thought of something. Yeah? I gave that fake blind man 47 cents. You think I'll ever get it back? I doubt it, Pat, but I'll make it good. Don't let that stop you from helping the poor and the disabled. You won't find one fake in a million. Say, Dale, how's Charlie? Well, he's a little weak from lack of food, but the doctor says he's going to be fine. And my papa? He's going to be all right, too, senior. You bet he is, Pedro, and so are you. We'll see to that. And, folks, that's the whole story of what happened to Dale and Pat and me the time we went down the streets of Laredo. As I walked down in the streets of Laredo As I walked out and ate I spied a poor cowboy wrapped up in white linen as cold as the clay I see by your outfit that you these words he did say as I boldly step by come sit down beside me I was shocked in the breast I'm a young cow Folks, here are the mellow men Chassis The body And the engine to run The body And the engine to Dodge is easy to load Find a truck on the road Check the features And you'll set off today The words of that little tune sure tells the story, folks. Working on the ranch, my Dodge truck has certainly been a better deal for me. Honest, that Dodge is so downright big and powerful yet so easy to handle that I just wouldn't want any other truck. So see your friendly Dodge dealer for a demonstration and make it mighty soon. And then it's behind the wheel will prove Dodge a better deal. Well, that does it for tonight, folks. See you next Thursday, same time. Until then, goodbye, good luck, and may the good Lord take a liking to you. Happy trade! Troy Rogers Radio Show has produced under the supervision of Art Rush and directed by Ralph Rose. Tonight's story was written by Ralph Rose and Stanley Adams. Music arranged and conducted by Frank Worth. Production assistant Virginia White. Tonight's all-star cast included The Melo Man, Virginia Gregg, Peter Votrien, J. Novello, Frank Nelson, and Bill Johnstone. Join us again next Thursday evening at this same time when the dependable Dodge Plymouth dealer in your neighborhood will again bring you the new Roy Rogers Radio Show. This is Lucrosby speaking for the man who sells and services Dodge job-rated trucks and the elegant new 54 Dodge.