 It's Hopalong Cassidy With action and suspense out of the Old West comes the most famous hero of them all Hopalong Cassidy starring William Boyd The ring of the Silver Spurs heralds the most amazing man ever to ride the prairies of the early West Hopalong Cassidy This famous hero thrills his 60 million fans with action and dangerous adventure In the role of Hopalong Cassidy is the popular star of the motion picture series William Boyd and Appear in as that laughable old character, California is Andy Clyde Now to our story range war Roland Green range north of the bar 20 had a look a piece about it as Hopalong Cassidy guided his white horse along the Cottonwood bottom towards Si Ottoman's ranch house It was the time of year that usually brought peace and contentment to hoppy in the bar 20 gang But this year it was different There was a worried look on hoppy's face as he hitched topper to the rail and walked up to Si Ottoman's door Sorry in there Cassidy Morning Si Morning What's on you man? Well, I might be able to talk better sitting down. No sure sure come in Here's a chair over there. Thanks. Oh, that's better Ah, tell me Si, how's your spring roundup coming round her up yesterday your tally's all in. Yeah Why? well Let me see How do I do this diplomatically what kind of a scheme you're cooking up this time Si? I know you're still hot under the collar about that deal. I put over last Hogwash I was a darn fool and you got to the man with the money first with him bar 20 cows It ain't that that I'm hot about Cassidy Something else. What's that Si? I'm beginning to think you've got some mighty ambitious line writers meaning what? Meaning about a hundred head of my stock didn't answer parole call it my roundup I reckon they strayed too close to the bar 20 line. You know, that's interesting. You're denying it I sure am that's why I'm here. Huh? We're short a hundred head to I thought they might have showed up on your tally. Oh Well, what do you reckon it? Oh? Come in Hop along Cassidy. Just a chance. I want to see Well, how are you jazz? I just didn't expect to see you two sitting down over the peace pipe Especially since that little deal last fall never mind last fall. Just Henryks. It's over and done with Lordy, what did you fall into? It's cattle dip. I know I smelled a high-heaven my clothes are clean soaked with it ain't no one else deppin I know I just picked up a bunch of steers from Texas and I ain't taking chances with Texas fever in my herd I'm glad you brought up the subject of cattle side because that's why I come just got my final tally sheets and And you're a short a hundred head. Oh, you got him Cassidy. I knew them darn critters straight on to somebody's range Wait a minute. I haven't got him Jess. Huh, then how did you know about the sign? I came up short, too I'm gonna hit a piece. I'm more or less Mm-hmm. I guess there's only one answer to that one rustling. Yeah, it's them nesters. That's what is a sweet water valley Sure, there weren't no rustling around here before the valley was open to homesteaders was there a way to shake just don't jump to conclusions Well, what do you aim to do? Well, let's keep it quiet for a few days snoop around a little before we start on the rustler Joe but is them nested devils are sure my new use for a long rope And I don't think you'll be alone sigh the nest is over at sweet water valley have gone in for rustling I think this county is in for a first-class range for A week has passed since happy called at Si Ottomans ranch house a week that has seen rumors and muttered hints and The rustler talk swept through the section like a prairie fire all of it directed at the nesters the homestead and small ranchers of sweet water valley It was all suspicion though at least until a young nester named Bert Larry Moore called at the office of Henry Wetherby at the state bank in Sweetwater 75 100 two three four five How's that look to you mr. Wetherby? Looks like cash money Bert. I think we'll be having a little celebration tonight a burnin that mortgage. Yeah Uh Would I be too nosy if I am quiet about You mean where'd I get the money? No, I'll be glad to tell you Henry Adam on in New Jersey She passed away a few weeks ago. She left it to me. I see that answer your questions to Wetherby Yeah Yeah, Bert. I suppose it does $500 cash, that's right hoppy. Hmm Well, I don't know Johnny. Maybe Bert Larry Moore did have an Anthony's weather be checked it only relatives He has a couple of cousins of San Francisco Six months ago Larry Moore didn't have a dime to his name. How do you know? Well, I had a pretty good reason hoppy And what's that? Small matter of $50 is told for me to cover a bet he made at the North Fork Saloon one night. Hmm So now it comes out. That's why yeah, that's why I broke up with the sister I see The Stockman are ready to move right now. They're crazy. Maybe but all they needed was that Laramore thing What kind of evidence is that so unless they get rich? Does that mean that every homestead in Sweetwater Valley is rustling cattle the Stockman seemed to think so and it's good enough for me Well, I'm short as many headers they are and I don't think so You better not think so either Johnny until we got proof Well, maybe I'd better remind you about that little mix-up we had when you first came to the bar 20 When that batch of self-righteous gunslingers came out here ready to lint you for something you had nothing to do with Just because you've done a spell in prison Well, well what? I'm wrong hoppy. I know it But all that talk in town kind of gets under a fella's skin. Yeah, I suppose it does But they're two sides of the wrestling business Johnny first you got to steal them then you got to sell them I've had California out checking every shipping yard from Council City at Alderville looking for blotch brands There hasn't been a suspicious critters shipped out of this country for a year Laramore got his money from stolen cows. Where'd he sell them? That's something to think about all right Well, I'm with you hoppy But we better speak our peace because they're not gonna hold off much longer. Come on. Let's saddle up where we're going I want to ride in the North for take a look around and on the way we can stop in at Laramore's Maybe you can give us some more details on that and it is a new Jersey You going in Johnny topper's got a loose hind shoe. I want to take a look at okay. We stay in here No, come on. We're riding on in the North for tonight. That suits me Johnny McIver hello, Marcella. Come on in Johnny. Thanks Hoppy will be long in a minute This is quite a surprise. Yeah Bertie and he's been staying in North for the last few days. Oh You're looking fine Johnny. Well, I was gonna say the same about you. You're still as Almost pretty as ever. Thanks. I I guess it didn't keep my promise. I said I wouldn't bother anymore I mean that I mean after that business with Bert. I'd like to forget that Johnny. So would I Marcella do you You reckon we yeah, Johnny. Oh That's hoppy I'm gonna have to take copper to the blacksmith in town. Oh, uh, evening Miss Laramore. Mr. Cassidy. Bert's in town Oh, well, I guess we'd better be riding along then. What did you want to see him about a hoppy? That's not I think she has a right to know Johnny. What is it? It's about that money Bert paid off your mortgage with I see now listen Marcella. It seems we always get around to money, doesn't it? What business is it of yours if Bert has some luck and pays off the mortgage? That's a good question and I'll answer it There are a lot of ranchers around here who like to jump to conclusions when a nester shows up with money He can't account for Especially whenever ranch in this district is short on their cattle collage. So that's it. You think he's a wrestler I'm only telling you what the rest of them think where to get that money Marcella He said he made a business deal in the east. You believe him? Of course. I believe him. I Guess I was wrong about you Johnny. Oh, I wish I knew why you hate him I wish I knew why you won't stop until you've ruined him. Listen to me Marcella. Wait a minute Johnny Miss Laramore, whether you know it or not. We're hanging on the ragged edge of a cattle war around here Of course, I know it every homesteader in the valley scared to death Putting up barricades around ranch houses waiting for a bunch of your murdering cattlemen to ride I'll let me finish. I've heard all I want to hear you tickle the death about this rustling business Because it gives you a handy reason to shoot up Sweetwater Valley and run us out of here All right, you want to know the one way we can stop it we yes We Johnny and I are fighting it just as hard as you are There's only one way to stop this thing before it blows up in our faces Before you and Bert and a lot of innocent people get hurt go on There won't be any range war if we take the excuse away We prove there's nothing wrong with the money Bert turned up with and if we run down the thief who's got those cattle and Believe me miss Laramore. That's the only way we can stop it That's the blacksmith shopper will air always clothes up for the night I sleep in the back Let's run around the back entrance and see if we can get him up We might be running back the bar 20 tonight now they want to lame horse on my hand Pull up County. What is it look over there by the back window where oh, oh, yeah, you'd like the cigarette Did you get a look at his face? That's funny. Well, nobody to an in town who smoked lead So he used to run a profitable business down in Texas. What do you mean killing people? Oh, he's a professional gunman We'll wait till he's gone and I want to take a look inside that blacksmith shop Maybe we better take the door off its hinges. I'll put the bar in deeper. I think we can pry it off. Okay. Yeah, I'll give you a hand right There she goes Now let's see what mr. Bledsoe was up to Look yeah, he's a Yeah, he's dead Let's so doesn't walk away from until he's sure of that. Let me light a match Careful hold it down. That's it. Look under the desk there those papers. Yeah Hmm what is it circle H? Sunflower Lazy see flying old brands. Yeah drawings are brands and a funny thing What's that every brand here belongs to a nester in sweetwater Valley? I think our friend on the floor there made up an order of branding irons And someone thought he might talk too much so he had bled so nail him through that window there Better get the sheriff, huh? Not yet. What about bled so we can get him later I want to give mr. Bled so a free reign right now. You never can tell Johnny He just might lead us the man. He's working for It's almost midnight now is happy monster stares of the rickety North Park Hotel and walks down the hallway into a room full of angry cattlemen Now here's the figures everybody now news I can calculate is over a thousand head Now the question is what can we do by I'd like to stick my or in if you don't mind being a paid-up member of the cattleman's association. I Think you're all going off half cock Wars are pretty much alike. Well, they're cattle wars with a big gun I don't like to see a range land fenced off any more than you do well But those nesters in Sweetwater Valley have a legal right to that land until someone proves a charge against them Hello, Jess boys, I just got here time to hear what Cassidy said I want you to know I felt the same way until a few minutes ago. You want proof hoppy I've got it for you. All right, Jess I want you all to show up at my ranch house tomorrow night at eight and come ready for a fight What is it Jess a little bird? I found hoppy a little bird that's going to sing for the boys when I tell him to I'll be ready to listen. I don't think you'll be disappointed All right, sir. Let's get on with it. You bet if the shooting is going to start tomorrow night We've got some planning to do Hello, Laramore, huh? Oh Johnny MacIver man if I have a drink with you. Yeah, I mean no not at all At all Johnny here. Let me buy you one a well times have changed, huh? Last time I saw you you didn't have the price of a small buttermilk. Yeah. Yeah, I had a little luck Johnny little luck Sam Sam bring me a couple more of these will ya nice to see you again Johnny nice to see you again. Thanks You're looking a little thin bird something bothering you. Oh, no, no things are going great Johnny going great No Take part of that back Something has been bothering me one thing. What's that this? $50 look let's say I've borrowed it and here's five more for interest Well, I don't know if I sure that go ahead take it. Oh, here's the drinks. Now. Here's to you Johnny same to you Bert Thanks Bert Oh, what is it a friend of mine waiting outside? It's a long bird. Take care of yourself What is it hoppy meeting just broke up shooting starts tomorrow night? Where's that leave us? I don't know What about Lamor? Oh, I was just starting to work on him when you gave me the sign look fifty dollars told me he was paying off his loan What's the matter? It's not that Bill Cattle dip We wait a minute. Yeah, me too only one ranch around here using cattle dip right now Jess Hendricks, but why is he paying Laramore? Why is he around the corner? What is it? What is it Jess? What do you want take it easy? Yeah, it's all set. You're gonna sing your solo tomorrow night at my place loud and long Be sure you got it note the note listen Hendricks, I I'm getting scared. They'll kill me. There's no easier way of making fifteen thousand dollars, honey You'll have to take your chances led so is here and he'll hustle you out of the state before the nurses know what happened Okay, Jess. You better run on home now and practice. Yeah. Yeah Double crossing little snake you'll get paid off all right You saw Laramore all right Got him tagged like he was already on a marble slab tomorrow night at my place I'll sit him at the right hand window on the east side of the house, right? Yeah Remember the red lamp the red lamp and don't miss I ain't likely to ain't miss for 20 years. Good I'm counting on you I'll go with you as far as the corner then remember. I don't want to be seen with you from now on I got you. I'll get this straight. Don't want any slip-ups. We do everything You that was quite a scene. Yeah Judas and the 20 pieces of silver, huh? Never mind I guess Laramore would just practicing when he stole your $50 Johnny now. He's selling out every rancher in the valley What was that business about the red land? I don't know. I suppose we'll have to go to the meeting tomorrow night to find out All right boys, I promise fireworks tonight and I've brought him Johnny Yeah, sneak around back of the crowd and keep your hand on your gun. Gotcha. All right. Well, come on All right, here she is This piece of paper here accounts for your missing cattle It's a sign confession involving every nester in Sweetwater Valley The man who signed it knows his life ain't worth of time But he agreed to come here when I promised him we'd see to it He got across the state line safe. Come on in Laramore Sit down in that chair there next to the window. Okay, Jess. Okay I'm not going into details tonight Laramore what these men are interested in is first What happened to the cattle? Oh, it's in the statement there We run them up through Winchester Pass on the Boulder flat. You'll find them there What about the brands? We watched them put on our own marks. I see who's we me Rest of the nesters how many of them all up? Can you prove that Laramore? I don't have to look at the cattle the brands will tell you who's in on it We're planning to run them up north next month ship them out of Montana Well, you fellas need any more proof before we leave. Yeah, just I do Okay Cassidy if you want to ask the boys some questions go ahead Thanks Lights kind of bad in here first. Let me move this lamp over here by the window. Go ahead Jess yeah, wait a minute just moving the lamp here never mind the lamp the lights good enough What's the matter oppie? Got the jitters. Yeah, and I don't want to question the boy. I want to question you me What do you only take a minute Jess Since we seem to be using this chair by the window to witness then why don't you sit in it? Go on Bert. Give me a seat. Listen Cassidy. I ain't no mood. What's in there? Jess. You scare this Shut up sigh Jess I'm asking you to sit down in that chair. I'll answer any questions from here The next one will come closer sit in that chair Keep your seats everybody you're supposed to be out for the truth. So am I if you give me two minutes I'll get it for you. Yes. I think you better do what oppie says Okay, I'll sit in the chair Make yourself comfortable Jess. I'm comfortable go ahead. All right first off I'll tell you that Larry Morris confession is all right except for one thing. What's that? It's a lie That's simple enough Jess has a connection in the state capitol Sweetwater Valley is his if he can get the nest is out John and I uncovered that one this afternoon. You can prove that chastity. We won't ask why not? You are going to confess to it So to get on with the story just figured the best way to get the nest is out would be to start a range war You hired a bunch of thugs from out of the state and ran off our cattle just before around us He went to the blacksmith and town and had him make duplicates of every brand along the sweetwater and Mark the cows after he got them up the boulder flat. You're out of your head. Take it easy. Jess You're gonna confess to that one too Then he had one of these gunslingers killed a blacksmith to shut him up. Yeah, what about Laramore? Maybe you better ask him about that sign about the $15,000. Jess is paying him for the song. He sang tonight. What about that Jess? I suppose I'm gonna confess to that too. That's right Now stand back everyone while we listen to Jess's confession Johnny yeah Pick up that red lamp and set it down next to the window over there. Oh, no. No don't easy Jess Just let us know when you're ready to talk over here Johnny Well, happy. I Gotta admit you taught us a lesson. We won't forget through it. I hope so sigh The boys are running Laramore down to the jail Who's that gal out there with John Laramore sister? Expect she and Johnny has some talking to do Jess. Yeah, we'd better get going Sheriff will want to hear what you have to say and Besides the smoke bled so is looking forward to your company smoke in jail Been there since morning guess charged with killing the blacksmith But I still got the hand it to you at that Even though he wasn't out there waiting with his gun cock. You sure sang a nice song Good boy from hop along Cassidy We hope you'll be back with us soon when hoppy will again bring you more adventure and excitement Hop along Cassidy star and William Boyd is transcribed and produced in the West by Walter White, Jr Range war was written by Harold Swanton All stories are based upon the characters created by Clarence E. Mulvray This is a Commodore production