 It's Huffleong Cassidy! With action and suspense out of the Old West comes the most famous hero of them all, Huffleong Cassidy! Starren William Boyd! The Ring of the Silver Spirits heralds the most amazing man ever to ride the prairies of the early West, Huffleong Cassidy! This famous hero thrills his 60 million fans with action and dangerous adventure. In the role of Huffleong Cassidy is the popular star of the motion picture series, William Boyd! And now, another exciting story of the early West. They disappear in deputy. It's a long ride from the bar 20 ranch to Willow Creek, but Huffleong Cassidy and his pal, California Carlson, were glad to make the trip when they received an urgent request from Hoppy's friend, Ed Larrowes. Nothing in the note indicated what Ed wanted, but it sounded like he sure needed help. So here they are entering Willow Creek of bustlin' little cow town, with its narrow main street flanked by the usual one-story weather-beaten storefronts and the usual quiet of a hot and sultry afternoon. Willow Creek sure changed in ten years, Hoppy. Uh, just grown a bit. There's the blacksmith's shop, post office. Yeah, that building there, that's kind of new. Could it be a saloon with all them signs on it? Yeah, they could have used that lumber for something better. I can't understand why Ed Larrowes sounded so desperate in his note. Uh, you think somebody told about his being in prison? Maybe. Could be some of his old crowd looked him up and are making it bad for him. And him being a deputy, he can't say too much. Well, we'll soon know. There's the sheriff's office right over there. Uh, Hoppy. Huh? Look at that fella beating his horse. That dirty rattler. Come on. It could be. Well, yeah, you broke him down and tried to use that learn in. Get away from that horse. Who said that? I did. You got anything to back up your hand, stranger? I'm not looking for trouble, but don't lay a hand on that horse again. Oh. You hear that, boys? But Benson can't hit his own horse. Get one side, Bob. I'll handle this hombre. I guess he needs a little workin' over. Lookin' for trouble, eh? Well, you sure found it. We start off this way. I'm a puttin' daylight through the fuss, Jent. Who reaches for a shootin' iron. Yeah, Jent. The sheriff's coming this way. Nobody's stoppin' me, Bart. I'll trim his... You gotta hit him first, Jent. He means like this, Jent. All right, get back there. Stay your distance. What's goin' on here? Get outta here, all of you. Come on, rebel scatter! Get! All right, Bart, pick Jent up and get him off the road. And you, stranger, what's your business? My business is kind of private, sheriff. We just saw this Bartfella punchin' his horse around. Well, can't blame you there, but this sounds like a powder keg. And this ain't helped none. Powder keg? Yeah. One lawman can't do everything. By the way, you never told me your business. We came to town to look up an old friend. Well, you sure got a sneaky right hand, partner. Jent, it used to be him down, lookin' up. Looks like you could use a good right hand, sheriff. I sure could, with my deputy carrying Lidna's arm. Yep, it he. Uh, you mean Edler's? Yeah, why, yes. You know him? Sure we know him. He's a friend of ours. Where we find him? Find him? Well, um... I don't rightly know. You don't know? No. Nobody knows. He just disappeared. Now back to Hoppillong Cassidy and our story, The Disappearing Deputy. Hoppillong Cassidy and his pal, California Carlson, received an urgent letter from Deputy Edleros of Willow Creek. Hoppy, who never deserts a friend in trouble, wrote into Willow Creek unknown. The sheriff informs Hoppy that the man he is lookin' for, Edleros, has disappeared. They're in the sheriff's office now. Oh, they're in stranger. Better begin by tellin' me your name. Cassidy. I'll write that down. C-A-S-S-I... Huh? Cassidy? Hoppillong Cassidy? It's just who he is. Bar 20 Ranch. Well, dog gone. We can cut this chin music out right now, Cassidy. I'm sure glad to shake your hand. I'm glad to know you too, Sheriff. Now maybe you can tell me more about Edleros. And I'm afraid he took us in, Cassidy. Talk, Cassian. Why, that fellow's trade is an error. Yeah, I thought so too. But here's a telegram from Denver, an answer to mine. Read it. Edleros served three years in prison, thievery. Parole to Bart Benson last Christmas. After I trusted him like I would a son. I think you're movin' a little fast there, Sheriff. Well, dog gone. What am I to think? Four banks shot up in one week and had come in with a slug in his arm. Said he was fightin' him. You can believe he was, Sheriff. Now, Feller ain't gonna run off and hide with a slug in him. He's gonna stay near a dock. He ain't been near the dock since he put a cast on his arm. Larry's arm and a cast? Yeah, that's what I've been trying to tell ya. On the last two holdups, one of the men had a cast on his arm. Of course it was under his coat, but they could tell when the wind blew the coat open. I bet my horse against a bag of stale jelly beans that Larry's ain't the man. You're right, California. Well, Sheriff, if you don't have any objections, I'd like to help you look for Larry's. You got my word and I'm obliged to your no end. Where you goin' now? Not California, and I'd walk over to the docks office. Docks office? Thinkin' he knows somethin'? Never can tell. He might know if two men were wearing cast on their arms. Hmm, sure a funny place to have to go to find a doctor. Yeah, maybe he's at the lunch counter eatin'. Come on. What'll it be, gents? Could you point out the doctor to me? Well, you're the first customer I ever had who got sick before yet. Oh, he ain't sick. Just wants to talk to him. Oh, that's different. Doc'll be back in a minute. That's his cup of coffee next to you there. Uh, while we're waitin', could you get me a stack of flapjacks or chin high? Right. Know a man by the name of, uh, Larrow's? Yes, I do. He's the best man in this town. There's them that'd like to make him pay for what they're a doin'. But no one can find him. They'll find him when the lawbreakers are caught. I'm just a hopin' and a waitin' till he can come in again like he always did and say, liver worst on bread, hold the mustard and pile on the pickles. Gosh, he sure was particular about his vitals. Aw, well, what you havin', mister? Coffee, please. Be right with you. Get the flapjacks. Larrow's girlfriend. Does she know somethin'? If she does, she isn't sayin' it. Yet? Yet? Uh, how do you mean? Shhh. Here comes a bensom over this way. Durned if his face ain't gonna spoil all my vitals. Well, did you find the dark Cassidy? I'm waiting. I guess so, I'm goin' in his office a minute ago. He might catch him there. I ain't a budgerin' till I get my flapjacks. I got me two silver dollars here, Bart. Bitch him to the line. Ha ha ha. Ready and willing to accommodate your friend? Excuse me a minute, Cassidy. Business before pleasure. Now it's a line, and I'm pickin'. Well, dawg gone. Look, Hoppy, ain't a inch away from the line. And I think I can beat that. He done it. Hoppy, he done it. Right smack across the line. I think I'll save my other dollar, Bart. You're too darn good for me. Ha ha ha ha. Suit yourself, friend. It's your deal. Sure, it takes wonderful control to lay a silver dollar across the line. Ah, ain't nothin'. Kind of a hobby with me. Bart Bensom. Ah, excuse me. Someone callin'. I'll see you later. I'm sure you will, Bart. Close that door, kid. Yeah, standin'. Talkin' nice like to that Cassidy, and after the way he clipped me this morning. Shut up. Did you take the back way in and out of town? Sure did. Nobody seen me. You gotta be more careful now, Cassidy's hangin' around. You're one I should blast him, boss. It won't work. Just cause more trouble. I'll handle him all right. You just keep that deputy out of sight till we do two more jobs. And we'll head for the border. And I'm leavin' a slug in that midlin' cowpaw, Cassidy. Now, there's nobody out drawin' him. We gotta outsmart him. And I'm doin' it every minute. Now, you get back on up to the hideout. Keep an eye on that deputy. If he gets loose, we're sunk. Don't worry, boss. There ain't nobody out thinkin' me. Then get on back there. Right in tonight, we'll plan the last two jobs. Yeah, it sure was a good idea puttin' a cast on your arm and lettin' him see it. If I ever hear you talkin' like that again, you'll be buzzard, BayJed. Sorry, boss. And I mean that. You'll be careful nobody trails you when you leave town. Don't worry, I'm awake. I'll get them sandwiches for the deputy and get back up there. Don't do any cookin' up there at the hideout. The smoke will bring snoopers around. I know that. What do you think I'm gettin' sandwiches for? A sheriff's goin' round in a circle. And I ain't havin' any trouble, foolin' Cassidy. Everything's runnin' right. Good thing nobody knows I'm workin' for ya. Let's me keep my ears open. Just so it ain't your big mouth. Now go on. And tell the boys we split the Abigail mind payroll tonight. Good. We like takin' candy from a kid. Ah, you sure smart, Benson. Ah, so you get the water hole of sundown. Gonna need some help makin' up another cast for tonight. Rock Fletcher? Yes. Right. You're lookin' at him if your eyesight is good. My name is Cassidy. I'm workin' with a sheriff to bring a little lawn order to this town. Oh? I'm workin' with the sheriff. That's right. I think you can help me, Doc. I don't know if that's true. A doctor has to learn many things. And one of the first things is to keep his mouth shut. Wait a minute. Did you say your name is Cassidy? Hop along, Cassidy. That's right. That makes it a little different. What was it you wanted to know? I put a cast on Deputy Larry's arm about a week ago. I did, I did, I did. Have you had any reason to put a cast on anyone else's arm? What are you, uh, getting at? A lot depends on my knowing, Doc. Seeing it that way, I can tell you it's the only cast I know of. In your opinion, could a man make his own cast? Well, I guess he could. A temporary one. Could make it out of, uh, Dolby mud, but wouldn't hold up very long. It crumbled pretty fast, unless it was held together. That's what I wanted to know, Doc. Thanks a lot. I don't know that that's going to help you none, but you're welcome, anyways. You've helped more than you know. It may put a good man back on his feet. About time you was getting back, Hoppy. I waited round until I had to order another stack of them flapjacks. Yeah. Doc says the only cast he made was for Deputy Larrow's. Oh, now, ain't that a shame. Maybe we're all wrong, Hoppy. No, I don't think so. Early? Can you wait on me, Pronto? Just wait your turn. You can see I'm busy. Well, I got some writing to do. You ain't gonna do it in here. I'm leaving this note. Fill the order, and I'll be back, Pronto, to pick it up. Leave it there. I'll get to it soon as I can. Be back in ten minutes. Haven't ready. Hey, that's that fellow Jed that you smacked yesterday. Oh, he don't look none the better for connecting with your right arm. Yeah. What are you reading other folks' writing for, Hoppy? California, this note. When this fellow comes back, trail him. Oh, but dawg, go on it, Hoppy. I got flapjacks coming. There's no time to argue. I'd be too easy this part. You trail him and don't lose sight of him. What for? See what that note says? Two liverwurst sandwiches on bread. No mustard and pile on the pickles. Now back to Hop along Cassidy and our story, The Disappearing Deputy. Hoppy and his pal, California, are trying to solve the mystery of the odd disappearance of Deputy Ed Larrow's, a friend of Hoppy's. A series of hold-ups have taken place, and the deputy is under suspicion because he is wearing a cast on his arm, and the hold-up man also wears a cast. California has taken up his trail while Hoppy talks to Sheriff Parker. Blasted coyotes. Cleaning out the Abigail Mind payroll last night. Cassidy, I'm going around in circles, getting nowhere. Folks pointin' at me on the street. Ah, now calm down, Sheriff. And I think I was good enough to give that darn deputy a chance, knowing his record like I did. Still think it's Larrow's, huh? Of course it is. Nobody else wearing a cast or somebody would see him. Uh, Sheriff, speaking about the cast, where would a fellow be after finding Dobie around here? Well, ain't much of any account, unless it would be on Baker's spread out of town a mile. Anywhere else? No, well, yes, back in the drawways where that little chief creek runs into the tram creek. Money's all get out. I guess I can find it all right. Say, what's this Dobie Mud got to do with this Theven and Robin? I'm going to look around out there, maybe pick up an answer or two. I just thought of something. Where's that, uh, that palliards? I was just wondering that myself. Huh? You mean you don't know where he is, none of that? Not just at this minute. He'll be around soon. Well, the way I got it figured, Larrow's ain't far from here. A fellow ain't leaving again. I agree with you, Sheriff. The fellow in love is going to see that girl, if he's able to. Meaning what? Meaning I don't think he can see her. I'm tying a few loose ends together, and when I do, it'll make a rope. All right, tell me the man, and I'll jail him this minute. It's not that easy, Sheriff. Now I'd better get back to the cafe. California's back yet, and you'll probably be at the cafe, trying to look over the top of a stack of flapjacks. We was just going to look you up, Poppy. Put down the fork a minute. Oh, hop, here. Flapjacks ain't no good when they're cold. Did you trail a fellow with the sandwiches? He went about ten miles out of town, went in a small drawer, some quick was running out of. Go on. I didn't take no chance of following him in, but it's sure a good place to hide out. Did he know he was being trailed? I swear he didn't see me, unless he's smarter than I am. We know that fellow was taking those sandwiches to Ed Lara's. Is he afraid to come in, or is he unable to? Oh, it looks like Bart Benson wants to get in on the gab, and he's heading this way. And don't sell him short. He's nobody's fool. You think he suspects we followed his friend? I'll soon find out. I hope to find out something else, too. Any trace of Larrow's custody? I asked the sheriff the same thing a while ago. He didn't say yes or no. Just said he'd been trailing someone, but he's been doing that for a week. He sure has. I'll bet even money Larrow's has let out. Cast it all. I don't believe Larrow's got a thing to do with it. Have you got an idea who has? Just an idea is all. Bart, I got two silver dollars here, and they're yours. If you can out pitch me to that crack on the floor. Well, now that'll be the easiest two dollars I've earned. Pitch them out, Cassidy. Hey, you ain't missed it by more than three inches, Hoppy. Ah, you ought to get closer than that. Watch this. Well, I'll be turned a foot away from the crack. Yes, I guess I'm slipping. Ah, you can do better than that, Benson. Try again. I'll lead off this time. Shoot. Well, doggone my hide if you ain't missed it by more than ten inches. Ah, hold it, hold it. Don't show, Cassidy. It's yours. Can't figure out what's wrong with my pitching arm. Looks like you're just not concentrating. Concentrate? Ah, maybe you're right. That's that many darn things on my mind. Sure wish I had a few dollars to throw. Ah, could get me some jelly bean money right, Pronto. Ah, maybe find somebody to throw with you. For me, I gotta get busy. I can help you any, Cassidy. Let me know. I'm willing to work with you. You've proved that, Benson. I bet he's mad he lost, Hoppy. His face was sure red. Hey, how come you took advantage of him when you saw he wasn't pitching him good? Hmm? You weren't listening. What are you thinking? I was just watching the sandwich man signin' Benson. Sandwich man? Oh, Jed, you mean, yeah? He sure come back here, Pronto. Hey, you think something's wrong? I think you were mistaken when you say he didn't see you trailing him. Doggone it and I was sure careful, too. Oh, I'm glad he saw you, California. You are? How come? It's gonna play right into my hand. It's working out better than I hoped. What are you doing back here, Jed? But that old cowpoke followed me to the pass. I hid out of waiting for him, but he hightailed it back here. You clumsy ox. This changes our whole plan. Well, Doggone it, boss. I didn't know he was trailing me. Now they'll find Laros up there in the hideout. Just what we want. What we want? Are you Plum Locobart? No. Laros don't know who slugged him. I'm still his friend. He's weird of that. Well, how's that helping us? Well, here's what we do. Now, you come runnin' in and say you just rode in from the pass and then you saw Ed Laros. Then the sheriff will get a posse while everyone's gone. We shake the dust off our feet. Bart, you're a mighty smart man. Yeah, I sure am. Now get out the back way, wait half an hour and write in and tell us the good news. I'll have the horses out and back, all ready to ride. We've been standin' out here by this darn hitch rail for half an hour. Ain't nothin' happenin' yet. I don't know as it will. I'm just hopin'. Yeah, I suppose the holdup galoot is gonna ride up and say I'm the man. Lock me up. On that order. Well, you ain't gotta smidgin' a proof. That all depends on the next move. Oh, here comes Sheriff Parker. Sure lookin' glum. Don't let anything drop. We may be wrong. Pickin' up anything, Cassidy? Not quite sure, Sheriff. I kinda feel like I kept you from goin' about your business. I shouldn't have asked you to stay. Well, you'll be leavin' in the morning. Guess you're kinda convinced that Ed Laros fooled you as bad as he fooled me. You still think he's guilty, eh, Sheriff? He's had plenty of time to prove he ain't. I don't see him doin' it. Well, look at this rider comin'. Must be somethin' after him. He's headin' for the hitch rail, too. He's dead, fellow hoppy. Sheriff, Sheriff, I've seen him. I've seen Ed Laros back in the draw. Where at? Just past Bald Rock in a bunch of scrub oak. Brown shack. Get a bossy. I've been waitin' for somethin' like this. Get the boys rounded up. We're writin' for Bald Rock. I'll round up the boys, all right. And then we're gonna string him up. Yeah, you come and Cassidy. Miles as well. Come on, California. Where dog on your plain shore fizzled out? I don't think so. I'd say it's fallin' right on out. All right, boys, let's ride. The bossy'll be right behind us. Not much further now. The bossy's almost up with us. The crowd shore is in an ugly mood, Sheriff. Have I got your word you'll protect him from this bossy, Sheriff? He's my prisoner. Ain't no bossy alive can take him from me. Good, cause this is as far as we go. Huh? What's wrong? California and I goin' back to town. Back to town? You ain't gonna be doin' no good in town. Laros is back in the draw. I think I know what I'm doin', Sheriff. As soon as we ride around these boulders, we're gettin' out of sight till the bossy goes by. You ain't gonna need us anyhow. Ain't no way I can go but straight ahead. Well, you boys do as you're done, please. I better get back to town with Laros, Sheriff. We may need your help. My help? In town? Here's where we turn back, Sheriff. I'll be back soon, and I'll show you Laros. You'd better, and I'll show you your bandit. Slow down here, California. Keep out of sight till they go by. Oh, dog gone and hoppy. You're goin' back to town and miss all the fun. The fun's all over. Our work is just beginning. I hope we get back in time, California. No, look here, hoppy. Seems like you're pretty darn sure or somethin'. You ain't got one bit of proof. Then we'll get a confession. You don't know how. I do. Let's tie off back to the blacksmith shop. Well, we hadn't in back up Benson's place. Two stores down this way. There's Benson's horse. The one he was beatin'. Then when time, stay here and cover me. I want to look at that horse. Oh, tryin' to catch a bandit, but got time to be lookin' over a horse flesh. I seen hoppy do crazy things, but I ain't never seen a midmarin' a horse when it's shootin' time. California, we're right, hm? Shh, someone comin' out the back door. Well, it's Benson. It looks like he's leavin'. Get over there, you lazy critter. Why that scum? Don't reach for your eye, Benson. Why you... I told you not to reach for that eye, Benson. But you straight back pokehead, you don't look like you're gonna do nothin', Benson. I got your shootin' iron. You're not very smart, Benson. I don't know what you're talkin' about. I ain't done nothin'. What are you runnin' from, then? Runnin'? I ain't runnin'. I was gonna go help the sheriff. Help them catch an honest man who you had parole to use so you could use him in your escapades. Knowin' he had a record, he was a handyman to take the fall, eh, Benson? You can't hang a man without proof, and you ain't got none. When I first met you, Benson, you were beatin' your horse, and when a man'll do that, you'll bear watchin'. Ah, this one recays. Let me finish, and I wish the horse could understand what I'm sayin', because your horse will finish all the proof we need, that you're that bandit with that cast on his arm. Now back to hop along Cassidy. Cassidy? Had Bart Benson's walkin' up and down in his cell ravin' about a horse? It's a mighty important horse, two sheriff, he's your whole case. A horse? Yep, hop, he's right. When I talked to Doc the other day, he said a man could make a cast out of Dolby mud. Well, I don't see how the horse fits in. The Doc also told me that Dolby would crumble if something didn't hold it together. I still don't see how... So, what's better, to hold mud together than horse hair? Nice, long hair cut off the horse's tail. Well, I'll be turned. And all the time, the horse was tenin' around just overrunnin' with proof. Took hoppy to see it. What give you the idea? Well, sheriff, in the first place, Bart Benson was a dead shot in pitchin' silver dollars. But when a fella's been wearin' a cast very often, his arm gets pretty lame and helpless. So you knew when you beat him pitchin' dollars, what was wrong with him, huh? Right, but still no proof. However, it gave him the lead I needed. Well, it's that dog-gondous thing. How did you figure it out, hoppy? Somebody told me, sheriff. Don't get it. Don't you remember that saying, horses carry tails? Huh? Huh? Oh! Ha-ha-ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha! Goodbye from Hoppy and California. They'll be back soon with an exciting story you won't want to miss. Meanwhile, don't forget to see Hoppillong Cassidy at your local theater. Hoppillong Cassidy, starring William Boyd, is transcribed and produced in the West by Walter White Jr. The Disappearing Deputy was written by Howard Swart. All stories are based upon the characters created by Clarence E. Mulford. This is a Commodore production.