Narrator (0:00)

Foreign.

Andrew Rines (0:13)

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines. And before we get into this episode, I wanted to remind you to check out our other western podcasts released daily by going to otrwesterns.com or or searching OTR Westerns in your podcast app of choice. I also wanted to invite you to check out our other podcast channel releasing non western shows by going to otnetcast.com or by searching otnetcast in your podcast app of choice. Now let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Hopalong Cassidy Original Air Dates January 26, 1952 and the title is California or Or Bust. Hope you enjoy and again, thanks for listening.

Narrator (1:02)

From the library of radio programs of many years ago. Heroes of the Old west live again on Sagebrush Theater with action and suspense. Out of the Old west comes the most famous hero of them all, Hopalong Cassidy. William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy and Andy Clyde of California. We call this adventure California Bust because that's exactly the way it was. As you will soon find out. Everything started in the Buffalo Ridge Jail where the law was holding young Tom Anders for the murder of Cleat Mapes. There were some of us who believed Tom was innocent. And for a time it looked as if we could prove it. That was why I'd gone to the jailhouse, to buttonhole the sheriff. You mean that Happy California's really on the way here with evidence? It'll clear Tom. He says it will, Sheriff. That's the message he sent me by Shorty Saunders. California just coming in. He's been up on our north range for the last month or two. When he gets here, I hope we'll be taking Tom out of jail, Hoppy. I hope so too. Yeah. Surprised to hear you say that, Sheriff. You're the man that arrested him. Well, because the evidence said I had to. Uh huh. I still ain't seen no evidence says I was wrong. But just the same, I. Well, I don't know, Hoppy. When you've been a long dog long as I have, you've got a feeling about these things. Sure, I know what you mean. But California better not fool around any getting here. Just one hour from now, I gotta take Tom back over the courthouse. Today's the day Judge Blackburn's gonna pronounce sentence, you know. Yeah, I know. That's why I got here so fast. Yeah, the way Tom's had it figured, Hoppy, it was Baron rigged discharge again Him. Oh, how do you figure that? Well, Cleat Mapes. Fella Tom's supposed to have killed was one of Barron's line riders. Fella Tom says never got along very well with Baron. Baron's been after that place of Tom's, hasn't he, sheriff? Yeah. He cuts Baron off from the winter range. Tom's been refusing to sell it at Baron's price. And the way Tom figures, Baron decided the cheapest way to get his place would be to frame him for murder. And you go along with that? Well, I don't know. All I know is it makes sense, kind of. And then there's this feeling I got that maybe Tom ain't guilty after all. I see. Besides, well, I guess I'm feeling a little sorry for Tom on account of his brother, too. You mean Andy? Yep. They've been on the out, you know. But Tom's been hoping they fixies in and bring Andy around to side with him. So far he's never showed up, though. And Andy works for Baron, too, doesn't he? No, Hoppy, he used to. What's Andy? What do you. I mean, that Hoppy, he used to work for Baron for my money's a crook, and I've told him so. Now I'm on Tom's side just like you are. Good boy. Hey, wait a second, Andy. Do you know anything that had proved Baron frame Tom? I'm sorry, Sheriff, but I don't. It's just that I've noticed things. Nothing that'd do for evidence at all. Oh, well, that's all right. As soon as California gets here, we'll clear this. Oh, I. I'm sorry, but that's the other reason I'm here. Hoppy. Huh? What do you mean? I was supposed to tell you California's disappeared. Andy, you do your bar 20, boys. But I'm looking for him, Hoppy. You see, California's horse showed up all alone without him. And now. Well, now, California just ain't to be. Order. Order and discord. Order. Now then, the jury has found the prisoner, Thomas Anders, guilty. And it's my duty to pass sentence in judgment of this court. Just a minute. Your honor, I think there's good reason why you shouldn't pass sentence at this time. And with your honor's permission, I'd like to tell you what that reason is. Order. Order. Order. I demand order here. This is highly irregular, Mr. Cassidy, but this is a court of justice, not of technicalities. So if you have something to say that bears on this case, I'd be glad to hear it. Do you have. I do. Your Honor is acquainted with California. Carlson. I know him. Yes, I might say I'm acquainted with him. What about it, your honor? He's disappeared. He was on his way here to give testimony. I have reason to believe would have cleared Tom, but something's happened to him. I'm not accusing anyone of foul play, but I do move that sentence be deferred till he can be found. I protest that, your honor. Silence. Silence. Silence. Or I'll have this court cleared. Now then, on what grounds do you Protest this request, Mr. Barron? On the grounds that this is just one of Cassidy's tricks to gain time to engineer a jailbreak. You play into his hands, your honor. If I do, Mr. Barron, that will be a matter between me and my conscience and none of your affair. On the other hand, Mr. Cassidy, before I could delay sentence, I'd have to have some proof that Carlson's testimony would be of the nature that you claim. Can you give me such proof? I. Well, no. Only my word, your honor. Good enough for me as a man, Mr. Cassidy, but not as a judge. I'm sorry, but your request is denied. But Your Honor. Denied. Mr. Cassidy, if you persist, you will be in contempt of court. Silence. Silence. Now then, the prisoner will please rise and stand facing the bar. Thank you. It is my duty to pass sentence on you, Thomas Anders. Therefore, I now remand you back into the custody of the sheriff, to be held by the sheriff till the morning of the second day hereafter, when it shall be his duty to hang you by the neck until dead. And may God have mercy on your soul. Court dismissed. Oh, boy. Hold it, Hoppy. Hey, Hoppy. Over here. Come over there, Andy. Yeah. I've been looking for you, Andy. Town's filling up with barons men. I'm going out on the trail. I want to find the place where California and his horse got separated. You want to help me? Of course. It'll be helping Tom, won't it? Right. I'm going to round up the bar 20 boys and go back out to Clover Creek trail. He might have tried to get into town that way. If you want to help, you can go back over the main trail. My boys might have missed something. Well, do that. If you find anything, let me know. Sure will. Better get started, hadn't we? Right now. See you later. Let's go, Topper. Good luck, Hobby. Hands it over. This way, Humpy. Nothing I can find, Max. Oh, there, boy. Where are the rest of the boys? Hell, I told them the scatter and they're working them drawers. Well, who's this coming? Looks like Andy. Yeah, I reckon it is. He's pushing his horse kind of hard for this kind of country, ain't he? I wonder what's out. I'm hoping he's got news. Hi there, Andy. Hi. Find anything? Yeah, I found a little, Andy, but it petered out on us. Oh, what was that? Found something. What was that? Well, Mac here found the place where California hit it tough. Looks like he saw he was going to be jumped, so he left the saddle and took the COVID Must have been some shooting, though. That's why his horse got scared off. I guess he had to give up. But where they took him, we can't find out the trail a little way, but like I said, it petered out on us. Wait a second, Harpy. How many would you say was in that bunch that jumped him? Well, it looked to me like there must have been three of them. Wouldn't you say that, Mac? Yeah, there was three all right. And when they left the trail, we could see where one of them was riding double. Yeah. Say, his company must have been California. But we lost them again. And I think I know where they are. You sure of that, Andy? You know old Perkins, the old gaffer, homesteading near the foot of the mules? Yeah, I know him. Well? Well, Perkins claimed he'd seen California and three other fellas riding toward old Fort Hooker. And one of them riding double. I thought he was local, but. But now, darned if I don't think he really saw him. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. That fits. Fort Hooker's been abandoned. Should make a good hideout. Andy, you gotta do me a favor. What's that? Get over to the fort right away. Keep watch on, see if he can spot California. Mac and I round up the boys and follow right after. Where will I meet you? In Or. Butte. That'll make a good lookout. Right. I'll get going. Come on. I'm glad you got here, Hobby. They're in there. I've been keeping watch. I saw California when they locked him up. They got him in that old storehouse down there. Thank. Take the boys and get them stationed so we'll have the fort surrounded. Right. I want to make sure those fellas down there can't slip California away without our knowing it. How? You got that? Yep. And get going and keep out of sight. Okay, now. But. But. But. Listen, Hoppy. Don't argue, Andy. Do it my way. They haven't a chance. You got it now, boys? Well, let's see if we have Hobby right now. We're to give you and Andy a ten minute head start. That's right. That's so as you can work in close to that storehouse under cover of dark before we start doing our stuff. Good. Then we're to fake an attack. Not really trying anything. Just make a hullabaloo so they won't know what you're doing. That's it, Max. You ready? You and Andy can start anytime you want. We're ready right now. Easy now, Andy. All right, hold it. There's the guards. They got two of them there. How much time we still got? Ten minutes are up. Now, when the shooting starts, we make our play. Rush them and let them have it. No shooting. That's it. Come on. Quick now. Come on, Hobby. Good man. Wait. Now that door's locked. Wait on that. Grab that tip right here. All right, fast now. Give it to her. Break it down. California, where are you? California. California. Too dark. Can't see anything. They must have gagged him. Wait a minute. I got a match. Wait. California. Where? Well, I'll be. What is it, Hoppy? What's the matter? We've been tricked. What? I don't know how they did it, but they tricked us. Take a look for yourself. He's gone. Just coming, Hobby. You sure he's gone, California? Of course he is. You could see that for yourself. This place is empty. I. I don't get it. Neither do I. All I know is we better be traveling or they'll get us. Come on. Are we going back to Tinhorn Beauty? We'll be lucky if we make it. Well, we got here. Andy, come here. Topper. Come on. You better get mounted. Right. Come on. We'll kill what now? Hoppy, you know this has wasted over half a day for us. I know it has time to do the hang in less than 30 hours now. What about California? Ain't you worried about him? Not unless Baron's a fool. How come he figured that? What if he keeps California alive, even if he escapes? The worst that can happen to Barron is Tom going free. But if he kills California, he'll have a murder charge hanging over him. My guess is he'll keep California alive. I thought California could pin cleats killing on him. I told Judge Blackburn California could clear Tom. There's a lot of difference between clearing one man and convicting another. No, but clearing Tom is good enough for me. And we'll need time for it. I'm going back to town, Andy. What for? See if the sheriff won't postpone that hanging another 24 hours. I'm betting he won't. I bet the same way. But we need time. I gotta make the try. Then we'll make another try to find California. But how? Where is he? Where are we gonna look for him? No place, huh? We've tried and failed. Now we'll try the other way around. What do you mean? We couldn't find California, Andy. But maybe California can find us. What? Never mind explanations now, Andy, I gotta get going. You stay here and wait for the boys. Tell them where I've gone, will you? Oh, yeah, yeah, but I. I see you later. Come on, Topper. Let's go. Andy. Who's there? That's me. Sheriff Cassidy. I want to talk to you. Hurry. Open up, will you? Well, get Second Coming Hobby. What do you want? I hated to wake you like this, Sheriff, but I had to see you. Judge Blackburn refused to delay sentencing, Tom. Now I'm asking you to delay executing that sentence. Oh, Hoppy, you know I'm on your side. I've told you so. But I can't do a thing like that and you know it. Why not? Well, no authority for it, that's why not. Give us just 24 hours. It's a matter of life and death. I can't give you one. But if. No use keeping on about it. Just can't. Hey, tarnation. Now who is this coming? Seems like there's more folks up and around at three in the morning. There is in the daytime. Yeah. Who is it, dummy? Well, that's Max. Here I am, Max. Got to see you, Fers. Go, Dougie. Hi. I got bad news for you, Boot. Mac. What is it, Hoppy? I hate to say this, but California's dead. No, he isn't. He can't be, Mac. What? It means. Sorry, Hoppy, but it's a fact. Baron killed him. Wait. Wait a second. Baron killed him? You say you. You got proof of that? Shorty Saunders will give you your proof. Sheriff. He's seen it happen. He did. Fact is, Barron tried to kill him. Left him for dead. He's at the Bar 20 now. He is? Well, how he dragged himself there I'll never know. But. Hey. Hey, wait. Can he talk? Well, sure he can. He tried. Then I'm going to get out there. You fellas wait here. I'm gonna dress. I'll be back immediately. You know what you're saying, Crump? Are you sure of that? The sheriff thinks California's dead. What? I heard he's got Shorty Saunders word for it, Mr. Barron. And he thinks I killed him. That's What? I heard, Mr. Barron. Hell, I. They're framing me. Sure, but what you gonna do about it? I don't know. Gotta think this out. Where's the sheriff now, Crump? Did he come in here? I don't think so. I. I think he was heading back to town first. Cassidy's behind this. I've been a million that dirty. Wait a second. Wait a second. Maybe this isn't so bad after all. Now let me think. Say, you know Crump, maybe this isn't so bad. What's so funny? You know, I know a little bit more about what's going on than Cassidy thinks I do. I got an idea that this time he's played right into my hand. See here. Yes sir, he has. And now, by thunder, I'll break him. Here's the office puppy. I'll open up now. Come on, Andy, you come in too. We got things to figure out. Go on in. Yes. Don't need a lamp, I guess. It's getting light now. What you figure we ought to do about this puppy? Well, if I were you, I'd get right out to Baron's place and put him under arrest. Yeah, first off you'd say so. But that's bit a little long ways. And what if he ain't at his headquarters place? I don't suppose you fellas are forgetting I still got a hanging to take care of tomorrow morning. Are you confounded, Sheriff? You mean to say that after this you're still figuring on going through with that? When I arrest Baron, it'll be for killing California. Tom was arrested for killing Cleat mates. Same thing. I don't know if they're even connected. Let him. Sheriff, I. Excuse me. Maybe I can help you fellas out. What? Is Baron here? You left the door open though. With the way you were talking, I could hardly help hearing what you said. You won't have to come clear out to my place to arrest me, Sheriff. Do it right here. I will. I'm arresting you here and now for California's murder. What else? Well, I wouldn't be too hasty about it if I were you. Suppose I could prove that this is a trumped up case against me? Suppose I could prove that it had been trumped up and Cassidy was behind it. What then? That ain't neither here nor there. There it is. You haven't answered my question, Sheriff. I'll answer you for the sake of argument. If Cassidy pulled a stunt like that, I'd jail him quick. Just as quick as I'm going to jail you. You better Wait a minute. All right, bring him in, Crump. Okay, boss. Come on, California. Ah, there, California. Hello, California. I'm sure glad to see you. Well, there goes your key, Sheriff. What do you do now? What I said I'd do. Better tell your boys the bar 20 won't see you for a spell. Hoppy. You're under arrest. Yeah, I heard you, Sheriff. It looks to me like this is one of your tough days. None of your arrests seem to stick very well. I sure am glad to see you though, California, but I'm not surprised. As a matter of fact, I've been expecting you. Huh, you have, Hoppy? Sure, that's what this whole thing was for. I couldn't find you, so I thought I'd turn things around and let Baron bring you to me. That's got a funny sound to it, Hoppy. You'd better explain yourself. Nothing I'd rather do, Baron. You see, I want you to hang in Tom's place. What's that? You heard me. That's why I used this crooked friend of yours to bring you and California in here. Hey, now you were looking right at me when you said that. What do you think was I, Andy? Well, I guess that's because I meant you when I said it. Why you don't try to lie out of it, Andy. I've been on you ever since we raided that fort and found California wasn't in it. So do you. So what do you think that proved? You said California was in there, that you'd seen him. I placed my men so that I know he couldn't have been taken away. So as far as I'm concerned, it proves you lied to me. That's what you say. Uh huh. That's what I say. That's also the reason I let you think California's testimony would clear Tom's, but wouldn't convict Baron. Oh, so that you'd tell Baron that and he wouldn't be afraid to bring California in here. What's California know about me? Just that you killed Cleat, that's all. Baron, I've seen you do it. You're lying like blazes I am. I can point out the very spot. You can? Yeah, was up in our north range, Sheriff. I've been up there alone the last couple of months. Baron killed Cleek, then he and Andy picked him up and moved him to where you found him. Well, why didn't you report this? Well, I've been having bad luck with horses. The horse I had up there stepped in a gopher hole and Broke its leg. Ah, too bad. It was too far to travel anywhere. So the first I could get word out was when Shorty Saunders showed up with supplies for me. Shorty brought me word. Sheriff Hanley and I wrote into town to tell Tom he didn't have to worry. Friend. I did pull one fast one on you, though, Sheriff. Huh? Shorty wasn't shot up like you thought. That was just bandages and a lot of red ink. Now, you shouldn't have done that to me, Hoppy. The only way I could smoke Bear now. I protected myself by telling Judge Blackburn what I was going to do ahead of time. You wanted to protect yourself? Hobby that was the wrong way. What the hell? Kept your eyes on me? Now get your hands up. Bob, no. Good work, California. Hope you didn't break his skull. I kind of hope I did. But if he wanted to protect himself, he should have kept his eyes on me. Well, there's your prudence, Sheriff Handley. Thanks, Hoppy. You done a real slick piece of work. Ah, crooks are fools, Handley. Yeah, guess they are. That's what makes it so easy to catch them. You can fool them so easy. Sound off with the sounds of America. That was the starting gun for the world's greatest yachting classic, the race for the America's Cup. From 1870 to 1967, American yachts have won the famous trophy 20 times against every foreign challenger. Anybody for 21? Listen again next week at this time when Sagebrush Theater will bring you another story of the Old west, recorded from the library of radio programs of many years ago. This is the United States Armed Forces Radio Service.