Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, I'm the Old Ranger,

and Death Valley's my stampin' ground.

Many's the tale of adventure I'm going to tell you

about the Death Valley country.

True stories, mind you.

I can vouch for that.

NARRATOR: It's the year 1873,

and the sheriff's posse

is pursuing Rod Ross and Cupe McFarland.

Bulletins are posted all over Nevada

for the capture of the two daring, young road agents.

And the sheriff,

in whose territory they staged their latest hold-up,

has made up his mind that he'll catch up with them this time,

if he has to chase them clear in the wilds of Death Valley,

which is right where their trail is leading.

There's the strong box.

We're on the right trail, all right.

MAN: They've takin' to the rocks. You want to follow them?

[SHERIFF÷} I'm a sheriff, not a mountain goat.

Besides, Death Valley will take care of them

as good as the law could.

Crossed the summit.

I figured we'd never make it.

[ chuckles ] Yeah, as a matter of fact,

I'd begun to think we wouldn't either.

Kilp!

Look it. No, no.

That ledge behind it.

Silver.

Silver Ore. A whole ledge of it.

It's a whole mountain of it.

It's all around us.

We're walkin' on it.

Kilp.

We struck it rich.

Swing your partner, one, two, three.

We got a silver mine beneath our feet!

Hey, maybe the joke's on us.

What are we going to do with this, now we got it?

Outlaws, with a price on our heads.

We can't go near a recorder's office to file.

We can't even have the stuff assayed

without running the risk of being arrested.

[ sighs ] We'll do it...

by proxy.

[ knocking ]

Rod!

Oh, Rod. Brenda.

I heard about the posse chasing you down into Death Valley.

They said-- Ah, I thought you were dead.

They don't know that country like me and Cupe.

Oh, but Rod, you're crazy to come back into town.

Why, your picture's pasted all over,

and the reward's doubled.

Wait until you see what I brought.

Where did you get those?

Panamint Mountains.

You jumped somebody's claim.

No, honey, I just stumbled on it

while we were hightailing from the posse.

Well, you don't dare file.

That's why I'm here. Will you do it for us?

Me?

You get the stuff assayed?

It'd serve you right if I wouldn't.

If you were just stuck with your rich claim.

I'll be back in a couple of days to get the report.

Well, all right, but not here, it's not safe.

I'll ride up and meet you near Last Chance Springs.

That's my girl.

Gentlemen of Congress,

as United States Senator from Nevada,

I stand before you today

to protest against the demonetization of silver.

Silver, my friends, is-- Someone to see you, uncle.

someone to see you, uncle.

Millie, how many times have I told you

not to disturb me when I'm rehearsing a speech?

It's about a new silver mine.

Silver? Show him in.

Well-- Show him in, show him in.

Senator Stewart?

Millie, what's the idea?

I don't know who you are, young lady, but I--

I have some samples of silver ore to show you, Senator.

I'm a very busy man, Miss-- Bailey.

I'm on my way to Washington very shortly,

and I haven't time to look at pieces of rock

picked up by young ladies.

Where did these come from?

Here's the assayer's report.

Six hundred dollars a ton?

How did you get hold of these?

From the owners, the men who laid this drive.

Who are they?

Rod Ross and Cupe McFarland.

Rod Ross and Cupe McFarland?

That pair of bandits?

I understood they were dead.

No, they're very much alive.

And they have the nerve to send you here?

Well, they haven't the slightest idea I'm here.

I came of my own accord.

Why?

Because I know you're the biggest mining man in Nevada,

with the most influence.

What's your proposition?

I'll get Rod and Cupe to show you the claim.

Good. Provided...

you guarantee their protection from the law.

That's a little irregular,

but...very well.

May I have that in writing, please?

Writing? You're pretty smart, aren't you?

Oh, and one thing more, Senator.

As part of the deal, you'll agree to square them

with Wells Fargo.

Square them?

For all of their past mistakes.

Young lady, I happen to be the attorney for Wells Fargo.

And what you say, goes.

What? That's the most outrageous suggestion I ever heard.

Very well. I agree.

Thank you, Senator.

May I have that in writing, too, please?

By George, what an attorney you'd make.

How did you ever have the nerve to see him when?

He was very sweet. It's a trap.

He'll find out about our mine and... snap the handcuffs.

No, he promised you immunity.

He'll deny it. He can't.

I got it in writing.

This his signature?

Yes. All right, he wants that mine of yours

the worst way in the world.

That man worships silver. He'll pay you top price for it.

Ah, this is your chance to clean up

and really go straight.

Now we can be married

instead to having to-- having to meet like this.

Oh, honey, what a road agent you'd make.

As Chief Detective for our Wells Fargo,

this is the most-most undignified situation

I've ever been in.

Well, how do you think I feel?

Head of the posse that chased them

clear down through Death Valley.

[ nervous laugh ] I quite understand your feelings, gentlemen,

but this plan will put the boys back on the road again.

[ mumbles ] The right road, I mean.

And we'll all benefit.

If you'll read the charges, Mr. Hume.

"January 29th, held up and robbed the stage in Candelaria."

$1,750.

That's right.

Yeah, quite a haul.

MR. HUME: February 17th, you didn't do so well that time.

Only $500.

"March 10th, at Pioche, $2,175."

"April 17th, $940."

May 5th at Winnemucca, $1,149.

"June 3rd--"

The Eureka-Austin stage.

That's right, Sheriff.

"$5,372."

And 71 cents.

SENATOR STEWART: [ chuckling ] Well...

Now, let's get back to the credit side of the ledger.

You gentlemen are the owners of a mining claim

in the Panamint Mountains, known as the offer.

Correct. You're prepared to sell?

I already have a check here,

made out for $25,000.

$25,000?

Why, that mine's worth $100,000.

Perhaps.

You know it is!

Why, you've been up there with us, seen it for yourself.

You forget, though, you gentlemen

are getting immunity along with this deal.

That's not worth $75,000.

Rod, your freedom is worth everything.

Oh, now, let's not argue.

After all, you gentlemen are hardly in a position

to quibble. Why you--

That's highway robbery-- What I mean is--

That's what I mean.

Well, how 'bout it?

Will you accept the terms,

or would you prefer to deal with these gentlemen?

Senator, you forget I have this little piece of paper

for which you signed.

Valid only in event we come to terms,

and the terms are $25,000 or nothing.

$25,000 split two ways--

Minus what you owe Wells Fargo.

209, 11, and 5...

17, 13...

$10,986...

and 71 cents.

That will leave us practically broke.

But free.

All right, Senator. You hold the high cards.

We'll take it.

Good.

Well, now that everybody is satisfied,

how about a drink to celebrate?

To the new camp at Panamint.

And the $75,000 you still owe us.

Try and get it. That's what I'm aiming to do, Senator.

Senator Stewart wasted no time in developing his new mine.

Almost overnight, a camp mushroomed up there in the Panamints,

with the stamp mill to handle the ore,

which proved to be even richer than expected.

Oh, the senator had driven a good bargain with the two outlaws, all right,

but when he was ready to ship out the bullion...

All right, Senator, but Wells Fargo refuses

to be responsible for any shipments from your mine.

I never heard of such a thing.

Wells Fargo covers the entire West.

But not Panamint. Why not?

'Cause of those two bandits, Ross and McFarland

are hanging around there

with a very personal interest in your output.

I'll pay 1% of the value of the bullion

if you'll carry it.

1 1/2%.

My company refuses to take the risk.

Great guns, man,

I'm a stockholder in Wells Fargo

as well as its attorney.

Who made it possible for those two bandits to be at large.

But how am I going to ship my silver out?

That, I'm afraid, is your problem, Senator.

Good day, sir. Good day, Miss Millie.

Good day, Mr. Hume.

[ Senator Stewart grumbles ]

Confound those fellows, putting me in a spot like this.

Here Congress is convening next week,

and I should be on my way to Washington.

You can't go?

Not with things the way they are in Panamint.

Ore piling up and no safe way to ship it out.

Maybe you drove too good a bargain

with those boys, Uncle Will.

I kind of liked that light-haired fellow,

he had such nice manners.

Don't be ridiculous, Millie.

Now, I just got time to get that noon stage.

You're going up there? What else can I do?

Oh, may I go with you, Uncle Will?

Oh, please, I'd love to see a wild and woolly mining camp

before I go back East.

There's nothing wild or woolly up there.

Except Rod and Cupe.

By the way, what is Cupe short for, Cupid?

Why-- How should I know?

I'll be ready when you are, ooh.

Millie, now I...

Confound everything.

Oh, the senator had reason to "confound" all right,

for Rod and Cupe were really keeping an eye on his silver.

Or should we say, their silver.

Store much more silver in that building

and it will bust. Yup.

They'll have to start shipping pretty soon.

You know, Cupe,

if we'd planned the geography of this place ourselves,

we couldn't have done better.

Only one way out-- a long, narrow, winding Canyon.

Gwen, what are you doing here?

I got myself a job in the restaurant,

where I can keep an eye on you.

Now, look here, Gwen--

Listen, I know why you boys are hanging around here.

Sure, it's no secret. Even Wells Fargo knows.

Oh, why can't you be satisfied with what you've got?

Peanuts.

Look, you're free, there's no price on your head.

This is your chance to-to straighten yourself out,

to make a fresh start.

I will...

when I get what's owin' me.

Cupe?

Senator did hamstring us, Gwen.

[ hooves galloping ]

Here comes the stage.

Incoming stages never interested me much.

Whoa.

Well, speak of the devil.

Howdy, Senator. Let me take your bag.

You'll take nothing from me.

No? No.

Miss Stewart, this is an unexpected pleasure.

Do let me help you. Oh, thank you. You're very kind.

Gwen!

[ chuckles ] Millie.

Did you get the job in the restaurant?

Yes, I did. Oh, good.

What are you two doing here? Oh, just hanging around.

Mining operations always did fascinate me.

Me, too.

Well, in that case, I'll hire you both.

Hire us? Hire us?

Yes, I need a couple of muckers

down in the mine.

Well, thanks a lot, Senator,

but digging in a tunnel for $3.50 a day

never appealed to me. Me neither.

All right, I'll pay you $10 a day.

That's generous enough.

You know, for a man who's taken out--

Hey, Cupe, what did we figure the output was?

Oh... 24 bars of bullion

in just the last four days.

Twenty-four bars, really? Yep.

Your uncle's doing all right.

[ laughs ]

Well, maybe I was little close

when I made my bargain with you gentlemen.

I'll raise the price $10,000.

How's that sound?

Oh, it sounds like it's still $65,000 short.

Rod, why don't you listen to reason?

He's a fool.

Here you have a wonderful girl, better than you deserve.

Why don't you marry and settle down

and lead a decent life?

I will, once I collect my dowry.

Have you got a girl?

No, sir, but I got my eye on one.

My advice to you is marry her.

Thanks, Senator, glad to have your blessing.

You two are just wastin' your time,

hangin' around here.

You won't get that silver. Wanna bet?

You think you're pretty smart, don't you, Rod Ross?

You forget who you're dealing with.

You can't outsmart me.

You're pretty sure of yourself, aren't you, Senator?

Well, I'm pretty sure of myself, too.

I'll tell you what I'll do.

The day you ship the silver out,

and we don't get any... Well?

I go to work for you, and I'll go straight.

What do you say, Cupe?

It's a repulsive thought, but I'll throw in with you.

Uncle Will is having a fit.

All he does is pace up and down

and swear and--

Then come in here for coffee.

I've talked to Cupe, but it's no use.

They're going through with it.

You like Cupe? Well, I might, if...

Oh, yes, I do.

I like him better than any man I've ever met.

A road agent, imagine.

It'd be funny if...

If it wasn't so-- I know, honey.

I feel the same way about Rod.

If only there was some way we can stop them.

I think there is.

Let's find the senator.

When a girl gets an idea, she gets an idea.

And even the senator thought this was a good one.

Good morning, Senator. How's everything?

Well, fine boys, fine.

Have a cheroot.

What are you doing, running for re-election?

[ laughing ] Oh, no, I'm just celebratin'.

The first shipment of silver out, tomorrow.

[ laughing continues ]

You think he's bluffin'? Yes, I do.

I don't think he's waitin' until tomorrow.

I think he's shippin' out tonight.

Then let's go.

Wish they'd hurry up.

I'm freezi'' in this darn canyon.

You know somethin'?

If we get this silver, we're both gonna lose our girls.

This is no time to think of that.

We got a bet on, remember?

Yeah, our reputations are at stake.

Maybe he's found some other way to ship the stuff.

There is no other way.

Only this canyon.

[ groans ]

Looks like the senator's not going to keep

his engagement after all.

Yeah, and I'm darn hungry.

Well, come on, let's go back to camp and get some breakfast.

Listen. [ distant galloping ]

The freight wagon. At last.

[ galloping continues ]

It's the senator and the girls.

So that's what he had up his sleeve--

putting the girls on the wagon.

Of all the low-down tricks.

Whoa.

Well, good morning, boys.

Hello, Rod, dear.

Cupe, shall we reach for the sky?

Is that silver in the wagon?

Yes, almost two tons of pure silver.

Who's following the outfit?

Nobody, we're all alone.

So you figured you could stop us

by bringing the girls along. Well, you're wrong.

You always had silver, Senator, and we're takin' it

no matter what.

All right, if that's the way you feel about it, go ahead.

[ whistles ]

Will you look at that.

I'm lookin'!

SENATOR STEWART: In case you're interested,

those silver balls weigh almost 1,500 pounds apiece.

1,500 pounds?

Maybe you'd like to take them to the bank

and ask them to cash them in?

Or perhaps you'd like to roll them across the desert

with a posse on your trail.

Okay, Senator, you win.

I guess we know when we're beaten.

[ laughing] Well, I must confess

I did have a little help.

ROD: I might've guessed.

You're not mad at me, are you, Rod?

No, honey, I'm not mad at you.

No, we're just dying to go to work for the senator.

SENATOR STEWART: [ laughing ] Well, you'll regret, boys.

With myself, and these two young ladies,

I can foresee a great future for you.

Well, in that case,

the sooner we get busy, the better.

You need some help unloading this stuff?

I meant, you ride back here with the silver, sir.

Senator, take care of the horses, will you?

[ grumbles ]

Yah!

So, off we go,

the senator, to his great surprise,

bringing up the rear.

But unless I'm very much mistaken,

he'll be back in the driver's seat before too long.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]