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Getting tuckered out, Dickie?

- Oh, no, ma'am.

It's just that I'm a little jiggled up down here.

- A little stage-sick, I guess.

Well, when we stop, I'll let you ride up front with Red.

- Gosh!

Gee.

Thanks!

- Howdy, Joe.

- Hiya, Red.

- Any company mail for Elkhorn?

- And there isn't much company either.

Since the bottom fell out of silver, just me and those keys.

About all the good they're for is

to telegraph me from Pueblo

when they're ready to say I'm fired.

Hey, it appears like you're riding

kind of light this trip, Red.

- Yeah.

Just the Dutchess and one paying passenger.

You don't mean him?

- Yep.

He don't have anybody to travel with him, Joe.

His father and mother were killed

in some kind of an accident.

They're shipping him to a relative in Denver

he's never even seen before.

- Oh.

Well, that's kind of a hard knock for a kid.

It'd be a lot harder if he was old enough to understand.

All he's been told is his father and mother

went away on a long trip.

Well, I better get that stage rolling again.

The is once I mustn't be late getting to Elkhorn.

It might hold up their big celebration.

- Well, well, well, my dear Dutchess,

I'm delighted to see you.

And you too, Red.

I was particularly anxious to have you christen

my new stage line

with the best champagne Elkhorn could afford.

- Well, gosh almighty, Bill!

Carrying on like that, you're letting

yourself in for a lot of overhead.

- You will have, you little git.

Bye.

- There we are.

Well, here's where we have to say goodbye, Dickie.

- Goodbye, Mr. Ryder.

- There, there, fellow.

Your Aunt May will be there and everything

will be just fine.

Come on.

Give me a smile.

That a boy.

Here's a passenger for you, Bill.

- Where's his folks?

Well, they couldn't very well come along.

- Now wait a minute, Red.

What does Downgrade know about taking care

of a lad like this?

There's no one else going except the commissioner, here.

Well, if that's all you're worried about, forget it.

I think the boy and I can get along all right.

Come here, son.

- Aw, come on, Dickie.

- Friends, fellow citizens of Elkhorn,

the moment has arrived that you and I have long

been waiting for, a stagecoach to Denver.

As you all know the Dutchess, here.

Her stageline serves Elkhorn to all points south.

And now, I have the privilege of giving Elkhorn

a line that will

connect us to the north, straight through to Denver.

The Dutchess is going to christen the first stage out

with a bottle of real champagne.

All right, Dutchess.

Right there on that hub.

- Yippie, Downgrade.

Throw off the brake and leave them horses run!

- Hey, Downgrade!

Pull 'em up.

Here's a bag of mail you overlooked.

We found it still in Ryder's stage after you left.

So long, Downgrade.

Give my best to Denver.

- So long, Duke.

It was mighty broad-minded of you, Dutchess,

helping a competitor to such an auspicious occasion.

- Competitor, my foot.

I'll still be running stagelines when you're dead and gone,

Bill Lambert.

Something must have happened to your stage, Big Bill.

I found these horses running wild

and still hitched to the wagon tongue.

- Where'd you find them?

- Up in the hill by Dogwood Creek

and clean away from any road.

Near as I can figure out, the stage

must have run off the grade.

Red, do you think that, good heavens, Dickie!

- See that our horses are unhitched

and put back in the stable.

- Yeah.

Well, this is no time to stand around and gas!

Come on!

- He's still alive.

- Well, sir.

That beats all tarnation.

How two grown fellows could be killed dead

and a little shaver like him could pull through.

We'd better get him to town as fast as we can.

- Oh, why not take him over to my place?

That's only about half as far.

And then somebody could ride for the doctor.

Get there just as soon as us.

- Me go.

Me tell Dutchess.

- Yeah.

- Mommy!

Mommy!

- What is it, Dickie?

Is there anything I can do for you?

- Is it Mr. Ryder?

Is you?

- Sure is, Dickie.

- Please don't go away, Mr. Ryder.

- Not on your life.

I'm going to stay right here with you.

His legs and lower body are paralyzed from here down.

That means a back injury.

- Can it be cured?

- Perhaps.

But it'll take a very delicate spinal operation.

Do you know the address of his aunt in Denver.

- Why, yes.

But why?

- The decision to operate has to be

made by his nearest relative.

You'd better send for it right away.

- But that'll take time.

There's no telegraph line in Elkhorn.

Well, the thing to do is for me ride to the Pioneer Mine.

I'll get Joe to telegraph his company in Pueblo.

And I'll ride along as far as town with you.

There's nothing more I can do here tonight.

- I don't like it, Bill.

The land commissioner's death and that stagecoach wreck,

it wasn't an accident.

He was murdered.

You boys made matters worse.

Now this time, you're really playing with fire.

Now why didn't you-

Now let me tell you something, my fine friend.

If Felton had reached Denver, it would

have been a lot worse than playing with fire.

You'd have done a stretch behind bars.

- What you mean I'd do a stretch?

The land is still being held in your name, remember?

- Yes.

Only I'm only holding it for you.

You'd made sure of that when you made

me sign a mortgage ahead of time.

You can take it over whenever you want.

That, my dear fellow, makes me an innocent victim.

How was I to know you acquired the property by fraud?

- Now listen to me, Bill.

You're not going to leave me holding the bag.

- Now be yourself, Braydon.

Felton didn't reach Denver but his report

will after I've doctored it up a bit.

- You can't get away with it.

A dead commissioner wouldn't mail in a report.

- News travels slow out of here.

And I can make it happen two weeks from now as easy as not.

- Maybe so.

- What do you think I own this stageline

for if I didn't want

to control communication between here and Denver?

- Here's the Doc now.

Him and Ryder's coming in together.

- Better ask him how the kid is.

- Hey, Doc.

How'd you find the young one?

- Pretty bad.

Ryder's telegraphing the boy's aunt to come on from Denver.

- Telegraphing?

How does he plan to do that, Doc?

Well, he claims a fellow at the old silver mine

can reach Pueblo over their private line.

Then they can relay the message.

- Duke, come here.

If they get a message through to Denver, we're in for it.

Get Blackie and Ed and overtake Ryder.

Stop him the best way you know how.

- He's got quite a head start.

- Then use cutoffs, anything.

Only don't let them get a message on the wire.

There he is.

- Joe, get on that key.

Send a message to your Pueblo offices as fast as you can.

Tell them to get a message through to Denver

as quick as possible.

- Yeah, but Red, this shooting.

What's that all about?

- Don't worry about that.

Get going.

- Okay, what do you want to say?

Tell them to get in touch with May Barnes in Denver

right away.

She's got to take the first stage to Elkhorn.

Her nephew was injured.

It might be a matter of life or death.

- Hey, Ed!

Start climbing that pole and cut them wires.

- Ed's wounded, Blackie.

Keep us covered till I get him to his horse.

Then we'll all get out of here.

Well, I don't know what this is all about,

but they're gone.

And by the way, you better tell them

the land was killed in case they want

to send somebody out to take his place.

And you're sure you wouldn't be able to recognize

any of them

if you saw them again?

- Well, it was too dark, Bill.

Besides, they stayed too far away for me to see very clean.

- That's what I've been telling him.

Maybe it was a mistake all around.

- Well, the way it looks to me,

somebody didn't want Dickie's Aunt May

to receive any telegram.

- That's it, Bill.

Maybe this Dickie's folks left him some property

that somebody wanted to get their hands on.

Somebody wanted the kid out of the way.

And when he didn't die first off, well, anyway, Ryder.

That could explain everything.

- Yes.

It might.

Except as far as I know, the boy's folks

didn't have any property to leave.

No, I have an idea that we have to look

deeper than that for our answer.

Anyhow, when folks start shooting at me,

I don't run out.

I find out who and why.

And that's what I aim to do.

- Well?

You don't need to worry about being identified.

He didn't recognize you.

- But what about the telegram he sent?

- Nothing serious.

We won't be able to doctor up the reports.

He did mention about the commissioner being dead.

- I knew it.

I knew that sooner or later-

- Now wait a minute, Braydon.

A man can always change plans if he's smart enough.

The worst they can do is send out

a new commissioner from Denver.

Unfortunately, the boy's aunt may be on the same stage,

but that doesn't offer any problem.

- The bridge is out ahead.

But there's nothing to worry about.

There's a fair to midland side road into town.

I'll water the horses while we stop.

Can you tell me what time it is Mr. Taylor?

- 1:15.

Then we should reach Elkhorn before dark?

You know, people sometimes become overly concerned when

a child is injured, Miss Barnes.

Your nephew may not be really as bad

off as they thought at first.

That's what I'm trying to make myself think.

- He'll be all right.

You better ditch those smokes, beautiful,

before we get to Elkhorn.

- You watch your own step, Wally.

I'll take care of mine.

- This is where we lose that stage ahead.

These things come in handy sometimes.

- Give me a light.

- Howdy, ma'am.

- Ma'am.

I suspect you're Dickie Barnes' Aunt May.

- Yes.

How is the poor boy?

There hasn't been much change, one way or the other.

- I beg your pardon.

Can you tell me where I'll

find the land commissioner's office?

- There isn't a land commissioner anymore.

He got killed.

- Yes, I know.

The Land Office sent me over to take his place.

Name's Taylor.

- Mr. Taylor, my name's Lambert.

It's a real pleasure to welcome you to Elkhorn.

Our previous commissioner shared office space

with the sheriff.

So if you'll come with me, I'll be

glad to show you where it is.

- Miss Barnes, do you have any baggage.

- Oh, yes.

A few pieces.

- Well, I'll get the buckboard.

As soon as I transfer your bags, we can start.

- All right.

- I told Blackie to bring in a sample

of Taylor's handwriting.

That's all a fellow needs that's done time for forgery.

Eh, Wally?

Now the idea is, well, beautiful,

what are you doing here?

You're supposed to stick with Ryder.

Well, he ran out on me to get his buckboard.

What's the lowdown, Bill?

What's some brat's aunt got to do with you?

- Nothing.

But a new land commissioner has.

Wasn't any fault of mine the commissioner and this brat's

aunt happened to leave Denver on the same stage.

And since both were expected here,

both had to be accounted for.

- Now wait a minute.

I'm not getting mixed up with anything like murder.

What have you done with her?

- Now don't get excited.

She's being well taken care of.

We've got her hid out in the hills in a shack.

Now you better get back on the job.

- All right.

Oh, what about the kid?

Can't you give me any more dope on him.

- You don't have to worry about the kid.

I just watch your step when Ryder's around.

He's nobody's fool.

- Who?

That long-legged geezer?

Guys like him are a cinch to handle.

I'd been cramped up so long, I had

to get the kinks out of my legs.

- I guess it is a might uncomfortable

traveling in a coach all day.

Well, I guess we're all set.

The doctor's already out there with Dickie.

As far as the reports on the Braydon land is concerned,

all they need is Taylor's signature.

I've got the new reports all ready to sign.

- What do I do?

Go fishing?

- Oh no.

You're coming here opens up a lot of possibilities.

For instance, we could use a new survey.

The present one doesn't give Braydon as much land

as it might.

I'll show you what I mean.

According to the present survey,

Braydon's holdings stop here.

Now you could order a new survey and move

this section line back, maybe, this far.

And Braydon's holdings would have

to move right along with it.

- It's a good idea.

If I only knew what you were talking about.

- It's simple.

You may have to start back here 10 miles

and pare a little off of each section,

but there's really nothing to it.

- Well, well!

How do you do?

I only know you as Aunt May,

but I'm durn tickled to meet you.

I don't know how long you're going to stay here,

but just as long you stay, the place is yours.

Oh, excuse me.

The doctor's on the inside, Red.

So you and her had better scoot on along.

I'll unload the rig.

And then I'll fetch all the stuff

around to the back bedroom for you.

- This is the Dutchess and Doc Kimball.

They've been looking after Dickie.

- He, he's awfully little, isn't he?

- He sure is.

And it doesn't seem right.

You mean, well, he isn't really apt to die, is he?

- His back is broken.

- Broken?

- But apparently only enough to put

pressure on the spinal cord.

The only way to remove that is to operate.

- Then why haven't you?

- I thought you understood.

He may not be strong enough to survive it.

And under the circumstances, I couldn't assume

the responsibility without your consent.

- My consent?

Well, why mine?

- You're his next of kin, aren't you?

- Why, yes.

I suppose so.

Now wait a minute.

I'm not going to be held responsible if that boy dies.

Why didn't somebody tell me about this

before I left Denver?

- I'm sorry, ma'am.

But that was the intention of the wire I sent.

Joe or somebody must have messed it up.

- Yes.

Yes, that must be it.

Well, what will happen if I don't give my consent.

- He'll never be able to walk again.

- But will he live?

Oh, he may if he wants to live under such a handicap.

Being a wheelchair patient all one's life-

Mr. Ryder.

- Hello, Dickie.

How do you feel?

Guess what?

Your Auntie May is here.

Here she is.

- Gosh.

Did, did you ask her?

- Well, no.

I thought I'd let you.

- I'm glad to meet you, Dickie.

How are you feeling?

- Oh, I'm fine.

Only could you do a great big favor?

- Then I shall try.

What is it?

- Please let me have a horse.

Please.

If you please.

- Why I, I guess so.

I told him I'd buy him one if was all right with you.

- As big as Little Beaver's.

And, and he'll learn me how to ride

as soon as my legs is able.

- Do you want to ride that much, Dickie?

- Gosh, yes!

Gee, will you, please?

- All right.

You can have your horse.

- Somebody please take this lamp quick!

- What is it?

What's the matter?

- I just can't take it.

I'm yellow, I guess.

I'm going to my room.

- Well, of all the citified softies-

- Leave her alone.

Let her go to bed and get some sleep if she can.

The first time I saw an operation, I fainted dead away.

In the morning when you call her,

we may have some idea how this is going to turn out.

- What are you doing here?

Do you want to advertise, stop it!

If you want to blow off steam, come on inside.

Certainly, madam.

Your nephew was hurt on my stage.

And it's my responsibility to do everything I can.

So please come in and talk it over, won't you?

Stop acting like a prima donna or I'll slap you good.

The next time you pull a fast one, don't pick on me.

Of all the dirty, don't, Bill, you're hurting me.

- Then behave yourself.

Now what are you beefing about?

You know darn well what I'm beefing about.

Why didn't you tell me whether I'd

have to decide to operate on that kid.

Putting on the spot when the doctor

didn't have the guts to-

- Now wait a minute.

Ryder didn't tell me that's what we wanted you for,

but what's the difference?

If I were you, I'd just toss a coin.

- I don't have to.

I told them to go ahead.

I told them, well, they went ahead.

Can't you see, Bill, if that kid dies, I did it.

- Aw, but, stop it.

- If that kid dies, I murdered him.

But I won't know it.

And I don't want to know it because I'm

getting out of here.

- Well, be yourself.

Now what did Ryder say when you told him

you were pulling out?

- I didn't tell him.

I didn't tell anybody.

- Little fool, you can't do that.

They'll start searching the whole countryside for you.

Everybody will be aroused.

It'll blow the lid off of things.

- I don't care- - But I care.

Now you might want to spend some time in a jail cell,

but I don't.

Now listen to me, lame brain, the only place you're going

is straight back to Coonskin's ranch.

- I'm not going back.

I'm not!

- Still touch and go.

But his pulse is a little stronger.

Maybe you'd better call his aunt.

- Me get her.

- I reckon I'd better get some breakfast.

- Wake 'em up.

She touch of sleepy head.

Maybe she no there.

- Well, I'll see.

- Is it all over?

- He's coming to.

- It's going to be a long, hard pull.

That's all I can say right now.

That's what I've been waiting for.

His legs are coming back.

- Do you hear that, Dickie?

Your legs are getting well.

- How long do you expect it'll be

before he's able to walk again?

- Well, that all depends.

If his back continues to heal without any new complications,

it will be very long.

- Sheriff and men outside.

They say they want to see Coonskin.

- Sheriff wants to see me?

What I'd done?

I wonder what the sheriff wants to see me for.

Now you look here, sheriff, any doe I killed

was accidental homicide.

You see my eyesight ain't so good no more.

And I just can't tell whether a deer have horns or don't.

- Mm-hmm.

Well, maybe they're good enough to read this.

- No, sir.

Let's see that.

No.

Them words blur all over the paper.

What does that say?

Oh, it's just a greetings from the district court

telling you to get off Silas Braydon's land.

- Well, gosh almighty.

You don't have to give me a paper to tell me that.

Heh!

Why I'd walk around a mile to stay off

of that skunk's place.

- You're on it right now, Coonskin.

According to the records, you're located

on the northeast corner of section five.

This here is section six.

- It ain't neither.

I hired a fellow to survey that myself!

Come on.

It's only about 100 yards.

I'll show you where the section corner is.

Come on.

I'll walk you- - Oh, that section corner

ain't worth a Continental.

Never was official.

But this new land survey ordered legal

by the land commissioner is.

Now if you want to know where the genuine section corner is,

it's about a quarter mile up in those rocks and hills.

So's your place.

- Why you bloated up polliwog!

- You better hold your tongue, Coonskin.

Braydon's giving you 10 days to get off.

- You can't show me a law in any law book

that says you can dispossess a man on 10 day's notice.

- I ain't going to show you nothing.

Besides, this ain't none of your business, Ryder.

- It's a lot of my business.

There's an awfully sick boy inside that house.

Any unlawful attempt-

- What do you mean unlawful?

Do you see that badge?

That's the law around here.

Anybody don't get off, Coonskin, is going to get moved off.

- Horses and cattle run off.

Then they're burned out.

Hamilton killed.

There ain't no place else where notices can be put up

and folks run off of land they always thought was theirs.

We know how you've always stood for law and order, Bill.

And we've stood for it with you.

But if this doesn't stop, there's

only one thing we can do, organize and fight back.

- I realize how you boys feel, Matt.

But I can't advise you to start trouble

with a legally elected sheriff.

- It was our votes that elected him.

We believed in him, Bill, the same as you did.

But he's sold out to Braydon.

And if he forces us to a showdown,

he'll find out that we've got just as many guns as votes.

- Wait a minute, Matt.

Suppose you give me a try at Braydon.

I think I'm as big in this valley as he is.

And I intend to see that everybody gets a square deal.

Understand, gentleman, if the law is actually on his side,

there's nothing I can do.

But I can make him lay off until I find out.

Fair enough?

- We'll take a chance on that.

- All right.

If Braydon or anyone else continues to molest you,

just let me know.

- Right.

- I don't understand.

Perhaps it's a country doctor's limitations,

but I can't explain why your nephew should have

taken this sudden turn for the worse.

Well, there must be something you can do.

He's awfully sick.

- Well, I'll keep trying.

Anyway, I'll get to him as quickly as I can.

I thought I told you to stay away from here.

- I had to come, Bill.

The kid's worse.

- Well, then get a doctor.

Don't come to me.

- I did.

He's on his way out there now.

But he's gone as far as he can.

He said so himself.

We've got to get somebody else,

a specialist like Dr. Cooper.

- Who's he?

Well, in Denver, they say he's awfully good with kids.

I don't know how much it'll cost.

But you've got to bring him here.

- Are you out of your mind?

Suppose he knew Taylor.

Suppose he knew the kid's real aunt.

He could land us all in jail.

Now get out of here and stop wasting my time.

- All right.

But I'll start yelling my head off.

- What do you mean?

It won't do any good to get rough this time, Bill.

If I start squawking, it won't take a doctor from Denver

to put you where you belong.

- Why you silly little fool!

Don't you know you're into this up to your neck yourself?

- I'm not bluffing!

All I care about is saving that kid's life.

- Yeah.

I suppose so.

All right.

If that's the way it is, that's the way it's got to be.

We're going to have to keep you and Wally undercover

for a few days.

Maybe, you know, beautiful, you've been wanting to get out

of here and right now is the time to do it.

You cook up some sort of an excuse

that'll call you back home.

And I get you a doctor.

- Uh, nothing doing.

I'm staying right here until you deliver Dr. Cooper.

And enough longer to maker sure he's not a phony, too.

- You're one gal I have never

been able to put anything over on.

But believe it or not, this time I wasn't even trying to.

You'll get your doctor just as quick as I can get him here.

Now let me handle things.

And you be a good girl and run along, huh?

Keep going straight ahead, Little Beaver.

And keep your eye peeled for any survey stakes.

Me find another what you call section stakes, Red.

Of course, pacing isn't as accurate as measuring

with a chain, but it's accurate enough

to tell me this section is short just like the rest.

The whole survey has been jimmied up.

How do you suspect anybody made a mistake like that?

I don't suspect it is a mistake, Coonskin.

And maybe the smash up that killed

the previous commissioner wasn't either.

Looks to me like the idea was to get

somebody else who'd take orders.

Come on, Little Beaver.

- There goes that shooting again.

You fellows go on home.

I'm going to see what's going on.

- Whoa!

Whoa!

Whoa!

Hold!

Hold!

- Are you all right, Miss Barnes?

- Well, I, I guess so.

- Oh.

Miss Barnes.

Miss Barnes!

- It still hurt, Dickie?

- Right here.

- I don't understand.

There seems to be no indication of infection but-

- Here come Red.

Him drive in with Aunt May.

What matter, Red?

Somebody took several potshots at Aunt May.

None of them hit the mark.

But she almost the buckboard trying to get away.

Why on earth would anybody want to shoot her for?

- That's what I've been asking myself.

I can't find a satisfactory answer.

Were you acquainted with this here fellow that calls himself

a land commission before meeting him on the stagecoach?

- Why no.

But what could that make?

- Well, just thinking.

Both you and he came from Denver.

I have a notion there's a lot about him

some folks wouldn't want to have told.

How's Dickie?

- Well, hello there, Red.

I sure am glad to see you're back.

See I rid over to Matt Disher's to tell him

how you found them sections surveyed short.

And he said Big Bill was handling

the whole situation for us ranchers.

Maybe you'd better ride in and explain to Big Bill

how this crooked land commissioner is

trying to pull a fast one on us.

- All right.

I was going in town anyway.

- Oh, please wait.

You mustn't.

This time they'll make sure.

- Who'll make sure of what?

- Well, I don't know.

I'm afraid if you go into town now,

you won't come back alive.

- Now don't worry.

I've gone into a lot of towns

where I wasn't exactly welcome.

- But don't you see?

There'll be trouble.

i just know it.

Oh please don't go.

- Now don't you worry.

You're just upset because of what happened today.

I can take care of myself all right.

The idea was to shrink this side of section six

so Braydon could stretch out on the other side.

- You must be mistaken, Red.

No land commission would be a party to a deal like that.

- It doesn't seem so, unless, maybe,

he isn't a real land commissioner.

I had a talk with him this afternoon.

He doesn't seem to know much about his business.

- But he has credentials.

I saw them myself.

- Maybe they're not his credentials.

Could be they belong to somebody else.

But he'd have to dispose of the other fellow

before he could make use of them.

- Not a chance.

He'd been spotted when he left Denver.

- Then he made the switch after he left.

- Impossible.

The driver would have known.

- That's right.

And so would the other passenger.

Tell me, Bill.

Who tried to kill me Dickie's Aunt May this afternoon?

- What are you talking about?

I didn't know anybody had.

- Why did she come here to see you today?

- See me?

I don't even know the woman.

- That seems mighty funny.

Because I would have sworn this is her purse.

Out with it, Bill.

Who is she?

What did you do with the boy's real aunt?

Now before I leave here, I'm going to get the truth.

You've been using your stageline to get rid

of people who might get in your way.

That's what happened to Dickie Barnes' aunt.

- Arrest this man, sheriff.

He tried to kill Blackie Grubb this afternoon.

Charge him with attempted murder.

- All right.

Take him away.

- I learned a long time ago,

there ain't no sense worrying about Red.

If I was you, I'd go to bed.

- But Dutchess, I'm not sleepy.

I'd only lie awake.

- All right then.

If you're going to stay up, I'll hit the hay.

Just call me if you need me.

- Good evening, Miss.

I thought I'd ride out and see how your nephew is.

Where is everybody?

They gone to bed?

- What do you want?

Where's Ryder?

What have you done with him.

- Nothing.

Last report is he's in jail, unless, of course,

he's tried to escape.

- Oh, so that's what you planned.

- In that case, the sheriff couldn't

afford to take any chances.

The charge is manslaughter.

- Bill, that's a lie and you know it.

- He told a big story about shooting

a man because he tried to shoot you.

But of course, you know that isn't true.

- And you know it is.

- Listen, beautiful.

This afternoon you said you weren't bluffing.

I think you know by now that I'm not either.

You wanted to get out of here.

All right.

I'm going to give you your wish.

The stage will pick you up tomorrow on the road and you-

Is that you, Red?

- No, Dutchess.

It's Mr. Lambert.

He said that Mr. Ryder had been detained

in town as a material witness.

I tell you, Duke, she's gone batty over this kid

and getting to Denver is just exactly what she wants.

If she likes the kid, what's she want to go to Denver for?

She wants to get this doctor she's been raving about.

And the first thing she'd do is send him back here

with an escort of state police.

She's not smart enough to catch me up like that.

- Why that jumped up, swivel-heeled,

blue bellied crook!

You gotta go over and put him in his place, Bill.

Let him know who's running this goll durned basin.

- Wait a minute, Coonskin.

Just who are you talking about?

- That six-toed sheriff, that's who!

I was just over to his place to explain

that I needed a word with Red Ryder.

And he went along, grabbed me by the seat of the britches,

and flung me out of the office.

I think I can get a message through to him

if it's important.

- Important?

Why it's disaster!

First off, Dickie's aunt has disappeared.

Sudden and complete.

- Disappeared?

How?

- Well, just skipped out.

Didn't even say goodbye.

I reckon being shot at yesterday must

have scared her plum out of her wits.

- But even so, where could she have gone?

- I don't know.

I don't know nothing except this, Dickie's sicker.

And the doc says that he's got to be

rushed to Denver on the first stage.

- Oh, Dutchess.

I had the driver pull down the blinds

to protect the boys from any draft.

And don't you worry about the sheriff

not letting you see Ryder.

I can handle things.

And I'll have him out of jail before night.

- I know you will, Bill.

You've always been a good friend.

- There you are.

Now lots of luck to you and boy both, Dutchess.

And have a nice trip.

All right, Duke.

On your way.

- You'll have to ride up front with me.

We've got unexpected passengers in back.

It's a little crowded.

Hiya!

- It's all set.

As soon as he starts to mount, we'll let him have it.

- He crossed us up.

He'll probably head for Coonskin's ranch.

Let's get our horses.

- Coonskin!

Coonskin!

Tell the Dutchess I've got to hide out.

- Well, the Dutchess ain't here.

Why she took Dickie on a stage to Denver.

- A stage? - Yeah.

- What's the matter, Red?

Well, we've got to get the Dutchess off that stage.

They'll never let her get to Denver alive.

Saddle up.

And follow me out to Denver all as fast as you can.

If you can find any help, fetch them along.

- Why sure.

Come on, Beaver.

Come on.

- You search the house.

I'll go around, cover and back.

- Well, Bill.

Seems though you just got here in the nick of time.

The way Red talks, he's going to need your help a plenty.

- That so?

Where is he?

Well, sir, it's as puzzling as all get out.

It seems as though somebody is laying for the Dutchess twixt

here and Denver.

So Red, he-

- Sheriff!

Hurry up!

We've got to get Red before he catches the stage.

- Come on, Beaver.

- Duke, no!

What are you doing?

- You saw the sign, didn't you?

- Yes, and I saw it before.

Who is it this time?

Who's in the back?

Dickie!

Dutchess!

- Shut up and behave yourself or I'll...

Haw!

Hiya!

Hiya!

Ha!

Ha!

Get away from those reins.

Ho!

Ho!

- Look out!

It's Ryder.

- Hey!

Ryder can aim from that rock.

- It's all my fault.

I should have told you right from the beginning.

- Sure.

I know.

You would have, but they scared you out.

Here.

Load this gun.

Come on!

Let's get to the stage.

Dutchess?

Are you and Dickie all right?

- What on earth's been going on?

Well, let's get the boy in that cabin first.

Then I'll tell you all about it.

Let me have him.

- Give him to me.

I can carry him.

- Careful.

- Look out, Red!

- Get his gun, Pete.

- Here.

You take Dickie.

So as I can give him a hand, see?

- Yeah.

I'll bundle him in that shack there.

- All right, all right.

- It's no use.

I'm afraid she's done for.

Well, gosh all hemlock and sprouting jumping beans.

Well, here.

You lay right here, Dickie boy.

There.

Well, of all the dirty tricks to play on a woman!

- Anyhow, that's as near as I can come

to piecing the story together.

I guess folks and horses are a lot alike.

And it all depends on how they're

saddle broke whether the good or bad crops out.

But the thing that counts most ought

to be how they finish the race.

- That is good.

Maybe pretty soon you do war dance.

You want 'em big surprise?

- What is it?

- Well, close your eyes.

Keep 'em closed.

Now, open 'em eye.

There's the horse I promised to buy you, Dickie.

- Gee.

Gee whiz, Uncle Red!

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