Little Joe, the Wrangler (1942) - full transcript

[orchestra playing]

[orchestra playing]

[orchestra playing]

[gunfire continues]

I tell you, gentlemen,
unless something is done

to stop the ore robberies
in this vicinity,

my company cannot go on
operating the smelter.

But if the smelter,
closes down, Mr. Chapin,

us miners'll
all go broke.

-I realize that, Dawson...
-[miners clamoring]

but facts are facts.



The smelter cannot operate
without ore.

Well, if Sheriff
Brewster would
attend to his job,

we wouldn't be
in this fix.

Why don't
he bring in
some of the bandits

that's holding up
the pack trains and
killing the miners?

-[miners clamoring]
-Now, just a minute.

Just a minute!

Well, now, you're doing
a lot of talking, Travis,

for a man that
hasn't lost anything.

After all, the outlaws
haven't bothered
you or your mine.

That's because I got
plenty of men to protect
my pack trains.

Some of the smaller
mine owners aren't
so well off.

That's right,
Sheriff.

It's come to
the point to where



we can't get guards
to work for us.

[miners clamoring]

I know that!

I know what you men
are up against
as well as you do.

I've been Sheriff
of this county for five years,

and I've never failed yet
to keep law and order.

And I won't fail now.

You've been saying that
for the last two months.

I'm in favor of forcing
Sheriff Brewster
to resign

and putting another man
in the office...

-[miner] So am I!
-a man that'll do something

besides make
a lot of promises.

[miners clamoring]

Gents! Gents!

Please, just a minute!
Just a minute!

We didn't call this meeting
to put a new Sheriff
into office.

I, for one, have
complete confidence in Bob.

Yes, but you're
not in the mining
business, Corey.

Maybe not, but if it
wasn't for my bank,

a lot of you miners would
have been out of business
a long time ago.

I stand to lose
as much as anyone else
if the smelter closes down.

I agree
with Mr. Corey.

The Sheriff is doing
the best he can,

and I'm positive if
we leave him alone,

he'll round up
the outlaw gang

that's been
causing us
so much trouble.

Every businessman
in Lamplight's

got money
invested in mines
around here,

and if the Monarch
Smelter closes down,

that means
the county'll
go bankrupt.

If Sheriff Brewster
can't get
some action

in the new few days,
I think he ought
to resign.

[miners clamoring]

Don't worry, Bob.

We're for you.

Thanks, Chapin.

[orchestra playing]

[door closes]

[accordion playing]

♪ It was Little Joe
The Wrangler ♪

♪ He will wrangle nevermore ♪

♪ For his days
With the roundup
They are o'er ♪

♪ 'Twas a year ago last April ♪

♪ When he rode up to our camp ♪

♪ Just a little Texas stray
And nothing more ♪

♪ Little Joe ♪

-♪ Little Joe ♪
-[donkey braying]

♪ Oh, whatever's become of him
I don't know ♪

♪ Oh, he sure did like
His liquor ♪

♪ And it would have
Got his t-t-ticker ♪

♪ But the Sheriff
Acted quicker, E-I-O ♪

-[laughs]
-[braying]

♪ Oh, he said
He had to leave his home ♪

♪ His Pa had married twice ♪

♪ And his new Ma
Beat him every day or two ♪

♪ So he saddled up
old Chaw one night ♪

♪ And he lit out on his way ♪

♪ Thought he'd try
And paddle now his own canoe ♪

♪ Little Joe ♪

♪ Little Joe ♪

♪ Oh, wherever his body lies ♪

-♪ I don't know ♪
-[braying]

♪ Oh, from place to place
He floated ♪

♪ 'Til he got himself
Railroaded ♪

♪ For the loaded dice
He toted, E-I-O ♪

-[braying]
-[laughs]

Now look here, Mildred.

You shut up.
You ain't cut out
for opera.

When it comes
to sleepin', singin',

and inventin',
you can't top me.

[laughs]

[braying]

Ha ha ha-- Aah!

[metal clatters]

What's going-- Help!

[laughs]

What are you--
Let me out of here!

Murder! Help!

H-Help!

Whoa! Help!

Get me
out of here!

[laughing]

Help! Help!

Get me out of here!

Somebody, help me!

Help!

[laughs]

[groans] No.

That was...

[laughs]

H-How am I gonna
get up from here?

Toss me that rope up,
and I'll give you a hand.

Ah, sure. I see.

Here you go!

Here we go.

Hang on.

Tried to murder me, huh?

Well, I ain't
gonna turn my claim
over to you,

no matter what you do.

Ah, keep your shirt on.

I don't want your claim.

[laughs]

Well, what do you--
What do you know
about that?

That-- That you
didn't come here to grab
this mining property.

That's right.

A-And you don't
want to kill me?

Well, if I had,
I wouldn't have
saved your life

by shooting
that rope in two.

Huh. I'm sorry, mister,

but I thought you was
one of them outlaws

that have been shooting down
prospectors around here.

[laughs]
Thanks for the compliment.

Well, you can't always
tell from the label

what's on the inside
of the can.

Now, you take me,
for instance.

Maybe you wouldn't
think it, but I'm
a great inventor.

Yeah. That's quite
some contraption
you've got rigged up there.

You like it, huh?

Well, you ought
to see the others.

And that ain't all.

Say, I used to be
the best top hand

in the whole
durn county.

Little Joe
the Wrangler's
what I was known as.

Eh, as a matter of fact,
I still am,

ridin', and ropin',
and brandin' for
the Brewster outfit.

Man, I was there.

Let me
tell you something.

Up at dawn
and in my saddle

afore the bunk spring
started squeaking.

[laughs]
When did you turn miner?

I'll be goldarned
if I know.

[chuckles]

What are you up to?

I'm pullin' up stakes
right here and now.

I'm sick and tired
of being a square peg
out of water,

or is it a fish
in a round hole?

[laughs]

Besides,
why should I go on
working this claim

when nobody
thinks it's worth
murdering me for?

[chuckles]
Well, I guess I'll
be moseying along.

I got to be in Lamplight
before dark.

Say, if you ever
stop off at the Lazy B
spread, look me up.

I'm going back
and help Bob Brewster
wrangle the law.

-Yeah?
-He's the Sheriff
of this county.

Right now, he's in
a pretty tough spot

with all
that gold stealing
going on.

Yeah, I've heard about that.

Say, with me on the job,

he's a cinch
to catch the bandits

that's raising a ruckus
around these parts.

I used to be
the Marshal
of Deadwood.

I cleaned that place up
in no time.

[braying]

[laughs]

Eh, I don't doubt it.

Well, see you later.

So long.

So long.

You hadn't ought
to done that,
Mildred.

He was believin' me.

Sounded good,
bein' a Marshal.

I never could learn
to do that. Doggone it.

[orchestra playing]

What is this, Travis,
a stickup?

Call it what you like,
Hammond.

We want the gold ore
you're carrying.

Come on. Get down.

Hyah! Hup!

Hyah!

[gunshot]

[orchestra playing]

[gunshot]

[gunfire]

[metal clanks]

Put 'em up, mister.

Get his gun, Larkin.

Webb Hammond,
shot right
through the heart.

You ought to know.
You killed him.

I reckon
the townspeople will
figure different.

Uh-huh.
Just as I thought.

Four shots fired.

Right recent, too.

Quite a little frame-up
you've figured out,
isn't it?

Capturing a murderer
isn't called a frame-up
in these parts, mister.

Tie him on his horse,
and you and the boys

start back
to town with him.

-I'll bring the wagon.
-Come on.

[guitar playing]

♪ I'll saddle my pony ♪

♪ And ride down the trail ♪

♪ Singin'
A prairie melody ♪

♪ Serenadin' the cattle
With my lonely wail ♪

♪ Come along
And sing a song with me ♪

-♪ Yippee-a, yippee-a ♪
-[yodeling]

♪ I'm always
Happy as can be ♪

-♪ Yippee-a, yippee-a ♪
-[yodeling]

♪ Come along
And sing a song with me ♪

♪ I'm never lonely ♪

♪ And I'm never blue ♪

♪ Joggin' so merrily along ♪

♪ My little pony ♪

♪ He's happy, too ♪

♪ Steppin' to the rhythm
Of my song ♪

-♪ Yippee-a, yippee-a ♪
-[yodeling]

♪ I'm always
Happy as can be ♪

-♪ Yippee-a, yippee-a ♪
-[yodeling]

♪ Come along
And sing a song with me ♪

[all vocalizing]

[hooves clopping]

How'd everything
work out in town?

Not so good, sis.

The miners had a meeting.

I was told if I
didn't get some action,

there'd be a new Sheriff
in my place.

Ah. Well, don't
let it bother you.

You're doing
the best you can.

I know if they
just leave you alone,

you'd find out
who's behind
all these robberies.

Well, thanks, Mary.

I'm glad somebody
believes in me.

[laughs]

[spurs jingling]

[hooves clopping]

-Well, howdy, Janet.
-Hello, Bob.

Say, is this
a social visit,

or have you sided in
with the miners

and want me
to resign?

[laughs] I heard
about that meeting,

but I don't think
it amounts to much.

You still have
an awful lot of friends
in this town.

Bob, I'm worried
about Granddad.

I expected him
back from his claim
early this morning,

and he hasn't
shown up yet.

Well, he might have
stopped in town.

There's nothing
to be upset about, Janet.

But he sent word
for me to stay home,
he'd struck it rich,

and he was bringing back
some new high-grade ore
with him.

Oh. Well, if
it'll make you feel
any better, Janet,

I'll ride in
to Lamplight and
look around for him.

Oh, I'd appreciate that
an awful lot, Bob.

I always worry
about Granddad when he
travels about alone.

Well, if he's not in town,

I'll send one of the deputies
out to hunt for him.

Thanks.

[overlapping chatter]

Whoa.

-[men clamoring]
-What do you got there, Charlie?

Oh, I got one
of them guys
that's been robbin'.

-He's tied up.
-[chatter continues]

Come on, killer.

What do you got
here, Charlie?

This is one of them hombres
been stealin' ore.

We saw him shoot
Webb Hammond in the back.

-[overlapping chatter]
-Hold on!

-Let's get a rope!
-Now wait a minute!

Here comes the Sheriff.
He'll handle it.

[crowd clamoring]

-Aw, get a rope!
-What's going on here?

Break it up!
Break it up!
Clear out!

This hombre
killed Webb Hammond.

Come here.
I'll show you.

He tried to steal the ore
out of Hammond's wagon.

You better come
with me, stranger.

-[Larkin] He's not going--
-Break it up! Break it up!

-[crowd muttering]
-All of you!

I'll take care of this.

You know we got
to have law and order
in this town.

This is a frame-up,
Sheriff.

I didn't
kill Hammond.

Yeah, Sheriff.
You got the
wrong man.

He ain't
no killer.

He saved my life
this morning.

We'll talk
about that later.

Right now,
I think he'd be safer

locked up in the jail.

You bring the horses,
Little Joe.

[man]
Let's hang him up.

I didn't kill Hammond,
Sheriff.

Travis and his men
did it.

That's for a jury to decide.

We haven't gotten
too much evidence
against that stranger.

He's apt
to be troublesome
if he's turned loose.

Take the horses
around back, Joe.

Oh.

Get me the coroner,
Mike.

Didn't take much
to get that mob started.

Let's go to work.

-[men clamoring]
-Hold up.

Let's take the law
in our own hands, gents.

[clamoring]

Did he give Hammond
a chance?

No. He shot him down
in cold blood.

Now, you
hotheaded galoots,

I never saw
the stranger before
in my life,

but every man's
got a right
to a fair trial.

Go on, boys!
Let's break down
this tin-can jail!

[all yelling]

[mob muttering]

That mob's
sure on a r-rampage,

comin' down that street
like they mean business.

-Sheriff, where's the killer?
-Hand him over.

Get out of the way,
Sheriff.

The law'll take good care
of the prisoner.

Now get out of here,
all of you! Get out!

Let's rush him.

[all yelling]

Grab that hitching post.
Break the door down.

They're getting
a battering ram.

-Lift high!
-[clamoring]

Heave!

I should have stuck
to mining.

Why don't you let him out,
Sheriff? He ain't guilty.

I got to do something.

And heave-ho!

I don't believe
we stand a chance

of holding that mob off.

Say, if you give me
your word not to escape,

I'll send you
out to my ranch

with Little Joe
'til this blows over.

Sure, I'll
give you my word.

[all yelling]

Let me have a gun,
and I'll help you
stand off that mob.

Be no more killing,
if I can help it.

Joe, I'm making you
my special deputy.

You can depend
on me, Sheriff.

You take care of this hombre
'til you hear from me.

[all yelling]

Out the back.

Uh-oh.

Psst.

Psst, psst!

Come here, boys.

Why don't you come on
through the window?

You can sneak up
on him from behind
and surprise him.

[laughs] Ah!

Let that be
a lesson for you.

Hey, let me
out of here!

[Charlie]
Hey, Joe! Let us in!

Hey,
come back here!

Hey, Travis,
get us loose!

The Sheriff
let him go!

-Sheriff let him go?
-What'd he do that for?

Where is he?

Try and find out.

That's what
we're here for.

Now wait a minute!
Just a minute!

Wait!
All of youse, wait!

Taking the law
into your own hands

is only going
to make matters worse.

As Sheriff
of this county,

I'll handle the law
my own way.

I know where
the prisoner went to,

and when this town
quiets down enough

so that'll be safe
to bring him back here,

I'll have him
in that cell again.

Now get out of here,
all of you! Get out!

You better be
telling the truth,
Brewster,

because
if you aren't,

we're putting a
new Sheriff in office

that'll run things
the way we want 'em.

[mob muttering]

We've got to get rid
of that stranger

while he's
still under suspicion

Then we'll
be free to operate

until we make
our final cleanup
and get out.

Two-to-one,
Brewster sent him
out to the ranch.

That's right.
The Sheriff did say
he knew where he was.

Why don't you boys
take a little ride
and see?

[grunts]

[yelps]

[all laughing]

Eh, boy, look here.

[laughs]
I fooled you, didn't I?

[laughs]

What happened, Joe?
You all right?

Sure, I'm all right.
See that?

That's one
of my new inventions,

Little Joe's cowhide
cactus protector.

[all laughing]

[Little Joe]
Go ahead and laugh.

Kinda clever, huh?

It certainly is,
Joe.

But what are you
doing here?

I thought
you were mining.

Well, I was
up until this morning.

Say, Miss Mary,
I'd like to have
my old job back again,

that is,
after I get through
being a special deputy.

[laughs]
You, a deputy?

Well, yeah.
Bob just made me one.

Oh, hello, Miss Janet.

How are you, Joe?

Doing fine.

Uh, say, uh,
this is, uh...

Neal Wallace.

Can you imagine
me forgetting?

That spill must have
made me loco.

Mr. Wallace, that's
Miss Mary Brewster,

the Sheriff's sister
and the real boss
of the ranch.

How do you do?

And this is
Miss Janet Hammond.

-I'm glad to know you.
-How do you do?

Hammond?

Yes, it was
her grandfather.

What about
my grandfather?

Something's wrong.
I know it.

He was taking a load of ore
in to town,

and-- and a gang
of outlaws attacked him.

Then, he's dead?

Oh, where's Bob?
Why didn't he
come in with you?

Oh, he'll be along, soon
as he breaks up that mob.

What mob?

Some of the folks in town
got the idea here

that Neal was to blame
for Mr. Hammond's murder,

so he-- Bob arrested him.

Well, then,
why isn't he in jail?

'Cause he
ain't guilty.

He's a real gent.

Bob didn't
dare keep him
in the town,

on account of
the lynching mob,

so he deputized me
to guard him.

Certainly made a hit
with them, didn't I?

Aw, shucks,
I wouldn't worry none.

It'll come out
all right.

Yes, sir,
that thing should work.

Hey, what sort
of contraption
is that, anyway?

That's what I call
my Little Joe safety shield.

I'm getting sick and tired
of being tossed off of my horse
every time he stops,

so I just figured up
a little invention here
to hold me on.

It looks
kind of complicated.

Oh, it ain't, though.
Yeah, I just--

I just put it there
on my saddle horn,

tie her on real tight,
you see,

and when I'm
just about ready to stop

and I'm getting going
good, you see--

-Ohh!
-[laughing]

Well, that's what--
That's it.

That's what it's
supposed to do, you see,

supposed to hold me on.

It'll do 'er, too.

Say, you just stay around
a little close here,

where I can
keep an eye on you,

and I'll show you
how it works on a horse.

I hope it works
better than the last one.

That--
Aw, lookie here.

Come on. Come on.

Come on.

[hooves clopping]

Say, Bob, I was
just about to show him

how my safety shield
works. Wanna see it?

Some other time.
Come over to the porch.
I wanna talk to you.

I suppose Little Joe
told you what happened
in town, Janet.

Yes.

This man, is he
really responsible--

No one is guilty
until proven so.

I didn't get a chance
to question you in town.

Suppose you do
a little talking now?

To begin with,
I'm Neal Wallace,

Vice-President
of the Monarch
Smelting Company,

from the main office
in Denver.

You mean you're connected
with Lloyd Chapin's plant?

[Neal]
He works for us.

For the past few months,

the smelter's
been showing a loss.

The company
naturally wonders why.

The miners have
lost plenty, too.

Every time they take
a shipment of ore

to the smelter,
it's stolen.

I didn't know about that
until this morning.

Well, go on. What else
have you got to say?

That's about all,
expect I came to Lamplight

on a matter
of routine business,

to check over
the books of the smelter

and try to find the answer
to the decrease in profits.

I'm sure
that Lloyd Chapin
is above suspicion.

He personally
has advanced money
to many of the small miners,

and everyone in town
thinks highly of him.

Well, the company
thinks highly of him, too,

or they wouldn't
put him in charge
of the Lamplight plant.

If you're Neal Wallace,
suppose you prove it.

Certainly.
My papers of identification
are in my saddlebags.

I'll do the looking.

Well, there are
no papers in here.

Somebody
must have stole them.

Say, where'd you get
this gold ore?

Gold ore?

Did you ever
see it before, Janet?

Yes. This gold came
from my grandfather's
claim.

Why, I'd recognize
this quartz formation
anywhere.

I never saw it before.

Whoever stole my papers
must have planted it there.

Do you expect us
to believe that?

Why, you're nothing
but a thief and
a murderer.

[hooves clopping]

They look
like Travis' men.

Looks like they're
gonna be trouble.

You girls better
get in the house.

You give me a gun,
I'll help you out.

Well, I'm not
gonna fall for that.

I promised to take you
back to town to stand trial.

Gonna keep my word.
Now get moving.

[orchestra playing]

[Bob]
That's far enough, men.

Get their guns, Joe.

What's
the big idea?

We're after
that killer.

You're not after
anybody, Larkin.
That's my job.

Well, you sure got
a lot to learn, Sheriff.

When the miners hear
what happened today,

they're gonna be
plenty sore.

I'm not asking
you hombres
how to run my office.

Now turn around,
and get going,

and don't
let me catch you

outside of town within
the next 24 hours.

You take care of things
around here, Joe.

I'm goin' after
that fella.

[orchestra playing]

Well, I reckon
you've got me this time.

Maybe. Maybe not.

You're gonna listen
to me from now on.

All right.
Go ahead and talk.

But get this straight.

You're gonna stand trial,
no matter what you say,

if you don't use
that gun on me.

I'm perfectly willing
to stand trial.

If necessary,
I can get the President
of the Monarch Smelters

out here to identify me.

But, right now,
I'm worried about

what's liable to happen
until I do.

I've got to get
to the bottom

of this situation
in a hurry.

All I want of you
is a parole
for a few days.

Oh, is that all?

Well, now,
wouldn't I be smart,

after all
that's happened?

Why, the people
of Lamplight'd run me
out of town on a rail.

I suppose, if I
were in your place,

I'd feel
the same way.

Tell me, what does
Ben Travis do
for a living?

He works a gold mine
a few miles out.

What about
the other three men?

They work for him.

Does he take all his ore
to the smelter?

Well, I suppose so.

Most of the miners
around here do,

but what's that
got to do with me?

You'll find out.

As soon as I
can convince you,

we'll work together.

Sorry. Not a chance.

Suppose this'll help.

Well,
th-that stops me, Neal.

I guess you are paroled.

Thanks, Bob.

I don't mind telling you
I'm riding to Oreville.

I wanna send a telegram.

That's exactly
what I want you to do.

And send it
to Wiley Comstock.

He's President
of the Monarch
Smelting Company.

How 'bout
coming along with me?

No, but I would like you
to do me a favor.

Tell Joe to meet me
outside of town
near the smelter.

I can use him.

[orchestra playing]

-Oh, good afternoon.
-How do you do?

-Is Mr. Chapin in?
-I believe so.

Tell him Mr. Wallace
is here to see him.

Oh, yes, Mr. Wallace.
Go right in.

Thank you.

Mr. Chapin?

That's right.

I'm Neal Wallace,
Vice-President

of the Monarch
Smelting Company,
from Denver.

Well, this is a surprise.

We've been writing
to each other for a long time.

I'm certainly glad
to meet you.

-Sit down.
-Thank you.

What brings you
out here?

To be perfectly frank
with you, Mr. Chapin,

your reports
for the past few months

have been showing
nothing but losses.

I was sent here
to find out why.

Well, as Vice-President
of Monarch,

there's no reason
why you shouldn't
learn all the facts.

I rather imagine
you have some sort

of identification
with you, Mr. Wallace.

Oh, not that I doubt you,

but we've been having
a lot of trouble
in this district.

I naturally want to use
every precaution

to safeguard the interests
of my company.

I don't blame you,
but unfortunately,

my papers
of identification
were stolen.

You'll just have to
take my word for it
that I'm Wallace

until I can
communicate
with Mr. Comstock,

the President
of the company.

Well, that's bad.

Unless you can show me
proper credentials,

I'm afraid there's
nothing much I can do

to help you
with your investigation.

Why don't you
wire Mr. Comstock?

He'll verify
my statements

and give you a complete
description of me.

A very good suggestion.

The nearest telegraph office

is in Oreville,
20 miles from here

over the Sawtooth Trail.

Meet me there around noon.

We'll send the wire and
wait in town for a reply.

Good.

Thanks for
the cooperation.

I'll see you
in Oreville.

Send Travis
to my office, Helen.

Well, here's
another 100 ounces

I held out
of last week's ore run.

Good. I'll put it
in the old boiler room
with the rest of the stuff.

That makes close on
to 5,500 ounces
we got stashed away.

These identification papers

mean just what they say,
Travis.

The man we framed
is Neal Wallace,

Vice-President
of the Monarch Company.

Hmm. Pretty smart
of me, huh,

havin' the boys
swipe the papers out
of the saddlebags

and substituting
the ore?

That's playing
both ends against
the middle.

The folks of
Lamplight are really
gunning for him.

Yes? Well,
he's just been here.

What? Why didn't
you let me know?

Me and the boys
would have taken care
of him in no time.

No, I've got
a better way
of handling him.

He's out here
to investigate me,

and I can't
let that happen.

He's on his way now
to Oreville

by way
of the Sawtooth Trail
to wire Comstock.

I savvy.

I'll get the boys
and take a little ride.

After today, I don't
think we'll be bothered
with Mr. Neal Wallace.

[orchestra playing]

[Little Joe]
Hey.

Yeah, I been
worried about you.

Yeah? What about?

Well, that outfit
that framed you,

I just saw 'em
ride up to the smelter.

-Well, I didn't see 'em.
-Well, no wonder you didn't.

They went in
the back way.

Well, if they were
going to the smelter
on mining business,

I don't see why
they didn't use
the front door.

That's why I was
worried about you.

Them birds
is up to no good.

I have
a pretty good idea
you're right, Joe.

I'm taking
the Sawtooth Trail
to Oreville.

The Sawtooth Trail?

Yeah. What's
the matter with it?

Well, everything,
uh, and then some.

In the first place,
it ain't been used
in ten years,

and, in the second place,
it's ten miles further
than the road.

Well, I'm still
taking that trail,

and I have a hunch
I'm going to run in
to a little ambush.

An ambush?

Well, uh, say, are you
sure you're feeling well?

I never felt better.

And I think
I'm gonna have
some fun, too.

Well,
how do you like that?

Being waylaid
by a bunch of cutthroats

ain't exactly my idea
of having a little fun.

Heh. I'm sure glad
I ain't in on it.

You are, right
in the middle of it.

I-I am?

While I ride the trail,

you're gonna
keep your eyes open
from the ridge above.

And, if you see
anybody stop me,

I want you to unlimber
that rifle of yours

and start scattering
a little lead.

That'll give me a chance
to make a break.

Well, sure wished
I'd have invented
a b-bulletproof vest.

What's the matter?
Are you scared?

Afraid?
Sh-Shucks, no.

I ain't afraid
of man nor b-beast.

All right, then.
And remember to keep
your eyes open,

and don't let me
out of your sight.

I will.

[orchestra playing]

[Little Joe]
Hyup!

[coughs]

[Neal] What a nice,
friendly country.

Everywhere I go,
I run into you birds.

None of your lip.

Who told you
I was headed this way?

Never mind.
We're taking you back.

You're wanted
for murder.

I guess that
just about fixes them up.

I told you
I wouldn't let you down.

[orchestra playing]

Hey, I reckon that's
what you call teamwork,
eh, Neal?

All right.

You get up there
on your horse.

Get up there,
you big tub.

[keys jangling]

You can't
do this to me.

I wanna see
my lawyer.

I'll get you
a picture of him.

[laughing]

There's no longer
any question
about it, Neal.

You were right
to figure that Chapin

was mixed up
with the Travis game.

He's the only one
that knew you were
goin' to Oreville

by way
of the Sawtooth Trail.

Not only that,
he suggested
I use that trail.

I'm positive that he
and the Travis gang

have been robbing
the smelter.

Now my next job
is to prove it.

Tell me, did--
did you send that wire?

Yes, I did.

Comstock's answer
ought to be along
any minute.

It can't come in any--
too soon for me.

♪ As I was walking
One morning for pleasure ♪

♪ I spied a cowpuncher
A-ridin' along ♪

♪ His hat was thrown back And his spurs were a-jinglin' ♪

♪ As he approached
He was singing this song ♪

[all]
♪ Whoopie-tai-ai-oh ♪

♪ Get along, little dogies ♪

♪ It's your misfortune
And none of my own ♪

♪ Whoopie-tai-ai-oh ♪

♪ Get along, little dogies ♪

♪ You know that Wyoming
Will be your new home ♪

♪ Now it's
Early in spring

♪ That we round up
The dogies ♪

♪ At markin'
And brandin'
We never fail ♪

♪ We round up
The horses ♪

♪ Load up
The chuckwagon ♪

♪ And then
Throw the dogies
Out onto the trail ♪

♪ Whoopie-tai-ai-oh ♪

♪ Get along, little dogies ♪

♪ It's your misfortune
And none of my own ♪

♪ Whoopie-tai-ai-oh ♪

♪ Get along, little dogies ♪

♪ You know that Wyoming ♪

♪ Will be your new home ♪

[hooves clopping]

Howdy, Miss Mary.

Is your brother around?

Why, no.
He's in town, Clem.

Well, I got
an important message for him.

Seems to me
like he ought to get
this one real quick.

Hmm.
What does it say, Clem?

How should I know?
I haven't read it.

You sure you
haven't read it, Clem?

The envelope
isn't sealed.

Sweat, that's what
unsealed it.

Do it every time.

What's an important man
like him doing
in these parts?

What do you mean?
What important man?

Vice-President,
of course.

Vice-president of what,
the United States?

Heck, no.
He ain't that important.

This here fella
is the Vice-President
of the Monarch Smelter.

-Monarch Smelters?
-Neal Wallace?

[Clem] That's him.
Uh, do you folks know him?

The description
fits Neal perfectly.

Oh, any time you got
something, you want it
kept real confidential,

just tell it to me.
I'm reliable, I am.

Oh, he's reliable,
all right.

Say, Janet,

Bob's gotta get
this telegram right away.

Well, let me
take it to him.

All right.
I'll change my clothes

and meet you at the office.
You go ahead.

[orchestra playing]

I ain't talkin',
and you can't make me.

You work
for Ben Travis,
don't you?

Oh, that ain't
no secret.

Why did he try
to dry-gulch me?

All right,
I'll tell you.

Chapin sent you
to kill me

so I couldn't
identify myself.

Eh, try and prove it.

Maybe we will.

You're too smart
for your own good.

What about
Hammond's murder?

-Huh?
-You shot him, didn't you?

I, uh-- No, no, no!

I-I didn't do it!
He done it!

I know different.

I ain't guilty.

I didn't do nothin'.

Rope dancing
isn't very pleasant,
Charlie.

It's kinda tough
on the neck.

[breathing heavily]
I'm wise to you.

You can't trick me
into squealing.

Chapin would--

I thought you
said you work
for Ben Travis.

What about
Chapin?

Come on.

You should have
been a lawyer, Neal.

I am.

[humming loudly]

[trills] Whoo!

Whoo! I got it
all figured out!

[titters]
I'm a bird!
I'm a bird!

-[laughing]
-Today, during that fight,

I figured just
what make birds fly.

I'll be
flying off of one

of these buildings
pretty soon.

You watch.
It'll work.

Well, Joe,
if it doesn't work,

I'll promise you
the finest funeral that
Lamplight can afford.

-Thanks, Bob.
-[laughing]

Funeral?

Well, look,
if you bury me,

take me out
someplace,
and dig a hole,

but don't
tell my wife
where it is,

because I want
to live in peace
when I'm dead.

-[sighs]
-[laughing]

Say, did that court order
come yet?

Yeah, the judge
made it out
this morning.

Good. We'll pay Chapin
a little visit.

-Come on.
-Fine.

Hey, Joe.

Keep an eye on him.

Don't let him
clip your wings.

[laughing]

Say, Charles,
now, no monkey business.

You heard what he said,
keep an eye on you,

and that's
what I'm gonna do.

The only difference
between me and you,

outside of you being in there
and me out here is...

the great separator.

Now, Charles...

[chuckles]

Joe!

Where's Bob?

Oh. Uh, who, Bob?

Oh, uh, him and Neal
rode out

to smelter just
a little while ago.

That's why I'm
keeping an eye
on the prisoner.

-Thanks.
-You're welcome.

You sure bungled
the whole deal, Larkin.

Why didn't you and Norton
go back and keep Charlie
from being caught?

Yeah.
If he talks out of turn,
it'll be too bad for us.

The ambush was
your idea, Chapin.

It ain't our fault
if it backfired!

[wagon jangling]

Forget it!

You called me out
for not getting him before.

I can drop 'em both!

We're not killing
officers of the law.

Now, all of you,
get out of here. Go on.

I'll stall 'em.

Well, what happened?
I waited in Oreville for you,

and you never showed up.

You never even started,

but your gang did.

I don't think
I understand you.

You sent them
to ambush me.

Why, you're crazy.

Only one person
knew I was taking

that Sawtooth Trail,
and that was you.

Why, I've been
with the Monarch Company
for many years.

My record
is unquestioned.

You mean it was.
When I get through,

your record book will have
a lot of black pages in it.

I've tried to cooperate
with you and give you
the benefit of every doubt,

pending word
from President Comstock,

but this is too much!

I'm amazed
at you, Sheriff!

This killer,
this imposter
should be in jail.

I demand he be
rearrested at once.

Well, I'm sorry I can't
accommodate you, Chapin.

Oh, uh,
we have a court order
to look over your books.

I hope you don't mind.

Why should I mind?

Go right ahead.

[orchestra playing]

I don't seem to find
anything that's wrong.

Of course not.
Everything's in order.

-[knock on door]
-Come in.

Pardon, Mr. Chapin,

but there's a lady
to see you.

She says
it's very urgent.

All right, Helen.
I'll be right out.

Keep on making
yourselves at home.

If you can't
find what you're
looking for,

why, let me know.

When I come back,
I'll be glad

to turn the office
upside down for you.

Good afternoon,
Miss Hammond.
What can I do for you?

I have a very important
telegram for the Sheriff,

and I was told
I'd find him here.

Well, he's busy
in the other room
with some miners,

but if it's
very important...

Well, it's from the President
of Monarch Smelters.

Oh.

Well, one moment,
please.

I'll tell him you're here.

-Janet Hammond's outside.
-What's she doing here?

She brought a telegram
for the Sheriff
from Comstock.

He must have wired
the main office
about Wallace.

I'll send her in.
You take care of her.

All right.

Go right in,
Miss Hammond.

Thanks very much.

Let me out of here!

Let me out of here!

Take it easy, Miss.

You better sit down.
Be comfortable.

Helen, you can
take the afternoon off.

You've been working
pretty hard lately.

Thank you, Mr. Chapin.

Don't you think
this little comedy
has gone far enough?

This is an outrage,
an officer of the law

aiding and abetting
a murderer.

The law says
a man is innocent
until proven guilty.

Now, that goes
as much for you

as it does
for Wallace here.

I'll vouch
for his appearance

whenever
he's wanted.

What's the meaning
of this, Mr. Chapin?

-You can't hold me here.
-Shut up.

Lock her
in the other room.

Get in there!

-Did you read the wire?
-Yeah.

Duplicate
identification papers
are on the way.

When they arrive,
we're through.
Load the gold.

We'll make
a getaway while we
still have time.

Hey, Sheriff,
how come this man's

running around
with you armed?

He's accused
of a killing.

Maybe so, Corey,

but I have reason
to believe that
he was framed

and that he's
really Neal Wallace,

Vice-President
of Monarch Smelters.

Well,
why didn't you say so
in the first place?

I didn't have time.

I was only two jumps
ahead of a lynching mob,

and I've got to thank you
for those two jumps, too.

Well, every man's
entitled to
a fair break.

If Wallace didn't
kill Hammond, who
do you think did?

Well, I'm not saying yet.

We'll close in
on the real murderers, though,

as soon as I get
a telegram I'm expecting.

Oh, that is good news.

If we can help,
just let us know.

May be calling
on you, Corey.

Hey, fellas!

Up here!

[laughs]

What are you up to?

I'm gonna make
a fl-flying mount.

[laughing]

Well, here I go!

Ready or not...

-[laughing]
-Aah!

[grumbles]

Doggone! Ain't that
a dirty trick?

I'd have made it
if he hadn't moved.

[hooves clopping]

Well, I'll bet
you were glad to get
that telegram, Neal.

What telegram?

What are you
talking about, Mary?

Why, didn't
Janet find you?

I haven't seen her.

But she rode
in town almost
an hour ago

with a wire
from Comstock.

Oh, she was here,
all right,

and I sent her
out to the smelter
after you two.

But she didn't say nothing
about no telegram.

So that was who Chapin's
lady visitor was.

Mary, go find
Corey and the boys.

Tell 'em to meet us
at the smelter.

There's gonna be trouble.

Hey! Wait for me!

Get out
of the way, Mary!

I'm coming! Ohh!

Oh, here I am,
mixed up in--

I never had
any trouble
getting on a horse,

just always
falling off.

Yah! On, MacTaggert!

Look at this!

Hurry up, Norton.

You haven't
got much time.

[orchestra playing]

[hooves clopping]

The Sheriff must have
found out about his sister.

We can hold 'em off
'til the boys
get a good start

and then duck out
the back way.

[gunfire]

[gunfire]

It won't be very easy
to blast 'em out of there.

I'm going around
behind the smelter.

You keep firing
from here to hold
their attention.

Right.

Cover the back, Larkin.
Send a couple of boys
to take care of Brewster.

Right.

[gunfire]

Hey, you fellas
take over while we
finish loading.

[gunfire]

[gunfire continues]

[gunfire]

All right,
come on out of there.

[gunfire continues outside]

[orchestra playing]

[muttering]

Ohh!

[sputters]

[blowing]

You boys,
beat it.

Let me out of here!

Let me out of here!

[pounding]
Somebody, let me out!

Are you all right,
Janet?

Yes. Don't worry about me.

Get after Travis and Chapin.

You better go that way.

[gunshot]

[gunfire]

Get up!

[gunshot]

[gunfire]

Don't be a-scared
of that hombre.
He ain't so tough.

[orchestra playing]

Whoo! Whoo!

[cackles]

Well, my boy,
we got you! Ha ha!

[Little Joe] Get in there,
you great, big buffalo!

Go on in there,
doggone you!

-[laughing]
-Don't you talk back to me.

I'll kick
your eyeteeth out
so you can't see.

[laughter]

[Bob]
♪ Little Joe, the wrangler ♪

♪ Will a-wrangle nevermore ♪

♪ His days with the remuda
They are o'er ♪

♪ 'Twas a year ago last April ♪

♪ When he joined
The outfit here ♪

♪ Just a little Texas stray
And all alone ♪

[clatter]

♪ Little Joe ♪

♪ Little Joe ♪

♪ Little Joe ♪

♪ Little Joe ♪

♪ A little Texas stray
And all alone ♪

♪ He said he'd do
The best he could ♪

♪ If we would
Give him work ♪

♪ Though he didn't know
Straight up about a cow... ♪

You know
what that is?

Th-That's a...

[clatter]

That's an anchor.

[grumbles]

[laughs]

You ain't gonna
throw me no more.

[Bob]
♪ Little Joe ♪

-♪ Little Joe ♪
-♪ Little Joe ♪

-♪ Little Joe ♪
-♪ Little Joe ♪

♪ He's sort of like
This little kid somehow ♪

♪ We had driven
To the Pecos ♪

♪ The weather
Being fine ♪

♪ We camped down
On the south side in a bend ♪

[groans]

[clatter]

Ah, boy,
that's gonna do it.

[laughs]

Now wait till I get
that thing up here.

-♪ Little Joe ♪
-♪ Little Joe ♪

-♪ Little Joe ♪
-♪ Little Joe ♪

-♪ Little Joe ♪
-♪ Little Joe ♪

♪ Little Joe ♪

♪ Little Joe ♪

Hey! I got it
all figured out now!

[laughs]
You know, I--

I figured out that
folks can't fly,

so I might as well
figure a way

to make this horse
stop nice, slow,
and easy.

Well, I got it.
[laughs]

All I have to do
is drop this anchor
on the ground,

and when the anchor
drags along the ground,

the horse'll get tired,
and he'll just slow down
as easy-like. [laughs]

You watch.
Here I go,
get a head start.

Well, you better
make it good.

-Here I come!
-[laughing]

-Well, are you watching?
-[Neal] Come on.

Ah, hey, hey!

[laughing]

This is my last invention.

[orchestra playing]