Marshal of Cedar Rock (1953) - full transcript

-There he goes, Warden.

Bill Anderson's on the loose.

[GUNSHOTS]

-Well, he fell for that
escape set-up, Marshal.

But I don't like it.

-You'll like it if he
leads me to the money

and the rest of the
gang, won't you?

-Well, if he
doesn't, we're going

to be in a jam with
the law ourselves.

It's a big chance
we're taking, Rocky.

-I'm following my hunch, Warden.



-Can you give me a ride, Mister?

-Sure.

It's a hot day.

Get aboard.

-Thanks, a lot.

My horse went lame back there.

-Git.

You live around here, son?

Or are you a stranger like me?

-Oh, I used to live around here.

I've been away for a while.

-Huh.

I imagine you'll
see some changes.

I hear Cedar Rock's been
having its troubles,



bank robberies, outlaws.

-Oh, is that so?

-Ordinarily, I come by stage.

My superiors thought I'd be
safer driving into town myself.

-Well, I guess so.

What outfit are
you with, Mister?

-I'm John Harper with the
Western States Railroad.

Our contact in Cedar Rock
is Mr. Mason, the banker.

Maybe you know him?

-Yeah, I know Mr. Mason.

-And another thing,
Marthy, I wish

you'd kind of put yourself
out to be nice to Mr. Mason.

You know he's kind
of sweet on you.

-But Uncle Nugget, it's so
hard to, to pretend something

you don't really feel.

-Maybe you still
got some feelings

for that bank robber,
Bill Anderson.

-He isn't a bank robber.

No one will ever
convince me he ever was.

-Well, the law was convinced,
that's why he's in prison.

Listen, Marthy, I don't
want to argue with you,

but the ranch is
really in hot water.

And, uh--

-And you need some cold cash.

All right.

I'll try to be
nice to Mr. Mason.

-That's the girl.

-Oh, come in.

Come in.

-Hi, Mr. Mason.

-Hi, Nugget.

Hello, Martha.

Won't you sit down,
make yourselves at home?

-Thanks.

-Thank you.

-Now, this is a pleasure indeed.

There's no use to ask
how you've been, Martha.

Your loveliness speaks
louder than words.

-You're very flattering
as usual, Mr. Mason.

But, uh, I'm afraid my looks
are a little misleading.

We haven't been having a very
lovely time of it at the ranch.

-Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

-Henry, she's right.

Them danged outlaws
have run off all

our cattle,
excepting a few head.

Put that together with the
losing of my money in the bank

holdup, and it's a wonder
I ain't in my grave,

if I could afford one.

-Yes, I know what you're
up against, Nugget.

The robbers cleaned
me out, too, remember?

It's been a struggle
to keep the bank going.

-Ah, well, I'll be a
god-dern two-tailed bobcat.

This is the first
time in my life

I've ever been refused a loan
even before I asked for it.

-Sit down, dear.

If Mr. Mason can't
give you some money,

perhaps he can give you
some helpful advice.

-Hm, well, the only good
thing about getting advice

is you don't have to pay
interest on it, or do ya?

-Yes, I know advice is cheap.

But, uh, bear in
mind you haven't only

yourself to think about.

Being president of the local
Cattlemen's Association,

you have an influence over
all the other members.

-Ha ha, I get it.

I should go to the
poor house and then

rent out its rooms
to all my friends.

-No, but you should advise
them to take the offer

from the Consolidated
Real Estate Company.

$200 an acre is a
big price these days.

-$200?

Listen, we ain't, uh, selling
our land to no Consolidated

skinflints, especially
when we got sense enough

to know why they
want our ranches.

-Why do they want them?

-Because the railroad's coming
through here, that's why.

I happen to know they got
a man by the name of Harper

on his way here right now.

Shucks.

I only wanted a few
bucks to tide me over.

-Same old pipe dream about
the railroad coming here.

Why, they could run
their branch line

through any one of a half
dozen different towns.

-Yeah, yeah, maybe, maybe.

But if it does
come through here,

we're going to get a
fortune for our ranches.

So we're going to keep right
on dreaming our pipe dreams.

And you can put that
in your old corncob

and you can choke on it.

Come on, Marthy.

-Now, be nice to
Mr. Mason, Martha.

-Oh, you oughta know better
than to even listen to me.

Thought I raised you
to have better sense.

-Don't worry.

We'll manage.

-Suppose I'll have to go to
the blacksmith and the others

and stall them off again.

-They won't mind.

They know you.

I'll meet you at the
buckboard in an hour or so.

-All right, darling.

-All right, son.

You sure I can't drive
you on into town?

-No, this is fine, Mr. Harper.

I'm supposed to meet a
fellow right around here.

Thanks a lot for the ride.

-All right.

Keep hitting the ranchers.

It'll make the Harper
deal that much easier.

We've got another raid on the
town's schedule this morning.

-Good.

That'll soften them up.

[KNOCKING]

-Come in.

-Mr. Harper's here.

-Harper?

Already?

-He's a day ahead of time.

-Anybody else see him?

-Nobody here.

-Ask him to wait a minute.

That means we've got to
take care of him right now.

-What about that raid?

-The other boys can handle it.

You two wait outside.

Come in, Mr. Harper.

-How are you, Mr. Mason?

-Fine, fine.

Sit down.

-Thank you.

-You got here a little
sooner than I expected.

-Yes, I made a little faster
trip than I'd planned.

When the railroad comes through,
it'll make it still faster.

-Hm mm.

I hope so.

Did you just get in?

I mean, you came
directly to the bank?

-Oh, yes.

I came right here.

I'd like to meet
with those ranchers

I'm to deal with as
soon as possible.

Naturally, I want to make
the best deals I can.

Although confidentially, we're
planning on a big junction

here.

I'll have to settle with the
ranchers for whatever they

want, $600, $700 an
acre, if necessary.

-I see.

All right, Mr. Harper.

But first I'd like
to have you meet

a couple of friends of mine.

-Fine, glad to.

-Come in.

This is Mr. Harper of the
Western States Railroad.

Uh, he hasn't gotten around to
showing me his credentials yet.

But maybe you'd like
to show him yours.

-Glad to know you, Mr. Harper.

We've got a horse
out back for you.

We're going for a little ride.

Don't worry about your rig.

It's been taken care of.

-What are you trying to do?

You'll never get away with this.

-Let us worry about that.

-Let's go.

-Bill Anderson.

I thought you were in prison.

-I was in prison.

But I broke out to settle
with the man who put me there.

-Now, look, Bill,
getting tough with me

isn't going to make
things easier for you.

-How tough I get
depends entirely on you.

-What do you mean?

I don't quite follow you.

-I'll tell you what I
mean, exactly what I mean.

You're going over to
Sheriff Blake with me

and tell him exactly
what happened

here the night of the robbery.

You're going to tell him
that the reason I was here

was because you sent for
me, so you could frame me.

Because I was cutting
you out with Martha.

-That's the most
ridiculous thing--

-Shut up.

You'll tell Blake I
didn't keep you covered

while the bandits
were in the bank.

When I went after
them, I was chasing

them, not riding away with them.

-You said practically the
same thing in the trial.

They didn't believe you.

-Maybe so.

I don't know what I said.

I was so mixed up.

Besides I knew nobody'd take
my word against Mr. Mason,

the big banker,
everybody's friend.

-That's right.

And they won't believe you now.

Why should I conspire
to rob my own bank?

-Why not?

There was $100,000 of
the ranchers' money

stolen, wasn't there?

-Now, look, Bill.

Put that gun away and
let's talk this over.

-I don't want any
more of your talking.

Get your hand out of that
drawer or I'll shoot it out.

Maybe I ought to
shoot you anyway.

[GUNSHOT]

-Well, much obliged, stranger.

I thought I heard--
-it's all right.

Get the sheriff.

-Shall I tell him--

-Just tell him to
get over here quick.

-Yes, sir.

-You know you got me
out of a tough spot.

-Well, sir, I don't like
to see people get hurt.

If it'd been the
other way around,

and you'd had your gun on him,
I'd have done the same thing.

-Only he happens to
be an escaped convict.

I don't believe
I know your name.

Do you live around here?

-No, sir, I don't.

My name's Rocky Lane.

I just drifted into
town looking for work.

-Rocky Lane.

Well, maybe, I can
help you find some.

Uh, did you happen to hear
what this fellow was saying?

-He's afraid you might have
heard the truth about him.

-No, I didn't hear
much of anything.

I happened to glance in the
window as I was passing by.

No hard feelings,
friend, but, uh,

if you are an escaped convict--

-Sure I escaped, to try and
get myself a square deal.

And I might have if you'd
minded your own business.

-Hello, Henry.

your clerk-- Bill Anderson.

I thought he was in prison.

-He escaped and came
here to kill me.

-That's a lie.

I was trying to make him tell
the truth about the robbery.

-This man will tell you
what he saw, Sheriff.

-Your words are
good enough, Henry.

Better come along
peaceably, Anderson.

You'll know I'll use
this if I have to.

-Well, that takes care of that.

Have a cigar?

-No thanks.

I don't use them.

-Well, maybe you have a
couple of friends that do.

They're quite good.

[GUNSHOTS]

-Hey, Anderson.

-Don't ask me if I'm all
right, because I'm not.

-I don't blame you.

I was a little worried myself.

-Naturally, I, I don't
know how to thank you.

Where did you come from anyway?

-I was standing just
outside the bank

when your horses broke loose.

My name's Rocky Lane.

-I'm Martha Clark.

-I'm glad to know you.

-Well, I, I guess I'd better
be getting back into town.

My uncle will be worried sick.

-If you don't mind,
I'll ride back with you.

-I wish you would.

-Can you handle then all right?

-Sure.

-Bank robbers.

Bandits.

You gotta be a god-derned outlaw
to make a living around here.

I don't know how you
feel, but personally--

Marthy, where you been?

I couldn't imagine
what happened to you.

-The horses ran away
during the shooting.

They'd still be running if it
weren't for Mr. Lane, here.

My uncle, Nugget Clark.

-I'm glad to know
you, Mr. Clark.

-Not as glad as I am, son.

Thanks, thanks a million.

That's all I can say.

-Oh, hello, Mr. Mason.

I'd like you to meet Rocky Lane.

-I already met Mr. Lane.

He saved my life when Bill
Anderson tried to kill me.

-Bill, but Bill--

-He escaped from prison.

And now he's escaped
from the sheriff.

I hear he's heading
to the South Hills.

-Sure got a desperate
character on the loose.

Ain't nobody going after him?

-Sheriff was shot
during the raid.

-Bill wouldn't hurt anybody.

People have just, just
given him a bad name.

MASON: I'm afraid he's
earned it, Martha.

-God-dernit, I wish
we had some protection

against the Anderson's
and the gunmen.

Now, if we had a few young
fellows like Lane-- say,

you wouldn't be needing
a job, would you?

-Well, uh, yes, I
guess I could use one.

-Then, you got one, by cracky.

Course, I wouldn't be
able to pay you right off.

-Let me take a couple hours
to think it over though,

Mr. Clark.

Right now, there's
something I want to do.

-Sure, sure.

Our ranch is straight
out the town road,

just beyond the fork.

-See you.

-I bet he'll be
able to help me keep

my pipe dream going
a while longer.

How's that corncob
of yours a-smoking?

-Well, I haven't
choked on it yet.

-Give it time.

[KNOCKING]

-Come in.

-Why the heavy artillery?

-Bill Anderson
broke out of prison

and came here to kill me.

He got away during the raid.

-I can put a couple
of men on his trail

to see he don't get away.

-Good, and have them
watch the Clark place.

He'll probably show up
there to see Martha.

And there may be another fellow
there I wouldn't miss, either.

A cowboy named Lane.

-Lane, what's he done?

-Nothing in particular, except
he overheard Anderson shooting

off his mouth about the robbery.

And he may have heard too much.

And I can't afford
to take a chance.

-We'll take care
of both of them.

How does, uh, Mr.
Harper look to ya?

-Good, good.

All right.

You know what the deal is.

Come into town with Harper's
rig and register at the hotel

and start seeing the
ranchers I told you about.

-All right.

But there's one thing that's
got me a little worried.

What about this Harper?

Is there any chance
of his getting loose?

-Harper will never
be loose again.

-Well, you play for
keeps, don't you?

-I'm playing for big money.

The railroads are
going to develop

this whole district around here.

-What happens when the
railroad company misses Harper?

-Well, he just disappeared.

Nobody knows what
happened to him.

They'll have to send
someone else out here

to buy the properties.

And by that time I'll own them.

-Sounds all right.

-All you have to do is end the
pipe dream of these ranchers

once and for all.

Now, suppose we get started.

Give my best to
Anderson and Mr. Lane.

[KNOCKING]

-Bill, I'm so glad to see you.

-And I'm glad to
see you, Martha.

Ah, you look more
wonderful than ever.

-I heard about
you being in town.

And I've been so
worried about you.

[SNORING]

-That's only Uncle Nugget.

He's taking his
after-supper snooze.

He'll be dead to the
world for an hour or two.

Have you had anything to eat?

I'll bet you're starved.

-Well, I am a little
hungry, I guess.

-Come on in.

I'll get you something.

Don't worry about Uncle Nugget.

Nothing will wake him up.

[SNORING]

-So dangerous for you to
be in Cedar Rock, Bill.

Don't you think
you should go back.

-Back to that prison?

I'm never going back, not 'til
I've settled with Henry Mason,

make him tell everybody
I'm not a bank robber.

-I never believed you were.

-I know it.

That's why it's so
important to clear myself.

I'd have settled with
Mason this afternoon

if it hadn't been for
a fellow named Lane.

-Rocky Lane?

-Hm mm.

-Why he's just a cowhand.

-Then why does he keep
trailing me, hounding me?

He's lucky I didn't have
a gun a few hours ago.

UNCLE NUGGET: Stand and
deliver, Bill Anderson.

Hands up.

[SNORING]

UNCLE NUGGET: And
you, too, Henry Mason.

Ah.

I'm gonna wipe out all the
snakes with one bullet.

-Poor dear.

He's so worried about the ranch
he has nightmares all the time.

Come on and finish.

-Fine.

[SNORING]

-Well, thanks, Martha.

I sure was hungry.

-Have another glass of milk.

-Thanks, I will.

-Put up your hands.

Looks like my nightmare
is a-coming true.

-Now, wait a minute.

Listen.

-I ain't listening to old
jailbirds and bank robbers.

-He isn't a bank robber.

If he were, Cedar
Rock is the last place

he would have come
when he escaped.

-Yeah?

Maybe it'd be the
first place he'd come.

Mason said he tried to kill him.

-That's not true.

I was trying to make Mason
clear me of the robbery

and pay back the money
he stole from you

and the other ranchers.

Maybe I did lose my
head and cock the gun.

But I wouldn't have
really shot him.

-There's no proof of that.

All I got is your word.

-Well, give me some
time, and I'll prove it.

-I believe in him, Uncle Nugget.

And I wish you would, too.

-Well, I want to.

Lord knows I could
use that money.

-Yeah, and I'd gotten it
for you this afternoon

if that fellow Lane
hadn't butted in.

He better stay away from me.

-That ain't Anderson.

I knew him before
he went to the pen.

It's probably that
guy Lane Mason wants.

See if Anderson shows up
so we can get them both.

[KNOCKING]

-I wonder who that could be.

Maybe it's the sheriff.

-Maybe it's Lane.

If it is, I'll--

-Simmer down, you two.

I'll see who it is
and send him away.

Oh, hi, Mr. Lane.

-Good evening.

-I'll settle this
for good right now.

-No, Bill, please, please
don't for our sake.

-I, uh, I thought
it over and decided

to take that job you offered me.

-Yeah?

Well, you see, I really don't
need no cowhands right now.

As a, as a matter of fact,
I'm fresh out of cows.

-Well, is that so?

I was kind of
counting on that job.

You changed your mind
in a hurry, didn't ya?

-Well, I ain't got
a very big mind,

so it don't take much
time to change it.

-By the way, have you seen
that fellow, Bill Anderson,

that escaped from the sheriff?

-Bill Anderson?

Why should he come here?

-Well, there's no telling
where he might show up.

Well, it's a comfy
little home you got.

-Yeah, too bad you ain't
got a home to go to.

-This is a fine picture
of George Washington.

You know, he went a long way
because he wouldn't tell a lie.

He even got to be President.

-Well, I sort of
give up the idea

of being President
sometime back.

Ah.

It's getting late, young fella.

Time for me to turn in.

-Then, I guess I
better be on my way.

Oh, uh, you mind if I
get a drink of water?

-Uh, you stay right here.

I'll get your drink
of water for you.

-There goes Anderson, too.

Come on.

-Hold it, Anderson.

-All right, so you got me.

What are you hounding
me for anyway?

-If you'll listen to me,
I'll try to tell you.

I mean I--

[GUNSHOTS]

-Keep him busy.

[GUNSHOTS]

[GUNSHOT]

-Oh, stop worrying, Marthy.

Lane won't hurt Bill.

He was--

[KNOCKING]

-Mr. Clark, has Bill
Anderson come back here?

And I want the truth this time.

United States Marshal.

-So that's it.

We haven't seen Bill,
not since you left.

-And I suppose you're
after him because he

escaped from prison, huh?

-The Warden and
I let him escape.

We were hoping he'd
lead us to the others

involved in the robbery.

-Bill wasn't involved
in the robbery.

I can tell ya that.

-And I've come around to feeling
the same way, Miss Martha.

I overheard Bill talking
to Mason at the bank.

And tonight, a couple of
gunmen tried to kill us both.

-Couple of gunmen?

But what happened to Bill?

-He's all right.

He got away.

Now, I don't know
who these men were,

but I found something very
interesting on one of them.

This man had an imported
cigar in his pocket,

just like a couple
Mason gave to me.

-Maybe there's a
reason for Mason

to want Bill out of
the way, but why you?

-He probably figures
I overheard him

and Bill talking
about the robbery.

-Then why don't you arrest
Henry Mason right now?

-Not enough evidence,
Miss Martha.

Mason's word is just
as good as Bill's.

That's why I wanted
Bill safe in jail.

So I could pretend
I was working here

and see what I could uncover.

-Then why don't you go
right ahead and pretend?

Camp here just like
you planned to.

-Well, thank you, maybe I will.

That'd give me a
chance to explain

things to Bill if he shows up.

-That's right.

Well, good night, Marshal.

-Good night, Marthy.

Don't know who he is.

Looks like a city fella.

-Now, remember, I'm just a
ranch hand working for you.

[KNOCKING]

-Yes?

-Mr. Clark?

-Yes, sir.

-How do you do?

My name is John Harper.

-Oh, Mr. Harper.

-I'm from the Denver office of
the Western States Railroad.

-We've been expecting
you, Mr. Harper.

Uh, meet my niece, Martha.

-How do you do, Miss Clark?

-How do you do?

-And my new hand, Rocky Lane.

-Glad to know you, Lane.

-How are you?

-Step right in, Mr. Harper.

Step right in.

-Thank you.

-Sit down.

Just, uh, make
yourself right at home.

-Thank you.

Mr. Clark, I saw some
of the other ranchers.

They tell me you're head
of their association,

anything you say goes.

-That's right, Mr. Harper,
so you can go right ahead.

Go as far as you like.

-Well, as you may have
heard, the railroad

would like to run a branch
through this district.

And to do so, we'd have to
acquire certain properties.

Now, we're willing to go as
high as $100 an acre for them.

-$100 an acre.

You mean, that's what you're
offering for our ranches?

-That's right, Mr. Clark.

That's all we can offer.

-$100?

Well, Marthy, we can get $200
from that real estate outfit

that Mason represents.

-That's right.

-If you can do that, Mr. Clark,
I'd advise you to take it.

After all, the railroad
could run its track

through any one of
the towns around here.

-So this is the end of my dream.

My dream of getting a
nest egg big enough for me

to retire and to
set Marthy up right.

-Never mind, Nugget.

-Oh, no.

$100.

Say, maybe we should
see Mason right away

quick, before he
changes his mind.

-Well, maybe we should.

-You mind if I go along?

I'd like to make certain that
that offer you're talking about

is bonafide.

-You're not accusing Mr. Clark
of misrepresenting, are ya?

-Certainly not.

But I have to make a
report to my company.

-Well, that's only natural.

Let's go.

-I think I'll go along with you.

There's something strange
about this whole deal.

-What do you mean strange?

-I can't tell you.

Just don't let on to
Mason that we suspect him.

I don't want him to be
pulling in his horns.

-I don't care what
he pulls in so

long as it ain't his pocketbook.

I'm gonna stop this
fooling around.

I've got to sell my property.

[FOOTSTEPS]

[KNOCKING]

-Come in.

-Morning, Henry.

I thought I'd drop in and bury
the hatchet, especially if I

could get a few
dollars on it first.

-Well, it's nice
to see you folks.

Uh, won't you sit down?

-Uh, you know my
hand, Rocky Lane?

And I guess you know Mr.
Harper from the railroad.

-Yes, I met Mr. Harper
when he came in here

to see about getting in
touch with you ranchers.

-He got in touch
with us all right.

And he sure ended our pipe
dream, as you call it.

-I'm sorry, but
business is business.

Is it true, Mr. Mason, that
you offered them $200 an acre

for the properties?

-I didn't offer it.

The Consolidated Realty
Company that I represent

made the offer.

However, I understand they're
withdrawing it tomorrow.

-Oh, I'm sorry to see my
company lose out on a deal.

But like I told Mr.
Clark, he and his friends

should certainly
accept your offer.

It's twice as much as the
railroad company can pay.

-I hate to do it, but
I reckon you better

start getting the
papers ready, Henry.

I feel like I'm selling
Marthy out of house and home

for practically nothing.

-You're not going to sell
Martha out of anything.

This is another one
of Mason's frauds.

And that man there,
there's something

you ought to know
about him, too.

He's a phony.

I happened to know-- ah.

-You didn't have to do that.

-Want him to kill somebody
else like he tried to kill me?

-Yeah, I'll take
him over to jail.

-See that he gets
there this time.

-Come on, Anderson.

-Well, I don't know
what it's all about.

But you folks certainly have a
lot of excitement around here.

I'll be glad to
get back to Denver.

Guess I'll go to
the hotel and pack.

-It's been nice knowing
you, Mr. Harper.

Have a good trip.

-Goodbye.

-Well, we better get
down to business, Nugget.

I've had an agreement
drawn up between the realty

company and the ranchers.

They've given you
Power of Attorney

so you can sign for all of them.

-Uh huh.

-Right on the bottom line then.

-OK, here goes nothing.

-Wait a minute, Nugget.

Maybe you should have another
talk with the ranchers first.

-But Martha, I told you, you
only have until tomorrow.

-Tomorrow's another day.

-Marthy's right.

I ain't gonna be
stampeded into nothing.

Come on, Marthy.

-Forbes, get Peters
over here right away.

-You're sure this
isn't the same Mr.

Harper who picked
you up on the road.

-I'm positive, Marshal.

This fellow is wearing
the same clothes.

But he ain't the same John
Harper who gave me the ride.

-Then, what happened
to the real Mr. Harper?

We're going to have a
talk with this fellow

when he gets back to the hotel.

You hide over
there where you can

watch the entrance of the hotel.

I've got something I want to do.

Be right back.

Bill.

-He not only called
Lane Marshal,

but evidently the kid got a
ride into town with Harper.

-I thought Anderson suspected
something about you.

That's why I tried to brain him.

-Too bad you didn't.

You shouldn't have let
him go out with Lane.

-Well, I couldn't help it.

I figured on taking care
of Lane and Anderson

after I got Clark signed up.

-You gotta handle
Lane right now.

He's waiting over at
the hotel to see me.

You gotta get him off my neck.

-I got a way to get
him off all our necks

that ties right in with my
plan to break down Clark.

Keep going.

Do what I told you.

Now, you go back to the
hotel and talk to Lane.

Stall him as long as you can.

And then tell our
clever Marshal that--

-Bill.

-Well, Mr. Lane.

I thought you were taking
this fellow to jail.

-I'll assume full responsibility
for his being out.

-Well, what can I
do for you, Marshal?

-You can tell me
what happened to John

Harper, the real John Harper.

-I don't know what
you're talking about.

-I think you do.

It just so happens Anderson
here hitched a ride outside

of town with the
real Mr. Harper.

-That's right.

-Well, I've got credentials
to prove that I'm Harper.

-Stolen from him just like
the clothes you're wearing.

-You've only got a
jailbird's word for that.

-Maybe so, but I saw you
trying to swindle Nugget

and the rest of the
ranchers, trying to make them

think the railroad wouldn't
pay them as much for their land

as Mason would.

-I only offered them what the
railroad instructed me to.

-Hm mm.

Suppose I told you I telegraphed
the railroad to find out

what they are offering
and any other details

they have on Mr. John Harper.

-Fine.

It'll take a little time
for the wire to get back.

-Not too long.

Now, we'll just sit here and
wait until the answer comes.

[GUNSHOTS]

-It's about time we got
that wire, isn't it?

-It'll be here before long.

-Then, we'll get the
lowdown on Mr. Harper.

-All right.

So I'm not Harper.

You'll find out the truth
sooner or later anyway.

-What happened to Harper?

-I don't know.

I don't know anything about
his abduction or the abduction

that Mason's gone in for now.

-What abduction are
you talking about?

-Well, Mason was
going to have his men

pick up Clark and his niece.

-Martha and Nugget?

-Why?

What for?

-He's going to force Nugget to
sell himself and the ranchers

out.

After that, I don't
know what'll happen.

-Why didn't you
tell us this before?

-Why is he telling it now?

-Because I was afraid you
might think I had a hand in it.

I might go in for
a little swindling

but murder's something else.

-Mason knows he can't
get away with this.

-Mason's a pretty ruthless
man, especially when

he's after a fortune.

Remember, nobody's seen Harper.

Maybe if you'd agree to
help me out in court,

I might be able to give
you a little more help.

-Go on.

-Well, I happen to know
where Clark and his niece

are being held.

It's the same place they held me
when I was waiting for Harper.

-You've been telling
so many lies all along

I don't know whether
to believe you or not.

But I'm gonna find
out for myself.

Come on, Bill.

You, too.

-Hide the horse, quick.

They're coming.

Lane, Jackson, and
the Anderson kid.

-So Jackson took in
our clever Marshal.

-Supposing Jackson
comes in with him.

-He won't.

He knows what to do.

After we finish with Lane
and Anderson, then, I'll, uh,

take care of my business
with the Clark's.

-Hurry it up.

-That's it.

-Get outta there.

-There you are.

And not even guarded.

-All you have to do is
go in and untie them.

I'll wait here.

-I think you'll come
along and help us.

-But I've kept my part of it.

-You haven't fooled me at all.

Bill, you stay outside in
case somebody shows up.

Open it.

-Where's Anderson?

-Never mind, Jimmy.

Get Lane.

[MUFFLED WORDS]

[GUNSHOTS]

-Get down, Bill.

[GUNSHOTS]

-What are you looking so
worried about, Nugget?

-It's a free country.

I can worry if I wanna.

-Well, not about
your money, I hope.

Remember, you're going
to get it all back, now

that Henry Mason
confessed everything.

-Nah, it ain't that.

-Well, you couldn't be worrying
about Miss Martha and Bill,

because when I get back and tell
the authorities what's happened

here, they'll release
Bill right away.

-Ah, it ain't that.

-Well, it can't be
about the railroad.

You know they'll buy the
ranch and for big money.

-That's just it.

Why should I sell?

If the railroad comes
through, there'll

be a big boom going here.

I'm going to keep my
ranch and get in on it.

-Well, the railroad can't come
through here if you don't sell.

-Yeah, that's right.

So now, I ain't got
a worry in the world.

Ha ha.

And it's all your fault.

-So long and good luck.

Bye Martha.

-So long, Rocky.

-Bye.