Original subtitles

Howdy, folks. I'm the Old Ranger,

with an exciting new story of real life in the Old West.

There's an old saying that politics

make strange bedfellows.

But I'll say that prospecting makes even stranger ones.

Take this case of a retired army officer

who arrived here in Arizona in the 1880s,

with a grubstake looking for a partner.

I'll call our story, for reasons

I'm sure you'll understand later...

Pardon me, sir.

I'm trying to locate Mr. Stoner.

The mining man.

He was referred to me by a friend back East.

Oh, Charlie Stoner.

Yeah. Could you direct me to his office?

You see that building across the street?

The Road To Ruin?

That's where he generally transacts his business.

Thank you.

[ clears throat ]

What'll it be?

I'm looking for a Mr. Charles Stoner.

I was told I might find him here.

Right down there, end of the bar.

Fella tryin' to bum a drink.

Oh, no. There must be some mistake.

Mr. Stoner is a mineralogist.

A mining consultant.

Hey, Charlie, gentleman here wants to consult you.

Two whiskeys.

I'm Major George Bullock.

Our mutual friend, Captain Boyd tells me

you know more about ores than any man in Saline County.

In the whole stinkin' territory.

Whatcha got in mind, mister?

I mean Major.

Let's sit down.

Now, I was stationed at Fort Whipple for three years,

so I know something about the desert.

But I've had no practical experience

in mining or prospecting.

That's where I come in.

Everything that Boyd told you about me, Major, was true.

I'm a rockhound from way back.

Ah.A long way back.

Oh, I know I sort of lost my grip.

This devilish drink.

But I can lick that.

Give me a job to do, away from all these deadfalls,

and I'll be as good as I ever was.

I swear.

All I need is a chance, Major.

Just give me a chance.

Couple of months. One month.

Well, I suppose I've got nothin' to lose.

Done!

Hey, Pop, bring us--

Oh. I'm sorry.

You're on the wagon as of right now...

partner.

Yessiree.

How soon do you wanna start?

Now as to terms.

You name 'em.

I provide the grubstake.

And me, the know-how.

Share and share alike.

Come on around to the house and meet my wife.

This'll be the best news that Phoebe's had in years!

[ chuckles ]

Did you get rid of him?

I beg your pardon?Ah, never gives up.

Hopin' Charlie thought that he could bamboozle somebody

into grubstakin' him. [ chuckles ]

But it won't be a tough old army man, will it, Major?

[ laughs ] Hmm.

He came all the way out here from the East,

with my name in his pocket.

I wanted to go prospecting for gold

ever since I was a young shavetail.

He came to the right place, didn't he, Phoebe?

My husband's had plenty of experience.

Where's my bedroll? Do ya know?

With the rest of your stuff.

What's left of it.

Seems like old times again.

Pike in an outfit! Oh, ho!

[ chuckles ] He's like a kid.

You're the answer to his prayer, Major.

He might be the answer to mine.

Charlie really does know ore.

Let's hope he finds some.

He'll do his best.

I, uh--

I think it's only fair to warn you, Major--

CHARLIE: Phoebe?

I can't find my kit.

My assay kit.

You got any idea where it went?

You sold it, Charlie.

Sold it?

Oh, yeah.

He pawned nearly everything that wasn't nailed down.

I can provide whatever we need.

Major, please don't let my husband

get his hands on any money.

Why?This weakness of his--

Well, liquor. You just can't trust him.

Oh, I don't mean he's dishonest--

I understand.

He wants to get back on his feet.

He wants to the worst way.

I'm sure he will.

I'm glad you have faith in him,

because nobody else in the world has.

How 'bout you?

I'm his wife.

Anybody there?

Good. We can move in.

We're in luck, Major.

To find headquarters all set up for us.

You plan to stay here?Sure.

So near town?

What's that got to do with it,

if there's gold here?

Is there?

That's what we're gonna find out.

Well, everything shipshape.

Oh, say, pretty fancy cufflinks, Major.

A gift from a very fine woman.

Very much like your Phoebe.

[ stomps ]

Scorpion.

I got him.

Well, guess I'll get up in the old bunk.

It's that late?

I say exactly 8:32.

What do you say?Nothin'.

I don't own a watch.

I just go by my stomach.[ chuckles ]

Well, goodnight, Major.

You mind if I read a while?

Not if you can keep your eyes open.

More than I can do.

[ moans ]

[ snoring ]

[ scratching ]

What's that? [ scratching ]

Who's there?[ snores ]

[gunshot]

Ah, what? Where?

What happened?

Heard a noise.

Oh, for gosh sake, Major.

It's only some little night critter.

Well, I don't like 'em in my bedroom.

[ mumbles ] You know what I mean.

Now you'd better get back to sleep, Major.

We got a lot of work to do tomorrow.

Good mornin', Major!

Charlie, you seen my watch?

Your watch?Right beside my bunk last night,

and now it's missing.

Huh.

Sure it ain't in your own pocket?

No.

Huh.

Well, that's the darndest.

I heard of watches runnin' down before,

but never away.

It's no joking matter, Charlie.

It'll show up.It better.

Before the end of the day, Charlie.

I'll wrestle us some coffee.

Still doesn't make sense to me prospecting so near a town.

Gold's where you find it.

Any gold around here, been discovered long ago.

They found gold right under buildings on the main street.

Like saloons?

What's wrong?

Oh, this pick.

Hasp's come loose.

I'll have to go back to the shack and get another one.

Let's call it a day.No, no, no, no.

Won't take me long. I'll be right back.

[ door opens ]

What are you up to now, Charlie?

I'm sorry.

Replacing something that's missing.

If you think I took that watch of yours--

Then what were you doing in my bag?

Looking for my stickpin, maybe my medal?

Or was it my cufflinks?

No, I didn't touch 'em.

Let's stop playin' games, Charlie.

Why were you snooping in my bag?

If you must know, I was lookin' for a bottle.

My hide was fairly crackin'.

Oh, I know I had no business.

I'm ashamed of myself.

But it won't happen again, Major. I promise.

Simply because I have no bottle.

Now I'm going back to work, Charlie.

But what I said this morning about that watch being replaced

before the end of the day still goes.

Major!

Nothin'.

Charlie?

Charlie?

Charlie!

Hey, Pops, fill 'er up.

Ain't you had about enough for one night, Charlie?

I wanna get drunk, that's my business.

Okay. Okay.

I thought I'd find you here.

All right, Charlie, fork 'em over.

[ groans ]Charlie, what'd you do with 'em?

Well, if it ain't the Major.

What'll it be?My gold watch and cufflinks.

He stole them!

Well, I ain't see nothin' of 'em.

He's paid for his drinks in cash.

Then he must've hawked 'em.

All right, Charlie, where'd you hawk 'em?

Charlie, what did you do with my things?

Things. Beautiful things.

Keep an eye on him.Where you goin'?

To get the sheriff.

[ moans ]

I'll be back when he sobers up.

It'll be a good 24 hours.

He's got a real skin full of it.

Well, I'll go out and break up camp.

The only reason he chose that place

is so he could hightail it back to town.

His own wife warned me.

Yeah. This'll be a real blow to Phoebe.

Goodnight, sheriff.

Goodnight.

Got your message, sheriff.

I thought you might worry if Charlie didn't come home.

I didn't even know he was in town.

Well, I'll take him

soon as he's in any condition.

You, uh, prepared to go bail?

Bail? Since when is gettin' drunk a crime?

Phoebe, your-- your husband was locked up

on a charge of grand larceny.

Oh, no.

Who?Major Bullock.

Please.

You know Charlie.

He won't try to run away.

I'll be responsible.

I can get in trouble--Please, Ed.

Well, I don't think Charlie would ever

do anything to hurt you.

All right.

Charlie, why did you do it?

He trusted you.

Trusted, my foot.

He was double-crossin' me.

Charlie, there's no excuse ever for stealing.

I took nothin' but what was rightfully mine.

His watch and cufflinks?

Half of them nuggets belong to me.

Nuggets?Share and share alike,

that was the agreement.Did you say nuggets?

Sure. That buzzard struck gold and never told me.

Hid it under his bunk where he thought I wouldn't find it.

Charlie, are you tellin' me the truth?

How do you think I got the money to get drunk?

Oh, I know I shouldn't have fallen off the wagon, Phoebe,

but I was so goldarn mad.

I'm mad too. C'mon.

We're gonna drive out there right now

and settle a few things with Mr. Major.

Hello, Major.

Surprised to see me?

Well, how did you get out?

He was let out for good behavior.

Well, now, his being out

probably explains what happened to my medal and my stickpin.

Now, look here, Major--They were missing

when I got back here.Are you accusing me again?

What would I want with a stupid medal?

I'm only saying--You're a fine one to talk,

you thievin' hypocrite.Charlie--

I shoulda had a showdown with you when I first found out,

but I was a coward.

That's what comes of losing your self-respect.

What in the world are you talking about?

When you first found out what?

Pretended to give me a chance.

A chance. All you wanted to do

was to use me and then to cheat me.

Charlie may drink, but he wouldn't double-cross a partner.

What are you two talking about?

Don't play dumb, Major.

I found them nuggets hid under your bunk.

And he only took his share.Nu--

I never saw these before in my life.

Then how did they get there?

I don't know.

You can look in my bag.

There's nothing there.

Nothin', except this hole.

Looks like somethin' gnawed it.

Well, I'll be everlastingly goldarned.

We've had visitors, Major. Four-legged ones.

I'm sorry for all the names I just called you, Major.

You have any more jewelry?

Well, certainly not.

No, I can't use your wedding ring.

Charlie, what are you drivin' at?

I gotta find somethin' shiny.

Charlie, what in the world are you doing?

Now just sit down and stay put, even if it takes all night.

Ah--And don't make a sound,

or else wait outside.

You too.

He's takin it to his nest.

What did I tell ya?

My watch!Your medal!

Why that little rascal, he stole 'em.

Charlie, I'm-- Charlie, I--

Hey, where'd he go?

Charlie, we found everything!

Charlie-- Charlie, I want to apologize

for even thinkin' that you'd steal these.

Junk.

Junk?

Compared to what the critter left us in exchange.

He's what's known as a pack rat or a trade rat.

He's full of tricks.

He can't resist stealin',

especially shiny things.

But for everything he takes

he leaves somethin' in it's place.

The nuggets!

The nuggets.

And here's where they come from.

A whole ledge of gold.

We've struck it rich!

Partners!Partners!

[ laughing ]

And that's the story how one of the great gold mines

of Saline, Arizona, was discovered.

It made it's owners rich,

but more than that, it made a man again of Charlie.