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That Hoss doesn't know how lucky he was when he won that toss

and didn't have to go on a cattle drive.

I don't care if I never drive cattle again.

Yeah, sure dusty.

Dusty? I got enough dirt in my mouth to plant corn in.

Well, wash it out with this.

Thanks.

I'll wash it out with something better than water.

Wonder what's keeping Pa.

It's a lot of money.

Yeah, and all for taxes.

Yep, death and taxes.

Stop complaining.

I'm just complaining about the dirt in my mouth.

Well, here it is.

$10,000 drawn on Wells Fargo Company,

and, uh, I've already endorsed it.

Isn't that kind of dangerous?

I mean, anybody could cash it now.

Well, maybe it is, but we've got to get this money

to the territorial tax office before noon on Saturday,

and we've also got to get to the Double C Ranch

before they sell off all that good stock.

All right, who makes the trip to Genoa?

Well, Adam, uh, you know all about our tax setup.

I accept.

I'd much rather ride to Genoa

than drive that breeding stock up through those mountains.

Yeah, well, who wouldn't?

I think we ought to toss on it, Pa.

No, it's all settled.

Adam, I guess you better get started

right away.

Yep, ought to be safe in there.

Now remember, you've got till the day after tomorrow.

No longer.

I'll see you in about four days.

Johnny!

Johnny, quick.

You sound like it was something important, Jeb.

It is, another prison break.

How many this time?

Two got away early this morning.

Now we want you to wire all town marshals and sheriffs

in 100 mile area.

Ask them to organize posses.

All right, Jeb.

I hope you catch them.

Always do.

But these two are tough hombres.

They're holdup men and they're killers

It's hopeless.

You're not gonna break it.

This better be the place.

I can't drag that chain another foot.

Yeah, this is it, all right.

As soon as Brubaker gets here with those horses,

- we'll be all the way free. - Better not forget the chisel

- to break these blasted chains. - Oh, no, he won't, he won't.

He won't, huh? Well, you're betting a lot on him.

Lousy prison guard.

Well, he may be a lousy prison guard,

but he helped us escape.

He, uh, sent that chase going in the wrong direction.

Oh, he'll be here all right.

Maybe.

Drooling for that money?

Well, I see you boys made it all right.

Yeah, we made it; where's the horses?

Where's the chisel to break these chains?

I risked enough letting you escape

and setting a false trail.

Any more than that, make the odds to high.

Too high for who, Brubaker?

For me.

Come on, Trace.

Where's the money?

So, all you care about's the money?

That $5,000 you got buried.

Now, where is it?

Well, all right then,

guess there ain't nothing we can do about it, huh, Poindexter?

No.

You want it or not?

Well, where is it?

Right here, Brubaker.

You stupid prison guard.

He fell for it, Trace.

You wouldn't kill me, would you, Trace?

Get out of those clothes quick.

Helped you escape, Trace, didn't I?

Well, didn't I?

Uh-huh.

I'm gonna give you a chance to go back

and tell that warden just how you did it.

And get out of those clothes quick or I'll kill you.

There's only clothes enough for you, Trace.

How about me?

Well, there's a little town named Bowlegs

a few miles from here.

We'll get you fixed up there, huh?

Oh, come on, Sheriff, come on.

What's the holdup anyway?

Let's get this whole thing over with.

We're waiting for Henry Neighbors.

And Billy McCoy.

If I didn't let that boy come along, he'd quit.

But I sure hate leaving my stables untended.

Look, Townsend, you don't have to go if you don't want to.

We're shorthanded, what with the roundup and all.

Oh, I'll go.

But I'm sure getting tired of these blind chases.

- The whole town is. - Oh, quit complaining.

Think of the business I'm losing,

having to close down my gambling tables and all,

and five will get you 50

we come back with nothing but saddle sores.

I'm only doing what the territorial governor

expects us to do.

Hyah! Hyah!

Let's go get them, Sheriff.

Sure would like to have me a couple of convict scalps.

Put that thing away before I take it away from you.

Dang kids.

Settle down, now.

We're waiting for Henry Neighbors.

Did you finish cleaning out

all them stalls?

Yeah.

You throw hay in them?

Yes, I threw hay in them.

Hey, Sheriff, ain't I gonna get me a badge?

Yeah, you'll get a badge

against my better judgment.

Hey, here comes old Turkey Neck.

Henry? Henry?

Have you got your slicker?

It might rain.

Remember, you caught a bad cold

last time you went out with the boys.

- I have it, Martha. - Your handkerchief?

Yes, Martha.

Sheriff, you think she's going along with us?

I won't, Martha.

Hey, come on, old man.

Them convicts ain't gonna wait for us.

I'm sorry I had to call on you again, Henry.

- All right. - Here, let me take that.

You'll stick yourself and bleed all over your clean shirt.

Thank you, Martha.

I'll be with you in just a minute, Sheriff.

Well, if we're going, let's get moving.

Well, there's gloves in the saddle roll, Henry.

All right, good-bye, Martha.

Good-bye, Henry, and Henry,

I ain't worried about you running into them criminals,

but don't fall off the horse.

I won't, Martha.

Good-bye.

Good-bye, Henry.

Here, I'll hold and you get on.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, Martha.

Come on, boy, come on.

Bye, Henry.

Good-bye.

Come on.

Let's, uh, get off.

Let's give the horse time to rest a little bit.

Listen, Trace.

With these chains, we got to be smart and keep moving.

Posses will be combing the whole territory for us.

For us?

Well, yeah...

Oh, you wouldn't, Trace...

I mean, after us busting out together and every...

Here's where we part company.

You'd slow me down.

Horse can't make any time riding double.

Oh, you-you can't...

Move off over there about 20 feet.

Move.

Far enough.

Now here, I'm gonna leave you this rifle.

Now, if you get in any real trouble, now you use it.

Good luck, Poindexter.

Trace!

Please!

♪♪

Hold it, mister.

Now, get down off that horse.

You heard me.

Get down.

Just unbuckle that gun belt.

Throw it all out in front of you.

Now, get to shucking them clothes.

You heard me.

Whoa!

Whoa! Whoa!

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Better save some of that.

You sound just like your wife.

Well, we got no chance finding anybody in all this country.

Criminals don't come this way anyhow.

Maybe not, but we got to try.

He could come this way.

Put that thing away!

You know something, Sheriff?

I got a feeling.

I got a feeling I'm gonna get my first notch.

Put it away!

Yes, sirree.

How you doing, Henry?

You feel you can make a few more miles?

Yeah, sure, don't worry about me.

Well, come on, then.

Hello?

You all right?

Don't-don't hit me no more.

Please, don't hit me no more.

No, no, please, don't hit me no more.

Please. Please. Please.

Just take it easy, old-timer.

I'm not gonna hit you.

Here, let's have a look at that.

- Come on, come on. - No, no, pl-please, plea...

That doesn't seem to be too serious.

Let's see if we can get you over there on that cot.

- Get on your feet? - No, please.

Y-You ain't gonna hit me, are you?

- No. - Please, please.

Come on, now. You're gonna be all right.

You just sit right down there a minute, huh?

Here you go.

See if that doesn't make it feel a little better, huh?

How many of you broke out of prison?

Oh, you mean the clothes. They're not mine.

If you come here looking for your friend, he's been and gone.

Right there's his leg irons, if you don't believe me.

How long has he been gone?

Well, I told you... he just left.

Listen, uh, my name is Cartwright.

Adam Cartwright.

See, this fella drew down on me...

From up Ponderosa way.

Why, sure, I know your pa well.

But what you doing in them there duds?

Well, like I was saying, this fella that hit you

drew down on me and he took my horse and my clothes,

and, well, I want to catch him, but quick.

Now, I could use one of your horses and maybe some clothes

and a gun, if you got one.

How come you want to go after a dangerous hombre like that?

Well, just so happened that there was a bank draft

in my saddle pocket... About $10,000 worth...

And I mean to get it back.

Well, I'm-I'm sorry, I-I ain't got no clothes for you.

But the horse and gun you can have.

That is, if that other fella didn't take it.

No, no, no, here it is.

He didn't find it. It's here all right.

There you are.

Listen, do you, uh, think maybe you could get

to the nearest town and maybe alert the sheriff there?

That would be Bowlegs.

And don't you worry none; I can make it.

A crack on the head don't hurt an old desert rat like me.

- Good. - Come on, now.

We'd better saddle you up a horse and quick, huh?

♪♪

♪♪

Aye, you sure give me a start there.

Why, why, you're one of them guards from the prison.

The convict got away on one of your horses, huh?

Well, don't worry, old man, I'll get it back for you.

That weren't the way it was at all.

I give it to him.

You give him your horse?

Yeah, because a convict made him change clothes

and stole his horse.

And that real convict, he came here

and made me take off his chains

and he, and he hit me on the head, right here.

Oh, who's this other fella?

Adam Cartwright.

I know his whole family.

And-and Adam... he went after that there convict

to get his horse and saddle back.

Well, he's just gotta.

He's gotta, huh? Why?

Because there's a bank draft in that there saddle pocket...

And a big one.

A bank draft, huh?

That's the same as money, ain't it?

You know how much?

$10,000, he said.

And-and I'm riding to the town for help right now.

Uh-uh.

You get in the house, old man.

Come on.

- Please, don't. - Please...

Another two hours and we'll fry in our own grease.

You slob!

What's the matter with you?

Yeah, it'll be hot all right.

That's why the convicts would never come this way.

Mm. Ooh.

What's the matter? You don't like my coffee?

Well, you know, maybe we should've brought along

old Martha to do it for you.

She, um, she button your shoes, don't she?

If this is the best you could do,

maybe we should have brought her.

Well, she'd be safe enough.

We're always getting up posses, but we don't never catch nobody.

Well, I got me a feeling this time.

You got a feeling?

Well, I got a feeling.

We don't get nothing for catching them,

and it's 20 to one another-another posse's

already caught them down by the border.

- We got to look. - Why?

Every day I'm away from my business it costs me.

Business?

You call that tinhorn gambling joint a business?

Now, you shut up, stable boy.

Get back to your shovel.

I'll kill you.

You ever say that again, I'll kill you.

McCord, put that gun down.

I said, put it down!

You saw that, Sheriff. You saw that.

Don't ever ask me to go riding posse with you again!

Oh, shut up, shut up, all of you!

Stop all this jaw-wagging.

We got enough to do without quarreling amongst ourselves.

And you, McCord...

You pull that gun again without reason

and I'll take it away from you.

Somebody put out that fire.

Let's get back in the saddle.

♪♪

Whoa, whoa.

Well, looks like I'm gonna get my first notch.

You shut up and keep still.

Come from over there.

Got time for a drink of water, Sheriff?

My mouth's kind of dry.

So is mine. Come on.

Come on, boy. Let's go.

Come on.

Come on. Poke your head up again.

I'll knock it off.

All right, drop it!

Glad to see you.

Well, there's your prisoner.

He, uh, waylaid me back down the road there

and made me change clothes with him.

Take off your gun belt.

You don't understand.

Man escaped from your prison, and he stopped me back there.

Take off your gun belt. Turn around.

You're making a mistake, Mister.

My name's Cartwright.

What's all this about?

Get over by that tree.

Listen, McCord, you stay put.

- Howdy. - Howdy.

Where you from, Sheriff?

I'm Hill from Bowlegs, looking for convicts.

- I guess we got one. - We got two.

I'm Brubaker, Territorial Prison.

Which one is he?

He's Elmer Trace.

Sheriff, that is not right.

- My name is Adam Cartwright. - Shut up!

I'll keep him shut.

Now, you listen to me, Sheriff.

- I am no convict. - Shut your mouth.

I want to get this thing straightened out. I am not

- Elmer Trace. - I said, shut up!

Go ahead. Go ahead, hit me.

I sure would like to kill you.

McCord, take it easy.

Why? He's a lousy convict.

He just killed a man a few minutes ago.

What do you expect me to do, hold his hand?

Take it easy, I said.

We'll hear your story a little later.

I hear this Elmer Trace is a real hard character.

Oh. Who do you think that dead man is over there?

Don't know.

It's his partner.

You mean he killed his partner?

Well, they probably

waylaid some poor devil and then,

got into a quarrel about who's gonna wear his clothes,

and ride his horse.

Well, Sheriff, shouldn't we, uh,

search the prisoner, or-or something?

Yeah, I was gonna do that.

- Take those, will you? - Yeah.

It's terrible, terrible.

Killing and robbing.

You like lawing?

Do I like what?

Being a lawman. Going on posses and all.

Boy, I sure would.

Yeah, I like it.

Yeah, I just love it.

Running after some gun-happy convict

with maggots where his brains ought to be,

waiting for him to bushwhack you.

Yeah, I like it all right.

Yeah, well, don't worry. He's gonna get his.

They're gonna hang him.

Will they?

Judges and jury, and all that, huh?

Search him good, Sheriff.

I know these prisoners.

They got knives and all kinds of things hidden on 'em.

Well, there ain't nothing on this one.

I want to ask you some questions.

We already know all the answers.

Where'd you get that gun?

From an old prospector little ways back.

What was his name?

I don't know.

You borrow a gun from a man, you don't know his name?

Well, I'd have to tell you the whole story,

or you won't believe any of it.

We ain't going to believe none of it anyhow.

I'm still waiting to hear where you got that gun.

Psst.

Hey.

Bet there ain't nobody around here faster than that.

Yeah.

Yeah, you're pretty fast with that thing, kid.

Well, I practice all the time.

What do you do when you're not practicing?

I work for Mr. Townsend in his livery stable.

Oh. What a shame.

A man of your ability.

What I really want to be is a-a deputy,

a full-time deputy.

Hmm.

Are you through with him?

- Search him? - Yeah, nothing on him.

Hmm.

Hill said to tie him across a saddle.

Where'd he get them good clothes?

Well, he obviously killed somebody for 'em.

You rotten murderers.

What do you suppose he'll do with him?

Oh, he'll get five years, maybe less.

Five years, maybe less for murder?

All he needs is a good lawyer.

There ought to be something we can do about it.

Maybe there is.

We'll be right with you.

Yeah.

I tell you, Sheriff, I'm not a convict.

Shut up, cowboy.

We've heard enough out of you.

Ten'll get you 40, you've done this before.

Let's get this over with.

Oh, no, McCord, you ain't gonna do that.

Ain't asking, Sheriff.

I said, we're gonna hang him.

I don't want another chirp out of you, boy!

They never take 'em in alive.

You know how they take 'em in?

Tied across a saddle.

That's right.

Let's go.

Hold it!

I'll kill the first man that puts a rope on him.

This man here ain't worth taking in alive.

What kind of a law officer are you, anyway?

He's a law man enough to know

that-that no jury's gonna hang him.

They're gonna turn him loose.

That's for a jury to decide, not us.

A man has a right to prove his innocence.

Now, if you take me back to Genoa,

you'll find that people back there know me.

I say we string him up!

I've had enough out of you. Shut up!

Give me that rope, kid.

I'll tell you what this man is doing here.

He's stalling for time.

It's a long way to Genoa.

Lot can happen between here and there.

He's right. Why don't you listen to him?

All right, Sheriff, the prospector,

the man that gave me the gun...

Now he lives only a half a dozen miles from here.

Take me back there. He knows me.

It's all I ask is a chance.

You men want him on your conscience?

Well, I don't.

All right, Mister, that's what you get... a chance.

Get him on the horse, and let's go.

You serious about wanting to take a job lawing?

Sure I am.

I want that badge. That'll stop 'em.

Stop who?

Everybody's laughing at me behind my back.

I know they do it.

That's why I'm gonna get 'em.

Easy, easy.

You know, I don't want that killer taken back alive.

You help me, I help you.

Hey, inside, come on out!

This is Sheriff Hill from Bowlegs!

I want to talk to you!

Keep an eye on him.

Hey! Open up!

The old fella's dead.

I can't believe it.

Go have a look.

Not you.

Cartwright.

You're Trace, aren't you?

Mm-hmm.

You know what I want.

They won't believe you.

They want to hang you.

Oh, the sheriff ain't gonna be able to stop 'em.

But you hand me that little bank draft, I'll stop 'em.

Now, I got nothing to lose.

That's good enough for me.

I say we hang him right now.

That's what I been telling you all along.

Guess we should've listened to the kid.

It's still not too late.

You still holding out?

I'm against it.

I'm against it, and so is Hill.

Hill, come on out here!

You try to stop us, I'll see you lose your job.

Don't you threaten me, Townsend.

I ain't taking that kind of talk.

Well, now, if you don't want in on it,

take a little walk till it's over.

Unbuckle that gun belt and drop it.

He was asking for it.

Now there ain't nothin' stopping us.

It's your last chance. Huh?

You change your mind, you just let me know, huh?

Stop! Stop or I'll shoot!

Ain't gonna be no hanging; it ain't right.

No, you take your hands away from that gun.

Doesn't mean I won't shoot you, too.

Don't know how to handle this,

but the sheriff'll know when he comes to. Now, you,

you go on and get back to the shack and take him inside.

Go on, hurry.

Go on, hurry.

I swear, you come any closer

and I'll shoot.

Easy. Easy.

Watch his eyes.

You stay where you are, do you hear?

I'm not fooling.

You stay there, or I'll shoot.

Relax, now.

Go on, hurry.

Now!

See if you can help him.

I want to thank you for what you done, Neighbors.

You sure surprised me.

Just keep that handkerchief pressed against the wound

- and the bleeding will stop. - Right.

I'll get you to a doctor soon as we get out of this mess.

Why didn't you show me this bank draft before?

Well, I suspected the guard was Trace.

If I'd given you the draft then, he'd have killed you for it.

How did Trace know that you had it?

Well, I guess the prospector told him before he killed him.

How you doing, Mr. Neighbors?

Weak.

Well, you lost a lot of blood.

It's beginning to hurt, too.

Think you're strong enough to guard that window?

I think so.

Think you and me can hold this door?

Maybe.

Skidmore?

That back window! Go.

Somebody's trying to sneak around the back.

Neighbors is watching that back window.

Good.

Now, as long as they think that back window's being watched,

they're not gonna try to leave.

We'll use that wagon over there.

- The wagon? - As a ram.

We'll ram that door, huh? Come on.

Hey, McCord!

Come here, I want to talk!

Go ahead, talk to him, kid.

And make sure he doesn't open that door.

Come on.

What do you want, Hill?

You're making a mistake, McCord!

I know what I'm doing!

This fella here is Adam Cartwright!

It's not gonna work.

I can prove it!

Lift up the tongue.

That fella you think's a prison guard is Elmer Trace!

I think you're lying!

I think you got a gun pointed at that stupid sheriff of ours!

That's right, kid, keep talking to him.

Hey, Hill?

Hey, Hill, you tell Neighbors,

you tell him I could've shot him

between the eyes if I'd have wanted!

Okay.

Kid, come here.

Oh, Hill... we're coming in after him!

Okay, we'll push it from back.

- All right, keep at it! - Go!

Knocking that door down ain't a-gonna do you no good, McCord.

I'll shoot the first man that comes through.

Go!

Bring it back again!

Drop the guns.

All right, McCord, come on in here!

Thought you was gonna get off easy, didn't you?

I'll get the rope.

You, too, Sheriff.

All right, kid, back over here, huh?

Townsend, Skidmore... drop your guns.

Come on!

I'm about to get me $10,000, kid.

Cartwright's got a bank draft that's worth that much.

Now, you in with me, huh? 50-50?

Partners?

It's that or you're dead.

You lied to me.

Stupid!

Come on, get over there, Sheriff.

All right, Cartwright...

I know you don't care much for junior here,

but if you don't come up with that bank draft,

this future lawman is dead.

Let the boy go, Trace.

I'll give you the draft.

I thought he was a lawman.

I made a big mistake.

Well, you didn't make the mistake

you nearly could've made, all of you.

And you fellas don't have to worry

about being called for posse duty again.

You'd better find a way to thank Henry Neighbors.

Now, put him on a horse and get him to a doctor.

Let me get him... There, Mr. Neighbors.

Take this one with you.

I've known these men for years.

Strange which one turned out to be the real man.

Yeah.

I hope I see you again.

Been a pleasure, Sheriff.

♪♪

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