Bells of San Angelo

It's always good when you come here.

We join our voices together in song.

I'm only sorry that trouble brings you here.

I'm sorry too, Padre.

But I think with the help of my friends over the border here,

we'll be able to get this thing straightened out.

Well, I'm sure glad you come, Roy.

As mayor and sheriff, I can only go so far.

Word was sent to the mine this morning for Ramon

to meet you here.

He'll be along any minute.

Hiya, sheriff.

You're just in time.

We've been having a little trouble.

Can't do much for him now, boys.

He's dead, Cookie.

You better start explaining, Ulrich.

There ain't much explaining to do.

Look him over.

You'll find he's been stealing high-grade ore

from the Monarch Mine.

That's pure silver.

Gridley gave us orders to shoot thieves.

You'd better have plenty of evidence.

We've got it.

What do you call that?

My son.

This is the work of the devil.

You are murderers.

I'll keep this, Cookie.

I'm going up to the mine and have a talk

with the man who gave those orders.

I'm sorry, but Mr. Gridley is busy.

Not that busy.

Look, nobody's coming up this road without a warrant.

On a murder case, I don't need one.

Look here... Why you... They won't bother you anymore, Roy.

I'm taking them all in.

Get on your horse, you nasty little kid.

Amen.

Your name Gridley?

That's right - I'm Roy Rogers.

Oh.

A border investigator.

Step inside.

Sit down.

Drink?

No, thanks.

Gridley, your men just murdered a boy from San Angelo.

Why?

If my men killed anyone, they did it under orders.

Anyone else found trespassing and stealing

will have the same thing happen to them.

This is the second time this has happened.

You have no right to take the law into your own hands,

and you're not going to get away with it.

This is tough country, Rogers.

We're in a bad spot, here.

The Monarch is a small, but rich mine here on the Mexican border.

While it's all part of the San Angelo Rancho,

these hills are in Mexico and make a natural getaway

for anyone who wants to hold us up.

We can't expect any help from San Angelo over here,

and the lodge isn't much help.

Town's even farther away.

So you see, we have to be tough.

In my opinion, you're just a little too tough.

I'm here to protect the interest of the stockholders.

Nobody's going to tell me how to run the Monarch.

That goes for you, too, Rogers.

So that's the way it is.

Yes, and that's the way it's going to stay.

Not if your men are guilty of murder.

If my men are guilty, so am I.

That's what I'm thinking.

Did he frighten you, Cinderella?

Well don't be afraid.

I don't think Mr. Rogers is going to be with us very long.

Hello, Trap.

Hi, boy.

Hi, fellas.

Hello, Cookie.

Cookie, don't tell me, another hound.

Oh, Roy.

So help me, I was on my way home, and he followed me.

Yeah, I know.

And as official dog catcher, you had to bring him in.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's Right.

Roy, I'm sorry I had to let them mine guards go.

But I couldn't prove that that boy wasn't stealing.

After all, you found the silver on his body.

I know.

What'd it run?

It's really pure.

According to the assayer, it runs about 18,000 to the ton.

Boy, I sure wish I had a boat load of that stuff.

Whooee No wonder Gridley's got to be

careful with pure silver floating around.

That makes this worth about $40.

It's not much for a man's life.

Oh.

Well, why'd they shoot him?

Why didn't they grab him?

He was going to tell us something.

Gridley's men got to him first.

Well if you want to go up

and take a look around that Monarch Mine,

I'll give you a search warrant.

And tip him off that what we're coming?

Gridley's too smart for that.

He'd cover up before we got up the hill.

Morning, gentlemen.

Morning.

Hiya, Buck.

Where'd you get them duds?

I ordered them from the zoot suit company.

Sharp, ain't they?

You sure is a hard man to find, Mr. Rogers.

I've been trying to catch you for two days

with that communication.

My Western catalog get here yet?

Yes sir.

Four days ago, but I ain't finished reading it.

I just got through the song section.

That sure is a silly-looking outfit.

Hey, I wonder if they come in my size.

Well I don't mind trailing thieves and murderers,

but this is too much.

Holy smokes, fellas.

Listen to this.

Lee Madison will be here Thursday.

He's that writer fella.

Lee Madison will arrive on the bus Thursday.

Make reservations at the lodge and assist

in every way possible in the collection

of material for a new novel.

Chief border inspector, Ian Moffit.

Oh, he writes stories about people like you and me.

And he makes us all sound like a bunch of characters who spend

their time hanging horse thieves and chasing Indians.

Well, let's run the critter out of town.

Now you sound like one of his characters.

Well it looks like you're gonna have to be nice to him

whether you like it or not.

I haven't got time to be nice to anyone right now.

You boys better be the welcoming committee.

Gee, that's swell.

We'll do it up in good old Western style.

Yeah.

Did you read "Murder on the Border?"

Golly, I did.

It's all about-

I know what it's all about black-hearted villains

and roaring six-guns.

I'd like to see him face some of those roaring six-guns

he writes about.

Well, we better get going.

The bus will be in this afternoon,

and we want to do this up right.

Yeah.

I'll be there, too.

Hey, maybe we can get Madison to help us

with the investigation, huh?

That's what I'm afraid of.

An armchair detective like that could ruin our chances

of pinning anything on Gridley.

Hmm.

Well, I never thought of that.

I was just... Say, Cookie.

Hmm?

What do you suppose Madison would do

if he met one of his black-hearted villains

with roaring six-guns?

Oh, uh, I don't know what he'd do, but I know what I'd do.

I'd, I'd, I'd catch the first fast train out of down.

Uh, Miss Madison, would you mind

autographing your book for me, please?

Of course not.

Gee, just wait till I tell my wife

about meeting the famous Lee Madison.

And how pretty and on second thought,

I think I'll just show her the autograph.

Uh, Mr. Madison?

Heh?

Mr. Madison?

Heh?

I say, are you Mr. Lee Madison?

I'm sorry, son.

I've got all the insurance I can handle.

Oh.

Oh.

Are you looking for Mr. Madison?

Yes ma'am.