Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:07 — 13.3MB)
Hoppy and California ride across the desert where they meet up with a horse rancher. Though a death is blamed on a plague called the red death, Hoppy witnessed the killing and knows better. Kit and Martha are feeling like failures on their pioneering homestead at the threat of the red death to their livestock and livelihood. If it really is the red plague, the doctor claims it could sweep through all the ranches in the district.
Taking a break from the action, Hop Along Bill Cassidy and California Carson relaxin a salloon that’s run by an old friend of Hoppy’s. Culpepper is a trustworthy man, and knows a little about the red plague, and can test the water supply to see what’s really killing the livestock.
Back at Kit Cavanaugh’s ranch, we learn of the depth of Kit’s frustration. Has he aved in to make a deal to cut his losses? Hoppy’s sure there’s a connection between the dead man he encountered in the desert, and all the shady happenings of the plague. Suddenly the lights go on for him, and a trap is set to bring the ordeal to an end. Listen to the confrontation and learn how Hoppy puts all the pieces of the mystery together. Has he learned who the killer is? How can he prove it?
It can’t get any better when Hoppy even presents a plan to the ranchers to find a fresh water supply to help increase the productivity of their homesteads and ranches. Stand by for a last moment pressure play to get the killer to squirm.
