The Tom Mix, Ralston, straight shooters are on the air.
And here comes Tom Mix, America's favorite cowboy.
I'm coming, come on boy.
Winter comes fast and hard in the western states.
Yesterday, the sun was bright and hard on the TM Bar Ranch house.
Last night, the first few snowflakes began dotting the air.
And this gray morning, the snow is beginning to pile up towards the sills of the windows,
yellow with their own light.
Inside the owner of the TM Bar, Tom Mix, is carrying a big box of Christmas decorations
over to a table near the fireplace.
Tom's permanent house guest, Sheriff Mike Shaw, is warming his shoes by the dancing
fire, his hands clasped over his ample middle.
Tom claps a hand on Mike's shoulder.
Careful there old partner, you don't want to barbecue those boots in that fireplace.
Well you never fear Tom, those cow hides are just warm and toasty.
Sure is nice just sitting here quiet like for a change, with no worries for Rialis,
huh?
I'm afraid there's always worries for a U.S. Marshal like me, and for you, Dobie County
Sheriff.
Well you've got something particular on your mind Tom?
I know Christmas isn't time for it Mike, naturally as a guardian I want to make things as nice
as possible for little Janey.
Yet I've got a feeling, a hunch.
What is it Tom?
I know those hunches of yours, more than once you've had a hunch we should take cover just
before some wrestler's hot lead comes streaking our way.
Well I can't put my finger on it Mike, it's just that, well I've got a feeling somewhere
between my kerchief and my gun belt that we're going to be busy this Christmas, mighty busy.
Tom, Tom I found these jingle bells out in the storage shed, do you suppose we could
get a chance to use them?
Well it could be honey.
What?
You mean you want Tom and me to decorate prime horse flesh like Tony in Redskin and go prancing
down the lane with those bells on?
Oh no Mike, of course not.
I thought maybe we could get the sleigh out this year.
Well snow's not been deep enough for that for several years.
Well it looks like it'll get deep enough for the sleigh this year Mike.
We'll have to think about that a little bit later Janey.
Right now I was just fixing to put up our decoration.
Can I help Tom?
Sure you can Janey.
Hey, what's that out there in the porch?
It's a rider.
Somebody's ridden a horse right up on the front porch of the ranch house.
Naturally we couldn't hear him coming through the snow.
Oh there's a door.
Janey open the door please.
Oh of course Tom.
You think this could be the trouble you were expecting Tom?
Well we're about to find out.
Tom, Tom make thank the Lord you're here.
Why it's Martha Nordland.
Martha, what can we do for you?
We'll bring Martha over here by the fire.
Oh come on Martha.
Tom it sure looks like your hunch was another bull's eye.
Yeah it looks like it Mike, it sure does.
Martha, can I get you a cup of coffee?
Oh Tom there's no time for that.
It's Pete, my little boy Pete.
He's lost Tom.
He's somewhere out in all this snow and wind.
Lost and alone.
Now now there you feeling better Martha?
Now you must tell me about it calmly and slowly.
Now for the sake of your boy Martha you must.
I understand Tom.
I can do what has to be done.
I've walked twenty miles when the horse went lame some years ago.
I fought up a mountain panther with my broom.
But that was me.
This is Pete.
Calmly slowly Martha.
Yes, yes I must.
For Pete.
Tom you know how much Pete admires you.
Looks up to you.
He thinks the sun rises and sets on Tom Mix.
Well Pete's in my straight shooters club in Doby.
We're partners.
Yes, you would look at it that way.
He's just the same as the other boys to you.
Just as good as any.
But everybody isn't like you Tom.
You're a good man but others can be mean, petty.
Others don't like Pete because his father went to prison.
In fact they hate him.
My little boy.
Well I find it hard to believe anybody can hate a fine young man like Pete.
He certainly isn't responsible for anything they had northing done.
But if there are such people what does this have to do with Pete being missing?
Oh it's all mixed up together.
I was going to buy a new horse for Pete for his Christmas present.
I was going to buy it from that new trainer in town, Sam Watkins.
Pete picked out a young sorrel.
Looked like your Tony Tom a bit.
I arranged for payments.
It was all set.
Then people told Sam Watkins about my husband going to prison.
That he said our credit was no good.
He wouldn't sell me the horse on time.
Well we'll see if my money is good enough for Mr. Watkins.
You can pay me back when you can't.
Yes, Pete said you would say that.
That's what he said in the note.
He was coming over here to the TM bar to see you.
To get you to talk to Watkins.
He wouldn't take my horse.
He went on foot through this snowstorm.
Condemnation Tom if he's out in this storm.
Yes Mike I know.
Martha you must have tried to follow me.
Oh I did Tom.
I followed his footprints as far as the standard cottonwoods between our places.
But the snow got deeper.
The footprints they disappeared.
I could only make out the lights of your ranch house.
And now the snow is swirling even harder.
Well we've talked enough.
I'm going out after him Martha.
Oh bless you Tom.
Oh Tom you can't go on foot.
The two of you would just get lost.
Yeah Tom and no horse could get through Dretz this here deep.
One horse can, Tony can.
He took me through Devil's Pass a few years back when the snow was this bad.
Or nearly so.
Oh no Tom it's worse than that time.
Much worse.
You can't go.
Not even Tony can make it.
Jane listen to me.
We can't just leave Pete out there in the storm.
Not when he was counting on me.
No man could do that.
Or regardless of age no straight shooter could do that.
I've always taught you that it isn't just what we do for ourselves that counts.
It's what we do for each other.
Now that's what I mean by being a straight shooter.
And if Tony could know what's at stake don't you think he would want us to try?
You're right Tom.
You and Tony must find Pete.
And I know you'll do it.
If anybody on earth can do it you and Tony will.
All right come on Tony boy come on son.
We're almost at the standard of cottonwoods.
All right a little more Pete.
Pete's a smart boy.
He'll seek shelter.
Try to build a fire.
Not likely could start a fire in this window.
Sure is cold.
Snows like little ice daggers biting into your face.
Well you can't find that now.
Come on son a little more.
Come on Tony.
Up the little more.
Keep going.
Easy easy.
Steady Tony steady.
We kind of hit a deep spot that time.
We're okay now.
Not much shouting into this wind for Pete.
He might hear gunshots and recognize the signals.
I'll try a few shots into the air.
That's the standard signal in these parts for the use and rescue parties.
Pete knows that.
Tony there he is coming toward us but slow.
Mighty slow.
What are they doing?
Come on Tony.
Come on.
Come on.
Pete it's Tom Hicks.
Here I am.
A little more Tony come on.
Come on.
Wait a minute.
I've got you Pete.
I've got you.
I got you.
He's fast out Tony.
No wonder I got him just as he started to keel over.
Got to get him up on the saddle in front of me.
Now a little more.
Now it's up to you Tony.
You got the hard part.
You got to get Pete and me back to the high hand shots.
But where is it Tony?
I'll turn around.
I'm lost.
I never thought it would happen to me.
Tom Hicks lost.
Well pride goes before a fall.
I read in books how even old timers like Jim Bridger and Kit Carson could get lost at
times.
So I guess I'm no different.
Well you got to go in some direction.
You can't stand still.
What's your feelings in this matter Tony?
You want to try that way?
Okay son.
Okay we'll go your way.
Can't tell but the direction of the wind seems to come from everywhere it wants.
Oh my ears are ringing.
Eyes are all blurted with snow.
They got to hold on to Pete.
Got to hold on to the saddle.
Got to hold on.
Hearing things now.
Funny things.
Start to imagine things now.
Start to imagine.
Know by heaven I'm not imagining it.
It's jingle bells.
It must be Mike and Jane back at the ranch house ringing the jingle bells to lead us
in Tony.
The sound of bells carries even through this wind.
What's that?
What's a star?
A star brighter than the rest of them.
It's our Christmas tree star up on the roof on the chimney.
We can follow the bells and follow the star.
We'll bring Pete home Tony.
You be home.
Pete's sleeping quietly Tom.
Doc Green said he should just rest.
Then he'd be fine.
Just fine.
Oh how can I thank you Tom?
Don't thank me Martha.
Thank Tony.
Thank Jane and Mike for thinking of using the jingle bells on the Christmas star to
lead us in.
It was Jane who thought of the jingle bells Tom.
Oh but it was Mike who thought of climbing up on that icy roof to put up the Christmas
star to lead you Tom.
Well thanks to both of you.
Thoughtfulness and consideration for others is something we should all be thinking about
this time of year and all year.
Something I'm going to talk about to Sam Watkins and certain other people in Dolby.
Maybe even those folks can come to see the light.
Once again we say goodbye to the TM Bar Ranch.
Tom Mix was played by Curly Bradley, Sheriff Mike Shaw by Tyler McVeigh, Jane by Rhoda Williams,
and Martha by Viola Vonn.
The script was by Jim Harmon, Marvin Miller speaking.
This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.