Ranger Bill xx-xx-xx (199) Ten Hours Too Much
"Ranger Bill" is a classic Christian radio program from the 1950s, produced by Moody Radio.
The show features over 200 episodes and stars Miron Canaday as Ranger Bill, a forest ranger in the fictional town of Knotty Pine, located in the Rocky Mountains. Alongside his friends Stumpy Jenkins and Grey Wolf, Ranger Bill tackles various adventures and moral dilemmas, often with a strong Christian message.
The show remains a beloved piece of old-time radio history and is still enjoyed by many fans today.
Listen to our radio station Old Time Radio https://link.radioking.com/otradio
Listen to other Shows at My Classic Radio https://www.myclassicradio.net/
Entertainment Radio | Broadcasting Classic Radio Shows | Patreon
Remember that times have changed, and some shows might not reflect the standards of today’s politically correct society. The shows do not necessarily reflect the views, standards, or beliefs of Entertainment Radio
The show features over 200 episodes and stars Miron Canaday as Ranger Bill, a forest ranger in the fictional town of Knotty Pine, located in the Rocky Mountains. Alongside his friends Stumpy Jenkins and Grey Wolf, Ranger Bill tackles various adventures and moral dilemmas, often with a strong Christian message.
The show remains a beloved piece of old-time radio history and is still enjoyed by many fans today.
Listen to our radio station Old Time Radio https://link.radioking.com/otradio
Listen to other Shows at My Classic Radio https://www.myclassicradio.net/
Entertainment Radio | Broadcasting Classic Radio Shows | Patreon
Remember that times have changed, and some shows might not reflect the standards of today’s politically correct society. The shows do not necessarily reflect the views, standards, or beliefs of Entertainment Radio
Transcript
00:00Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland.
00:10Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds,
00:15traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature.
00:19This is the job of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill.
00:23Pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears,
00:28rattlesnakes, mountain lions.
00:30Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done.
00:44Have you ever been in a dangerous situation where you have too much time?
00:49I know this sounds strange because most of us never have enough time for the jobs we face.
00:56In our story today, though, the problem is reversed.
00:59A man might lose his life because he has too much time on his hands.
01:05Let's call this story, Ten Hours Too Much.
01:13The day this story begins is just another day for us rangers.
01:17Nothing unusual or exciting.
01:20It's simply a beautiful day and we have many blessings to thank the Lord for.
01:25I was sitting in the office, eyeing a stack of paperwork on my desk,
01:29and trying to decide whether to file it in the wastebasket or roll up my sleeves and polish it off.
01:38Ranger Headquarters, Bill Jefferson speaking.
01:40Bill, this is Peg Banker.
01:42Oh, hello, Peg. Long time no hear from you.
01:46How are things, including the little bankers?
01:49Things look rather glum at the moment, Bill.
01:51Oh? What's the matter, Peg?
01:53Ed's overdue home by three hours.
01:55Oh.
01:56I'm worried, Bill. He's never done this before without calling me.
02:01Do you suppose something's happened to him?
02:03Well, I don't think so. Have you called the bank?
02:06Yes, but Jeb Hilliard, the chief guard, says Ed left about closing time as far as he knows,
02:11and he's definitely not at the bank.
02:14Hmm. Well, I wouldn't worry about Ed.
02:17Perhaps he was called away suddenly on an urgent business matter,
02:20and he'll get in touch with you as soon as he can.
02:23I don't think so. I called Mr. Peters, and he said as far as he knew, Ed didn't have anything pressing.
02:29Oh, I see.
02:31Oh, tell you what. Give Ed another hour, or hour and a half.
02:35If he doesn't contact you, then call me, and I'll start the ball rolling to find him, okay?
02:41All right, Bill. That sounds like the sensible thing to do.
02:45I feel some relief just talking to you about it.
02:48I'll let you know the moment I hear from Ed.
02:50Ah, that'll be fine. And I'm sure everything will be all right, Peg.
02:54Well, goodbye for now.
02:56Goodbye.
03:07Tom, how are you and the boys coming along with the timber markings?
03:11I'm fine, Bill. We ought to be finished within a week,
03:13and Frenchy Doussala and his boys can start thinning out this neck of the woods.
03:16Well, that's fine work.
03:18I want to see your plat markings before we give Frenchy the go-ahead.
03:21All right. Say, the forest west of Cougar Canyon and up as far as the high west ridge is getting pretty scrubby.
03:27Oh?
03:28I was going to turn in a report on it, but as long as I'm talking to you, I thought I'd mention it.
03:31Well, thanks for the tip.
03:33I'll see that Angus and his boys get in there as soon as possible and clear out that scrub.
03:39That all, Tom?
03:40Everything's routine right now.
03:41Okay. I'll see you later. Over and out.
03:47Bill?
03:48Yeah, Graywell?
03:49Marty Forbes reports that Tree Farm planted 40,000 seedling trees this fall.
03:54Mm-hmm.
03:55Doesn't that sound like an awful lot?
03:57No, they're doing it by machine now. That figure's okay.
04:00Oh, 40,000 trees. Not a lot of planting.
04:04No.
04:05We've got to step up production at the tree farm because we're getting behind the demand for new trees.
04:11We use a tremendous amount of seedlings each year, and then the ranchers and farmers want more and more to plant windbreaks.
04:18You know a good windbreak has to be five or six trees deep.
04:22How many trees is Farm going to plant next year?
04:25They're shooting for 75,000.
04:27That many?
04:28Mm-hmm.
04:30Well, Stompy should be back from the accounting office with the payroll any time now.
04:35Then we'll have to divide up the shekels according to each man's portion.
04:39Are you broke, Bill?
04:40No, but my pocketbook is badly bent, and payday is very welcome.
04:46Yes, sir, he is here. Folding stuff sure does wonders, and a man ain't much good without it.
05:00Everybody has a smile on the face on payday.
05:02Ranger headquarters.
05:06Bill, he isn't home yet.
05:08Who? What? Oh, yes, Peg. Has Ed called you?
05:13Oh, not a word. Bill, what am I going to do?
05:16Now, now, just take it easy, Peg. Getting up a full head of steam isn't going to help any. Don't panic.
05:23I know it's bad for you and the children. You'll sense your fear, and then you'll have your hands full.
05:30I'll be at your home in ten minutes.
05:32Thanks, Bill.
05:33Ah, don't mention it.
05:35We'll find Ed, or we'll have to turn this whole country upside down.
05:39Goodbye.
05:41What's wrong, Bill?
05:43Yes, I'm gone haywire. What is it?
05:46Well, I didn't mention it to you fellas before because I thought he'd turn up shortly.
05:52Who'd turn up, Sonny?
05:55Ed Banker. He's four and a half hours overdue home for dinner.
05:59Not bad.
06:01It ain't good for the vice president of the bank to be missing, young fella.
06:07I'm going over to talk to Peg.
06:09Stumpy, Gray Wolf, you fellas stand by here.
06:12Alert all rangers for a manhunt, but don't move them until I give the word.
06:17And this is top secret for obvious reasons.
06:20I'll see you later.
06:29Do the children sense there's something wrong, Peg?
06:32I don't think so. I haven't told them.
06:35Ed frequently works late, and I'll tell him he's gone out of town if need be.
06:40Judy worries so about her daddy that she'd be a nervous wreck if I told her the truth.
06:45I think that's wise, that we know something more definite.
06:49Now, what can you tell me about Ed's habits that I don't already know?
06:54Oh, Bill, that's what's driving me frantic.
06:57Ed has such a set pattern of living, and he never deviates from it, well, one week to the next.
07:02Except when we're on vacation, of course.
07:04Give me a blow-by-blow description, will you?
07:07Well, Monday nights, he's home all evening, and Tuesday, he goes to the gym,
07:12and then to the men's club at church, and he's home by 11.
07:16And then Wednesday, one of us goes to prayer meeting, and Thursday is home night.
07:22Friday, we alternate between boys' club and choir practice.
07:27Saturday, well, Ed calls it family day, and if we go out, we take the children.
07:33Sunday, of course, is the Lord's Day, and we're all together that day.
07:39And during office hours, Ed attends several businessmen's clubs for luncheons,
07:44and then one night a month, he attends the orphanage committee meeting, and, well, that's it.
07:50Well, as you said, it's a set pattern, all right.
07:54Did he give you any clues this morning?
07:57What do you mean?
07:58Any unusual remarks or actions?
08:01Did he appear worried or nervous?
08:03On the contrary, Bill, he was unusually happy this morning.
08:07Well, yesterday he closed a big deal for the bank, and it'll bring in considerable new business.
08:12Ah, this is going to be rough.
08:14That's what's got me so worried.
08:16What could have happened to him?
08:18Now, now, take it easy, young lady.
08:20That's easy for you to say.
08:22He's not your husband.
08:24You've got to believe me, for your own good.
08:27You can't be drawing mental pictures of tragedy for yourself, or you'll crack up.
08:33Then you won't be able to take care of those three fine children of yours.
08:37Now, let's go on the basis that no news is good news.
08:42I'm sorry.
08:44I know you're trying to help, Bill.
08:46I'll be all right.
08:48Really, I will.
08:49That's good.
08:50Well, now I'd better get started.
08:52I'll keep you informed.
08:54You'd better... you'd better try to rest.
08:57Sleep would be better.
08:58I can't sleep now.
09:00You want me to call the doc, have him send over a sedative, so he can't sleep?
09:04No, I'll try to rest.
09:06Afraid to stay alone?
09:08My mother would be glad to come over and stay with you.
09:10Would she? Oh, that'd be wonderful.
09:12Just to have someone to talk to and give me a little moral support.
09:15Henry's out in the car.
09:16I'll have him drop me off and then bring my mother over here.
09:20Well, goodbye for now.
09:21Goodbye.
09:23Bill?
09:24Yes?
09:25How are you going to find it?
09:27Where will you begin looking?
09:29I don't know yet where we'll start.
09:31There's only one way to find a needle in a haystack.
09:35Well, how's that, Bill?
09:36Turn over every piece of hay until the needle is found.
09:40Gray Wolf, call in all rangers off-duty or on-duty for a manhunt.
09:53Right away.
09:54What's your plan, sonny?
09:56Call the sheriff and tell him to rouse his men out on the double.
10:00Get a hold of Captain Fredericks of the state police and give him a description of Ed.
10:04Have him put out an all-points bulletin for Ed as a missing person.
10:08Right away, young feller.
10:10Gray Wolf calling Tom.
10:12Gray Wolf calling Tom.
10:14Tom, need help finding Ed Banker.
10:21Gray Wolf calling Hank.
10:23Hank?
10:24Hello, Cal.
10:25We've got a manhunt on for Ed Banker.
10:28Yes, sirree.
10:30Oh, Bill will tell you about it when you and your men get here.
10:34Tom, do it.
10:35It'll be mighty fine, and keep this quiet, Cal.
10:39Right, over and out.
10:40Yep.
10:41Goodbye.
10:42Well, Bill, Cal and his bloodhounds will be here in 15 minutes.
10:46That'll be fine.
10:47Now, all rangers be here in half-hour, except men in fire towers.
10:51Okay, let's get outside and get the cars ready.
10:55That's the story after this minute, Cal.
10:59Ed's vanished into thin air, and there's no logical explanation for it.
11:03Well, maybe someone's holding him for ransom, being he's a banker.
11:07Well, there are a lot of possibilities, Cal.
11:10Now, here's my plan of action.
11:17I've marked out areas on the map,
11:21I've marked out areas on the map,
11:24and we'll go over them with a fine-toothed comb, one by one.
11:28We don't want to arouse the people right now,
11:31so no questions will be asked that will give away Ed's identity.
11:36I want all buildings that might be used to hide a man, searched,
11:40unless they're living dwellings,
11:42get the owners out of bed, if necessary, to open up.
11:45I've got Judge Wilson alerted,
11:47and he'll issue any search warrants we may need, if necessary, right away.
11:52Cal, Stumpy, Graywolf, understand?
11:55Sure do.
11:56Yep.
11:57And very clear, though.
11:58Now, here are our maps for you fellas.
12:01I've marked your areas of search.
12:04Take your time, and don't leave a stone unturned.
12:08All right, let's go.
12:17Now, Graywolf, I'm going to look through that old horse barn over there.
12:21You stick with the radio.
12:22Right, Bill.
12:26Car 6 to Car 7.
12:28Go ahead, Car 6.
12:30We ain't found a thing in this sector.
12:32Should we proceed to Section B2?
12:34Yep, go ahead to Section B2.
12:39All right, let's go.
12:41All right, let's go.
12:43All right, let's go.
12:46Car 7 to Car 1.
12:50Go ahead, Car 7.
12:52No results.
12:53Sections A1, B1, C1 have been searched.
12:56Okay, Car 7.
13:00Sheriff 1 to Ranger 1.
13:02Ranger 1 to Sheriff 1, over.
13:03We found a man's hat and coat.
13:05We're at the river and Main Street.
13:07We'll be right there, Sheriff 1.
13:08Bill.
13:09Ah, yes?
13:10Cal, might have found something.
13:11Where at, Graywolf?
13:12At Main and River.
13:15Okay.
13:36There they are, by a bridge.
13:41Here's the coat and hat we found.
13:45I don't think this is a clue.
13:47Coat and hat have been in the water a long time, Cal.
13:50Coat's rather threadbare,
13:52and the color of the hat doesn't go with the color of the coat.
13:55Ned's a pretty sharp dresser, you know.
13:57And I thought we had something, Bill.
13:59Now don't give up, Cal.
14:01Better have your men start dragging the river.
14:03What, do you expect foul play?
14:04I don't know.
14:06But if he's been kidnapped, this coat and hat
14:09could have belonged to the person who did the job,
14:11even though they look too waterlogged.
14:14I'm gonna let Peg have a look at them.
14:16You fellows continue the search.
14:18Okay.
14:19Okay, boys, let's get back to work.
14:21We've still got a lot of ground to cover.
14:36Oh, Bill.
14:38I must have dozed off.
14:40Have you found Ed?
14:42No, not yet.
14:44I have a hat and coat I'd like you to look at.
14:47Now, now, take it easy.
14:49I feel certain they don't belong to Ed,
14:51but I want to be sure.
14:53Oh, all right.
14:54Come in the house.
14:55You don't have to stand out there.
14:57Thank you.
14:59Well, here they are.
15:02Those aren't Ed's.
15:03Thank the Lord for that.
15:05Yeah, I didn't think they were Ed's,
15:07but I wanted to make sure.
15:09Do you recognize them?
15:11No, I don't.
15:13Okay.
15:14I'm sorry to have bothered you at this late hour.
15:17Oh, it's no bother.
15:18After all, you and your men are out there working.
15:21Would you like some coffee?
15:22Oh, thanks, but we've got that all taken care of.
15:25I'm sorry I don't have cheerful news for you,
15:27but we'll keep at it until we find out.
15:30I know you will,
15:31and I want you to know how grateful I am.
15:34Please let me know the minute you find anything,
15:36anything at all.
15:38I will, Peg.
15:39Good night.
15:41Good night.
15:52Car 7 to Car 1.
15:54We're through with the search,
15:55and we found nary a thing.
15:57What next?
15:58Report to headquarters, Car 7.
16:01Car 5 to Car 1.
16:02We finished and got nothing to report.
16:04Report to headquarters, Car 5.
16:08Sheriff 1 to Ranger 1.
16:09No head banker or anything connected with him.
16:11Over.
16:13Cal, you and your men report to headquarters.
16:15We got some food there and coffee,
16:17and we'll get our heads together
16:19and see what we can come up with.
16:20Right.
16:21Over and out.
16:40You're lost in thought, Bill.
16:42You haven't said one word.
16:45Bill, you're awake.
16:47Sort of.
16:49This thing's got me puzzled.
16:51You're not alone.
16:53How can Ned disappear like this?
16:55Unless he, well, unless maybe...
16:57Unless he ran off with some of the bank's money.
17:00I'm sure that's entered a lot of minds this night.
17:04As far as I'm concerned,
17:05I'm sure that's entered a lot of minds this night.
17:08As far as I'm concerned,
17:09that's the last possibility.
17:11I think I know Ed better than that.
17:13That's what I keep telling myself.
17:15But where can he be?
17:17If I knew that answer, Graywolf,
17:19I'd be a very happy wife and children right now.
17:22Or very sad.
17:36Well, now that we're refreshed,
17:38what's our next move?
17:39I'm going to seize the bull by the horns, fellas.
17:42Time's too short to do otherwise.
17:44Okay, shoot.
17:45Yeah, let's hear it.
17:46Yeah, I'm not right.
17:48I'm going to get Mr. Peters down to the bank
17:50and have him open up.
17:52You fellas get the employees out of bed
17:54and get them down to the bank
17:55and we're gonna ask some questions.
17:57Maybe that'll do the trick, Bill.
17:59Well, I hope so.
18:00Get going, fellas.
18:02Graywolf, get the station agents out of bed
18:04for the railroad and bus line
18:06and ask them if they've seen Ed.
18:09Only this time, use his name.
18:18After the bank closes,
18:20us guards like to sit down for a spell, Bill.
18:23I was on the front door,
18:24but then Mr. Banker could have walked out
18:27when I was getting a chair.
18:29For that matter, I don't pay much attention to him
18:31because, well, he's coming and going all the time anyway.
18:37Let's not beat around the bush, gentlemen.
18:39I've been chief clerk in this bank for 40 years
18:42and I've seen a lot of men come and go.
18:45Ed Banker's been giving me the creeps the last week or so,
18:48sort of snooping around and looking.
18:53Well, I will say one thing, gentlemen.
18:55This is most unusual.
18:57Do you think Mr. Banker may have absconded
18:59with some money or securities?
19:01Oh, my word, that would be terrible.
19:03No, I didn't see him leave the bank.
19:09Yeah, I'm Mr. Banker's secretary.
19:12Yeah, as far as I know, he left the bank at 5 o'clock.
19:17No, he wasn't acting strangely.
19:20Or was he?
19:21Or he might have been.
19:23He seemed rather preoccupied most of the day.
19:29Come to think of it now, Bill,
19:31Ed did that kind of funny today.
19:33It just didn't seem to be himself.
19:39Bill, if you don't find Ed in another hour,
19:41I'm going to have to call the bank examiners
19:43and have them rush in here for an audit
19:45before we open for business.
19:46Mr. Peters,
19:48do you believe Ed has stolen money or securities from the bank?
19:53Right now, I don't know what to believe, Bill.
19:56I don't want to believe it,
19:57but yet I've got to entertain the idea
19:58for the sake of the bank's reputation
20:00and the peace of mind of the depositors
20:02and the stockholders.
20:04The people won't take my word for it
20:05that everything's still here
20:06if this breaks loose as scandal.
20:08Why, we're likely to have a run on the bank.
20:10A statement of condition by the examiners
20:13would stop that, wouldn't it?
20:15I hope so.
20:17Or we're ruined.
20:28I'm telling you, Ed isn't a thief or a crook.
20:32We mustn't think on that basis that we're lost.
20:35Maybe you're right and maybe not, Bill.
20:37Men change from being honest
20:39to being crooked sometimes.
20:41Yeah, Graywolf's right, Sonny.
20:43What proof have we that Ed hasn't taken off
20:46with some of the bank's money?
20:47There ain't any proof,
20:48but I got to agree with Bill this time.
20:50We got to assume Ed's honest.
20:52I think so, too.
20:53Great day, fellas.
20:54We've all known Ed for years.
20:56He's helped us all with financial problems
20:58of one sort or another.
21:00If there was only some shred of proof,
21:03some clue...
21:05But, Bill, I think I can help you there.
21:08How, Mr. Peters?
21:09Come on, speak out, man.
21:11Well, have we looked at the vault
21:12to see if it's been tampered with?
21:14No, no, no, we haven't.
21:16But how would that help?
21:18Well, if Ed took the money,
21:19he'd have to take it from a teller's cage.
21:21There were no shortages reported.
21:23If he took securities,
21:24he'd have to take them from the security tellers.
21:26And they audited every night
21:27and there were no missing securities reported.
21:29So Ed would have to get into the vault
21:31to get his hands on cash or securities.
21:34Uh-huh.
21:35Let's go down in the basement
21:36and take a look at the vault.
21:46I hope we find something in here.
21:48There's the vault door, Bill.
21:50It weighs seven tons
21:51and has a time lock on it.
21:53Now, if all of you will stand back now,
21:55I'll try the combination.
21:57If the time lock's been tampered with,
21:59the door will open.
22:02Let's see, it's...
22:04seven, four,
22:07three,
22:09four,
22:11six,
22:13six,
22:15four,
22:17five.
22:18Now, I'll try it.
22:24Gentlemen, the vault's securely locked
22:26and the time lock won't allow it to be opened
22:28until 8.30 in the morning.
22:30That's very good.
22:32Quiet, quiet, everybody.
22:34Bill, what's wrong?
22:35Quiet.
22:36I'm going to tap on the vault with my revolver.
22:45Now, listen.
22:54Someone's inside vault.
22:56Yes.
22:57Our good friend, Ed Banker.
23:06What can we do to get him out?
23:08What can we do?
23:10Bill calling safe company now
23:11to get man to come out and open vault.
23:13What can he do?
23:15There's a time lock on it.
23:16It'll die in there.
23:18Now, listen here, young lady.
23:20It all worked up into a lather.
23:22A lather ain't going to help none.
23:24Now, don't you fret.
23:26Bill'll get him out of there
23:27even if he has to blow the door off
23:29with high explosives.
23:33Hello?
23:34Hello, can you hear me?
23:35Yes, I can hear you.
23:37The connection's bad.
23:38Maybe you ought to try again.
23:39I'm flying down to your plant in a helicopter
23:42and I'll pick you up in an hour.
23:44Bring an engineer along
23:45so we can figure out the oxygen capacity of the vault.
23:49You understand?
23:50You understand?
23:51Yes, yes, I understand.
23:52We'll be...
23:54Hello? Hello?
23:57Number, please.
23:58Operator, I've been cut off.
24:00This is Bill Jefferson.
24:01Call that number and tell him
24:02I'm on my way with a helicopter.
24:04Will you do that, please?
24:05Just a moment.
24:06I'll give you the supervisor.
24:07Hang the supervisor.
24:08This is a matter of life and death.
24:10Do as I say and be quick about it.
24:11This is Chief Ranger Bill Jefferson.
24:13I'll do as you ask, Mr. Jefferson.
24:15Thank you.
24:22I got the copter wide open.
24:24There'll be a knotty pine in ten minutes.
24:27How long can he last in the vault?
24:30Well, I think I've got an idea of the size of the vault.
24:33I'd say his oxygen supply's getting pretty thin right now.
24:37He won't last more than half an hour.
24:40Maybe you'd better drill a hole
24:41through the vault door large enough
24:43to pump oxygen inside, Mr. Ford.
24:45Oh, that'd take hours.
24:47I can get this done.
24:50I can get this high-speed drill through to the time lock
24:53and get it to release the tumblers and bars.
24:55That's our safest approach.
24:57Well, you're the doctor.
24:59Just one thing I want to be sure of.
25:02What's that, Mr. Jefferson?
25:03Hit that time lock the first time you drill.
25:06That's what I came for, sir.
25:20Yeah.
25:23Let me have that lubricant, please.
25:26Here you are, Mr. Ford.
25:28How much farther?
25:29About a foot.
25:31Just pray this drill doesn't break.
25:38Oh, it snapped.
25:39Give me that electromagnet.
25:41You mean this?
25:42Yes, that.
25:43Can you cut the broken drill out with that?
25:45Sometimes.
25:46If I can't, we'll have to start all over.
25:50Peg, please control yourself.
25:52Mr. Ford's trying to get him out
25:54and can't be disturbed by emotional outbursts.
25:59She's coming.
26:00Good.
26:04That was close.
26:06We'll try to get it the rest of the way.
26:17I'm through the door and into the time lock.
26:20Try the door.
26:21Right.
26:26Hooray!
26:37Well, how do you feel, Ed?
26:39Not bad, Bill.
26:41I guess I'm suffering from shock right now.
26:44I guess I'm suffering from shock right now.
26:46What happened, man?
26:48I left my briefcase in the vault and went back to get it.
26:53I guess I must have been as quiet as a church mouse
26:56because Frank didn't hear me
26:58and he didn't know I had returned.
27:00So he closed the vault door and went home.
27:03He didn't think of making noise right away.
27:07I guess he left before I could get to the door to pound on it.
27:11And you had a close shave, mister,
27:14because you had too much time on your hands.
27:18Ten hours, to be exact.
27:20Ten hours too much.
27:34See you next week for more adventure with...
27:37Ranger Bill!