Ranger Bill xx-xx-xx (171) The Old Diehard

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"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

Transcript

00:00Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds,

00:23traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job

00:28of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill. Pouring rain, freezing cold,

00:34blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes, all this

00:40in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done.

00:49You know a ranger has to not only be a jack-of-all-trades, but a master as well.

00:55One of the sciences he must have some knowledge of is, of course, botany, and he

01:00must also know something of soil chemistry. Poor soils make poor trees, and

01:05a good ranger should be able to distinguish the symptoms as they make

01:09themselves apparent. Right now, Bill, Henry, Graywolf, and Stumpy are out in the

01:14forest taking soil samples, which they'll deliver to the lab at the State

01:18University for analysis. Stumpy is a little unhappy as he drives a pick into

01:23the frozen ground. Here's the story, The Old Die Hard.

01:34All the time you should be digging soil samples. I've never seen the beach. I guess as well I'll be digging hunks of granite is this stuff.

01:45You get the pick in the ground, you can't get it out. You get it out, you can't get it back in. It's just like digging into a bunch of bear traps.

01:58Stumpy's really singing a sad song over there, Bill. He's sure unhappy. I hear him, pal.

02:04In a way, I can't help but agree with him. Now you watch. Just tell him we've got

02:10enough samples now. Hey, Stump, Bill says you can stop. What's that you said? Look at big smile he have on face.

02:20He plenty happy now. I knew if I complained enough, you'd take pity on me and make me quit digging this here concrete. Why couldn't we do this at any other time of the year except the wintertime, Bill?

02:32Ah, not too easy then. Okay, fellas, you can quit the digs. I get the point. I wish you had my aching back too, Sonny. At their ice I was standing on had it slippery side up.

02:46Say, Bill, just why are we digging out these samples now anyhow?

02:50Well, because there must be something in the soil in this area that's affecting the trees, Henry. A deficiency of some kind. It's not evident in a routine soil test.

03:01I'll take these samples over to Dr. Draper at the State U and see if he can find it.

03:06Yeah, now that you mention it, some of the trees do look off color.

03:10But right, Henry, and it's not from winter either.

03:13I'll say it ain't. These here trees should be green as grass all year round.

03:18Okay, let's bundle up the samples and take them over to the lab.

03:31Hmm. Ascoronic solution reverts to one cc of soluble mass. Ain't that good enough?

03:43Hey, looks like I'll have to try again.

03:47Hello, Doctor.

03:49From now you don't have to call me that when we're alone, Melvin.

03:53Not when you've been calling me Gramps ever since you were knee-high to a Bunsen burner.

03:59It's sure hard for me to get used to calling you Doctor. It sounds kind of cold.

04:04Well, it's for dignity's sake, Melvin.

04:09I wasn't very dignified when we had pillow fights not too many years ago, was I?

04:15Dignity or no dignity, Gramps, I think you're the best granddad a fella ever had.

04:21Say, I better get working on that artificial protosynthesis.

04:26I'd rather you worked on that new explosive formula, Melvin.

04:30You can start your own experiment as soon as you've completed

04:33developing my new theory of hypo-explosive reactions.

04:36But, Gramps, I just want to...

04:38Melvin, let's not start the day off with an argument.

04:41I have too much vital data to observe to get upset.

04:45Besides, we shouldn't be quarreling, should we?

04:49Okay, Gramps, you win.

04:52I'll get started as soon as I change into my lab clothes.

05:05Boy, it's a good thing we can drive up to the chemistry building.

05:08This campus must be a mile long right here.

05:12You said it, pal.

05:14Well, let's get those samples into the lab.

05:22I've got one box.

05:25Well, I guess I'll have to carry the other one,

05:28since you seem so reluctant to carry both of them.

05:31Wow, I like that.

05:33Let's go, pal.

05:43It's good of you to bring me that soil, Bill.

05:47That's not what Stumpy said when he was helping us dig it up with a pickaxe, Doctor.

05:51Yeah, he'd have used dynamite if he could have gotten away with it.

05:55Hello, Bill, Henry.

05:57Oh, hello, Mel.

05:57Hi, Mel.

05:59How's the up-and-coming young assistant to Professor Draper?

06:03I'm not quite sure.

06:05I'll have to ask Gramps about that.

06:07You sound a bit discouraged, Melvin.

06:10You aren't having trouble with the explosive derivations, are you?

06:14Well, yes, I am.

06:17Melvin, how many times do we have to go over the basic proponents of the theory?

06:24I don't know, sir.

06:26They just don't seem to stick in my head.

06:29Hey, what was that?

06:30What exploded?

06:31My experiment.

06:32Let's get over there.

06:33Henry, grab that fire extinguisher.

06:35Make it fast.

06:47Now, give the wall a little more fire-killer, pal.

06:50Okay, Bill.

06:51Oh, boy, what a mess.

06:53It certainly is.

06:54If you'd pay half as much attention to real chemistry as you do to soil chemistry and

06:59agriculture, this never would have happened.

07:01Turn off the extinguisher, Henry.

07:02Please, Gramps, let's not open up that subject.

07:05I feel bad enough.

07:07Gramps, get here.

07:08Who turned in the fire alarm?

07:10I suppose someone who heard the explosion and saw the smoke.

07:13I'll let him off and tell him everything's under control.

07:17I'll help Mel clean up this mess, Bill.

07:19I'm leaving before I have an attack of apoplexy.

07:30Oh, boy, I really did it this time.

07:33Do it up, Brown Draper, they call me.

07:35Oh, quit it, Mel.

07:37Anybody can make a mistake.

07:38Sure, Henry's right, Mel.

07:40By the way, how did the explosion occur?

07:43This new explosive I'm working on for Gramps is made from a liquid.

07:49In the process, you extract the pure explosive by an alternating cooking and cooling method.

07:55I didn't release the valve in the pressure chamber soon enough.

07:59It must have been off about three minutes.

08:01How much explosive did you have, Mel?

08:03Five cc's.

08:04Wow.

08:05If you'd used the pressure chamber, I'm sure you wouldn't have to worry about it.

08:09If you'd used a palm, we'd be halfway to the East Coast by now.

08:13I guess so.

08:15Say, Mel, I noticed some tension between you and your grandfather

08:21whenever the subject of chemistry is brought up.

08:26Is it that noticeable?

08:28Well...

08:30I'm sorry it's so obvious.

08:32It is getting to be a real problem.

08:35What is, Mel?

08:37Do you want to hear about it?

08:39Well, don't tell me unless you want to.

08:41It's really none of my business.

08:43It's a growing barrier between Gramps and me.

08:48Maybe you can help, Bill.

08:50Bill's helped a lot of people, Mel.

08:52I know.

08:53To make the story short, my grandfather and I have a deep affection for one another.

09:00After all, he's been father and mother to me since I was knee-high to a toadstool.

09:04And...

09:06Well then, why the big problem, Mel?

09:08It's this.

09:10Gramps has his heart set on my becoming a great research chemist.

09:14That's why he's got me developing his new theory of hypo-explosives.

09:19He feels this'll teach me research techniques.

09:22And you don't want to follow your grandfather's footsteps, huh, Mel?

09:27No, I don't.

09:28Didn't you major in chemistry?

09:31Yes, but I minored in agriculture.

09:33I've been in 4-H ever since I was a kid.

09:36I'm crazy about it.

09:38I see.

09:39Very few people do know it, because Gramps frowned on my agricultural activities.

09:44Well, what has this to do with chemistry and your grandfather, Mel?

09:48The point is, Bill, I want to be an agricultural chemist,

09:53specializing in the feeding of livestock.

09:55Well, that's a very worthy ambition.

09:58I wish my grandfather thought so.

10:07Well, to hear the reports, Bill, I hope I didn't take too long.

10:18Thanks a lot, Doctor.

10:21Well, how do they look, Bill?

10:23Well, I'll have to compare them with my other charts first, pal.

10:26Then we'll know.

10:27You let me know how the comparison works out, will you, Bill?

10:30Sure, I'd be glad to.

10:32Well, Henry and I'll be running along now.

10:34See you again in a couple of months, Professor.

10:38Bill, there's something I'd like to talk to you about.

10:42Yes?

10:42Rather personal matter.

10:44If you've got time, it won't take long.

10:47Why, certainly.

10:48Well, I'll run along, Bill.

10:49I'll see you at the office.

10:50You don't have to leave, Henry.

10:52I think you both have a pretty good idea what's on my mind.

10:55You mean Melvin?

10:57Yes, yes.

10:58As you know, Bill, I love the boy as though he were my own son.

11:03I've given him a good home, education, opportunity.

11:07And now he's got some tomfool notion about being an agricultural chemist.

11:13And it's ridiculous.

11:14Well, the lad's a born research chemist.

11:17Got the Draper blood in him.

11:19And he wants to devote his life to feeding horses and cattle.

11:22And making breakfast food for hogs and sheep.

11:26Uh, how do you want me to fit into this picture, Doctor?

11:29I want you to talk to Melvin.

11:31Think of it, Bill.

11:33Here's a young man with the ability to be a great scientist in the field of chemistry.

11:39And he's preparing to throw his life away on new diets for livestock.

11:44I see.

11:46You're pretty determined about what you want for Mel, Doctor.

11:50I'll make Melvin a great chemist if it's the last thing I do.

12:03One hour, five minutes, 30 cc's.

12:11Oh, Gramps!

12:14Melvin, I've just talked with Peter.

12:16He says you're going out to the ranch over the weekend.

12:19That's right.

12:20I've got to work on my feeding experiments.

12:23And what about this experiment?

12:26When are you going to complete it?

12:28The weekend would help shorten the time.

12:30The weekend would help shorten the time considerably.

12:34I know, Gramps.

12:36But I've got to weigh the cattle I've been feeding and record the data.

12:39It's got to be done this weekend or I'll throw the cycle off.

12:42You'll throw the cycle off.

12:43Now, what do you think you're doing to my experiment?

12:45Oh, please, Grandfather.

12:47Let's not argue.

12:48I'm sorry I can't stay.

12:50You're sorry?

12:51In one of these days, I'm going to give up trying to make a scientist out of you.

12:55And I wish you would.

12:57I'm tired of it.

13:00I'm tired of it.

13:10Ranger headquarters.

13:11Ranger Bill speaking.

13:13Hello, Bill.

13:15Say, I'm out at my uncle Pete's ranch.

13:18Could you possibly come out?

13:21I want to talk to you.

13:22Oh, sure, Mel.

13:24I've been wanting to watch your work.

13:26I'll be out in about an hour.

13:27Thanks, Bill.

13:29Thanks a lot.

13:30Bill, I can't tell you how much I appreciate you coming out here.

13:48I have so much work to do on my feeding experiment that it'll take me all of Saturday to catch up.

13:53I'm glad to come out, Mel.

13:56What is this feeding experiment you're talking about?

13:59Well, I've worked up a new feed formula for beef cattle to make them grow faster and finish off

14:06and fill out much better than any feed on the market today.

14:10That is, I hope it will.

14:12What do you mean?

14:13Well, you see, all I have is the theory.

14:17Now I'm recording the actual growth data.

14:20You'll notice that I marked one feeding pen A and the other B.

14:25Yes, I noticed that the first day.

14:29I guess I made the letters big enough.

14:32Well, pen A has the cattle who are eating my new formula seed,

14:37and pen B cattle are being fed standard roughage and grain plus a standard supplement feed.

14:43So now you're recording the growth made by each group of cattle

14:47to see if those eating your special feed make the gains that you say they will.

14:51Right.

14:52Now I'm getting the facts to prove or disprove my theory.

14:56If the facts prove I'm right,

14:58then I'll be able to give the agricultural world a better feed at less cost.

15:02Which in turn will give the rancher and farmer a higher profit.

15:05Yeah.

15:06This feed can be adapted for other livestock and poultry as well.

15:13Bill, I have something to show you.

15:17Yeah.

15:18Something that to me is very important.

15:26Will you read this?

15:27Sure.

15:30Mel, this is an offer for a fellowship

15:33at the Agricultural College of the State University.

15:37Oh, that's wonderful.

15:39Congratulations.

15:41Thanks, Bill.

15:44There's only one hitched in it.

15:46Oh, Professor Draper.

15:49Yes.

15:50If I accept this, it'll hurt Gramps deeply.

15:54I suppose it will.

15:57Grandfather seems to be dead set against you being anything but a research chemist, Mel.

16:01If you only knew how dead set he is.

16:05What really worries me is how Gramps feels.

16:09I don't want to hurt him, Bill.

16:11That is not any more than I have to.

16:14What do you mean by that?

16:15What do you mean by that?

16:17Well, I feel that I should accept this fellowship.

16:22It's what I've dreamed about.

16:24Agricultural chemistry is what I've always loved.

16:28I'm not a research chemist, Bill.

16:29But I don't want to break Gramps' heart because of my own ambitions.

16:35Mel, don't let this throw you.

16:37I think the bond of affection that you two have for each other

16:40will straighten the thing out eventually.

16:42You think so?

16:43Even though Gramps is what you might say, well, stubborn?

16:48I think so.

16:50In fact, I'm sure it will with the Lord's help.

16:55I never thought of asking the Lord for help.

17:00I'm ashamed of myself.

17:01Well, the Lord can and will do great things if we ask him, Mel.

17:05What do you want me to do?

17:06How can I help?

17:08You just keep on doing a good job with the lab.

17:10Don't give up your feeding experiment either.

17:14I'll see what I can do to convince your grandfather.

17:16I hope you can.

17:18Let's pray before I leave, shall we, Mel?

17:21All right.

17:22I'm sure the Lord has a plan of his own to work this out.

17:26We want to be sure we're doing what he wants to do.

17:40Well, now you have the whole story, Ben.

17:43Yeah, I see.

17:44It's too bad to see a young man's ambition

17:47thwarted because of a hard-headed old man.

17:50Of course, I know the professor ain't gonna do this to be mean,

17:54but, well, he's an old diehard.

17:56No question about that.

17:59Got the heart of the problem right there, Ben.

18:02Will you ask the professor to have Mel write the story?

18:04I certainly will.

18:05I'll call him right after lunch.

18:11Melvin, just think of it.

18:17The newspaper wants you to write an article on hypo-explosives.

18:20But, Gramps, you should write the article.

18:23It's your theory.

18:24Nonsense.

18:25You're working on it with me, aren't you?

18:28Oh, this will get your name right in public where it belongs.

18:32But, Gramps, I feel that I'm...

18:35I'm stealing your stuff.

18:36Stop talking like a child, Melvin.

18:38You just get busy on that article.

18:42Okay, if you say so.

18:44I'll start right away.

18:45Do my best.

18:46I know you will.

18:48Wait till my colleagues read this.

18:50They'll know then that my grandson's a real chemist.

18:54He's got the Draper blood in him.

18:56Dr. Pitch, what do you think of young Draper's article on his grandfather's hypo-explosive theory?

19:13It'll be perfectly candid, Doctor.

19:14I think it's poorly prepared.

19:17He's certainly not a chip off the old block, I'd say.

19:20And your opinion, Professor Conlon?

19:23Quite of the same mind, Dr. Matthews.

19:25I feel that Draper is wasting his time with his grandson.

19:28Well, who's going to tell the old man?

19:30I hope we don't have to tell him.

19:32He'll ask our opinion.

19:33Yes, and I, for one, don't want to hurt that.

19:37Point is, somebody will have to tell him the truth sooner or later.

19:48Dr. Matthews, what's the general feeling among the professors about the fine article Melvin wrote?

19:56Well, Thaddeus, it's certainly all right.

20:01What I mean is...

20:02You can come, Herbert.

20:03You can speak frankly.

20:05I'm sure you all agree that the article was well stated.

20:10Well, don't you?

20:11Speak up, man.

20:13Thaddeus, it hurts me to tell you, but since you insist, I...

20:19What are you talking about?

20:21What hurts you?

20:22Come.

20:23Well, it's the consensus of opinion that Melvin has very little to recommend him in the field of research chemistry.

20:33Very little to recommend?

20:35That huge consensus of opinion is that?

20:38Who are you talking about?

20:39Your colleagues at the university.

20:41And how about you?

20:43I must say I'm in agreement with that opinion.

20:49Of all the blithering idiots.

20:51The lot of them.

20:52Why, I've taught every one of you from knee-pants.

20:55This is an assassination.

20:57They're ruining Mel's career.

20:59Oh, your blustering won't help, Thaddeus.

21:02It won't change the consensus of opinion one iota.

21:05Quiet!

21:06Melvin just doesn't have what it takes.

21:17Bill, I'm sure they're trying to put one over on me.

21:20They?

21:21Who, doctor?

21:21I don't know, but whoever it is must think I'm not only old, but unconscious as well.

21:26How do you mean that?

21:28Well, somebody prompted Ben into asking me to have Melvin write that article.

21:32Yeah?

21:33Just to prove that Melvin is not a research chemist.

21:36I think he is.

21:37Just so I wouldn't stand in his way to accept the fellowship he's been offered.

21:41Well, I'd say that was a shrewd guess, doctor.

21:43But what this person doesn't know is that I can pull one out of the hat, too.

21:48What do you mean?

21:49Well, I've asked Melvin to bring me a sample of this cow feed that he's working on,

21:55and I'm taking it to Alden Temple.

21:57He'll tell me whether or not Melvin's a chemist or a cattle dietitian.

22:10Thaddeus, I give it as my considered opinion

22:14that this theory of your grandson's on cattle feeding is useless.

22:19And I would say that he has no talent in that field whatsoever.

22:33Bill, it's no use.

22:36I just can't get ahead of Gramps.

22:39Alden Temple told Gramps my cattle feed wouldn't even make a good batch of birdseed.

22:45Hey, keep that chin up, young man.

22:47You're not discounting the Lord's part in it, are you?

22:50Perhaps I am, Bill.

22:52But I can't forget that Alden Temple is the best cattle expert in this part of the country.

22:58Yes, Alden Temple is an expert cattle judge.

23:02But he knows nothing about feeding.

23:06Are you sure, Bill?

23:07I'm positive.

23:08He's interested only in the finished product, not how you grow and develop it.

23:14Of course, he may think he knows, but he doesn't.

23:17So right there, Bill, Alden Temple proved that my colleagues were wrong.

23:28Melvin's not a cattle feeder, Bill.

23:30He's a chemist, same as his father and his grandfather.

23:34Personally, I wonder about that, Doctor.

23:36Well, there's nothing to wonder about, Bill.

23:38It's simple as A, B, C.

23:41Certainly, the article he wrote wasn't perfect.

23:44But the theory and the data are by no means fully developed or tested in the laboratory.

23:49Professor Draper, suppose someone could prove that Alden Temple is wrong.

23:54That he's wrong about Melvin.

23:56That's impossible, Bill.

23:57The man's an expert.

23:58Yes, he's an expert, all right, but not in cattle feeding.

24:03What do you mean?

24:04He's an expert in judging cattle.

24:07There's no one better.

24:09But he knows very little about the formulation of feeding

24:12and the preparation of diet to put the prime finish on cattle.

24:17Well, are you sure, Bill?

24:18I'm as sure as I know my own name.

24:20Well, I can't believe it.

24:23The man must know something about the feeding of cattle.

24:25Yes, he does know something, but not enough to give scientific opinion.

24:31Now you take a group of scientists who specialize in dairy feeding.

24:34Who are you thinking of?

24:36Well, there's Horace Pendleton and several others from the University Agricultural...

24:40Horace Pendleton?

24:42With that old seashell is too crabby to give an opinion.

24:45Why do you mention him?

24:46For only one reason, doctor.

24:49Because he's a genius in food chemistry, both for humans and livestock.

24:55I got it, fellas.

24:58Ranger Headquarters, Bill Jefferson speaking.

25:00Bill, this is Horace Pendleton.

25:02Oh, yes, doctor. How are you?

25:04Just fine, thank you.

25:06Bill, my understudies and I have completed our work on maleficent samplers.

25:09Hey, that's good news. What's the verdict?

25:12Well, I'd rather hold that now until I can talk face to face with that old man.

25:15I'm afraid I can't, doctor.

25:17I'm afraid I can't.

25:18I'm afraid I can't.

25:19I'm afraid I can't.

25:20I'm afraid I can't.

25:21I'm afraid I can't.

25:22I'm afraid I can't.

25:23I'm afraid I can't.

25:24You make arrangements for a meeting at two this afternoon at my laboratory.

25:33I certainly will. We'll be there.

25:45Melvin, is this dietetic preparation all your own work?

25:50Why, yes, doctor, it is.

25:53You received no help from anyone?

25:55No, sir. I dreamed it all up myself.

25:59I didn't tell a soul what I was doing.

26:01Sounds to me like you disapprove of this preparation, as you call it, Horace.

26:06Is that right?

26:07On the contrary, Thaddeus.

26:08What?

26:09I personally think it's a fine piece of work.

26:11You must be joking.

26:13You should know me well enough by this time to know that I do not joke about matters of science.

26:18Bill, did you hear that?

26:19Yeah, Mel, I did.

26:21Horace, I'm telling you, the lad's a research chemist, not a cattle feeder.

26:25Now you listen to me, Thaddeus.

26:27And remember, I'm your senior.

26:29This feeding formula your grandson developed shows genius.

26:33Your grandson would be wasting his time as a research chemist.

26:36Do you know what you're saying?

26:39I've given Melvin the benefit of all my knowledge.

26:43I want to make him the greatest research chemist in the field.

26:47And you sit there and attempt to tear down years of careful tutelage.

26:51That's why his father...

26:52That's where you're wrong.

26:54You're on the way to ruining your grandson's future.

26:56I'm doing what?

26:57I said you're ruining his life by trying to force him to do what you want him to do.

27:00Rubbish!

27:01He's a draper, isn't he?

27:03Yes, he's a draper.

27:04And it's a name to be proud of.

27:06But you can't pour his life into a test tube and drop a reagent in with it to make it do what you want it to do.

27:13Your grandson is not a laboratory experiment.

27:16He's a man.

27:18Melvin, is that what you think I'm doing with your life?

27:23Pouring it into a test tube?

27:26Tell me.

27:27I...

27:28Don't put him on the spot, Thaddeus.

27:30He thinks a great deal of you.

27:33But his life and ambitions aren't scientific data to do with as you please.

27:38That's all I'm going to say on the subject.

27:41Bill, shall we go?

27:43Science has no business interfering at this point.

27:57Melvin, since you're going to be an agricultural chemist, I want you to be the best agricultural chemist in the world.

28:06I'll try, Gramps. That's a promise.

28:09I'll make full use of my fellowship and try to be an associate professor just as soon as I can.

28:15Now, I want you to be proud of me.

28:18Dad, too, if he was living.

28:20Will you forgive your old grandpa for being such an old diehard?

28:23Don't say it, Gramps.

28:25Let's forget all about it.

28:27Yeah, you're just like your dad, Mel.

28:29And every day I'll thank the good Lord for a grandson like him.

28:34Say, look at Bill Jefferson over there.

28:37He looks like the cat that swallowed the canary.

28:41Well, Bill kind of helped.

28:45What I mean is...

28:46Sure, I know all about it.

28:49You do?

28:50And you aren't angry at Bill, Gramps?

28:52Angry? I should say not, son.

28:55I'm grateful.

28:57A young diehard is bad enough, but an old one is ten times worse.

29:08Well, it was nip and tuck for a while, wasn't it?

29:12But Mel finally won out without hurting his grandfather.

29:15With the Lord's help, of course.

29:17Well, we'll see you next week for more adventure with...

29:20Ranger Bill!

29:37Subs by www.zeoranger.co.uk

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