27.A Far Cry From Yesterday
Clancey's boat brings Molly and Christopher Pruitt(Patti Cohoon and Eric Chase), Candy's young sister and brother, for a visit, and Clancey delivers an engagement ring which a very excited Jeremy has ordered; he is ready to propose again to Candy. A jubilant Seattle is celebrating the end of the bride's first full year in their new home, and with it, the Bolt's victory in the wager with Aaron Stempel. (He has accepted defeat graciously.) That night, as fireworks explode in the Seattle sky, a wire arrives with the news that Candy's mother has died. A somber Jason interrupts Jeremy as he is about to propose to Candy, and gives her the wire. Candy's abject grief stands in stark contrast to the din of the town's celebration. Jeremy must now comfort her, and she the children. He wants to marry her now more than ever, and is more than willing to take on the responsibility of helping to raise her two siblings, but Candy says no to his heartfelt proposal. She was going to say yes,but feels that it will be too hard on all of them, and that the children need time to adjust to their new life. Jeremy sadly accepts her answer, and vows to wait for her until she is ready. The children have overheard all of this, and run away, so that(as they see it) Candy will be free to marry. The children are found, but it is a long search.

28.The Wealthiest Man in Seattle
Captain Roland Francis Clancey is beside himself. His brother, Father Ned (Bernard Fox), a Catholic priest, is coming to visit! Clancey has told his brother that he owns every business in Seattle --the saloon, the general store, the mill , even the logging operation--everything! He confesses all to Jason, who works his magic on the town and convinces everyone to pitch in and pretend, for Clancey's sake, that the captain really does own everything (Stempel needs extra convincing). Clancey also has to dry out (this is the hardest part for him), and clean up ! By the time Father Ned arrives, Clancey looks marvelous, and Seattle is ready. Father Ned is duly impressed, and so are some outlaws who have passed through town. They kidnap Clancey and demand a $10,000 ransom. Everyone tries to raise the money, but they are about $6,000 short. Jason goes to the outlaws' camp, dressed as a priest himeself (this is too funny), to give last rites to one of the outlaws who's been shot in the knee. It's only a superficial wound, but Clancey had convinced his captors that the man was dying and needed a priest! Clancey is rescued, and Father Ned, who now knows the truth, tells his brother that with friends like these, he really IS the wealthiest man in Seattle.

29.The Soldier
Clancey is mauled by a bear (in town) while making his way back to his ship at night. A large hunting party is organized by Jason and Stempel to kill Lucifer, the dangerous grizzly. Jeremy is the one who manages to shoot the bear, and he's paraded back into Seattle as a conquering hero. Unfortunately, they all find out soon enough that they didn't kill Lucifer at all, but a pet bear, an Army mascot, which had broken its bonds and escaped into the caves near Seattle. Its trainer/guard, washed-up Sargeant Noah Todd (the late Steve Ihnat) is furious. Back at his army post, he is relieved of all duties after starting a fight --as his commanding officer states, You can't even be in charge of a mascot. Sgt. Todd goes AWOL, seeking revenge. He meets up with Jeremy , who offers him the gift of a bear cub to raise. Todd takes the cub, then promptly shackles Jeremy . He plans to hunt him down like an animal and kill him. But it is none other than Sgt. Todd himself who kills the real Lucifer,as the grizzly charges a helpless Jeremy. Seattle is grateful to the old soldier, whose hunt will remain a secret , forever, to all but predator and prey.

30.Next Week,East Lynne
One of this writer's favorite episodes. Candy has arranged for The Great Western Shakespeare Company to give a performance of one of the Bard's plays in Seattle. The troupe arrives, led by an unctious Mr. Marlowe (Donald Moffat); with him are other leading players, including Eleanor (Jayne Meadows)and Monsieur Pierre LeBeau (Ian Ireland), quite the ladies' man! Their contract stipulates that they must play to a FULL house... that's so that a couple of their players can rob all of the homes and businesses in town while their owners attend the play. Seattle is no different, and the players get away with money and jewels. But Candy, Jason, and Josh,on a return trip to Seattle, have missed both the show (and the action), due to a washed-out bridge. When Jason hears about the situation, he comes up with one of his famous plans. He and Jeremy will pose as Candy's brothers, and the three of them will intercept the troupe at their next stop, put the leading man out of action, and have Candy (resplendent in a red velvet gown) tip Marlowe off that her brother, Jason Winthrop, is an actor, and could save their show that night --he knows the part of Hamlet! The actors aren't interested in using an amateur --until Jason walks in the door and flashes that smile (that's all he has to do--have you noticed that if Robert Brown smiles, you HAVE to smile too? It's magic!). That night, Jason portrays Hamlet magnificently (Josh is there admiring him ,too, along with the marshal--there to catch the crooks in the act, as it were)--right down to the swordfight (which becomes a real one)! In the melee that ensues, the troupe is found out, and arrested. But Robert Brown playing Jason playing an amateur Shakespearean ! -- it's fantastic; and all's well that ends well...

31.A Wild Colonial Boy
(Note: Jeremy's away in Tacoma in this episode.) Clancey's brought some Irish visitors to Seattle,who wish to start a business, among them Kirin Flynn(Art Lund) and his beautiful stepdaughter, Bridget Cunningham(Brenda Scott). Joshua is instantly attracted to the highly intelligent but strangely distant Bridget. He gives her (at her request) an exhaustive tour of Seattle and its environs, as she assesses every fact and takes notes. The business that the Irish are planning, however, is a military takeover of Seattle, in order to use it as a base of operations against the British in Canada. They want to start a war with Canada in order to aid in the cause of Ireland's rebellion against British rule. Josh, blissfully unaware of this, has a long conversation with Bridget and learns something of her rough childhood. Flynn raised her after her own father died in the army. The next day, 200 rifles are discovered on Clancey's ship (Clancey was unaware of this), but when Flynn's troop reinforcements are captured before even arriving in Seattle, their rebellion is stopped cold.Jason understands their desire for a free Ireland ; in a very generous move(and ignoring Stempel's concerns), he forgives the little band and allows them to work there to earn passage money home. Trusting as ever, Jason assigns Flynn to retrieve some dynamite (to break up a log jam). Flynn's dreams of rebellion are rekindled, and he convinces Clancey to take him to Victoria harbor(Canada), ostensibly to play a joke on the British. But he actually plans to dynamite half their fleet, and make it look as though Seattle's folk had attacked, to start a war between the US and Britain (which controls Canada). Ireland could join the fight against Britain, and win her freedom! . Josh and Clancey discover the plot and are thrown into the ship's brig,and Joshua appeals to Bridget's conscience when she visits them. She holds a gun on her stepfather, torn apart by her love for him, and for Joshua. Flynn is shot to death in a struggle for the gun, but forgives Bridget. The rebellion is over. Bridget decides to live in San Francisco, promising to write to Joshua, and they sadly part. Will Joshua ever see her again?

32.Hosanna's Way

The Bolts discover an Indian boy(Ric Natoli); he's been injured by trappers who have killed his entire family. He's terrified of the brothers, but they get him into Seattle and treat his leg wound. Stempel identifies him as an Apache, and he hates all Apaches. He's had past experiences with them and warns the Bolts not to trust the boy. The townspeople are afraid, too, so the brothers cut his hair short and put one of Jeremy's suits on him(it's a little big, but it's cute!). They hope that Seattle will begin to accept him as a citizen there, since he has nowhere else to go. The boy becomes more trusting day by day, but it is rough going at first. Jason finds the boy visiting the graves of his family members(Corky and the men took care of this) and the boy speaks his name: Hosanna. 
Jeremy takes him to a hospital in Tacoma; the leg wound is not healing. The doctor there insists that Jeremy cannot stay with Hosanna, and he reluctantly leaves the boy for 48 hours. Sure enough, upon his return Jeremy finds Hosanna straightjacketed in a cell in the hospital annex, actually an old prison. The insane jailer there discovers Jeremy and imprisons him too, but the head warden lets Jeremy out. Hosanna, however, is going to be sent to a distant reservation, leg injury or no (meanwhile, they are not feeding him). An angry Jeremy breaks into the annex that night (a really neat job, too!) and gets Hosanna back to Clancey's ship.(There is a very tense moment when the insane jailer begs Jeremy not to lock him up into his own cell--Jeremy's nature is to have compassion for others; but is the man playing a trick? For a moment, the entire episode hangs on this one decision he must make.) Back in Seattle, the Bolts overhear trappers telling of Apaches who have made it as far north as Canada. The boy hears the weird laughter of a trapper, and knows that these are his family's killers-- he will never forget that sound. Hosanna finds them in Ben's store, trying to trade his family's belongings, and tries to stab one of them, then flees. Jason puts it all together, and he heads off the trappers, who are leading a posse to find and kill Hosanna. Jason gives the boy the time he needs to head north to Canada, where he will again be free. This is a great episode.

33.The Road to the Cradle
The most convoluted of all the Brides episodes! See if you can follow this: Lottie receives an urgent message from a missionary and his wife; they need her help in delivering their child, due any moment. (So far, so good.) Candy volunteers Jeremy to escort her, since it's a dangerous road and the mission is at the edge of nowhere. Before their trip begins, bounty hunters, who have been deputized(so they say) show up and hold Lottie in her saloon. They are looking for a "Gentleman Harry Smith"(John Anderson, back for another episode of HCTB), a smooth-talking whiskey runner. The man himself shows up, and the Bolts jail him (he is a wanted man)to keep the bounty hunters from torturing him for info(they want to know where his distilleries are).In the morning,Jeremy and Lottie start off on their trip; Smith picks the lock at the jail cell, gets out, and the bounty hunters are after him, with Jason and Josh coming along to prevent foul play.
Jeremy and Lottie's trail is blocked by a fallen tree; meanwhile, Smith visits his moonshiners and has them destroy the distillery. He then catches up to Jeremy and Lottie, and with a gun on them, steals their horse and wagon. He agrees to drop Lottie off, on his way to Canada, to help the pregnant woman, but leaves Jeremy behind. The bounty hunters, with Jason and Josh, have lost Smith's trail. But Jeremy has followed Smith and Lottie on foot and catches up to them at a resting place. In the melee that follows, Jeremy's back is badly hurt and he suffers a concussion.And in a scene that is all too short, as it could have revealed so much more about his past, Jeremy is feverish and in a delerium, calling for his mother(Lottie does her best to help). Meanwhile, Smith , who is decent after all, returnsto help Lottie get to the mission, dragging the injured Jeremy behind him on a makeshift pallet. The bounty hunters steal Josh and Jason's horses, and the brothers proceed on foot, as they can't turn back now.
At the mission, Smith, who studied medicine for a time(!), ends up saving the day, since the delivery is a complicated one and beyond even Lottie's skills. The bounty hunters catch up to them, burst in with guns (Jeremy is still too hurt to defend them against several men at once!), and are about to take Smith, but Indians have helped Jason and Josh find the mission just in time to stop the bad guys. Whew! The most believable part of this show was Jeremy's delerium .But even good acting on the part of all the cast couldn't help this story!

34.The Legend of Big Foot
Seattle's people are paralyzed by fear after a local named Jed arrives in Lottie's , injured and shouting that he was attacked by Big Foot. Some believe that Big Foot is just a legend (Jason, Joshua, Stempel ), some (like Jeremy and Clancey)are in the middle; but most of the residents are terrified. Since "Big Foot" was seen in Caleb (Paul Fix) Balter's valley, some begin to think that he has a connection to this creature. Caleb is a hermit who has lived in a cave for the past 30 years. Since Caleb's brother Matt(Ed Asner) would inherit the valley if Caleb died, suspicion mounts that Matt may be trying to pin the Big Foot attacks on Caleb, in hopes that Caleb will be killed off by a posse of angry citizens. Matt maintains his innocence--he has not seen his brother in 30 years. While Jason and company try to get to the bottom of the mystery, Molly and Christopher go out looking for the creature(they dared each other not to be afraid). The children are found by a frantic Candy, but then she , too, sees Big Foot , as does Biddie, and even Stempel is attacked. Huge footprints have been found in the vicinity , but Jason is not falling for it. He talks to Caleb, and deduces that Stempel's foreman and Jed have been trying to set up Matt as the fall guy. These two want Caleb dead, and Matt in jail, so that they can buy the valley in a public auction. Matt gets the marshal, Jason sets up a sting operation, and they catch the crooks(who had used a wooden device to make the footprints) stalking Caleb in his cave. Before they can kill Caleb, Big Foot (the huge Yakima Indian Sasquatch,friend to Caleb, who is in a fur costume)frightens them to death--they admit their plan to Caleb. The marshal has heard enough and arrests the men. The episode is interesting in that it depicts the various levels of belief or disbelief in the legend, and forces the viewer to think about it too. The Yakima Indians did believe Big Foot existed; they called it Sasquatch.

35.Land Grant
One of this writer's favorite episodes. A group of Greek settlers, led by Telly Theodakis (Lou Antonio, in real life one of Bobby's good friends) have settled on Bridal Veil Mountain , believing they own the land because they bought a land grant for it. They will not listen to the Bolt brothers' explanation that the mountain belongs to the Bolt family. For a while, there is harmony, as the brothers decide to allow the Greeks to stay there, at least until they can have a circuit judge come into town and prove to the stubborn Telly that he is wrong. The brides provide food and drink for them, as they are quite poor (but proud!). Jeremy and Telly travel to Olympia , and when Telly sees the valid grant, proving that the land belongs to the Bolts, he is crushed. He does not know how he can go back and tell his people that he was wrong, and that they have all been tricked. He angrily decides to try to track down the con man who sold him the fake land grant, and Jeremy agrees to help him, although he feels it'll be like looking for a needle in a haystack. They do track down the man, but unfortunately, he and his partner are onto them, and tie Jeremy and Telly up in a vacant barn, deciding that they know too much and will have to be killed. Lou Antonio is priceless in this episode, as Telly unwittingly delivers some hysterical lines in his perfectly rendered, Greek-accented , fractured English("We are done for, Jeremys[as he calls Jeremy]---dead men have no tails." ) Lou A. gets to deliver even more of these comic malaprops in episode #47TO THE VICTOR.
They narrowly escape their captors, and in the end, safely back in Seattle, he must tell his people the truth --they have all been tricked. But there is a happy ending! (Note: Mitzi Hoag, who plays Miss Essie (Big Swede's wife)for all of the first season, is seen in this episode as a Greek settler, Telly's wife! It is interesting that the producers were apparently hoping that audiences would not remember Mitzi from the first season, but they lost that gamble! Ms. Hoag left a very strong imprint in her wonderful performances as Miss Essie!)

36.The Eyes of London Bob
Fans of Robert Brown will like this episode, as it is centered around Jason Bolt and the half-crazed, half-blind old escaped convict called London Bob(played most convincingly by Peter Whitney). Bob has kidnapped Jason and is using him as his "eyes" in order to recover stolen cash, which he had hidden before being jailed for 11 years.Three other convicts helped him break jail, and are now in hot pursuit of London Bob and his money. There are several tense moments when it appears that either one or the other of them will be injured or killed, but Jason , merciful as ever, saves London Bob's life in one situation, and Bob starts to think that perhaps there is at least one human being in whom he can trust. Clancey fills Josh and Jeremy in on what has befallen their brother, and they put together a search party, trying to get to Jason and London Bob before the three convicts. Jason has left trail markers along their path, and the Bolts find them, but unfortunately so do the convicts. Jason leaves one clue in blood on a rock : 'S C' -- Skykomish Caves. At the entrance to the caves, the convicts have a gun battle with Jason(Bob can't see at all at this point) and Bob is wounded;but our two protagonists get inside the caves and to temporary safety. The convicts, led by Donegan(Michael Forest, who also played a bad guy in A KISS JUST FOR SO),offer to let Jason live if he gives them the money. Jason stalls for time, and London Bob, who knows he is mortally wounded, is desperate for Jason to find the cash , as he wants his friend to have it. Jason finds the money box to placate Bob, but the bank notes inside are now nothing but soggy, decomposing shreds. He keeps this knowledge from the old man, who dies with Jason at his side, happy in his belief that he has given his treasure to a true friend. The convicts are apprehended by Clancey,Josh and Jeremy . Jason and his brothers then bury London Bob, as Jason tries to express the essence of the man.

37.The Fetching of Jenny
Seattle wants to secure the services of "the Swedish Nightingale", Miss Jenny Lind(Mala Powers), for its Admittance Day celebrations (Washington Territory's admittance to the United States). Tacoma (represented in this episode by Big Luther Coyle[Alan Hale]) wants her , too, for its own Founder's Day celebrations. Each town is trying to impress Washington's governor on its own big day, especially with Miss Lind present, because they know that the most "cosmopolitan" city should get the new railroad line,and the final decision is the governor's.Both towns have signed for Miss Lind with the (in)famous showman P.T. Barnum, who represents her in the United States...except that it wasn't the real Mr. Barnum. Candy is not giving up. She convinces Clancey to take herself, Lottie, Stempel, and Jason to San Francisco, where the REAL P.T. Barnum (and Miss Lind) are visiting, to try to sign Miss Lind in person. Feeling they have nothing more to lose (they've already lost $1,250. to the fake Barnum ), they depart. The real Mr. Barnum (who coined the phrase "there's a sucker born every minute") informs them,and later Big Luther (who's still also trying to get Miss Lind), that the singer does not appear in towns as small as Seattle or Tacoma. After more plot twists (a highlight being Bridget Hanley with a blacked-out front tooth and affecting a hilarious,bent-over-double waddle, while posing as a charwoman!), Jason finally gets to speak to the real Jenny Lind. In his inimitable, heartfelt prose, smiling dazzingly all the while, Jason launches into a speech, suspiciously similar to the one he delivered to the brides way back in New Bedford, about the beauties of Seattle. She is of course beguiled, until Barnum finds them and calls Jason nothing but a salesman. The group returns to Seattle in defeat, Jason apologizing to everyone; but when Admittance Day arrives, who should appear in a coach but the governor and Jenny Lind! She decided to come and sing for them after all-- Jason's speech had gone straight to her heart. As she sings for the happy citizens, the governor informs Stempel and Jason that the railroad line will be going to Walla Walla... (Note for the historically curious: according to BAKER'S BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF MUSICIANS, the great Swedish soprano Jenny Lind (1820-1887) actually toured the U.S. with P.T.Barnum beginning in 1850, and left America for Europe by at least 1855, where she remained for the rest of her life. BRIDES is set in post-Civil War Seattle, so the dates don't exactly jive, but with an episode like this, we can be happy for the existence of "artistic license" on the part of the writers!

38.His Sister's Keeper
Another fantastic comic episode, with the most delicious of plots. Aaron Stempel's younger sister Julie (the lovely Katherine Crawford) is visiting Seattle and chafing at the bit for some independence. It seems that Stempel is not going to give Julie her share of the family inheritance unless he approves of her choice of a marriage partner. To whom does she become attracted (the attraction is mutual), but to---you guessed it--- Jason Bolt! Stempel is outraged! Clancey and Ben want to make some fast money, so they set up a fist fight between Jason and Aaron and take bets. If Stempel wins, Jason will leave Julie alone, etc. The ensuing match has to be the longest fist-fight ever shown on television! (It is really a very funny scene, even if it IS a little unbelievable --both men should have ended up half-dead after a fight this long; at the very least, hospitalized!) Later, while the two lovebirds are off by themselves, Julie falls into a small pond accidentally, and must remove her wet dress(behind a bunch of bushes, of course!)in order to dry it out before they return to town. Stempel comes upon them, and--you guessed it again-- Julie is dressed only in her petticoats and camisole! Now Stempel is REALLY mad. He insists that Jason MUST marry Julie, to protect her honor. In the meantime , Julie and Jason admit to each other that they aren't really in love. They have to find a way out of the marriage that will save face for everyone, and they do it by slowly driving Aaron crazy-- with the notion that he and Jason will be brothers-in-law, sharing everything equally--including both their businesses! This is too much for Stempel, and he relents, giving Julie her freedom. Whew! This was a close one for Jason, who has really only once ever wanted to be married --see A KISS JUST FOR SO(first season).

39.LORENZO BUSH

An unseen sniper on a ridge above the Bolt logging camp begins to fire on the men without warning. He does not hit anyone, but shouts out that he will kill the next man who raises an ax to a tree. Jeremy draws the sniper’s fire in order to allow Josh to get to Jason. In Stempel’s office, Aaron and Jason are discussing a huge company contract with a very young man named Wesley (Dennis Cooney), whose father owns the company in question.

Wesley is upset that they are 30 hours behind in production, and has brought in his own loggers to speed up the job. Joshua bursts in to tell them about the sniper. Returning to the site, Jason ascertains that the sniper is trying only to frighten, not to kill. By coming around behind his flank, Jason and a bunch of loggers are able to tackle the sniper, a huge bear of a man named Lorenzo Bush (Ronald Feinberg) . He is a rough mountain man, who speaks slowly and simply, stating that the trees belong to God, not to any of them. Jason counters that the Bolts are responsible loggers, replanting trees as they go. Bush says that does not matter. They jail him so that they can continue logging; they don’t know what else to do with him.Wesley, the hyper businessman, wants them to strip their entire mountain of trees, even the young ones. Jason refuses, and loses the contract; Wesley will buy timber from Aaron’s land.

Meanwhile, Biddie brings a meal to Lorenzo in jail, and she inadvertently lets him escape by pushing the desk over to his cell , so that he can eat through the bars...he quietly steals the jail key from the drawer. Biddie leaves, and Bush makes his escape, taking his gun, but politely returning the keys to the desk.

In the woods, Molly and Christopher are playing jail when Bush comes along. He doesn’t frighten or harm them, but tells them that cutting down the trees is a bad thing. The Bolt brothers find the children, but Bush is gone-- off to find the men who are cutting down Stempel’s trees. Jeremy brings the children home, while the others chase after Bush. A huge explosion occurs at Stempel’s camp; Bush flees the area, with many loggers in hot pursuit. Jason and Joshua catch Bush and take him as prisoner. Wesley’s loggers hatch a plan to accidentally cut into the Bolts’ land-- to make up the extra logs they need. Wesley agrees.

Bush again escapes, taking Wesley into the woods as a hostage. Molly and Christopher follow him willingly, since they trust him. Bush sets up a mock trial to "try" Wesley and has the kids serve as a"jury". Jeremy has followed on horseback and comes upon the trial. Jeremy tries to reason with Bush. He serves as the "defense", as Wesley has none. This way the children hear, through him, the loggers’ point of view-- how they also conserve the forest. Jeremy’s simple, brave sincerity convinces Bush, who sets them all free. Wesley , who has also been affected, decides to be brave himself, and defiantly wires his father that the company will accept an extension on the deadline for the lumber delivery.

40. OBIE BROWN AND THE BLACK PRINCESS

Josh is going off to San Francisco on a buying trip. Jason is away, and Jeremy is jealous--he wants to go to Frisco himself! Obie Brown (George Stanford Brown) , their best logger , comes to Joshua cabin and announces that he is quitting. Joshua is in shock. Why is Obie leaving? He is lonely , and wants a bride of his own, but the Bolts did not bring any black brides from New Bedford. Now Josh feels pretty badly. Obie asks him not to feel badly; but he must go. The Bolts and all the men like Obie, and he is one of their best loggers, but they have an ulterior motive for wanting him to stay -- he is their ace in the hole to win the upcoming annual logging competition. Joshua says he’ll do anything--he’ll get him a bride in San Francisco! Obie gives him 2 weeks, logging contest or no logging contest.

When Obie leaves, Josh suddenly does an about-face and tells Jeremy (who knows nothing about the Obie Brown situation)that HE can go to San Franscisco! Jeremy gets halfway there, on Clancey’s boat, when Clancey lets him know that he has to find a bride of Obie--and Jeremy agrees, but only if Clancey helps!

In a comical scene, the two men enter an all-black saloon in San Franscisco, and try to tempt some of the saloon girls to come back to Seattle with them. Unfortunately, Clancey does the talking, and it gets things pretty tangled up! Their next stop is the local Abyssianian Baptist Church, but no luck there. The boat pulls back into the dock at Seattle, and all the townspeople are expectant , but no one more than Obie Brown. Ar first it appears that no bride has been found, but Jeremy and Clancey are saving the best for last. Not only have they brough a black woman for Obie, but a beautiful one as well! Her name is Princess Lucenda (Cicely Tyson), and she is a real African princess. However, she believes that she was brought to Seattle to give a performance of songs and dances of her people--to help her earn her passage back to Africa. She has not been told that she has been brought as a prospective bride for Obie Brown. But she is friendly , and gladly allows him to assist her to the women’s dormitory.

Obie finds out about her real plans, however, and is so disappointed that he decides not even to stay for the logging contest. It hurts him to think that the contest means more to the men than his feelings, as they are still trying to convince him to stay. Joshua and Jeremy have a change of heart, and want Obie to be happy , contest or no. Joshua goes to the princess to give her a Jason-style speech , to convince her to give Obie a chance. But Candy and Lottie have already convinced her to meet with him. The logging contest (which lasts several days) begins. The Bolt camp is doing well against Stempel’s camp.

But things aren’t going so well between Princess Lucenda and Obie Brown. In her country, she is royalty, and here in America, Obie is a son of slaves. She notes that in America, black people, although freed since the Civil War, are still downtrodden. Obie cannot argue with this ,but still wants her to stay with him and start a new life in Seattle, a more tolerant place than those back East. But she doesn’t want him ,and he is disconsolate. Jason returns and is told all the news. He tries to apologize to Obie for the whole mess, but Obie says the fault is all his, and a fist fight ensues as each man tries to shoulder the blame! Obie agrees to compete on the next day, but after that, he is leaving Seattle. The princess also readies herself to leave town, even before Obie . Molly and Christopher try to convince her to stay , using arguments and logic that only children would think of.

Obie, depressed, but trying to win the stump toss contest, loses anyway, as the children burst out and break his concentration. The Bolt camp loses the contest for this year. But the children have won a greater victory , for they have brought Lucenda with them , and she is going to stay--with Obie.

The themes of racial inequity are handled(in this writer’s opinion) with sensitivity and intelligence in this episode; and in 1969-70, this was still new ground for television.

41.TO BREAK THE BANK IN TACOMA

Jeremy and Joshua are gambling at the Red Rose Saloon in Tacoma; they win the saloon itself, after Mr. Miles, the owner (Larry Linville) eggs them on to keep betting on the roulette wheel. The wheel is fixed; it’s a setup. Miles wants to lose the entire saloon to them because it is in terrible debt. The saloon is signed over to an ecstatic Jeremy and Josh, who of course are ignorant of the $10,000. debt. A very street-wise teenage orphan named Simon (Billy Mumy) , who has kept clear of the local orphanage and hung around the saloon for for years, leads the younger Bolts to realize that they’ve been hoodwinked.

Another Tacoma saloon owner, George Campbell (Julian Burton), agrees to buy up the saloon from them, but then demands immediate cash to cover the debt, or he will take 2/3 of Bridal Veil Mountain instead! To add to their woes, Mrs. Hobbs, the local orphanage owner, is going to bring the law down on Josh and Jeremy for "harboring a truant orphan". The three saloon workers from the Red Rose have quit, since they haven’t been paid in 6 months.

Jason, Candy, Biddie and Clancey arrive. They pitch in to clean up the saloon , which has been wrecked by Campbell’s men. Jason is going to fight all this in court as soon as he finds out that the roulette wheel was fixed. Simon tells them that Cyrus, a washed-up drunk they have found in the saloon, was a great attorney once and that he’ll help them, if only they can sober him up! His first advice to them is to fix up the saloon to make it APPEAR to be a big money-maker; then go the local judge and get an extension on the repayment of the debt to Campbell. They can repay the debts by actually turning the saloon into a REAL money-maker, if all goes well. They have a grans opening, but no one comes...something was missing--the pretty saloon girls! Candy and Biddie agree to fill in the roles, and in addition, loggers brought in from Seattle fill the place up and suddenly it looks like it’s doing great business.Jason tricks Miles into coming back to ownership of the saloon...they tell him they’ve already paid off half the debt (not true), and that they’ll give him 50% of any profits ; Miles falls for it; Jason forces Miles to play the fixed roulette wheel in a "sting" operation; and Cyrus has already drawn up the legal papers to have the ownership revert back to Miles. It works. As a reward to Simon, the orphanage, which had also been part of the original "winnings" along with the saloon ,is deeded to him! Cyrus will serve as trustee of the place until Simon is of age. All’s well that ends well!

42. DEBT OF HONOR

Holly Houston (Jennifer West), the backwoods woman who had "latched on" to Jason in the first season episode AND JASON MAKES FIVE , returns to Seattle, to live! Of course, Jason(and even Stempel) are extremely nervous about this development. But the now well-dressed Holly who has gotten rich playing craps, wants only to repay all the kindness the people of Seattle have shown her in the past.She not only gives Seattle a library (which the brides have always wanted), but also buys the town a new church organ, throws a big party for everyone at Lottie's, and gives each person a $5.00 credit at Ben's general store. Unfortunately, Stempel and Ben discover that all her money is counterfeit (she did not know this). With Biddie and Candy's help, Holly is convinced to go after the crook who cheated her by paying her winnings with counterfeit cash. Holly and Biddie find the man's picture in the wanted posters at the jail. His name is J. Montgomery Morgan (Pat Harrington,Jr.), and there's a $5000 reward for his capture. Holly is going after him!

She sets out alone on her horse..Jason tries to follow, but she won't let him. She tracks Morgan to Tacoma, and locks up the temporary deputy in a cell at his own jail, in order to spring Morgan from same jail (when the deputy wouldn't give him to her).

Jason has now caught up to her, but the deputy gets out and jails BOTH Holly and Jason on charges of being accessories to Morgan's jailbreak. Holly then bribes him to let go,using a bunch of her leftover counterfeit money ! She catches up with Morgan, throws him off his horse, and subdues him all by herself, as the Bolts look on admiringly. With the $5000 reward for Morgan's capture, she repays all the debts from her purchases(the library, church organ ,etc.) and decides to go back to her life as a backwoods trapper, rather then try to be a "real lady" in Seattle. Jason and Stempel tell her that she's welcome back to Seattle anytime--but to please give them advance warning next time!?

43. THE SHE-BEAR

This episode is a real tour-de-force for actress Joan Blondell. Joshua and Jeremy visit the town of Clearwater to hire a man who can translate for their newly-hiredChinese workers. They find Stanhope(Ned Glass) for the job, and also meet up with Jack Crosse(Bob Cummings), Lottie's ex-husband. Back in Seattle, Lottie is not at all thrilled to see Jack. He has followed the Bolts and Stanhope back to Seattle, and he wants $5000. in cash ("a loan") from Lottie. He threatens (mysteriously )to go to San Fransisco to get the cash, if Lottie can't come up with it. This upsets her s great deal. Clancey is also upset (jealous) when he finds that Lottie was married before. Lottie now has a wonderful scene with Molly and Christopher, sadly trying to explain to them that "marriages sometimes die before you even know they're sick".... Candy intuitively suspects that Lottie has had children with Jack Crosse ,and that she is now is some kind of trouble. She tells Jason of this. Meanwhile, Lottie approaches Stempel for $5,000 ("to renovate the saloon")....he knows something is wrong, but gives her all the cash he has on hand, $2500. She adds her $300. is savings, and offers the total to Crosse, but it's not good enough for him. He prepares to leave for San Francisco, spending the night in Clancey's ship. Jason goes to him there, and accuses Crosse of blackmailing Lottie, although he still does not know why it's happening.He has no proof, and leaves Crosse, frustrated. The audience sees a shadowy figure board the ship, and later, Lottie. Clancey discovers Crosse's dead body the next morning on his ship.

Stempel tells the Bolts, Ben, and Clancey that it's obvious they should arrest Lottie, at least until the marshall arrives. Lottie HAD argued with Crosse the night before, and Ben had heard it. Josh reasons that Lottie doesn't have to be physically jailed; she can just agree to stay in Seattle under a type of "house arrest". They all elect Clancey to tell her this news...Clancey finds Lottie at Crosse's grave site. She tries to explain to him that Crosse was an entirely different (good) person when she had married him. She goes back into town without argument.

Jason intercepts Lottie and gets her to reveal that she did have a daughter (Catherine) with Crosse. At that time, he was arrested for armed robbery, and Lottie,broke, had to give the child to an aunt and uncle so that she could go to work. It was supposed to be a temporary arrangement...but Lottie could only find saloon work , traveling up and down the Barbary Coast--no place to raise a child. She has not seen her daughter for 14 years, and Catherine thinks that she is "Aunt Lottie".

Lottie had seen Catherine's picture in an engagement announcement in a paper. Crosse had threatened to get the $5000. from Catherine's new husband ,if Lottie couldn't come through with the cash. Lottie doesn't know why he wanted it, but she wanted him to leave the newlyweds alone!

The judge arrives, and the Bolts haven't been able to find another suspect, so there is a hearing, and things are looking very bleak for Lottie. Clancey jumps up and shouts that he killed Crosse, but no one believes him for a second. The hearing breaks up into chaos.

Meanwhile, the Bolts find one of their Chinese workers strung out on opium! He had gotten it from Crosse. They deduce that the murderer is Stanhope, the Chinese translator.He and Crosse had been daealing drugs to them , and in the most recent deal, Crosse wanted the whole "take" for himself, cutting Stanhope out of the deal. The Bolts, Clancey , and Ben set up a trap for Stanhope and capture him, just as is attempting to murder Lottie.

44. "Another Game In Town"
When some new girls come into town it can only spell disaster for Lottie and the Brides. Clancy's boat is forced to stay docked due to repairs that must be done and so are the passengers he had scheduled to sail to Alaska. With no place else in town to stay, these "little girls", as Clancy calls them, must room in the dormitory with the Brides. They soon have their eyes on all the men......and the men have their eyes on them. Barney and Patricia, the couple who the dance hall girls travel with, have their sites set on getting all the loggers to gamble away their money and to put Lottie out of business.

While Aaron becomes smitten with Patricia, the Brides are given lessons by Billie and the girls on how to capture a man and Patricia and Barney decide to take up residence in Seattle with their Dance Emporium.

Candy, in displaying her proper New Bedford up bringing, wants to make the newcomers feel welcome and takes them up to the logging camp to meet some of the men and to have lunch with them. Billie in turn is taken with Jeremy and goes off with him for a walk. Candy is left behind feeling hurt. She leaves the camp after having lunch with Jason without saying good-bye to Jeremy. He takes this as a rude gesture on Candy's part. That evening the Bolt brothers and Clancy are Lottie's only customers while the Dance Emporium is in full swing.

Barney, continuing to scheme on how to fleece the town and then leave, sells some stock to Ben Perkins who checks on his background and finds that he and Patricia are wanted for illegal activities. He takes this information to Jason as a way to close down the Emporium. The Brides in the meantime are dressing in daring clothes and are learning how to become waitresses for Lottie.

While the Brides are heading back to the dormitory, Jeremy meets up with Candy and they talk out their problem. They settle with a kiss that leaves Candy on the front porch confused and hoping all is well between her and Jeremy.

Jason takes the news to Aaron about Barney and Patricia's outstanding warrants and he is crushed. While confronting them inside the Dance Emporium, Aaron is shot by Barney. The next day, while he is recovering, Patricia comes to see Aaron before she is taken away to say good-bye. They hope to meet again someday.

45."Candy And The Kid"
Enjoying a beautiful Seattle day while walking alone back to town, Jeremy hops on a log to walk on top of it. The log suddenly slips from under him and he falls over the cliff. He slides down part way until he is able to grab onto some rock. Knowing if he tries to climb back up he will fall, he clings to the side of the cliff and yells for help. His cries are heard by a lone cowboy.......dressed all in black with a hand gun tied to his leg. The stranger mounts his horse and heads toward the cliff. He throws a rope for Jeremy and with the help of his horse starts to pull Jeremy up. The rider then falls back and hits his shoulder on a rock causing him much pain. Jeremy shows his concern but right before his rescuer passes out, he makes an attempt to reach for his gun.

Upon waking in a bed in Lottie's place, the stranger opens his eyes and focuses on Candy. She welcomes him to Seattle. Jeremy is also in the room and expresses his thanks for saving his life. The cowboy introduces himself as Rafe Holiday. Candy and Jeremy do everything they can to make him feel welcome and be sure that he is comfortable. But those gathered downstairs in Lottie's feel very different. They fear this man with the last name Holiday.

The next morning while tidying up the room, Rafe questions Candy as to why she came to Seattle with all the other Brides. She answers that she found Jeremy there and knows that this is where she belongs. Rafe on the other hand knows what he wants and starts to plan on how to get it.

While sitting with Rafe in Lottie's, Aaron, Lottie and the Bolt brothers hear from Rafe himself the story of his life. He is then welcomed to Seattle as it's newest citizen. Later while riding through the woods, Rafe comes across Molly and Christopher picking berries. He finds out from them why Candy and Jeremy are waiting to get married. He walks them back to town and handles a couple of drunk soldiers with his fancy gun firing. This gives Jeremy the idea to make him Sheriff.

With his new found job, Rafe approaches Candy and tells her flat out that he wants a home, a family and her. She tells him no as nicely as she can and wishes for him to leave her and Jeremy alone. Not taking no for an answer, Rafe takes Molly and Christopher and shows them his quick gun draw and perfect shooting. He is interrupted by Jeremy who sends the children back to town. Jeremy tells Rafe not to teach the children anything and to stay away from Candy. This erupts into a fight that Jeremy wins making Rafe even more determined to take what he wants.

When Ben's store is robbed, Rafe and the men in town form a posse and head out to look for the thieves. But then Rafe comes back and finds Candy alone with Lottie and Biddie. He takes her away with him........his plan now in motion. While he has her up in the caves of Rock Canyon... Jason, Joshua, Jeremy and Aaron are on his trail. When Joshua is hurt by a trap that Rafe set, Jason makes camp to take care of him and Jeremy leaves on his own to continue his search for Candy. He sees puffs of smoke coming from high up in the mountain and heads right for that spot. Rafe hears a horse approaching and gets his shotgun ready. As soon as Rafe has Jeremy in his sight he starts to shoot. Candy yells to Jeremy to go back, fearing that Rafe will kill him. Ignoring her pleas, Jeremy starts to run up the mountain, dodging bullets, not concerned about his own safety. One of the bullets hits Jeremy in the leg and he goes down. Seeing this Candy breaks free from Rafe and goes down the mountain right into Jeremy's arms. Watching them Rafe is unable to shoot anymore and gives up. While comforting each other, Jeremy and Candy see Rafe approach them on horseback. He tells them that the love they share can't be killed. He rides off into the sunset.

46. "Two Worlds"
One pretty Seattle morning, Jacob and his daughter Callie rode into town to pay a visit to the Bolt brothers. In the Bolt cabin Jeremy was busy fixing breakfast while Jason and Joshua readied themselves for a busy day ahead. Jacob had come to pay in advance for a cabin that he rents every year from the Bolts for the annual trappers rendezvous. Joshua gets a letter out of a drawer and quickly asks Jacob if Callie has come with him. He finds her sitting outside on the porch. Joshua tells Callie about a doctor in San Francisco that will see her and can possibility cure her blindness. She is thrilled with this news. But her father is very much against the idea.

The next morning while Lottie readies her saloon for the trappers that will be coming, Jacob comes in to ask if she saw Callie. She tells him that she saw Callie with Jason and Joshua earlier. Jacob finds Jason in the town square and tells him that Joshua had better not hurt Callie in anyway...her blindness is something she will have to live with and that there will be no visit to a doctor.

Later that day Joshua tries to convince Jacob into letting him take Callie to San Francisco. He wants to get Jacob to realize how important it is for Callie to be able to see. Jacob refuses to give his permission. Callie says she is going, it is what she desperately wants.

While Lottie, Jason and Joshua convince Clancy to sail to San Francisco, Candy and the Brides are helping Callie get ready for her big trip.She asks Joshua if her father has come.....he says no. They board the ship and as it starts to pull away from the dock, Jacob calls to Callie and gives her his blessing. This makes her very happy.

In San Francisco Callie is examined by a doctor. She is told she has cataracts and needs an operation. She has that operation the next day. With the aid of glasses she can see!! The first person she sees is Joshua. He takes her around San Francisco to show her all the magnificent sights before heading home.

When Clancy pulls into Seattle the trappers storm the ship and carry all the whiskey off. Joshua and Callie come out of the ship's cabin and see the town of Seattle trashed and littered from the trappers. Callie is shocked. Joshua takes her back to the cabin she shares with her father. He is there waiting for her. She tells Jacob that she can see. Her father takes this as a sign that she will now leave him.

Later that day while sitting near the lake enjoying all the sights around her, Callie tells Joshua she loves him. Joshua does not know how to answer. He tells Callie they can not mistake what they feel because of all that has happened for love. This upsets Callie and she quickly leaves to return home. Meanwhile a couple of trappers make plans to steal money from Jacob to buy whiskey.

In the cabin alone, Callie is surprised by the forced entry of the two trappers. Jacob hears her screams and runs into the cabin. While handing the shotgun to her father it accidently discharges and kills Jacob. Callie sees her father die, removes her glasses and flees the cabin. Joshua arrives at the cabin and finds Jacob dead. He captures the two trappers who tells him that Callie ran off. He returns to Seattle with them. Joshua finds out from Biddie where to find Callie and he goes after her.

Joshua finds her alone and crying. He has brought her glasses and forces her to put them on. He wants her to know that there are both good and bad things to see in this world. Joshua gets Callie back to Seattle in time and she tells everyone that the shooting was an accident.

Callie leaves Seattle alone to spend the summer with her aunt and uncle but promises to return. She and Joshua part with a kiss.

47. "To The Victor"
The Greeks are back in Seattle, there to celebrate their first harvest. Gathered in Lottie's there is food, drink, music and dancing by Astasia, a beautiful Greek girl. Both Joshua and Stephanos are enchanted by her. This causes a problem and of course Telly has his usual quick and simple solution. Stubborn and blinded to only his side, he says that Stephanos is the one for Astasia.

The next morning, Telly and Jason come to an agreement on how the winner of Astasia's courtship will be chosen. A clean fight will take place between Joshua and Stephanos in one week. Two strangers sitting in Lottie's find out about the upcoming event and start to see dollar signs. But they are not the only ones....Clancy and Telly make some bets of their own on who will be the better fighter and win.

Later that evening in Lottie's Clancy and Jason are there when Telly comes in to for a visit. He is ready to place his bet. Jason, unaware of any betting activity, can not believe the amount of money the Greeks are putting up......$723.00!!! He then imposes a $10.00 limit to protect all parties. He leaves with Telly to inspect the fighting ring set up for the main event. The two strangers sitting there introduce themselves to Clancy and put their plan to make a lot of money into motion. They plan on fixing the fight by kidnapping Stephanos.

The next morning Telly and Petros discover Stephanos missing. They must find him or they lose the the fight by default. They come to Seattle to search for him. When Stephanos can not be found, the Greeks accuse the Bolt brothers of kidnapping him and threatens the town with trouble if Stephanos is not returned.

Clancy pays a visit to Jenkins amd Fowler...the two strangers from Lottie's... suspecting they may have something to do with the disappearance of Stephanos. Upon finding him, the two crooks knock Clancy out and search him for the money. When no money is found, Jenkins sends Fowler into town to look on Clancy's ship. Telly delivers a message of war to the people of Seattle. The Greeks have the town surrounded. Jason, Joshua and Jeremy go to see Telly to try and negotiate and settle the matter. Telly refuses to listen.

Back at Lottie's when the Bolt brothers return with no good news, Fowler starts to weaken and realizes that there is no way out and offers information on where to find Clancy and Stephanos. While Jeremy takes Fowler to jail and Ben starts to put an army together to storm the Greek camp, Jason and Joshua come up with a plan to use Astasia, Candy and Biddie as a diversion. They will occupy the Greeks with their dance while Jason stops Ben and his army from attacking, Joshua heads to where Clancy and Stephanos are being held and Jeremy stays behind to protect the girls if needed.

At daybreak, Telly is ready to attack but Jason stops him just in time and Stephanos returns with Clancy, Joshua and Jenkins in capture. Jenkins finds out there was never any money hidden because there was never any money paid.

Later that day when everyone is gathered for the fight, Jason receives a letter sent by Astasia that she has eloped with Petros. Now there is no reason to fight and friendships are restored once again.

48. "How Dry We Are"
Seattle is in big trouble...well the men are anyway. Lottie is just about out of whiskey....there is one bottle left. That one bottle has to last until Clancy returns from San Francisco with a full shipment. But when Clancy docks everyone is shocked to find out that he comes up empty...no whiskey..not a drop. There is a distillery strike and there is no liquor to be found anywhere. Lottie fears this bad news will put her out of business.

The next morning while on his ship searching his quarters for hidden bottles, Clancy comes up dry much to his dismay. And who should come to pay him a visit but Biddie herself....the one person Capt. Clancy does not need at this time. But she brings him a much desired present.....a bottle of wine homemade by her. Clancy is overjoyed and plans with Biddie to make more of the wine and whiskey too.

Later that afternoon while Clancy and Biddie are making their brew, Candy confides to Jeremy that she is worried about Biddie. She thinks Biddie may be a secret drinker which makes Jeremy laugh and he assures Cancy that Biddie is as straight as an arrow. But he could not be more wrong for Biddie and Clancy were filling themselves with homemade wine and whiskey that they take to Jason and Aaron to present a solution to Seattle's "drought" problem.

While the citizens of Seattle are celebrating there new found wealth, Mr. Benet, an import/export business man with a plan in mind, breaks the bad news to them that what they are doing is illegal. He then talks Jason and Aaron into purchasing liquor from Canada and he just happens to have the name of a supplier on hand. So off to Vancouver sail Clancy, Jeremy and Mr. Benet.

Soon after arriving, Jeremy and Clancy visit the supplier Benet gave them, place their order, load the ship with the cargo and head back to Seattle. Shortly before they arrive home, three strangers pull into town with a definite plan in mind. As soon as everyone starts to celebrate at dockside, the three "lawmen" move in and make their arrest accusing Jeremy and Clancy of smuggling. They put them in jail and said a trail will be held in Olympia. One of the men overhear Jason mention that the governor knows them and that everything will turn out fine. The "lawmen" now have to change their plan.

Later that evening Candy, Lottie and Biddie bring Jeremy and Clancy a meal fit for a king to make their time in jail more pleasant. After everyone is retired for the night, Biddie sneaks out to her own distillary to check on how it is doing. Upon returning to the town square she notices the wagon with all the liquor brought back from Canada is gone! After everyone is alerted Jason, Joshua and Aaron run to the jail and are relieved to find Jeremy and Clancy still there. They soon figure out what has happened...the "lawmen" were phonies and Benet set them up.

Returning to Vancouver are the Bolt Brothers and Clancy determined to get their whiskey or money back. While Joshua and Clancy check out the supplier's place, Jason and Jeremy go to pay a visit to Mr Benet. Jason finds his secretary, Renee, alone and she tells Jason that he is out of town. Jason doesn't believe her and makes up a story to anger Renee. When she leaves to go to where Benet is, Clancy and the Bolt Brothers follow her. But no one knows the police are also following them. After a brief struggle with Benet and his men the Mounties arrive and Jason using his quick mind shoots one of the barrels to prove that there really is whiskey in the barrels marked fish. The outlaws are arrested and Clancy along with the Bolts break up a smuggling ring and return to Seattle with their whiskey.

49. "Bolt Of Kilmaron"
It started out like any other Seattle day. But there was something different in the air. Something not heard around the town...a sound...unique and pleasant. And Candy was about to get the shock of her life. When the stagecoach pulled into the town square, out stepped a man that was larger than life playing bagpipes and yet he looked so familiar to Candy. She could not believe her eyes!! She left Biddie holding the wet wash and ran to the Bolt cabin. She told the brothers that a man looking exactly like their deceased father was in Seattle. Upon returning to the town square...Jason, Joshua and Jeremy see their Uncle Duncan, their father's twin brother and head of the Bolt clan.

After welcoming him to Seattle, the Bolt brothers and Duncan head to Lottie's for stories of Kilmaron.....the land held by the Bolt family for generations. But Duncan brings sad news of how Kilmaron is no more. With no definite plans in mind, he has come to Seattle to get to know his only living relatives and help out in any way he can. But that turns out to be a disaster as Duncan tries to help a little too much. He negotiates the Bolt brothers out of their own lumber contract with Stemple, he tries to fire some of the men he thinks are not holding their own and he destroys the flume. But of all the things that he turns upside down, the worst was telling Candy she can not marry Jeremy because she does not have a dowry to bring to the marriage. Lottie tries to help and talk him into changing his mind but he tells her that tradition dies hard in his family and shows her a beautiful brooch that has been in the family for generations. On this he will not budge and this gives Candy the motivation she needs to make the best of the situation. Only problem is she gets herself into some difficulty by buying a piece of land that is worthless.

Later that evening Jason, Joshua and Jeremy confront their uncle on all that has gone wrong since his coming to Seattle and trying to help. While apologizing to Jason, Duncan gives him an idea on how to turn around some of the things that have happened.

The next morning, Jeremy and Joshua become concerned when they can not find either Jason or Uncle Duncan. With the help of Aaron and Clancey, the brothers head out to search for them. They find them with a tribe of Indians and talk Aaron into hiring the Indians as workers in the saw mill so production can be increased and Aaron can again do business with the Bolts. Alls well that ends well!!

At a dinner held at Lottie's, Duncan makes an announcement that he is leaving Seattle to travel the country. Despite protests by all gathered he insists his decision is final. But before he goes he states he has to undo a terrible wrong. He hands Candy the beautiful treasured brooch and tells her that is her dowry and she will bring it back into the family when she marries Jeremy. This brings tears to her eyes because that is all Candy ever wanted.

50. “Absalom”
Absalom Tray, at 12 years old, is a shell of a human being; his years at the hands of an insane father – who has died – have left their mark on the young boy. The biggest mark left is the fact that the boy has never uttered a word. Absalom’s appearance in Seattle is due to the fact that his father has left him to Jason Bolt. The deputy coroner delivers him and causes a very unpleasant scene by ridiculing the young boy in front of a group of townspeople. Jeremy quickly puts and end to the deputy coroner’s “freak show” by punching him in the mouth.

After the initial shock of Absalom’s arrival, Jason decides the best thing for the boy is to put him in school. The school, however, refuses to accept Absalom because of his belligerent attitude and because he refuses to even try to speak. If Absalom will say one word, the school will accept him. Back in Seattle, Jeremy – who is the only one the boy will trust – sets out to teach the boy to speak. At this point, Oliver Tray, the boy’s uncle, arrives in Seattle determined to have the boy committed to an institution. He blames the boy for the death and the insanity of the boy’s father. Jeremy struggles to teach the boy to speak before the trial is to take place to save him from his uncle’s plans. Jeremy takes Absalom on a picnic with Christopher and Molly and finally, after weeks of disappointment, succeeds in getting Absalom to speak. The success is short-lived, however, when in saving Christopher from a snake, Absalom pushes him aside, knocking him out. Jeremy, arriving just in time to see Christopher lying unconscious, thinks that Absalom has had one of his rages and yells at Absalom, who takes off into the woods. When Christopher explains what happened, Jeremy goes after Absalom, finds him and starts anew teaching him to speak. Absalom finally speaks again. When the boy’s uncle hears Absalom speaking, he realizes the suffering the boy has been through and that he has been wrong. He relents his terrible plans and prepares to send the boy to school.

51. “The Last Winter”
Jeremy needs a birthday gift for Candy and bets his last $50 to win a musical watch from Phelps, the trapper. He loses and is taunted so by the jealous Junior Oates that they come to blows. Broke, Jeremy goes bounty hunting for fox pelts. He stumbles on Phelps’ camp and finds the trapper dead – shot in the back. As Jeremy examines the body, he is a dealt a terrific blow on the head, but as he passes out, he glimpses an old Indian peering through the bushes. Jeremy staggers back to camp. Jason, Joshua, and Aaron Stempel go to the murder scene. They are joined there by the Oates, with Junior declaring he witnessed the whole thing and pointing to Jeremy as the murderer. The Oates insist Jeremy’s pack which he left at the scene be examined, and the $50 he lost to Phelps is found. Aaron has no other course but to arrest and jail Jeremy.

Jason and Joshua have one hope – to find the old Indian and get him to testify for Jeremy. They track him into the high mountain, “The Last Winter”, where old Indians go to die. He is brought back to camp, but meanwhile Ma Oates has discovered her Junior is the murderer and decides the Indian must die before he talks. Jason foils the murder attempt, but pretends the Indian is dead. At the climax of Jeremy’s trial, Jason produces the old Indian, who points to Eben as the murderer. Eben immediately accuses his brother and the truth comes out. Jeremy is free, the Oates are jailed, and the old brave starts back to “The Last Winter.”

52.“TWO WOMEN"
&Two very special women arrive in Seattle. Miss Emma Peak, a gracious old-world spinster and her beautiful niece, Valerie, have come back to rebuild fabulous Peak Mansion, burned down many years ago. Miss shows a letter-of-credit for $100,000, and the Bolts and Aaron Stempel contract to build the house. Joshua is attracted to Valerie immediately and, after a few days, he proposes marriage. The girl reports this to Miss Peak, who smiles with satisfaction and tells the girls to play up to Jason. Aware that Joshua is watching, Valerie kisses Jason and Joshua storms off in a jealous rage. Jeremy finally manages to talk some sense into his brother.

Later, Jason and Aaron find that their credit has been mysteriously cut off and learn that Miss Peak is responsible. Meanwhile, Miss Peak’s insidious lies to Joshua about Valerie and Jason drive Joshua into a frenzy. After publicly assaulting Jason, Joshua announces he is leaving Seattle forever. Valerie finds the old lady loading a derringer. She is planning on shooting Jason and framing Joshua for the murder. Valerie rushes off to warn Jeremy. Puzzled by Peak’s vengeful acts, Jason finds the answer in his father’s old journal. For over 40 years, Miss Peak has been nursing a hatred for the Bolts under the mistaken impression that their father, Jonathan, had jilted her.Miss Peak attempts to shoot Jason, but he pretends he is the Jonathan of her girlhood and she collapses in his arms. Valerie returns to take the unbalanced old lady to a sanitarium and the Bolt brothers are united once more.

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