Ep 2. The Little Bullfrog Nugget

Death Valley Days season 1 episode 2, titled "The Little Bullfrog Nugget" is a Western-themed anthology TV series that aired from 1952 to 1970. Based on true stories from the Old West, this episode depicts an adventure of a miner named Jack, who discovers a large gold nugget in the Bullfrog Mine, located in the Nevada desert.

The episode opens with Jack, played by actor Jock Mahoney, working in a dusty and dangerous mine. Jack and his partner, Kansas, are struggling to make ends meet with the little gold they have been able to mine. One day, Jack finds a huge nugget of gold that could change their luck if he can keep it secret until they could cash it out.

However, the word of the Little Bullfrog Nugget soon spreads throughout the mining town, and everyone becomes eager to know where the gold came from. Jack becomes paranoid, thinking that his partner might steal the nugget or that someone might kill him to get their hands on it.

To make matters worse, a swindler named Ramsey comes to the town, claiming to be a mining expert and offering to buy the mines for a low price. He manages to convince Kansas that the Little Bullfrog Nugget is of no value and tries to steal it from Jack. Ramsey also inflames people's greed by spreading rumors about a new gold strike in a nearby town, causing a gold rush.

Jack is conflicted; he desperately needs money, but he doesn't want to sell the nugget to Ramsey. He decides to travel to San Francisco with the nugget to sell it to a higher bidder. On his way to the city, he meets a young woman named Sally, who offers to help him sell the nugget.

Together, they must overcome challenges and obstacles, including bandits and thieves, to reach their destination safely. Along the way, Jack falls in love with Sally, and they decide to get married. But, on the night before their wedding, Ramsey shows up in their hotel room to steal the nugget.

What follows is an intense chase and a shootout in which Jack must protect Sally, fight off Ramsey and his goons, and keep the Little Bullfrog Nugget safe. In the end, justice prevails, and Jack and Sally are able to sell the nugget for a significant amount of money.

The episode concludes with the narrator reminding viewers that the Old West was full of hardships and surprises. But, despite the challenges, people like Jack persevered, and their stories are worth remembering.

In summary, Death Valley Days season 1 episode 2, "The Little Bullfrog Nugget" is a thrilling and dramatic Western tale about greed, friendship, and the pursuit of wealth. It is a classic example of the kind of stories that made this series so popular for generations.