Ep 2. The Leather Burners

Hopalong Cassidy season 5 episode 2, titled "The Leather Burners," is a classic Western adventure that takes place in the early 1900s. The episode begins with Hopalong Cassidy and his trusty sidekick, California Carlson, as they ride into a small town looking for trouble. As they arrive, they encounter a group of men who are burning a pile of leather goods. The men are the infamous Leather Burners, a gang notorious for their destructive behavior and for terrorizing the local ranchers.

Cassidy and Carlson decide to investigate the gang's activities and quickly discover that the Leather Burners are working for a corrupt businessman named John Stark. Stark has been buying up valuable ranch land in the area for pennies on the dollar and is using the Leather Burners to force the ranchers off their land. Cassidy and Carlson's investigation leads them to a local blacksmith, who, it turns out, is secretly supplying the Leather Burners with horseshoes.

The blacksmith, though originally reluctant to give any information, eventually agrees to help Cassidy and Carlson take down the Leather Burners. He agrees to go undercover and infiltrate the gang, posing as a black market supplier of horseshoes.

As the blacksmith becomes integral to the Leather Burners' operation, he learns of their plans to raid a nearby ranch. Cassidy and Carlson, along with a group of ranchers, prepare to defend the land and stop the Leather Burners once and for all.

The final showdown between the ranchers and the Leather Burners takes place in the middle of the night, under the cover of darkness. The Leather Burners use their typical tactics, setting fires and creating chaos, but the ranchers are prepared with water and equipment to fight the flames. Cassidy and Carlson use their expert shooting skills to take down the Leather Burners' horses and disarm the gang.

In the end, the Leather Burners are defeated, and the corrupt businessman Stark is brought to justice. The ranchers are able to keep their land and continue with their way of life, thanks to the bravery and quick thinking of Cassidy, Carlson, and the blacksmith.

Overall, "The Leather Burners" is a thrilling episode of Hopalong Cassidy that showcases the values of bravery, teamwork, and justice. It's a classic Western story with all the elements viewers have come to love - shootouts, horseback riding, and a sense of adventure. Fans of the series will no doubt appreciate this episode and its role in the overall story arc of Cassidy and Carlson's exploits.