Adam Cartwright came home from a day of hard work when he suspected trouble. It was deadly silent at the yard which was normally used by his five year old son Mitch. He stopped his horse and dismounted. Carefully the eldest Cartwright boy looked around him but he didn’t see anything except that his child wasn’t there. Adam swore that he had left the boy with his father Ben Cartwright. But now there was no one to be found. Adam went inside the ranch house an did a strange discovery. By the stairs laid a little injured boy. Adam ran to him and examined him.
“Mitch! What has happened?”, Adam asked worried.
The youngest Cartwright slowly woke up.
“Someone came by and he injured me after grandpa had gone away”, said Mitch.
Adam looked amazed.
“Grandpa goes away and leaves you here alone? Where is Cody?”, asked Adam.
“I don’t know that”, was the answer.
Mitch went to sit and showed his right wrist. Adam looked at it and knew enough.
“It’s broken. We go to town”, said Adam.
He splinted the broken wrist and put his son a sling on. Mitch got up and went with Adam outside. Adam saddled Caramel and helped his son on it. Hereafter Adam mounted on Sport. Together they rode to Virginia City.
Underway Mitch didn’t say anything so that Adam also became none the wiser. He realized though that the disappearing of Ben had made a lot of impression on the boy because otherwise he had told him more. Also that their dog was away caused Adam concern and he had many questions. He had coached Cody so that he would never leave Mitch alone but now that had happened.
Arrived in town the Cartwrights stopped by the practise of Doc Paul Martin. Adam dismounted an hitched the horses. Here after he helped Mitch off his horse. Together they went inside.
“Adam and Mitch, what can I do for you?”, asked Paul.
“I came home and found this young man injured by the stairs. His right wrist is broken”, answered Adam.
“Just let’s see”, said Paul.
Mitch came and showed his injured wrist. Paul examined it and set it into plaster. Again Mitch got a sling.
“Return in 6 weeks time”, said Paul.
Adam nodded and took his son outside.
“What are we going to do? Look for grandpa and Cody?”, Mitch asked looking at his father.
“We certainly are going to do that”, said Adam.
They mounted on their horses and rode back to the ranch.
“Kid, you look if you find something unusual. Then I go to make something to eat for us”, Adam said in the ranch house.
Mitch nodded and went to look for clues. Because their faithful Chinese cook Hop Sing was on vacation the Cartwrights had to prepare their own meals. Adam knocked a meal together but Mitch couldn’t find anything strange.
When the youngest Cartwright came into the kitchen Adam had the meal ready.
“Were do you want to eat? Here or in the ding room?”, asked Adam.
“Just do it here”, was the answer.
Adam set the kitchen table for 2 persons.
“I couldn’t find anything strange in the office. Even the safe was closed”, said Mitch.
“What happened this morning after I had left?”, asked Adam.
Mitch thought deep for a moment and told then, “I went to play with Cody on the yard when a strange man came by. He stopped and chased Cody away. Grandpa came outside an called me inside. I went inside but that man too. He knocked grandpa down and then me.”
“What id that man look like?”, Adam asked while he divided the food.
“I don’t know that anymore”, said Mitch.
“It doesn’t matter. Let’s eat first”, said Adam.
They went to eat silently.
After supper Mitch got brought to bed. At least that was the planning but something came between it. Adam and Mitch were about to go upstairs when the front door went open.
“Grandpa?”, Mitch asked a bit scared.
Not Ben but Hoss, the younger brother of Adam came in. He noticed right away that there was a strange sphere in the house.
“Adam, what is the matter?”, asked Hoss.
Adam told him what had happened. Mitch sat on the stairs and looked at his father and uncle.
“We go look for pa and Cody right away!”, Hoss said determined.
They got some food and drink together and went on their way.
“Daddy, I am tired”, Mitch said after riding for 2 hours and a still useless search.
“Alright. We make camp and then you can sleep”, answered Adam.
They dismounted. Hoss took care of the horses while Adam made a bed for Mitch. The little boy slept quite soon but the brothers didn’t. They were very worried about their pa and dog.
“Mustn’t we send a telegram to Joe?”, Hoss asked after a while.
“No, just let him have fun during his vacation in San Francisco”, answered Adam.
They looked at the sleeping child and decided to follow his example.
The next morning the Cartwrights were awake early. Hoss made breakfast while Adam helped Mitch with washing.
“Will we find grandpa and Cody today?”, Mitch asked suddenly.
“I don’t k now but I hope so”, answered Adam.
Mitch wasn’t much helped with this. The boy decided not to ask any further but to try to help his father and uncle as good as possible with the search.
“Give that little child here!”, Adam suddenly heard a voice saying.
At the same time a rifle got pointed at him and Hoss. The brothers looked up and saw a woman standing who held them under gunshot. She walked to Mitch and dragged him along. Adam and Hoss had to watch helpless how their sweetheart got taken along.
The woman took Mitch to her house. The young Cartwright didn’t trust her and kept silent for that reason.
“You are my son Jerry who got stole by your birth”, said the woman who turned out to be called Ester Wallace.
“I am called Mitch”, the boy protested.
Ester hit him in the face. Mitch saw the full coffee pot standing and walked to it.
“Keep off that thing!”, snapped Ester.
She walked to the young Cartwright and wanted to hit him again but Mitch was ahead of her. He grabbed the coffee pot and threw it on the fire. A big flame came whereby Mitch could escape.
Meanwhile Ben Cartwright came home and he found there nobody. Cody sniffed around and barked loud at the front door. The rancher walked to him and examined the door.
“Cody, find Adam and Mitch”, he said.
The dog sniffed around on the yard and barked again. Ben grabbed his horse and followed the dog who smelled the track of Adam, Hoss and Mitch. Quite soon they ran into each other.
“Pa! Cody! What are you doing here? Mitch has been kidnapped”, Adam said worried.
“We were looking for you. Patrick Wallace came to pick us up for a lease house but he is after Mitch. We go home and you to Virginia City”, said Ben.
Adam and Hoss rode into the main street when they saw Mitch coming. The brothers dismounted off their horses and received the boy.
“Mitchell, what have we missed you. Is everything alright with you?”, Adam asked worried.
“Yes, but that woman says that I m called Jerry and that I am her son”, answered Mitch.
“Adam, you are going to sit there and I tell everything to the sheriff”, said Hoss.
Adam agreed.
So said, so done.
Hoss was with the sheriff and Adam and Mitch sat on the market square. Suddenly Patrick Wallace came by.
“What is that with my son?”, the business man asked looking at Adam and Mitch.
“How do you mean?”, Adam asked amazed.
“Mitch is my son. His mother is Mary Watts and I have made her pregnant with him”, said Patrick.
“His mother is indeed Mary Watts but I am most certainly his father”, Adam answered amazed and worried at the same time.
The business man looked again at Mitch. Suddenly he grabbed him tight. Adam stepped in harsh and turned the right arm of the man around.
“Let my son loose or otherwise I break your arm”, Adam said groaning.
He threatened to hit Patrick but that was not needed anymore because he had let go of Mitch already. The boy fell on the ground and rolled away. Patrick made sure that he got away but not before he had kicked against his right arm. The business man ran way hard. Adam cared about his boy who laid moving less on the ground.
“Adam, just bring him inside. There is a bed free for him”, Adam then heard saying behind him.
He turned around and looked into the eyes of Dolly Taylor, the brothel owner of Virginia City. He picked up Mitch and walked after Dolly. All female employees of her brothel looked at the two visitors. They were crazy about the youngest Cartwright right away.
“A geezer claims that he is the father of Mitch an kicked against his broken arm”, Adam said to Dolly with whom he was friends.
“What a nonsense. Even a blind man can see that Mitch is your son”, reacted Dolly.
Mitch moaned softly of the pain.
Dolly went into a private room and said, “Just put the little one on the bed. You can sleep here as well.”
Adam put down his son carefully and asked, “Do you have an ice bag or something cold?”
Dolly disappeared and came back a moment later with an ice bag. Meanwhile Adam tore the shirt of Mitch open so that he could check the arm.
“Daddy! This is my best shirt”, Mitch said protesting.
“You will get a few new ones from me. I do this because then we can treat your arm better”, Adam answered calm.
Mitch didn’t like but put it up with it. Dolly gave the ice bag to Adam who put it onto the injured arm.
“I let Doc Martin and your brother come. Do you already know how you tell this to your father?”, asked Dolly.
“I just tell what has happened. Hoss has to babysit Mitch then for a while”, was het answer.
Then the door went open and doctor Paul Martin and Hoss came in.
“Mitch has an injured arm because a fellow kicked against it”, said Adam.
“Mitch, let’s see”, said Paul.
He examined the arm and knew after the examination enough.
“Adam, your son will have to stay in bed for a while because his arm is broken in 2 places. I will set it again. It will get better with rest. I come to see him within a few days. Good luck lad. If Mitch feels good he may go home”, said Paul.
He set it into new plaster and went then away. Hoss looked from Adam to Mitch and back.
“What do we do now?”, asked Hoss.
“You stay with Mitch. I go home to tell it pa carefully”, answered Adam.
“Adam, I wouldn’t do it careful but very careful. You know how fond pa is of Mitchy”, reacted Hoss.
Adam nodded.
He kissed his son and said, “Daddy goes away for a while but uncle Hoss will babysit you for the time being. Make sure that he doesn’t get too tired.”
“Bye daddy”, said Mitch.
Adam went away and Dolly and Hoss stayed behind.
“I will leave you alone because I have to earn my money too”, said Dolly.
She left the room.
“Uncle Hoss, what are all these ladies doing here?”, asked Mitch.
“Well Mitchy, these ladies give the men pleasure like uncle Joe does that with his girls. Only the men have to pay for that pleasure”, Hoss said while he went to sit by the boy.
Mitch nodded understanding and fell asleep.
In the meantime Adam rode back home. He was very worried about how his father would react at the news that his five year old grandson was already in a brothel. The eldest Cartwright boy knew in any case that the owner of the Ponderosa wouldn’t be pleased with it.
“What? My grandson lies injured in a brothel?”
Ben Cartwright didn’t know what he heard. He looked at his eldest son questionable.
“Mitch may absolutely not be moved because his right arm in broken in 2 places and Dolly’s House of Fun was the nearest place. I stay by Mitch so that nothing can happen”, reacted Adam.
“Who is now with Mitch?”, asked Ben.
“Hoss”, said Adam.
“Hm. You are old and wise enough to take care of Mitch so… I expect and hope that my beloved grandson will be home soon again though”, said the rancher.
There fell a silence in the living room.
“Adam, what is the matter?”, Ben asked worried.
“In town a man claimed that he is the father of Mitch. He knows his mother too. He delivered Mitch that broken arm”, Adam answered hesitating.
“Everybody knows that Mitch is yours. You don’t know what his name is, do you?”, asked Ben.
Adam shook of no.
“If he is in town it seems better to me that you and Hoss stay with that little lad”, said the rancher.
“I will get some stuff of Hoss as well along”, said Adam.
He went upstairs to get what he had to have.
In Virginia City Patrick Wallace made himself very unpopular. He was in the Silver Dollar saloon and had the highest word.
He announced with a jabber voice, “Adam Cartwright has robbed my son when the child was just born! But now UI have found them Cartwright will get his very deserved punishment! He the gallows and I my son.”
Suddenly it was deadly silent in the saloon. Ponderosa foreman Candy Canaday stood at the bar and didn’t trust Patrick.
Candy asked, “When is your son born?”
“My sweet wife Ester gave birth to Jerry, the boy who got robbed by Cartwright, on June 25 1864. She is still heartbroken of it”, answered Patrick.
Candy knew enough, emptied his glass and left the saloon.
“Why do you think that you will get the child. Do you happen to know the Cartwrights?”, asked Sam, the barkeeper.
“I haven’t met them yet and don’t know them either. But I have heard that they are rich though. So they have lost their ranch too because Ester and I have to live somewhere with our child”, answered Patrick.
He noticed that he wasn’t believed and went away.
After this departure out of the saloon Candy went to Ira Minton, the lawyer of the Cartwright family.
In the office of Ira asked Candy, “In town a fellow walks announcing that Adam has stolen his son Jerry when the child was just born. The boy is born on June 25 1864. I fear that that geezer means Mitch. Adam does have full custody over Mitch, doesn’t he?”
“Adam has indeed full custody over Mitch. If Adam dies before Mitch is of age the custody goes automatic over to Ben. I have the official paper here and your boss has that too. I also have the birth certificate of Mitch and there stands really December 25 1862”, answered Ira.
Candy went away satisfied. At the brothel he saw the horses of Hoss and Mitch standing. He went to it and put his horse next to them.
When Candy opened the door and Dolly recognized him she asked, “You must be coming for that little Cartwright?”
“Yes, is Adam there too?”, asked the foreman.
“No, but his brother is. Just come on”, she said.
Dolly knocked at the door and went then inside with Candy.
“He sleeps. Candy, what are you doing here?”, Hoss asked whispering.
“There is a fellow in town who claims to be the father of Mitch. He was quite drunken and his wife got the child on June 25 1864. Besides they want to have the ranch to go and live there. I have visited Ira Minton and he said that Adam has full custody over that sleeping little one”, told the foreman.
“Does he know us?”, Hoss asked worried.
“No, why?”, Candy wanted to know.
“He is the one who gave Mitchy that arm injury. Adam has gone home to get some stuff and clothes for Mitchy and himself and tell it to pa”, was het answer.
“Mr Cartwright won’t like this news. You know how crazy he is about that little boy is”, Candy remarked.
Hoss nodded.
By all the commotion Patrick and Ester ran up to each other and they rolled al fighting and scolding across the street.
“It’s your fault that we don’t have that child. Wimp!”, scolded Ester.
“My fault? You should have killed those 2 fellows. But no, you only take that little one along. Stupid idiot!”, reacted Patrick.
He drew his revolver and shot it empty on his wife. Deputy Clem Foster saw it happen and stepped in by injuring Patrick. On his turn Patrick shot at Clem where after he got killed. In the brothel Hoss, Candy and Dolly heard the shots and they looked out of the window.
“Those are the people who took and injured our nephew”, said Hoss.
“Hoss, you stay with Mitch, then I go inform what has happened”, answered Candy.
The foreman was already gone before Hoss could react. Dolly went to work as well.
Clem told Candy what had happened and heard of the foreman what the couple had on their conscious.
“So that little Mitch is already in a brothel now and all ladies are crazy about him? Don’t let Little Joe hear that”, Clem remarked grinning.
“Well, Mitch is already a rival of Joe for 5 years”, Candy reacted smiling.
They went each their own way and Adam came just riding by when Candy went inside.
“Adam, you have missed very much. That Patrick Wallace is dead after he and his wife were rolling fighting across the street. He shot her dead and died after he had shot at Clem”, Candy told in full detail.
“And my brother is still babysitting my dearest son?”, Adam asked smiling.
“A normal person would wake up by that shooting party but not Mitch”, Candy answered while they went inside.
In the room Mitch had woke up again in the meantime.
“Where is daddy?”, he asked.
“He has gone home to tell grandpa what has happened to you”, answered Hoss.
“Grandpa is home? Then I want to go home”, said Mitch.
Adam heard those words and said, “Alright, then we go home. But not before have eaten somewhere.”
Especially Hoss sounded like music to his ears.
After a good and delicious meal the Cartwrights and Candy left Virginia City to go to their familiar ranch. Hereby the rest returned again in Virginia City and at the Ponderosa. Even though it wasn’t for very long of course.