 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a clot of dust, and a hearty hyal silver, the lone ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tottle, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse, Silver. The lone ranger rides again. Frank Dillon rode slowly toward the ranch corral with pride in his eyes as he surveyed the fine spread that had grown with the years. He was particularly proud of the prize cattle with which he was gradually stocking the ranch at great expense. As he rained up and dismounted, he saw Ned, one of his cowhands, riding at a fast pace toward him. What's up, Ned? What's the hurry? More cattle gone, Mr. Dillon. Twenty more of your prize stock, wrestled off the North Range during the night. That's the last straw. Get to the bunkhouse and tell the others I'm going inside first and I'm gonna tell the sheriff. All right, boss. Get out of there. Come on. Third time my place has been raided. Martha. Martha. Be very careful. Brack them down somehow. If I ever get my hands on those loads down on Rick Coyote's house. Frank, Frank, what's happened? Plenty. That's what. I've stood all I'm gonna stand. From now on, I'll... Frank, Frank, calm down. Never do make sense when you're angry about something. Oh, what's the use? Now, now, tell me what's the matter? More of my prize stock gone. That's what. Twenty more had I run off during the night. I just came in from the North Range and told me. Man. Sakes, that's the third time. Yeah, the third time. I've lost close to sixty head altogether. Those wrestlers have proved to be too smart for us. For the whole cattle association for that matter... The bar wire lost some of their cattle last night too. They'd heard about it from one of their men. Frank, there must be some way to put a stop to that, Russellen seems like. Haven't they any idea at all who might be behind it? If we had, we'd go after them and string them up. We've had guards riding that North rangeland every night. But the Thieve and Rustler seem to know just where those guards will be, and when to move in. It's mighty strange. I reckon it is. But so far, we can't figure it out at all. Well, there must be some way to stop them. There is, I'd sure like to know it. Well, I'm going into Blackville to report the matter to the sheriff. Unlike the other two times, I guess it won't do much good. Frank, take care of yourself. Don't you worry there. I'll be back for a few hours now. Meantime, in the hills outside of town, the old ranger with his 14-year-old nephew Dan Reed and Tonto had pitched camp. It was noon when Tonto, who had ridden to town that morning, returned and reigned up at the campsite. Oh, scum, open up. Open up. Easy, scum. Easy. I ain't so sorry. Hello, Mr. Tonto. Me hear plenty news. What's happened, Tonto? Well, men in store talk about rustlers. Say, then, take plenty cattle from ranchers near Blackville. Rustlers, huh? That's right. Ranchers named Frank Dillon tell men him lose 20 head of prized cattle last night. It's third time rustlers have run off cattle from Dillon Ranch. Other ranch lose cattle last night, too. That means there must be a large gang of rustlers. They hit two places in one night. And that's what we think. Ranchers have metin' this afternoon, then decide what to do then. I see. I think I'll disguise myself as a rancher and go to that meeting, Tonto. You can come along with me. What about me, sir? You better stay around camp, Dan, until we come back. Yes, sir. Come on, Tonto. Help me fix the disguise so I can go without my mask. Ah. In his disguise as a rancher, the lone ranger set out for town with Tonto. Dan Reed waited at the camp for about an hour. Then, becoming restless, the boy decided to ride toward the foothills of the nearby mountains to the west. Mounting his stallion, Victor, Dan set out and rode at a leisurely pace for some time. The trail led uphill for some distance, then followed along a low mountain ridge that overlooked a lush valley beyond. Finally, Dan rained up to enjoy the view. Ho, ho, Victor, ho, hi, ho. Kai, I can see for miles from up there. Steady, but crazy. For a few moments, Dan sat in the warm sunshine and let his gaze wander along the valley below. Suddenly, his eyes came to rest on a herd of cattle, grazing almost directly below him. And he could see a few men on horseback moving among them. As he sat looking down at them, it was suddenly startled by a voice behind him. Where did you get through, gaping down at those cattle, sir? I don't want to talk to you. Oh, gosh. You scared me. I didn't hear you right out. I rode up easy like so you wouldn't. Come here. Come on, Victor. Ho, Victor, ho, ho. What do you want, sir? I want to know what you're doing up here for one thing. Oh, well, I just came off for a ride. Stopped here, and then I noticed those cattle down in the valley. I saw that you were looking down at them sort of interested lag. Kai, I just thought of something. What's that? I heard rustlers were stealing a lot of cattle around Blackville. I wonder if that cattle down there is part of them. Just because you heard about some stolen cattle doesn't mean that every herd you happened to see are the ones that were rustling. But that's a small herd down there. There seem to be so many men. Why, two cowhands could look after a small herd like that? That's smart figurine for a boy. I think I'll ride to town and report what I've seen to the sheriff. No, I don't think you will, son. What do you mean? Just what I say. What? This gun says you're a little too smart for your age. Golly, why pull a gun on me, mister? Say, I bet you have something to do with the rustlers. That is a stolen cattle. You're talking yourself right into trouble on them. That hidden herd is the stolen cattle, like you say. But you aren't going to have the chance to tell anyone about it. You're coming along with me right now. No, I won't. I'm not used to pulling a gun on a boy. And what's less, using it. But if you don't do as they say, I'll just have to do it. Now get going along that trail over there. All right. Come on, Victor. Yeah. For about 20 minutes, Dan rode ahead of the man who had drawn a gun on him. He reached the valley and rode toward a group of horsemen who were waiting near the small herd of cattle. Hi there, sellers. What are you bringing that button here for? Who are you? Oh, Victor. Oh, boy. He was up on the ridge looking at the cattle down here. He decided these were the stolen cattle was going to report to the sheriff. Good thing you caught him, then. That's right, now it is. Frank Dillon found out one of his cowhands was in with the rustlers. He'd kill you with his own hand. Yeah, he sure would. Get off your horse, kid. All right. Easy boy. One of you men take this button to the cabin yonder and tie him up. Put this horse in the lean tube. I'll see to him, Ned. Come on, you bring your horse. I'm holding a gun on you, so remember that. Let's go. Come on, Victor. The rest of you men look after the cattle and keep them from straying. I want to go to the cabin with cellars and have a talk. Right, right. Steady one. Come on, cellars, we'll ride to the cabin. Get up. Get up. A short time later, Ned and cellars were sitting in the cabin talking. Dan Reed was on a cot in the corner with his hands and feet bound. And the ranchers meet and go, cellars. Not too good. Some of them couldn't get there early, so they called another meeting for 5 o'clock this afternoon. Well, they'll have to leave shortly if I'm going to make it. His owner of the bar Y range, you have to be there to tell about the cattle that you lost last night. That's right. You know, Frank Dillily's fit to be tidy, so mad. We'll get a good price for those price cattle he has over the border. Yeah, I'll have the men start driving them down the valley tonight. Well, I'll get back to town to the meeting. I'm going to suggest that they let me write to the Cattlemen's Association to send down an investigator. Are you local? They send somebody to investigate. That'll be one letter that'll get lost, so don't worry. Well, I'm going to get going if I hope to get to the meeting in time. Hey, Mr. Sellers, don't reach down here. The kid just kicked you a bronc on the leg. Now he's too lame to ride. Well, I'm going to have to get to town. Well, ride the boy's stallion down. My horse won't carry a rider unless I tell him to. Well, in that case, we'll take you out there and have you quiet that stallion down so I can ride him. All right, horse. What kind of risky riding that white stallion into town, Sellers? Well, I'll hit you outside of town and walk in so nobody'll see him. There you are, kid. You get up now. Guys, those cords were tight. Come on, let's get going outside. Hey, that stallion still acts enough when they're leaned to. Bring him out here. Steady there, steady. Hurry up with that horse. Come on. Come along here. Easy, boy. Easy, Victor. Well, there he is. All right. Quiet him down, boy, so I get money. Go home, Victor. Go home. He's getting away. I'll fix that. No, you won't. Let go of my arm. Someone wild, Ned. This dog-gone maverick spoiled my aim. That old teacher. He'll be sorry for that. Wait and see. Now what am I to do? Take Matt's bronc. He can stay at the cabin. Watch the button till you get back. All right. Take that boy back inside and tie him up again, Matt. All right. Come on, you idiot. All right, Sellers. Take Matt's bronc, like I said. You'll have to hurry to make that meeting. Meantime, when the Lone Ranger and Tonto learned that the meeting had been postponed until five, they waited around town until that time. Then with the others, they went to the general store where the meeting was to be held. All right, all right now, man. Let's quiet down so this meeting can get started. All right, let's listen to that. Now you all know that last night those Rufflers struck again, taking some more of my prize cattle. Quiet now. Well, this has gone far enough. We've got to do something about it. All right. I agree with you on that, Frank. You aren't the only one who lost cattle last night, you know. I had some of mine stolen from the Bar-O-I spread, too. I heard about it. I mean it. I think the only thing to do is to write to the cattle as association for an investigator to come here. I can get off a letter tonight. That's a good idea, Sellers. Go ahead and sign the letter. Wait, wait just a minute, all of you. Jed Sellers' idea is a good one, I admit. But it'll take time for a man to get here. Meanwhile, those yellow-backed Rufflers might strike again. The sheriffs out right now and those deputies try to get a line on them. But they seem to be plenty smart. What do you want to do about it? Sure. Well, I say let's get together. Get all the men we can from each ranch and put them into groups. Let those groups scour the territory in search of the Rufflers. One of those groups is bound to get a line on them, seems to me. I'll just defend. I admit the cattle Frank lost. We're prized stock. But the Rufflers stole more from my range. And I stand to lose as much as Frank. Now, I say let's wait for the investigator to get here. Then it'll be up to him to stop them once and for all. Now, neither I nor you can afford to take our cowhands off the ranches just to play it be impossible. Sellers have the right idea. Taking them head away would leave the cattle unguarded. I say let's do like sellers say. All right, man. All right. Let's all sit. I'll get off and let it tonight to the Cattlemen's Association. The curtain falls on the first act of our lone ranger story. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. All to continue our story. After the meeting broke up, sellers, the rancher, approached Frank Dillon at the hitch-rack. Say, Frank. Yeah? I hope you don't hold any grudge about me getting them in to see things my way, but it's no use losing our heads over this wrestling. I still don't agree with the way you want to do things, sellers. Like I said inside, waiting for an investigator to get here is just inviting those wrestlers to try to grab off some more of our cattle. Well, maybe if they find out we're keeping close to watch, they won't try to wrestle anymore. Funny thing about it is that they seem to know just where we have men watching and where we have them. That's what I can't figure out. I know one thing, and that's this. If I lose any more cattle before that investigator you're writing for gets here, I'm taking every ranch hand I have and every rancher I can persuade to join me, and we'll rip this territory apart to find those crooks. Well, Mr. Audio Sellers, get up there. Go long, Frank. After listening to the talks by Frank Dillon and sellers, the Lone Ranger and Tonto left the meeting and rode out of town toward their camp. The Lone Ranger spoke of what had taken place. I'm inclined to agree with Dillon's plan, Tonto. As he said, it will take some time for an investigator to get here. That's right. Waiting will give the wrestlers a chance to dispose of the stolen cattle. That's right. You don't like sellers much, King Usabi. I wasn't very much impressed by him either. I will soon be in camp. We'll have supper with Dan, then you know I'll sit out and try to get a line on the rusters, Tonto. Matt, be good. There's a campsite just ahead. Let's hurry a bit. Come on, Tonto. Get him up scum. Oh, silver. Oh, yeah. Hold on. Hold on. There's Victor. But Dan doesn't seem to be here. Well, maybe... maybe he'll go for a walk. Victor's acting strangely, Tonto. Easy, fellow. What's the matter? Look here, Tonto. Victor's been running hard. The boat is covered with dried foam. That's right. Inside a tunnel or something. Dan must have gone riding and something happened. Victor came back alone. Maybe that's it. Take Victor's bridle and bring him over to our horse's tunnel. I'll put on my mask now. Oh. Come, Victor. And what we do? The backtrack on Victor and see if we can find Dan. Easy, Victor. Easy, Scott. Easy. One silver. Get him up scum. Come, Victor. Dusk was falling as the Lone Ranger and Tonto approached the top of the ridge where Dan had stopped to look at the valley below. Damn right. Long way. Yes. I hope he isn't hurt. Oh, silver. Oh, fellow. Oh, fellow. Oh, here. In here where Dan stopped. See anything? Ah. Other horse stopped here, too. Victor come over here. Then both horses' tracks go down side trail. There. I wonder if Dan could have listened, Tonto. Ah, me hear cattle. Yes. Let's look down in the valley. Look there. Heard of cattle down there, Tonto. Then maybe stolen cattle. I'm sure they are. Dan must have run into one of the roasters. Somehow Victor got away and came back to camp. That's what me think. Tonto, come on. You ride to Frank Dillon's ranch. That's the closest. I didn't bring as many men as he can get together. Ah. And what you do? I leave Victor up here. I follow that trail down into the valley and find Dan. Hurry, Tonto. Ah, me hurry. Easy, Tonto. Easy. Get him up. Count. Victor, I'll leave you tied to this small tree until I come back with Dan. There. Any one of those roasters is harmed, Dan. Ah. Easy, Victor. Once over. Riding slowly and cautiously, the Lone Ranger followed Victor's tracks. Victor had recently been shunned and the new horseshoes let the sharp and distinct trail. When the Lone Ranger saw that the tracks led toward the herd, he rained up. Oh, sir. Oh. I can't follow the tracks out there and be seen. Dan isn't in sight. I'll ride up the valley around the herd and see if I can pick up the trail again. Come on, sir. Keeping out of sight of the cowhands attending the herd, the Lone Ranger rode along the edge of the valley, carefully watching the ground. Finally, his sharp eyes once again picked up the marks of Victor's horseshoes, leading away from the herd toward the end of the valley, where the masked man could see the outline of a cabin in a grove of trees. Eagerly, he urged Silver forward. What, Silver? Meantime, the outlaw, Matt, and Ned the Cowhand from Dillon's Ranch were in the cabin with Dan. It's getting dark. Isn't it about time Sellers got back, Ned? Yeah. I'm anxious to know how things went with that meeting in town. Sellers will take the shortcut here, sir. I ought to be coming soon. We got a good set up. Well, with you working for Dillon and knowing every move his men make, and with Sellers being the ranch, you're in stealing his own cattle along with the others to throw people off the track. Nobody will ever suspect you two are heading this gang. Well, what will I tell them? Oh, shut up, kid. You won't ever get the chance to tell anybody anything. That's right. He won't. The men drive the cattle down the valley tonight. We'll take the kid along. He'll just get lost some ways before we get back. Oh, here's Sellers now. Yeah. Hi, Sellers. How'd you make out in town? Well, fine, fine. You know those ranches are easier than influence. Frank Dillon tried to persuade him to form several possees and hunt for the wrestlers, but he lost out to my plan to write for an investigator. That'll give us plenty of time. That's your will. Say, Ned, maybe a better report over to the ranch before we start moving the herd. Dillon started for home, and he might go looking for you. Yeah. I'll go over there and see him. Tell him I'm going to stay out on the range to protect what cattle I can. Good. When I get back, we can start the drive. Crooks won't get away with us much longer. Listen, son, unless you say the better. I'll have plenty to say later on. Wait until people hear that the owner of the bar Y is one of the crook leaders. Well, you little... If I weren't tied, I'd show you. Give a loudmouth maverick a good sock and shut him up, cellar. Well, shut him up already. We'll show him you. Mass, Comrade. Give him that. I'll get him all right. No, you won't. Oh, my head! Are you cellars? Untie that boy. Be quick about it. Don't do it, cellars. I got this hombre covered from behind. It's one of our men. He come here just in time. Now it's three guns to yours, mister. Drop your guns, mister. As the lone ranger hesitated, cellars who held a gun in his hand turned it and placed it against Dan's temple. Then he spoke. I got this gun against the boy's temple. Even if you shot me, I'd put a bullet in him before I fell. I dropped your guns like he said. Bring him here. I don't know who you are, mister, but you made a mistake busting in like you did. We'll see who made the mistake. Are you all right, Dan? Yes, he won't be for long. Neither will you. I notice you know my name. So we can't let you get away from here. Now get his guns. Put him on the table here. Well, we keep him covered, Bill. You can be in time up. Make sure you don't get in the way of our guns so we can't pull any tricks. I'll be careful. Some raw hide hanging on the wall over there. Yeah, this will hold him plenty tight. All right, mister. We'll tie you up, then we'll take away that mask and see what you look like. First, I'll see what... Oh, my shoulders! Hey, somebody stop the lamp, I'll get a light quick. I don't need a light. Get down here, Brown Dog. Hoping to take advantage of the darkness to get away, Ned made for the door, as the Lone Ranger with a heavy blow knocked sellers to the floor. Even as the Lone Ranger sprang to the table and grabbed his guns to stop Ned from leaving, he heard a familiar voice at the doorway. Nobody leave Cabin's dog! Then who hit me? He strike matched. Then you see? You not move me whole gun. Tutto, you're just in time. I noticed a candle over near the bunk where Dan is. Like that. Me on tie, Dan. Man's got his guns again. Yes, now use them if necessary. Handle it now. Dan, you free. Get that man's gun, Tutto. Let me get it. Get over there near sellers and the other two. My hand is hurt. Ah, don't whine about it. What happened? He sucked in, you felt like a ton of bricks, and that Indian shot out the lamp. What's going on out there? Dylan, men with sheriff and posse, get Mr. Gang and Valley. Dylan, we're done for sellers. That's right, you are. Oh, is that there are the leaders? Bill, say what it is. What's the meaning of this? I'm covering you, Mr. Gang. Gosh, I'm glad you came here, Mr. Dylan. You don't need your gun, Mr. Dylan. This mask, I'm raising one of the wrestlers, boss, and so's the Indian. That's a lie. Ned and sellers are the gang leaders, Mr. Dylan. Oh, wait, I know the Indians all right. He came after us and brought us here. Man with mask, friend we tell you about. Oh, sorry, Mr. I didn't know that. Sound like them get wrestlers. Fight and stop now. Yeah, they had him about rounded up when I rode over here. Well, sellers, I've heard of skunks before, but you're the biggest I ever met. Some of that cattle out there belongs to him. He stole it from his own range so he wouldn't be suspected. That's right, Dylan. Your own man, Ned, was in on the deal while he helped run off your cattle. Oh, here's the sheriff and a couple of deputies now. These are the ring leaders of the wrestler's gang, Sheriff. The last man, huh? Oh, wait a minute, Sheriff. I made the same mistake, but he's on our side. Sellers and Ned and the other one there are the wrestlers. You mean to say the sellers was... I can't believe it. It's true. They caught me when I discovered the stolen cattle and brought me here. I heard everything. Sellers got me into this. Why are you glad coyote? It was you who come to me with the idea. Pack them out of here, boys. I've heard enough. Come along, Dan Tuttle. We'll leave now. Adios. So long, mister. Say, Frank, who in tarnation is that mask man? How come he was on our side in this fight? Well, when the Indian come after us, he said his friend had gone ahead to trail the wrestlers to their hideout. He didn't say he was a mask man, though. Well, it's funny you take us into jail and let a mask hombre go free. Well, that's easy to explain, Sellers. The Indian did tell me that his friend who had gone ahead was the Lone Ranger. This is a feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated, created and produced by George W. Trendle, directed by Charles D. Livingston and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer.