 of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty hail silver, a lone ranger. His faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the mask rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. The stories of his strength and courage, his daring and resourcefulness have come down to us through the generations. And 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 in the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver, the lone ranger rides again. Come on, Silver! Hurry, McFellow! Hail, Silver! Not unlike any other army post on the frontier, rumors, counter rumors, and idle speculation were all a part of daily life at Fort Apache. Hey, Mike, did you hear the latest? No, what is it? Deed Troop's moving out first thing in the morning. Yeah, who says so? I don't know. Corporal Duncan told me. Deed Troop is moving out. That's what Corporal Duncan was telling Maloney. I don't believe it. Neither do I, but this is the army, brother, and that needs anything can happen. All you yellow-lakes can take this or leave it. Sergeant Swartz was just telling me that Maloney told him that Duncan Hurd orders came through for Deed Troop to move out. Well, Duncan Hurd? How does he know? Well, the same way he knows everything else. By the time the Colonel came out from Washington on that day they shipped in new recruits. Duncan just here. The only thing is, he's right about half the time. Yeah, what I'd like to know is, why does Corporal Duncan always hear... And evidently the same question had occurred to Captain Rolf. That's why he sent for a lanky, young non-com named Duncan. Corporal Duncan reporting, Captain. Oh, yes, Corporal. Get ease. Yes, sir. Corporal, I wonder if you can tell me what's new here at the Fort. Anything unusual going to happen? I... I don't understand, sir. That's strange. According to several officers and men, you seem to have a fairly reliable source of advanced information. On what, Captain? Oh, various things. Orders from Washington. Advice from the Colonel at Fort Blutcher. How many mules are being shipped out of El Paso? Oh, you mean rumors. I guess I'm no different than anybody else, Captain. You know, you pick up a word here or a word there. Troopers have got to have something to talk about. Yes, yes, I know. But in your particular case, my curiosity was aroused. During the past few weeks, I've paid close attention... You mean to me, sir? ...to the fact that you spend some portion of your free time each day outside the telegraph room. Let us say, within earshot. Well, is there anything wrong with that? Oh, nothing, except it proves you can read Morse code. And that's where your advanced information comes from. I'm sorry, Captain. I guess I didn't realize what I was doing. In the future, I'll keep my ears on my mouth shut. That won't be necessary, Corporal. Because your transfer papers just came in this morning. Fortunately, they reached me by mail. Transfer? Or am I being transferred? To the signal corps out of Fort Blutcher. You've been assigned to Cedar Creek Station. But I don't want to go back to Pound and Brass. That's why I enlisted in the cavalry. The signal corps needs an operator at Cedar Creek Station. You're the man, it's all settled. Get your pay from the paymaster and leave here in the morning. Check with Frank Prescott, operator at Stone Bluff, on your way to Cedar Creek. Those are orders, Corporal. Yes, sir. Do you mind if I ask just one thing before I go, Captain? What is it? Is D-Troop really moving out in the morning? That's right. I've received word from Chief Black Bear. Apparently, he and Owlhead, that crazy medicine man of his, have decided to call off their patchy raiders and sign a treaty of peace. We've arranged a meeting for tomorrow afternoon at Dry Meadow. I'm taking D-Troop along in the event they spring some kind of a patchy trick. But I won't be riding with you. You'll be riding, Corporal, just after we leave. You'll be riding in the opposite direction, towards Cedar Creek. And don't forget to stop off at Stone Bluff Station. I... Yes, sir. On a lonely trail, several miles to the east, and not far from Stone Bluff Station, a lone ranger and tonto pull their horses to a halt. Hold, hold, hold, hold, hold, hold. Strange how those three patchy braves disappeared, tonto. They had their sign just a few minutes ago. Ah! A patchy plenty hard to trail. Evidently, they belong to Black Bear's camp. If they're heading for that rendezvous with a cavalry troop at Dry Meadow, everything's all right. But if on the other hand... Keep Black Bear, him keep word. Owlhead, medicine man, him no good. Yes, that's what I mean. These braves were trailing, or some of Owlhead's renegades. At least they're heading west. We may pick up their sign again. Ah! We'll follow this telegraph line for a few miles, and then I... Tonto, I'll ridge up ahead. Isn't that a patchy riding a Mustang? Ah! Come on, Silver! Get him out of the scouting! Oh, oh, oh! The line's down. Busted right off next to the pool. Ah, well... As long as I'm back to Pound and Brass, I might as well splice line brakes, too. Steady, boy. Lucky thing I'm packing a spare coil of wire. You wait right here, boy. Crop yourself from grass. I'll be back in a minute. Can't be so very far from stalling. This line broke last night. Why ain't Frank Prescott, or whatever his name is, out here fixing it? And it's a job like this. What the? Inzard! Me with just a six-car. That's my car, biting the saddle. Three of the red-skinned devils. I haven't got much of a chance, but I'll... More over. No. That one must be an Owlhoof. He's wearing a vest. That's my puddle. Close in. Ah! The mask critter and one red-skinned taste the other three off. What kind of a... Oh, oh, oh, oh. Easy, silly big fella. The soldier from the signal corps. Are you hurt, Corporal? Oh, thanks to you, I haven't got a scratch. Good. But what's the idea? I can't figure this out. How come an Owlhoof like you and this engine here turned on those others? I'm not an Owlhoof. No, vouch for my friend here. They've been trailing those three apaches ever since sunrise. I still can't understand it. I'm sure glad you two happened along. I just stopped to fix this line break, and those buzzards jumped me. Yes, that's their usual bait to trap one of you signal men. Look, mister, I don't know who you are, but don't line me up with the signal corps. I'm a regular yellow leg. Yitru, Fort Apache. Name is Duncan. Steve Duncan. Oh, glad to know you, Steve. You were lucky they got promoted to the signal corps. Ha! Lucky. Do you think I'd be on my way to Pound Brass in some deserted prairie station like Cedar Creek if I didn't have to? I'd be riding with D. Troupe right now to meet back there. Oh. Always been my idea that a real soldier can fight just as well with a telegraph key. They can with a gun. I'll tell them I have to keep on the trailer those apaches, silly big fella. Adios, corporal. Wait, wait a minute. Get them out of the counter. Well, I'll be... If I told the boys back at Fort Apache about this, they'd never believe me. So, this is Stone Bluff Station. Just the kind of broken-down cracker box I expected. Cedar Creek's probably worse. Steady boy. Well, maybe I can get some grub. Noon, corporal. You'll be wanting feet and water for your horse. Oh. Good afternoon, ma'am. I'm Corporal Duncan, bound for Cedar Creek. I'm gonna take over. Glad to know you. I'm... Corporal Frank Prescott around. I'm supposed to check in here on the way through. Well, Frank isn't here right now. He's out hunting a line break. Oh, that's all. I just finished splashing the line west of here. Some engines knocked it down. Oh, thanks. We appreciate it. Your leggings say you're with the cavalry, Corporal. Yeah. I'd give this leg to make what my leggings say the truth. I got a rotten deal shoved out of the cavalry. This is the last ride I'll be making until they muster me out of this flea-bitten outfit. The signal corps. Oh, is that so? Well, I mean, and no offense to your husband, ma'am. A telegraph station's a fine place for a broken down old cavalryman getting simple. Back in D Troop, we used to say that an army telegripper is just a trooper with his brains knocked out. Has it ever occurred to you that men in the signal corps might hold the same opinion the other way around? If you want to feed your horse, you can keep it around. You're sure your husband's not at home, ma'am? My brother is out repairing a break in the line. Oh, it's your brother. Well, I'll just step into the cabin. Oh, no, no, don't, please. Laura. What's that? Who's he? Over there on the bunk. Frank, my brother. Sick, huh? Looks kind of down here. Of course he's sick, you fool. Even a stupid yellow leg like you should be able to see that. Too bad. How long has he been sick? Have you had a doctor? Frank's had fever for two weeks. And we don't want a doctor. No. No doctor, please. Can't risk it. Oh, seems like I remember weather reports coming into the fort every day from this station. It was Laura. She handled the key, as well as I did. Does it really make any difference whether Corporal Frank Prescott is a man or a woman temporarily? Not officially, I guess, but what would happen to the fort and everything beyond it if an engine raid should knock this station out? Three of those red-skinned devils jumped me not over two hours ago. But hadn't meant for an outlaw, and he's... There's one single man to another. Don't report this. I'll be up again in a few days. Oh, I don't know. I don't know what to do. If you're leaving now, Corporal, I'll walk outside with you. Why, why, sure. So long, Frank. Goodbye, Corporal. You won't say anything. Well, yeah. What are you trying to do to your brother, Miss Laura? I was going to ask you the same question. Listen, I'm doctoring him with the same medicine the doctor used before. If he's reported sick, it means we lose the station. That means more to him than anything in the world. He must be local. He's proud of his job, that's all. Proud of the signal core and all it represents. I'm watching him very carefully. Promise me, you won't send a doctor until I ask for one. He wants it that way. This is a local situation for sure. Your brother risked in his life to stay a brass pounder, and I'd do the same to get out. It does make sense. Well, I suppose... Then you will keep our secret. Sure. And here's one you can keep from me. Don't tell anybody Steve Duncan kissed you. The troopers back at the fort would think I was going soft. Why you? Steady, boy. You? Yeah, boy. You yellow leg. It was almost sundown when the Lone Ranger and Tonto, resting their mounts west of Stone Bluff, heard an ominous sound. Hello. It's an Apache war party. He's heading this way. Either Black Bear failed to make his treaty with the cavalry, or he's on the war path. He's come on this trail plenty fast. We've got to beat him to that telegraph station at Stone Bluff. The operator can send for help. Come on, soldier. Get him off the couch. 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. To continue our story, with an Indian war party at their heels, the Lone Ranger and Tonto read Stone Bluff with very little time to spare. Oh, who's there? Who's there? Steady, easy. Listen, Tonto. I can't hear them. Can you? When you not hear Apache, that's when they're most dangerous. I know it. That's what worries me. Steady, big fella. The only thing we can depend on is that they very seldom attack at night. They may surround the place and wait till daybreak. And what we do keep us up? Leave the horses here at the back of the cabin. Steady, silver, easy. And find the telegrifer. Come on. A girl. I didn't expect to find a girl. You didn't expect this gun, either. But I'll show you the... Wait, put it down. We're not outlaws. Both of you. Better move back up. I know we're making a mistake. But if you insist on shooting someone, I make a much better target when I'm close enough to... I hated to do that to get your gun. I hope I didn't hurt you. Come on in, Tonto. Close the door. If it's money you want, you've made a poor guess. We came to warn you that Apache War Party's near here. Apache? Get a message to the fort, by the way. Who's the operator at this station? Boy, I... I mean, my brother. He's sick. Horribly sick. Taking a turn for the worst this afternoon. Oh, I... I see. I was just going to call Cedar Creek. Ask the operator there to send a doctor. When you... Can you handle the key? I've been doing it every day for over two weeks. Good. Now, the first thing to do is to get a message to the fort. Tell them about the Indians. That's the next station west of here. Cottonwood. What should I try... I mean, who are you? I have an explanation later. Hurry, call Cottonwood. Tell them to relay word before the Apache... I... All right. What's the trouble? It's dead. The line must be broken. I was afraid of that. Try the other direction, Cedar Creek. All right. That line's open, but nobody answers. There's a new man just went on duty there. He came through here this afternoon. Yes, yes, I know. Listen, do you know anything about Apache Indians? I ought to. We've been out here for over two years. You must realize that you and your brother, all of us, in fact, are in great danger. If Paches have a special hate for the army's telegraph, and anyone connected with it, they've got to move out while there's still time. But that's impossible. Frank's too sick to move anyplace. Yes, but he's... Look at him. Can't you see what I mean? Yes, yes, I understand. Thought of... I'm going to ride a Cedar Creek and try to make it back before daybreak. You stay here and do what you can. I know a doctor in Cedar Creek, Dr. Buell. I'll bring him with me. Oh, no, no. You should risk your life to help. You can stay on the line. Lee answers. Adios. Wait, you can't go... Indian. Huh? I don't know who that man is, but I'm going to pray for him like I've never prayed in my life before. What do you say your name is? Buell. Dr. Buell. Oh, yeah. I'm Corporal Duncan. I just rode into town a few minutes ago. New brass pounder for this station, worse luck. Well, if you're just up from Fort Apache, Carvel, you must have passed through Stone Bluff. How's my friend Frank Prescott? Prescott? Why, uh... he was out fixing a break in the line. I talked to his sister. Oh, yes, Laura. I know her, too. I'm glad to hear that Frank's well enough to ride. He's not very strong. Subject to spells of fever. Oh, is that so? If he'd only take a few months off and let me treat him, he'd get rid of it. But he's bound to stay out there at Stone Bluff. He feels that his duty comes first. Well, I guess all of you signal-core men are like that. Oh, Doc, that's where you're wrong. To start with, the only reason I'm poundin' brass is because I was shoved into it. See these yellow stripes on each side of my pants? Oh, yes. Regular cavalry uniform, isn't it? Sure, and that's what I am. A regulation yellow leg, a trooper. So they take me out of the saddle and put me into a rockin' chair like this. Poundin' brass. What difference does it make? Signal-core cavalry are all soldiers, and a real soldier can serve his country just as well with a telegraph key as he can with a gun. Well, fight just as well with a telegraph key is... Doc, what made you say that? Well, it's true, isn't it? I don't know. Only that's the second time today I've heard those same words. A master... Wait a minute. Somebody call in this station. Wait till I answer the signal. Now, whoever's so anxious to talk can start gavin'. Well, I'll be... Give me a pencil, quick. Here, what is it? Where's the message from? Stone Bluff, listen. Emergency. Send doctor at once. Corporal Prescott, seriously ill. Station surrounded by apaches. Send... What's the matter? Dead. That was Laura. Her brother must be real sick. And what's more, them sneakin' red-skinned devils are... I saw you through the window, doctor, and I'm in a hurry. You? I didn't think you were within a hundred miles. It's him, doc. The outlaw I was gonna tell you about. There's an emergency case, Dr. Buell. It's Stone Bluff. I know. Laura was just on the line, then it went dead. She said there was injured. That's right. How many I don't know. Apaches won't attack at night. So if we can reach the station before daylight, we might be able to help. I've got my shots. How about you, Corporal Duncan? My horse is still saddled. Good, let's go. Do you feel any better, Frank? I'll be all right, Laura. What time is it? Almost daylight. There's no use in lying to you, Frank. The Indians are still out there waiting. Do you get the message through to see their crick? I don't know. The line went dead. All night I've been hoping a man with the mask, the friend of this Indian would... But I guess that was hoping for too much. Oh, don't. Don't cry, Laura. We'll be all right. Hear that? It's the Indian. No, that's not Apache. Me, no. You will hold back heaven. They may have been trying to follow me, listen. All night, hear Apache, not see him. They're there. We'll know it the next minute or two. The sun's just coming up. Let the buzzards come. I'm ready for them. With an army carbine. Laura, let us trap door. Is there a cellar beneath this cabin? Yes, but it isn't very large. I see. It'll have to do. Doctor, we'll have to put the sick man down there. We can't risk it. Really, come. Looks like a million of them. Otto, help Dr. Buell get Prescott down into the cellar. Now, Steve, you take that window. I'll cover this one. Otto, back us up. Laura, stay down. Open in closer. There's too many of them. Open the trap door, Otto. We'll all have to go to the cellar. There's battery bottles getting smashed to smithereens. My catalog, that acid, and the gas. Yeah, you'd better be careful. Hydrogen gas will... Otto, keep firing from this window. Steve, you and I have a job to do. It's got to be fast. What do you mean? Put down your rifles, come over here quick. What do I do? Put the connections in all of these battery jars. They got the zinc plates and throw them on the floor. Don't ask questions, do as I say. It's our only chance. It makes sense to me. We ought to be holding off those red stems. Yeah, I think that's enough. Pour the acid from the batteries onto the plates. Watch out, Laura. That makes gas. No, it makes enough. Now, all of you, into the cellar. You go first, Laura. Hurry, Steve. I don't see how you... Hurry, hurry. Come on, Tutto. Pull down the door, Tutto. Fine, Steve. There should be enough powder flash from the muzzle... Put your rifle there. All between this door and the floor ain't gonna stop him. It might. Here goes. I think it's safe to push up this door now. Either dead or bamboo. Yeah, evidently, those who didn't catch the full force of the blast were scared away. What? The Kevin, it's gone. I don't see how... I can't believe it. Look, some of the battery jars are still hooked up under what's left of the table. Listen. Steve, somebody must have repaired the line between here and Cottonwood. Wait, I'm gonna answer. What is it, Cottonwood? Listen. Ward Apache. The stone bluff. Relate a cedar creek. Black bear. Signed. Peace treaty. Owlhead. With 30 or 40 braves. Rebellion. Believe to be in your territory. Please report. Steve, that means the fort doesn't know anything about it. I'm gonna tell him, listen. Stone bluff to Fort Apache. Owlhead and braves. Last seen. Heading south. Completely routed. No help needed. How's that? Oh, wonderful, Steve. But I still don't understand how it happened. Needed to why? It had me stumped for a minute, too. And when that fellow with the mask borrowed my carbine and fired it when he raised the trap door, I figured it out. What? Those galvanic batteries are filled with sulfuric acid. We all know that. Yes. And zinc plates. When sulfuric acid touches zinc, it forms hydrogen gas. I know, Steve, but hydrogen gas... Well, when hydrogen gas is mixed with air, like it was in this cabin, when there was a cabin, that's a high explosive. All it needs to touch it off is a bit of flame, like the muzzle flash from my carbine. Oh, I think I understand it now. And if it hadn't meant for that fellow with the mask standing right... Where is he? He was here. They're in too. They're both gone. I wanted to tell him he was right about the signal core being just as important to the army as troopers are, especially when it comes to fighting engines. Dr. Buell, how is Frank? Frank will make out all right. I'm sure of it. Oh, I have so much to be thankful for. So have I. From now on, I'm going to do all my fighting with the telegraph key in the signal core. At Cedar Creek Corporal Duncan? That's the closest place I know to stone bluff. Oh, Steve. Only one thing I still can't figure. What, Steve? Who is that mask armory who rides like a yellow leg, talks like a signalman, and fights like the whole Blamed Army? Why didn't you ask me? I could have told you long ago. He's the Lone Ranger. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.