 horse for the speed of light, the cloud of dust, and a hardy high old silver, the Lone Ranger. The building of the first transcontinental railroad was one of the most important steps in the winning of the West. The railroad was of prime importance to the future of the country, but powerful forces, cattlemen, stagecoach lines, and steamship companies opposed it. Outlaw opposition sprang up and the Lone Ranger was commissioned by the president to lead the fight against the enemies of progress. 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. Come on, Silver! A danger on the trail ahead! Come on, Silver! Come on! Fifty miles south of the shiny new rails that marked the great central railroad, a buckboard banged and rattled along a narrow cow trail. The driver whipped the horse into a final gallop as he caught sight of the cattle in a flying wide chuck wagon near the cotton woods. You can talk to Jeff all you want and later on. Now get out there! A mess of beetles for Jeff. Reckon he's hungry. I'm hungry as a bear in springtime. I'll get a mess of beans ready! Now it's time to say howdy. Howdy, Jeff. What's this news you've got? You sure are a right deliberate gent, ain't you, Grant? Everything in its correct order. Well, you took you so long to get around to Askin, I figured I'd bust first. Oh, not you, Jeff. Not while you got news to deliver. Come on now, spill it. You been north? Grant, the railroad is ready to transport cattle. What's that? I was talking to one of the rangers and ran me for a maverick every day in his own words. The railroad is ready to carry cattle by the carloads east to Omaha. Well, great day. I know they was making regular deliveries from cattle spreads further east, but I didn't figure they'd stretch their service this far so fast. Oh, I reckon they're laying tracks west fast and crickets can chirp. Yeah, how about their price? Oh, the price is fine, Mr. Grant. I tell you, sending them by railroad to Omaha would be a heat more profitable than hurting them all the way to Tonkinsville. Kino, that's the news I was waiting for. I'll tell the boys. As soon as we get the round up done in the herd county, we'll head for the railroad. Get away! Looks like we've got company, Grant. Yeah, wonder what they want. Hey, they look like mighty hard ombresors. You'll never judge a horse. Do you see how he acts, Jim? We'll see. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. That's a fine wife. It is, stranger. My name's Grant. I'm the owner. Will you, Gen Z, out of the saddle, have some chow? Oh, thanks, Mr. They come on business and we're leaving for on El. Where's the gent who came here on the buck boy? You're looking at him right now. You came from the railroad line. I'd prefer to have you ask your questions. You're made more simple, but I'll answer you. Yeah, I've been up to the railroad. What about it? That's all from you. I'll talk to the owner. Grant, are you planning to ship your cattle by the railroad? Well, that happens to be my business, mister. Well, I'm advising you not to. Me and my boys don't like railroad. Are you telling me how to sell my herd? I'm giving you a piece of advice. Stick to the trail. Don't have nothing to do with the railroad. We'll have all the cactus, needle, noob. Oh, hold on, Jeff. Yes, here's my shindig. Mister, whatever your name is. The name is Slaughter. Slaughter, huh? Well, mister Slaughter, thanks for your advice. The fly and y used to trail her at its cattle market. But from now on, we're using the railroad. It's quicker and it's cheaper. We figure I'm driving the herd north in about a week to put them in the stock cars. Now, you've got your ransom and you're in the saddle. So I am saying adios. Well, you don't savvy. Maybe I better make it stronger. Don't try to ship your cattle by rail or you'll be sorry. What's that? You heard me. Stay away from the railroad. You won't have any cattle at all. Why, you, where's my gun? Slaughter! Boy, you, you're a gunfighter. Grant to what you're told. Next time we'll shoot the kill. Stay away from the railroad. Who are you? What's your reason? Here, maybe this will give you the answer. Pick it up after we're gone. All right, gents, stretch the leather. Yeah, just wing me. Put it on the ground. Yeah. Well, I'll be the spur. The iron spur. What's that? The iron spur. Mr. Grant, fix up my arm. I got a ride to the railroad at once. Miss Barclay, what do you say now? What can the railroad do about it? I just spoke to Colonel Parkman, John. Miss, if Colonel Parkman could spare some soldiers to help guard the flying why herd, those outlaws could be beat off. We could get the cattle to the railroad. You'd better tell Mr. Grant he'll have to take the risk himself. Hey, you mean no soldiers? No soldiers. But land a Goshen. Them embers are gunmen, killers. Well, we got some bunch of willing cowards, but they're not dueling without laws. They're not fast enough on the trigger. Well, look, what happened to my arm? Why can't you give us soldiers? Oh, I'm sorry, Jeff. Colonel Parkman wants to do all he can to get trade for the railroad, but the soldiers simply can't be spared. There's too much need for them further along past the end of track. It's too bad, Miss. I don't reckon Mr. Grant will be willing to take the risk. Might be worth it, Jeff. Maybe so. I reckon it's up to him. We'll have the stock cars ready and waiting. I'll tell him that, Miss Barclay. Here, steady horse. Sure, there's no chance of soldiers, huh? I'll talk to the Colonel again, Jeff. And perhaps I may get someone else to help you. Who? I'm not sure. I can't guarantee anything. But I'll keep trying. Adios, Jeff. Adios, Miss. Get in there. Adios. Hello. Uh-uh. I'm here. John Barclay signaled. Where's she at? It's pretty dark. Over that way. Come on, Silver. Get him up. Scout. He's here. He's streamed. Steady, Silver. Steady. Welcome home. Welcome home. Hi. How long I range this section every night? When we hear your call, we know it means trouble. What is it, Miss Barclay, the railroad? Not exactly, although it concerns the railroad. Do either of you know a cattle ranch called the Flying Y? It's located in Lead Basin about 50 miles south of here. You know where that is? You may not know Flying Y. A man named Grant owns it. He was going to ship his cattle to market over the railroad, but... You said he was. Something changed his mind? Yes. His foreman, a man named Jeff Thomas, came here to see if Colonel Parkman could provide some soldiers to protect the herd on the way here. We can't provide any soldiers, so the Flying Y may not use the Great Central. Just a minute. The trail from Lead Basin to the track isn't dangerous. No, but the Iron Spur is. Oh, Iron Spur. So that's it. The Iron Spur is told Grant not to do business with the railroad. Yes, and they'll back up their argument with guns. Maskman, will you go to the Flying Y and place the soldiers? Will you convince Grant he needs the railroad and he must bring his cattle to the track? That means heep trouble on trail. The Flying Y and Lead Basin. Yes. The owner is a man named Grant. His foreman is named Thomas. Jeff Thomas. Maskman, do you mean you will go there? We'll leave right now. By tomorrow night, I'll be talking to Granady's ranch house. Adios, Miss Barkley. Good luck. Counts, count, one, two, three. Did you hear that, Mr. Grant? Sounded like a horse outside the house. Well, I don't see anything. Oh, I reckon I was hearing things. I've been plenty jumpy myself, Jeff. Ever since those Iron Spur armbrays laid down the lawn. Mr. Grant, you can't let them buffer all the Flying Y. All my money's tied up in them cattle, Jeff. If I lose them, I lose everything. You mean you won't use a railer? Well, I can't take the chance now without soldiers. Dagnabbit, Jeff. Don't you see the pickle I'm in? I need help. I need a couple of gents who are honest and fearless, who can beat the Iron Spur at their own game, who can shoot quicker and straighter, gunfighting fools. And where can I get them? I want to talk to you, Grant. What the... I've been outside the door. I heard you say that... Mr. Grant, he's wearing a mask. He's an outlaw. Don't sigh, Jeff. That's right. Leave your gun right in the holster. Gee, Horsifat, I never saw such a lightning drawer in my life. He had two guns pointed before your hand even touched the gun butt. I came here as your friend, Grant. I intend to keep things friendly. I've no friend to an outlaw. The Umbries are all looking for the Iron Spur. No. My friend and I came to help you against the Iron Spur. That's a laugh. What could you... Now, hold on, Jeff. Just a second. Mr., there's something about you. I don't exactly put my finger on it, but somehow or other, I got a feeling I could trust you. You can. Then suppose you take off that mask. You'll have to trust me with it on. But here, perhaps this will explain who I am. A silver bullet. Mr. Grant, he is the Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger? I know he's outside with the horses, Grant. If you're willing, we'd like to help you with your roundup and help you when you start your herd on the trail. That is, if you will change your mind and use the railroad. Mr., I sure will. With you to help me, we can lick the Iron Spur all the way. We'll finish the roundup tomorrow. Then we can start on the trail the next day. What in blazes? That came from outside. Tunnel, Tunnel, what happened? It wasn't your horses that ran away, Mr. They're right over here. Tunnel, Tunnel, why don't you speak? Tunnel, Tunnel. He's been shot. Shut up. Why didn't you put a bullet in the mighty? He's inside in the ranch house. I couldn't get to him. I took care of his partner, slaughter. When he calls Tondo, he's standing right next to the horses. A clear target. I gifted my six gun at him, all five bullets. Now, Sir Boss, I reckon I've grand-figured the flying why I could change plans and ship cattle by rail. Then he changes mine right back again. With the engine dead, the lone ranger is all by his lonesome and he ain't enough to beat us all. Mighty nice work. Mighty nice. Yep, we'll see to it that every rancher in the west stays away from the railroad. Wait, Central can't get business, they'll go broke. The tracks will turn to rust. We sure kept the flying why I broke the harness. That's who you're wrong, slaughter. The last man, lone ranger. No, you don't. Hands off your guns. You can't fight us all, Mr. Just because your guns are in your hands. There's a campfire going, but the flames don't give much light. Sooner or later, one of you men will get up enough nerve to slide a gun at me from the shadows. No, slaughter, I'm not fighting. Not this time. What do you want? I trail this drag gulcher here. Before I take him with me, I want to tell you the flying why isn't licked. Neither is the railroad. Before you take me with you. That's what I said. You shot Tonto, my best friend. I'll take care of the rest of the iron spur later. But as for you... No, Silver! There's a lot of help, he's got me! What's the subtle? Shoot him down, he's got whitey! He's got away and he took whitey with him! 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. The Lone Ranger took whitey back to the flying why, where he was locked in the shed behind the bunk house. And all that night and through the next day, the masked man and Jeff Thomas were very busy. I don't know, masked man. It's sundown almost 24 hours since that umbra short your engine pod. Whitey will stay in the shed till the sheriff takes him for trial. Masked man. Kimo Sabi. You're better, you've opened your eyes. Me and bunk, what happened? Oh, one of the iron spur dry girls changing. You come mighty close to cashing in your chips. If the masked man hadn't stayed up all night to get that bullet out of you, you'd be riding the happy hunting ground right now. Iron spur. Don't worry, old friend. We got the man who pulled the trigger on you. The main thing is you're going to get well. You'll stay right here in the Flying Y Ranch house till you do. What about railroad? The cattle will go to the railroad. We'll start driving the herd along the north trail very soon. Get out of here. No, Lydon, you're too weak to get up. But you need total help. Iron spur, he bad. Lydon, Kimo Sabi, you've got to get well. That's more important than capturing all the outlaws in the west. Everything get dizzy. You do what you say. That's better. If we get along without you, Tonto, we'll have to. Even if the iron spur does follow us, I think we can outsmart them. Jeff, where's Mr. Grant now? He's out back at the bunk house, mister. Fine. I've got a plan I want to tell him about. We'll see you later, Tonto. Rest easy. You'll not worry about me. Tonto worry about you. You understand what I have in mind, Tonto? Huh? Tonto Sabi? I'm sure it'll work. Iron spur, plenty smart. We have Whitey locked up. The others will end up the same way he will. That's good. Rashman, we're ready to hit the trail. We've got to get moving, and then cattle will be hard to handle. I'm coming, Jeff. Adios, Tonto. Adios, engine. Keep on getting better. Adios. Adios, Kimo Sabi. All right, Jeff. Let's get that herd started. Eddie Silver, steady boy. Ready to go? Ready, central. And get them rolling. Heading north to the railroad. Along the trail. Here we go, Silver. Do you feel a mite better now, engine? Uh, you cook good food. You certainly have picked up a heap in the last several days. Why, ever since the men left on the trail, you've been getting better real fast. Cattle gone three days now. Outlaw, him still locked up in shed? Oh, he sure is, engine. Um, by the way, did you get up this afternoon? No. You're supposed to stay in bunk. Yeah, I know you're supposed to stay in bed, but I could almost give an oath that I saw you near the shed. No. Oh, sharks, I reckon I must have been seeing things. First place, you're not supposed to do any walking, and second place, there's no reason in the world for you to be near that shed where we got the outlaw. Well, if you're all through, I'll take these plates now. Ah, Tondo finish. I'll look in to see you a little later, Tondo. Ah, not good. Bunkhouse, plenty empty. Yes, it is. It might lonesome. Most all the men are gone with the trail heard. Just me and the cook and the whole Henry with you. What kind? A door slamming. Sounded like the shed. But that door locked? Hey! Get out of my way! Tondo. What the? Who right horse? Tondo, it's outlaw. He broke out of the shed. Oh, Henry tried to stop him, but he knocked Henry out of the way. It's outlaw, Tondo. He's riding away. He's going to join the other bad men. You sure got a good spot here, James. Yeah, we've been following that trail heard for three days now, keeping out of sight, waiting for our best chance. And there they are, down below us. There's their campfire. Hold up for the night. Now, around sundown tomorrow, we'll have them right where we want them. In the narrow section of the pass. We can bottle them up there. Yeah, Vance. Bottle them up and stampede their own cattle over them from the other side. It'll be the finish for them and the cattle, too. I wonder if they strung up Whitey yet. Forget about Whitey. If he was hanged, well, he was hanged. That's all there is to it. We've got a scorer to settle with that mast, Henry. Which will settle tomorrow night, Savvy. And now you'd chance for me to get into your blanket, Rhodes. We want to be up at dawn to watch a fly and why. Slaughter. Yeah. Heading right this way, traveling in the dark. I thought we had this spot well hidden. Poster your gun, Vance. Don't be loco. That horse must be carrying one of us. There's no other way you could know how to head straight for the camp. Well, howdy, Whitey. Well, howdy, Whitey. Well, we figured you'd be bait for the buzzards by now, swinging from a cottonwood. They'd be locking the shit. This afternoon, I found the door open. I got away fast, Slaughter. You know, we can use another gunman. No, wait, you don't Savvy. I got news. That's why I burned the trail getting here. Flying wide hurt isn't going this way, Slaughter. You got eyes, Whitey. You can see they're campfire. I tell you, they ain't there. They make it a night ride along the other bend of the stream. You've been eating a loco, Whitey. It's the truth, I tell you. Slaughter, listen. Just before they pulled up stakes, the mast gent and Grant talked over their plans for getting the herd to the railroad. They knew you'd be trailing them, so they figured out a scheme. These ways, the mask man figured it and Grant agreed. What's that? They planned to leave a campfire burning here to hold you overnight. Meanwhile, they're heading another way up the West Fork. Shut up. Let me get this straight. West Fork, huh? Yeah. Whitey, it's a good thing you got away. Now we're on to them. We can still get them. Now listen, gents, if we start now, we can be at the upper end of the West Fork before sunrise. We'll have to ride hard. So will the fine ones. Yeah, we can beat them easy. They gotta go slow on account of the cattle. And get this, gents. I reckon we'll be even better off than we would have been the regular way. Huh? Yeah. The north end of the West Fork ends in a narrow pass, too. It's even narrower than the one on this side. Now all we do is let the cattle go by and then pinch off the riders. Get your horses, boys. The mask man isn't as smart as he thinkin'. Too fast, gents. We don't want those cattle worn down to skin and bones. Yeah, but we got to learn about the iron spur. No sense jumping into the fire just because we're gettin' out of a frying pan, Jeff. Slow down. That's all right, isn't it, mask man? I know we've got to out with the iron spur, but... Yes, of course, gents. We left the campfire going when we pulled out. Now if we fool the iron spur, there's no need to hurry. Yeah, I've... Mask man, did you say yes? Never can tell for sure, gents. Here, rain up a moment. There's something I want to discuss. Whoa, folk and wounded, Silver Steady. Grant, do you remember when we discussed this plan for the Baton slaughter's gang? Yeah, it was back at the ranch house. They were right next to the shed. They had the outlaw locked in that shed. You mean that whitey fella? I'm wondering if he hurt us, Grant. Hurt us? Well, what if he did, mister? There's no way he could pass the word along with the rest of those buzzards. Perhaps he got away. Not a chance. Grant, what time will we reach the north pass? If we keep proddin' the cattle along at this rate, it's not an hour before dawn. An hour before dawn, eh? I want you to stop the herd before we go through the pass. Stop them? What for? I want those cattle on this side of the pass when sunrise comes. Mister, I don't understand. I also want all the men except two or three to leave with the herd and go with me. Mister, I don't savvy this. You got some further playin' the back of your mind? Yes, I have. Now's the time to mention it. Grant, if we'd moved those cattle straight ahead along the east fork, we wouldn't have had a chance for those outlaws. I know the cattle are important. They must reach the railroad. It's just as important to capture those outlaws. They'll continue to fight against progress. I reckon so. And it is possible that Slaughter and his gang missed or whatever you say goes. If you want me to leave the whole flyin' why herd, I'll do it. What's your plan? Begin to get light, Slaughter. The sun's coming up. Yeah. Don't savvy about those cattle, though. I can hear them ballin'. They haven't moved any further this way in the past half hour. I can make them out now, Slaughter. Yeah, they are, Sim. Why don't they herd them through? The sun's shining through the past now. We can get a good look. Slaughter, what happened to the flyin' why a range crew? There's a whole herd of cattle, but only two riders with them. How quiet! What happened to the mask man and Grant and Thomas and the others? Hey, look. Those two riders are startin' to prod the cows along once more. Yeah, that's right. Hittin' them this way. They'll pass right below us. I still can't figure where the other men went to. You can search me, Whitey. Daily. Those two are riders. The rest must be around some point. What the... The mask man! Up on the slope above us. We've been tricked. We set a trap and walk into one ourselves. One, Slaughter, here we come! They're charging down on us. What do we do? We can't cross the valley. Slaughter, it's jam-solid with cattle. Pack tight his free drinks at a bar. We'd be croffled to death if we tried. There's no choice, gents. Take care of them, Grant. I'm heading back to the flying wire to see Tuttle. Mr. Thanks to you. We'll get the cattle on the railroad. Won't we, boys? You'll let me know, Grant! Kino, Kino, you got us. But I don't figure how. How'd you know what we planned to do? Well, Slaughter, Whitey broke away from the ranch and told you what we planned to do, didn't he? Hell, only the Lone Ranger was too smart for you, Ambrose. He was figuring one step ahead all the time. You see, Slaughter? The Lone Ranger planned things just that way. Yep, he made sure Whitey heard about our plans and he made sure Whitey would find their shed door unlocked. As a matter of fact, it was the engine himself who attended to that little matter, the Lone Ranger and his engine pod. Yep. It takes more than a bunch of back-shootin' bad men to lick that combination. Oh! Just Heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.