 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty high of silver, the lone ranger. A faithful Indian companion's huddle, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the planes led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. So where in the pages of history can one find the 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. Come on Silver! Let's go big folks! Are you Silver? He can't own their duties when suddenly the engineer closed the throttle and applied the brakes, shoveled from his grasp and sprawling him on the floor of the closely confined cab. As the train screeched to a stop, the engineer wiped his forehead in relief. That stopped her just in time. You all right, shovel? Yeah, I think so. What did your animals mean to matter? Well, a life. They shot a conductor. Yeah, we shot him. If you don't want the same thing, stand on your feet and raise your hands high. Yes, I'm standing. My hands are up. And stay that way and nobody will hurt you. All right, boys. I got these two. Go ahead. After the train, after shooting three men, the bandits called passengers and crew and robbed them individually. The leaders killed the guards in the baggage car and escaped with more than $20,000. Then the bandits joined outside the train and kept their guns ready as they backed away to where their horses were tied. They fired shots wildly at the train, leaped onto their horses and galloped off into the nearby hills. J. Kincaid, vice president of the railroad, met in the main office of St. George's with Guy Morgan, the head of railroad police. Morgan? The Lawton Gang again, the telephone train. First time they fell upon a bar train within a month. Mr. Kincaid, I don't know how it's possible, but they seem to be getting inside information. The four trains they robbed were the only ones that carried big sums of money in the baggage car. Yes, that's right. There's a leak. It's your job to find it. Yes, it is. We've another money-shipping next Wednesday. A payroll for our employees at Dodd City. And the cash reserves for the new bank they started there. The lies down at the buttons will try another hold up as we're sure to find you. There'll be almost $70,000 in a train. They wouldn't pass that up if they knew which train was carrying you. It'll make sure they don't. The lies to banks to corporations. Well, let's hope so. Nevertheless, I'll expect you to take extraordinary precautions this time. I'll do that, sir. I have an idea in mind already. I'll gather my men together before the shipment leaves here. I'll get the instructions there. Guy Morgan assembled his railroad detective squad in St. Joseph four days before the plane would leave with a large money shipment. Now, maybe it's just an accident that the lot not fit to sell up only trains where the railroad was carrying large sums. But then again, it may not be so accident. Mr. Morgan. Yes, please. You mean you have an idea where the lot and the deputation is from? I didn't say that, did it? You have an idea? Me? I don't know, of course not. You any of you other men? No, I'm already out of it. Then I'll continue. There's a reward for us if we capture the lot and gang. We don't expect their learn of the shipment we're about to make, but we'll take no chances. We'll have a trap set and ready for them. So with that thought in mind, I'm selecting 20 of you men, and I'm swearing you to complete secrecy. Later alone with the 20 men selected, Morgan gave his instructions. Only two of you will leave danger with the shipment that's mine. Now, that of course is ready to be seen. The others will leave singly or in pairs today quietly. You'll stop at towns I name along the train route, and you'll stay there and board the train when it reaches the towns I schedule. That way, it's hardly likely you'll be noticed, just in case the buttons have a spy somewhere at this end or on the train. That's not likely, Smith. Not between here and Junction City. Lot and the other gangs work west of there, where it's hilly, not greatly populated. We'll all be aboard when the train leaves Junction City, and you'll be ready to start shooting if any outlaws try to hold up the train after that. The Lot and gang did have a spy who advised them when the railroad carried large money shipments. He was one of Morgan's own private detectives, Scott Beeler. Beeler, who had obtained his job with false credentials, was sent ahead to Junction City, or he would board the money train when it reached there. Two days later, in Junction City, away from the railroad station, he was met by one of the Lot and Brothers gangs, Buzz Geary. Hi, Scott. Boys, you got your message. They were surprised to hear from you so soon. Something wrong? No, Buzz. Why'd you send you? You don't want it as much as they are. Suppose someone sees you. Now, let me worry about that part, huh, Scott? It won't stay long, if that's what you're nervous about. It's not that, Buzz. I just think the boys should be more careful, that's all. Sure. I'll tell them that. Now, stop looking over your shoulder and tell us the reason for the message. Nervously afraid to be seen with a notorious outlaw, Mark Beeler told of a plan for protecting the money that would be aboard the Wednesday train from St. Joseph. He sent it as a trap. More than anything else. But why is it someone's tipping the game wrong? Not wise to use it. Oh, no, no. Don't worry. I wouldn't be here. Be truthful, Buzz. I don't think it's a trauma, aren't you? Lawton will want to try for this money. It's my job to tell them when it's coming through, so I thought I would. They can decide for themselves. Yeah, they usually do. Hey, Buzz. What's wrong with you? What are you staring at? That Indian across the street. See him, man? Looking right at us. What's the matter? Get against the law for Indians to look at people? He's just another engine. Lots of them in this town. He's only walking anyway. Yeah, but the way he looked, I thought maybe he knew you. I quit being so afraid to be meet with me, were you? All right, Scott. Tell me what you want the boys to know. I'll tell them. On the outskirts of Junction City, the lone rangers await a tunnel's return from a nearby general's store. On the Indian return, the lone rangers could tell by his manner that something was wrong. Hello, what's happening? He must have been back one street round corner. We see Buzz Geary. The outlaw? Hello, are you sure? No. Him talk with other men. Other men. Act brave. There's no one on the street to notice my mask. Lead me to where you saw him, hello. The masked man followed tunnel, but stopped suddenly as a horse and wig turned the corner. They stepped back into a space beside a deserted shack. As the rig passed, Potter grasped the lone rangers' arm and knotted his head towards the man driving. You must have it. Man in rig. Him talking to Buzz Geary. In the hurry before Geary gets away. When they turned the corner, there was no sign of Geary anywhere. The lone ranger reached the decision. I'll let him know to the sheriff. Tell him you saw Buzz Geary in town and put him on the alert. He and his men can do whatever they decide to this point. Toppo delivered the message to the sheriff. Methalone rangers are at their appointed spot. Together they rode westward over the main trails. I'll tell you there. Get him up. Get him up. Two days passed before Buzz Geary arrived at the secret hideout of the notorious Lawton Brothers. High in the rugged hills that overlooked the single-track railroad. Tom Lawton, older of the few brothers, listened to Bealer's message as relayed by Geary. He said, and turned with coldly smiling eyes to his brother, Arnie. Arnie, you hear that? $70,000. If I won't hold like that, we could settle down for life. Yeah, we sure could. We could sneak down to Mexico and forget all about the law, Matthew. What are you saying? I've taken over this train. I'm all for it. Tom, Arnie, didn't you hear what I said? There'll be 20 railroad cops on board. All carrying guns and ready to use them. They may have guns, but if we don't have guns, we'll have to use them. We'll have to use them. They may have guns, but if they're dead, they can't use them. Now, you see, we wreck the train. Wreck it so completely, we kill everybody aboard. What do you think of that? Everybody. By Tom, you wouldn't do that. You, you shut up. Arnie, what do you say? They're gonna hang us for the murders we did already if they get us. It doesn't matter how many we kill now. I like your idea, Tom. It is if we get the $70,000. If everybody's dead, we'll have all the time in the world to go through the baggage coast. No matter how bad it's wrecked. Yeah, but suppose they don't all die. We have 15 men with guns. They'll die, all right? All right, let's start planning. The train leaves St. Joe today. It'll be along sometime tomorrow, won't it? Yeah, it usually gets to Snake Hill early in the afternoon. That's where we're gonna wreck the train. On Snake Hill? At the bottom of it. Pick it up. The train's gonna climb that steep grade at the top of Snake Hill. Then at the top it's gotta make that half-in turn between those two rocks on both sides of the track. Yeah. Then it goes right down here. And pretty fast, too. Right. The best part is, when it's passing between those rocks, the engineer can't see the bottom of the hill. Well, that's where you and Jacob remove the tracks tomorrow morning. The bottom of the hill. Just the two of us? Yep. Only got tools for two men. You two know how to use them best. It'll take two of us some time to remove one section of track, and that's what we'll have to do. So you have time enough to do it? Meanwhile, Arnie and I and the boys will be up in the hill. We'll keep an eye out for the train when it's way in the distance before getting to Snake Hill. When we see it, we'll ride down, join you fellas, and be ready to take over when the train crashes. Once the train starts down that grade, the engineer will have time to stop it. The lone ranger and taco after leaving Johnson City rode through the hills heading westward always. Shortly after high noon on the third day, they were riding along the trail that looked down on the railroad tracks below. The spot where the rails snaked uphill through walls of rock made a wide turn and then seemed to plunge downward abruptly until it reached level ground once more. A movement near the track at the bottom of the hill caused the lone ranger to stop his horse. He raised his field glasses to his eyes while the rest of the men were working their way out here on the tracks with no work car or hand car near. Look through these glasses. There are two men down there. Look at the one on the right. That's Geary, isn't it? It's him, be sure. Him, one we see in Johnson City. The strains in St. Joseph's Dodge City pass us on this track sometime today. Geary's down there, he's up to no good. Keep it down after him, Chief of Cuddy. At once, Cuddo. A curtain falls on the first act of our lone ranger adventure. Before the next exciting scene, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. They are behind the place where they had seen Buzz Geary and another man. They slowed their horses to a stop. Then they dismothered. They walked slowly almost noiselessly until they reached the spot where they could see and hear the two men. The outlaws had disconnected an entire section of rail from the track and were now busy using sledge hammers and cutting length of steel. Buzz Geary and Jake Alton bought their sledge hammers down against the rail and sent it sliding across the ties onto the embankment to the side. What do you know, Jake? We finally made it. It's all going up hot. We haven't time to rest even. That train will be along any minute now. Look what the sun is. I think Tom and Arnie would have sent down to see if we had this rail knocked out of place, wouldn't you? They knew we'd have most of it busted up. We'll be perfect. Look, John, what a wreck this is going to be. She was a lot of mess to cause just to get... How much did you say was on the train? That biller says $70,000. That's just for a payroll. That bank and died city. Could be a lot more. Well, let's get back into shade. Yeah, but keep your hands up when you do. You're a masked man and an Indian. All right, you've got that drop on us. You must have it. You hear? Claim with him. Yes, I hear. It smiles away. Hey, what's the idea? The idea is we're going to stop you and the Lawtons from slaughtering hundreds of innocent people. Hey, how do you know about the Lawtons? We stood behind a tree back there to hear why you planned to wreck the train. You told us why. Well, you heard, huh? What good will it do you? You can't stop it now. Besides, the boys will be down behind you in a few minutes, and then... Hey, what are you doing? The Lone Ranger took the rope that Taunta was carrying and stepped towards Buzz Geary. I'm going to tie you and your partner. No, no, you're not. Too slow, Gary. Hey, you knocked him out. He's out too, Taunta. That makes it easier. Still hasn't reached the other side of the hill. I'll ride along the side of the track, get to the top and make the turn, then ride down the other side. I'll stop the train before it begins the upgrade climb. Uh-huh. We tie up these two. Back them back behind, please. As Taunta bombed the Outlaws, the Lone Ranger went to where Silver was tied, mounted the horse and started upward alongside the railroad tracks. When he reached the top of the incline with a track curve, the siding ended abruptly. At this point, two rock walls seemed to close in on the track, allowing only enough room for the train to pass without making contact with the natural walls. Careful now, Silver. Easy, boy, easy. The last man guided his horse onto the track. Silver went around the hairpin curve, treading gingerly on the rail ties. Silver was riding downhill once more in the direction of the oncoming train. As he reached the bottom where the upgrade would begin, he led Silver onto the side bank once more and galloped forward just as he saw the train come into sight a few hundred yards away. The Lone Ranger leaped to the ground and led Silver away from the tracks. Then he sped back to the tracks and began to run along the ties in the direction of the oncoming engine, waving his white sombrero as he did so. Engineer Jeff Ford was about to reduce the speed of the train as it neared the start of the upgrade at Snake Bend, but his startled eyes as he leaned his head outside the engine cab saw something that caused him to change his mind. He shouted at his fireman, Shovel McCune. Shovel, get your gun ready. It's a hold up. A hold up? Yeah. One of the bandits is running this way along the tracks. Try and wave us down. How do you know it's a bandit? He's wearing a mask and I'm running him down. Start shooting. The Lone Ranger was within 30 feet of the train when he realized the engineer was ignoring his frantic signals. The train seemed to increase speed and he jumped nimbly to the side seconds before it bore down on the spot where he bent. A movement from the engineer's cab caused him to dive to the side bank instinctively. He heard shots and the ricochet of bullets around him as he rolled down the side of the road bank. The man's crazy. Going up that grade full speed, I must stop it. The Lone Ranger leaped to his feet astounded by the engineer's actions. He saw men leaning from the windows of the cars behind the coal cars. He started to signal them. Then realized they had guns and were aiming at him. He made a dive into some roadside brush but no shots followed him. The throttle was open and the engine was climbing the grade too fast. The wheels began to spin on the rails causing the train to lose traction. The cars lurched and bumped sending the gun aiming passengers to the floor. The Lone Ranger rolled to his feet once more filled with a new realization. I think I'm a hold up man. I'll shoot if I show myself. There's only one other chance and I'll take it. The masked man ran back toward the left silver. Then he galloped away from the track found traces of a path leading upward on the hill parallel to the stall train and guided his horse along this. He reached the summit of the hill and ran to the edge of the rock that walled in the train from one side. He saw the engine almost directly beneath him with a loaded coal car directly behind without hesitation he leaped from the top of the rock downward. Landing on the coal pile. Engineer Jeff Ford was red faced and intent on getting the train to the top and around the curve. Fireman Chubble McEwen was stoking the roaring furnace. They paid no attention to the figure crawling into the cab from the coal car. Ain't blast these bandits, Chubble. That's the first time I ever stalled. Maybe they'll catch up with us now. They will if you don't stop this engine right now. Chubble, what are you... It's a man again. Stop this train. I don't want to use this gun, but stop it. All right. As Jeff Ford pulled back the lever this time atop the hill on the curve. At the same moment, he pulled a corn above his head. There, Dave. Bet you. Shoot now if you want to. I'm a friend. I've come to warn you. The track at the other side of this hill has been torn away. Torn away, you say? At the bottom of the downgrade? Yes, and the Lawton gang is waiting there. Ready to rob what they hope would be a trainload of dead people. I don't believe you. It's too crazy a thing like that. It's true. Why are you wearing that mask? You're abandoned. Weave in that gun too. Sure you're abandoned. Do you think I'd be here talking to you if I were? Sure. You shot at me when I tried to stop you before. This gun isn't for my protection. Well, it's no help to you now. I pulled a cord when I stopped the train. It signaled the train guards in the first car to come up here, like we arranged. Here's the head of him right behind you, coming in the same way you did over the cold. Stop that gun, mister. Get your hands up and turn around. Nice work, Mr. Morgan. Morgan? Mr. Guy Morgan? You? How did you get here? What's this all about? Mr. Morgan, you know this man's fella? Wait till I get down to this cool trap. There he is. Nice shoe right in the way. He's the best friend of the railroad I ever had. Well, doggone. Mr. Morgan, tell this engineer to get a good head of steam without delay, but not to move the train. There's a reason for it. What is it? All right. Do as he says, Jeff. Right. All right. Now, what's the sound? Tell me. Briefly and quickly, the Lone Ranger told his story up to the present moment. When he finished, he made a suggestion that Morgan agreed. We'll do it. Say, Jeff, when the cord is pulled from back on the train, you start again, but very, very slowly so that you're not quite reached the bottom of the hill. You can manage that? Sure thing. If there's a break down there, I'll baby this engine right up to within two feet of it. No need to get that close. Come on. We'll plan back the first car. Guy Morgan calmed the regular passengers, then assembled all his detectives on the tracks behind the last car of the train. He finished his instructions. Now, somehow, they learned about the money this train has carried and planned who sales slaughtered to get it. But maybe we'll surprise them. We'll try anyway. Mr. Morgan, you say they were going to wreck this train? Rack? Destroy is the word. None of us would have survived. I tell you, Bealer, the Lone Ranger... Oh, just a minute. Bealer, you said? Scott Bealer? Yes. Yes, why? Yeah, but of course. I recognize you now, Bealer. I saw you drive away from your meeting with Buzz Geary three days ago when you met him in Dunkelton City. What's that? He met with Geary the other night? That's a lie. No, it's not. I heard Geary mention you by name only a short time ago. He said you gave Lawton the information. No, Bealer. It's you who's the gang's spy, huh? You first. You won't take me. You won't. Too slow, Bealer. Nice shooting. All right. The A.W. who go back to the train take Bealer with you. Manage him and tie him up. All right, Bealer. Come in. Give the rest of us five minutes to get over the hill. We'll come in behind the lotters. In five minutes, pull the signal cord. The train will start. But have your guns ready to use when it stops. All right, everyone, let's get going. The lone ranger led Morgan and his 11 men down the hill but away from the tracks so that they came to the spot where Toto and his prisoners waited. Toto signaled for silence when he saw them and whispered to the lone ranger. Come in. All gang down the tracks, wait for the train. See me? Yes. I see the Lawton brothers, too. Mr. Morgan, we are too late. Tom Lawton and his gang have waited restably for more than 20 minutes. He turned to his tense-looking brother, Arnie. I don't know what to think. If they suspected about the tracks, they'd have come down here by now. No, Arnie. It's just another one of those dumb engineers. They don't know how to climb hills. The train bubble hit the top of four. Yeah. As it comes down past, it'll spoil all our plans. It'll mean we get it. It's coming now. All right, ready, boys? And coming down slow. That means we'll have to hold it up. Come on, there's no chance of any wreck now. You're right, Tom. There'll be no wreck. I'm hit. You have a chance to run. The lone ranger and Ty Morgan leading the railroad police quickly moved in on the Lawton gang. The outlaws turned ready to shoot but the guns of the attackers rolled them down. A few of the bandits in panic started to run in the direction of the train but the engine stopped and more men leaped from the cars shooting at the bandits. In less than a minute, Arnie Lawton, wounded as his brother had been, called for the rest of the gang. All right. We give up. We give up. Come on, man. It took some time for the train men to get the track back in place. Time during which the wounded outlaws were banded and in which Scott Beeler decided to talk. The lone ranger and Ty had remained on the scene for a while as Morgan heard Beeler's complete confession. Engineer Jeff Ford tugged at his shoulder. Mr. Morgan, you sure put an end to the Lawton gang today. Yes. That confession of Beeler's ties him up definitely with all the holdups and with murder. Yeah. But you know what? While you were so on things up, the man who helped you sort of snuck off. He did? What did you tell me, Jeff? I did nothing of this thing. He did it all. And we almost killed him before he had a chance to act. I'm sure that I didn't run him down. I thought he was a bandit. Never thought he might be a... same as Mr. Morgan. Who is the enemy? I thought you might have guessed by now. He's the lone ranger. This is a feature of the lone ranger incorporated, created by George W. Trenble, produced by Trenble Campbell Enterprises, directed by Charles D. Livingston and edited by Fran Stryker. A part of the lone ranger is played by Brace Beamer.