 with the speed of light, the cloud of dust, and a hearty high old silver, the lone ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the masked rider of the planes 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, and the thundering hoof beats of the great horse Silver. The lone ranger rides again. When the lone ranger and Tonto reach the telegraph station, the last one before Canyon City, they left Dan Reed, the masked man's 14-year-old nephew, with the fellow in charge. And you're to stay here till the masked man comes back. That's all I know about it, Daniel. Oh, I don't mind. I never saw a telegraph before. You mean to say you can really talk with this little button? Well, not exactly. Talk. You push the key down and makes a click. Then you let her up, and there's another click. Like this. You savvy? Oh, is that all there is to it? Well, when you heard that click, the men all along the telegraph line heard the same click. How could they? They've got an instrument like this, too. It's electricity that does it. Now, if I make the clicks like this, that's called a dot. And if I make them like this, then it's called a dash. There's a code worked out. Each letter having a combination of dots and dashes. The lone ranger told me something about how a telegraph works. Golly, it sure is wonderful the way science is doing things. Daniel, when the construction crew gets done with the job at noon tomorrow, Canyon City will be hooked right up with the big cities in the east. Why? I think it can happen way in the east, and we'll know about it inside an hour. Jeb. Yep. What's wrong? Who said anything was wrong? Well, there is something wrong, isn't there? Go on with it now. You're just guessing. Oh, I'm not guessing. We were east to here when the lone ranger was talking to a man in one of these stations. Dan, I don't know if you appreciate what a lucky youngin' you were. Oh, sure I do. Travelin' with the lone ranger. Jeb, you're changing the subject. The lone ranger heard something in the other station, and then he in town would change our course and came here as fast as we could. He left me with you and went on to Canyon City. Oh, he just wanted to talk to Tom Case, and that's all. Who's Tom Case? He's the boss of the construction job. They're stringing the wires to Canyon City. Was Tom Case having trouble? Now, why in thunder should you ask him? If the lone ranger didn't expect trouble, he would have taken me with him. He wouldn't have left me here with you. Dan, as a matter of fact, this construction's been nothing but trouble from the outset. Them buzzards that run the Rocky Hall outfit are makin' it. Who? Rocky Hall construction outfit. They want the job of stringing the wires from Canyon City onto the west. If Tom Case and our gang don't set the last of them poles in Canyon City by noon tomorrow, the chances are Case will lose out on the rest of the contract. Well, if Tom Case and the others are near Canyon City, what are those men out there doing? Oh, they're just putting the finishing touches to the wires that's already in place, and keep in watch. They create day in the morning. It's Indians. Dozens of them. Let me hit that window. Hey, fellas, look out! Redskins! Give me that gun, Dan. Not a fire signal. They see the Indians. The ordinary Redskins. Let me have a gun. I can help. Get your head down. Keep it down. I'm gonna try to signal Tom Case. Maybe he'll hear and come right up. Jeb. Jeb! Cut that. Cut that. The window. Yes. Now, what can I do? Tell me. Signal. Tom Case. Tom. Jeb. Jeb, speak to me. Tell me how to signal him. Just tell me what to do. Well, Jeb, can't you speak? Oh, Jeb, if you can only tell me the code. Here it is again. Doesn't that signal mean anything to you, Case? Not a thing. I never heard Jeb send in that style. Three tap again. Tom, though, I told Dan very little about the telegraph. You suppose the signal of three. Tom, though, you told Dan that three smudge fires or three gunshots was a signal that help was needed. Three of anything. He's signaling us. You mean your nephew, the signal of that way? I'm sure of it. Come on. But why don't Jeb send the signal? Perhaps for the same reason that help is needed. Get your men together and follow me. Hey, boys, come on, mount up. Where's Silver? Come, Scout. You go on ahead, Case, follow us. We'll be with you. What do you make, fella? Come on, Silver. Get him up. Meanwhile, a few miles to the east, the men who had been working near the station fought their best. They had scant shelter when the Indians first rode down on them. Their sheltering wagons would be useless in short moments as the Indians were riding in the circle, firing from the saddle. While the battle raged outside the station, Dan stayed by the brass instrument, repeating the only signal he knew. And the faint hoped it would reach the lone ranger, be understood, and bring the help so badly needed. Well, if only Jeb still lived. He could send the message. If he could just tell me what to say. What was that? One of the telegraph poles blew up. Those dirty redskins, they blown up one of the telegraph poles. There goes another. Larson, I'm going to rush him and try to stop it. Oh, be a fool, Kerry. All are knowful they can't blow up our work like that. Look at them. They're fixing to blow up another one. Stay here. That's an order, Kerry. Larson, you can boss me on the job against... You'll be killed, Kerry. I'd sooner die than see all our work blown up. Will you boys help me rush him? No. How about you? It's suicide. Stay here. They'll have the next brass set in a minute. It's too far to stop him with a six-gun. I'm going to... They're coming. Who? Well, it's a lone ranger. It's on Casey and the men. How'd they know about it? Look, the Indians have seen them too. They're running away. Yeah, but they were heinous. Look at them turn tail and ruin. Well, Mr. Case, it looks like you and the mess, man. The boys here are just in time. Yes, we couldn't have held out much longer. I did it half in Larson. Did you have guards posted around the campus I ordered? Well, no. I figured we needed every available hand for the job. I don't give orders to hear myself talk. Tim Redskins must have had everything well planned. First thing they did was to drill old jabs so he couldn't wire for help. Well, you mean... You mean they killed him? Yes, sir. He died before we could do anything for him. The Indians will plant more blast than powder to blow up the pores when you... That's strange. Ah, Indians not use blast and powder? What do you mean? I'm not sure the men who attacked you were Indians. Not Indians? Then who could they be? This isn't Indian territory. Ah, that's right. Indian land west to here. West, huh? Did you hear that, Larson? When my surveyors were charting this route to Canyon City, you advised me to approach from the west to avoid the Redskins. I must have made a mistake, sir. Don't make any mistakes again. Or I'll get a new gang boss. Yeah. All right, boys, back to work. Come on. We'll go to the telegraph office and look around. Yeah, I want to look after Jeb. Oh, blast, Larson. If he had had guards posted, I'm wagering all this wouldn't have happened. Come on, Silver. Leaving Tom Case inside the telegraph office with Jeb, the lone ranger and tanto met Dan and then walked around the tiny shack in search of a clue to the raider's true identity. Is that the window, Dan? Yes. That's where Jeb was standing when he was hit. Him make easy target. Did you see who shot him? Oh, yes. He was over this way, back of this rock. I'll show you. I saw him mountain right away. I see. He looked like he was creeping up on the house to kill Jeb from behind when he appeared at the window. Here. He was right here. Oh, here tracks. A moccasin prints. Oh, here's his knee print, too. Golly, that's right. I remember he was kneeling when he drew aim. Him wear a patch on knee, shaped like diamond. Here, design and print. Yes, Kimo Sabi. We shouldn't have trouble recognizing that sign if we saw it. Him not Indian. Not a... Well, how can you tell? When Indian walk, him point toe in. When white man walk, him point toe out. And the toes of these moccasin prints are pointed out. But who'd want to do a thing like that? The same gang who've been making trouble for the telegraph line since Tom Case was given the job blaring wire. They probably hired renegade Indians. Ah, gang tried to delay him. Make him lose contract. Well, they did delay the crew a little by blowing up those poles. And if Tom Case doesn't lay the last stretch of wire in Canyon City by noon tomorrow, Rocky Hall will take over. Tom can replace a blown-up pole. He hasn't stopped yet. You think that gang will try something else? I think so, Dan. That Rocky Hall gang won't stop as long as there's a chance. They're determined to make Tom void his contract. We could only find out what their next move is to be. Maybe we can. Case insisted that Larson post a guard tonight. Larson say him stand guard himself. Yes, Tutto. Larson is always on hand when something happens. I'm going to be on guard, too. I'm going to watch Larson. Oh, I can help you. Dan, you'll stay with Tom Case. In a roundabout way, I'm going to let Larson hear that I'm watching him. As the lone ranger on Tonto lay watching in the darkness, a stranger came toward the camp and joined the guard, Larson. That boys are all asleep. We'll shove on now. Whenever you say, Larson. Come on. Be ready for some fun. How's that? We're going to be followed. Oh, yeah? That lone ranger, the critter with a mask, is watching us. You found that out, huh? He'll follow us. We'll lead him right to the middle of things. There they go, Tutto. You know your part? Huh. You know. Stay here. I'm going after those two. Beneath his mask, in anticipation of the plans ahead, the lone ranger had his face disguised. He walked slowly through the darkness. He saw the two ahead turn a corner in the trail and for a moment a steep cliff shot them off from view. Then he too rounded the curve and... Reach! Get them up! Reach for the sky! I couldn't reach it no matter how I tried, Larson. Oh, smooth one, huh? We'll make one fast move and we drill you. There's men on all sides of you. All right, boys, close in. We got the lone ranger. The curtain falls on the first act of our lone ranger's story. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. To our story, the lone ranger has been captured by the Larson gang. Gagged and tightly bound, he was taken to the gang's headquarters in a cave where his mask was removed. But the gang did not know that the lone ranger was wearing a disguise and that even unmasked, his identity was still unknown to them. Most of the gang then departed, leaving only Bat and Larson to guard their captive. Is our last chance to ruin a case with a telegraph company, Larson? Slip up this time, we're cooked. You're not telling me anything I don't know. Rocky Hall only pays off for results, not alibis. You've been handed out a lot of the last. I ain't seen you produce much in the way of results. Meaning of what, Bat? Meaning the boys were all set to do some real damage to the line when you fumbled the deal. I fumbled it? You'd taken care of the kid when he did the jab you wouldn't have had the lone ranger in case his men on your necks. I didn't know the kid was there. You should have told me. I'm advising you to make sure where you stand before you start shooting off your mouth, savvy. Ah, there ain't no sense of you getting riled. I just mean to point out that the boys are might suspicious, they won't get paid. They'll get paid. Not unless we prevent Tom Case from laying that wire in Canyon City by noon, they won't. None of us will. Case won't plant that last pole in Canyon City by noon. I don't know. What's his stopping? Plenty. When's the last time it ringed? Must be in month or more, why? The prairie grass between the camp and town is mighty dry. So dry it's just about crackles in your fingers. Whatever. It'll make mighty quick-burning fodder for a fire. Prairie fire. Yeah, with a breeze blowing right down Case's line of telegraph poles. Them dried timbers that burn like paper. And the construction gang that'd be so busy trying to put out the flames they wouldn't have time to push the wire through to Canyon City. Now you're talking sense. And Rocky hauled a takeover Case's contract. And we'd be paid. Paid plenty. Still, it ain't a sure thing. What do you want, a written guarantee? With all the cash we've got at stake, there ain't no sense in taking chances. What are you getting at? Well, the boys and me were riding here to the hideout. We spotted a herd of buffalo. Buffalo? Yeah. Big head of them. They were grazing near the upper end of the canyon. What of it? One buffalo are mighty unreasonable critters when you get them going. You mean a stampede? Why not? With the prairie fire licking at their heels, they'll run just the way we want them to. Yeah. Straight for the construction camp, I bet. Sure. And smash things up propping, including the men. They'll try to fight the fire. I said, take it. Well, me and the boys will take care of the stampede. You ought to have a cinch set in a fire in that dry grass. Yeah. The weight of the flames are high, wide, and handsome before you stampede the buffalo, just to make sure there'll be plenty of their heels to keep them running. Tom Castle won't have a chance. I don't aim for them to have any. I took plenty from that all day when I was pretending to be as a gang boss. Now it's my turn to dish it out. Well, what about the lone ranger? I'm saving him for afterwards. I don't savvy. It's a matter of putting a sixth gun to his head right now. That's too easy, Bat. Too quick. And too ordinary a death for the lone ranger. No, Bat, I've got plans for him. I want to get a lot of satisfaction out of the way he dies. We dies? Yeah. Slow and easy to make the pleasure last. Early the next morning, Larson and Bat and their men rode swiftly off to attend to their plan. Behind them in the cave, they left the lone ranger still tightly bound but with his gag removed, guarded by two of the outlaws. Seated under a large hole which tunneled through the rocky roof of the cave to the outside air, the two outlaws played cards to pass the time. How many cards, Leif? I'll stick to what I got. Standing pattern. This must be your lucky hand. It better be. Dealer takes two. You open, Leif. Aye. It's a matter. Thought I heard footsteps. You must have the willies, Leif. Nobody'd come snooping around here. If they did, they wouldn't find the cave. It's too well concealed. I guess you're right. Sure. Go ahead, place your bet. I'll bet this. Yeah, I'll raise you. And I'll raise your... Listen. You hear that? Sure, but... Sounded like it came from just outside the hole the tunnels through this roof. Your local, Leif. Keep on and you'll give yourself goose pimples. I don't scare easy. Tell you, I did hear something. Abbot, you're away. But are you staying in this game or aren't you? Of course I'm staying. I'll raise you. Now, are you talking? I'll raise you again. While Leif and Dean concentrated on their poker game, secure in the knowledge that no one could enter the cave without their knowing it, the lone ranger heard a faint signal. That's Toto. He looked about, ready to distract the attention of the guards if Toto appeared. He saw nothing. Then he heard a faint scratching and looked overhead. He saw a noose dangling from the hole in the roof of the cave and then it dropped. Hey, what the... Meekalum! Dean! Dean! Make a move on that rope. We'll be jerk-tiders. Please. Good work, Toto. Meekalum! Get me out of this! Stand where you are. Dean untie my hands. Stay on the job, Toto. Be ready to pull up. I'm nearer to you. Don't pull it, Toto. Strangle him. It depends on your partner. Get these ropes off. Wait a minute. Don't stand there gawking and do what he says. If I so much as move, I'll find myself swinging on the busted neck. Hurry! He's drawn it tighter. Come on. Get this rope cut. I will. Hold still now. There. That's better. Now what do you... Come on down, Toto. I'll take care of this one. Meekalum! Hey, you! He thinks you're in a hurry. Good work, Toto. Take those ropes. We'll tie these two. Meekalum! I thought you'd be here sooner, Kimosabi. Meekalum! Make sure. Gang not watching. A little time left. Hurry with that roping. We've got to turn a stampede. This side are all tied. Good. Now I'll sew this one. Wear the horses. And then near. I'll find cave. Hey, Silver! Yes, coach? Follow me, Toto. There's a lot to do. Easy, big fella. Come on, Silver! Get him on the couch! Concealed by the tall, dry prairie grass, not far from Canyon City, Larson's hard, thin mouth smirked with amusement as he watched Tom Case's construction crew approach the town from the valley below. For a moment, he let his eyes play over the scene. The first division of men digging the post holes, the second cutting the poles and setting them in place, and the third stringing the wire so eagerly awaited in Canyon City. Then he struck a match and lighted the prairie grass. The dry brush caught flame quickly and soon was ablaze. Running from one spot to another, Larson set fire to more and more of the brush until a curtain of flame leaped along the prairie and bulked by a high wind to crackle down the slope toward the construction camp. Did it take a smarter man than Tom Case to stop this blaze? If it can't be stopped, wind is taking it down the hill right toward the camp. An telegraph pole to be burned like matches. Supply wagons too. And all the timber and wires they freighted over the mountain to finish the job. After this blaze, Case won't have anything left. There goes Battenham boys, stampeding the buffalo, driving them right in line with the fire. The buffalo will really step when they feel that blaze heating their heels. This is where Tom Case loses his contract to Rocky Hall. The bat and me settle for a nice lump of cash. Tom the Valley toward the Arroyo which rutted it and the construction camp on the opposite side thundered the shaggy main buffalo leaving the now roaring inferno the prairie fire behind. Then the desperate construction crew saw the familiar figures of the lone ranger and tunnel riding furiously to their camp in advance of the onrushing tide. They raced to the rear of the herd of cattle which the camp tended for beef and fired their guns to stampede the steers. What are you aiming to do? Stampede the cattle, Case. You men, over here. No savvy. Drive the cattle away from the camp. The buffalo may follow their lead and swing in behind them. If it works, I'll sidestep the telegraph line. Your only chance. Hurl them boys, grab them. Hey savvy. The buffalo are driving in. Look, they're turning with the steers. They're changing course. The telegraph poles, stampede the buffalo now. We've got the work to do. Come on, syllabus. Raising back to the camp, the lone ranger led the construction crew to a stream which flowed nearby. We'll still be more close on our homes. Up here, men. Quickly outlined a plan as the prairie fire roared down the valley toward the camp, the men sank charges of blasting powder into speedily dug holes in the bank which formed a juncture between the stream and the arroyo. Then a series of explosions rent the air. Water rushed through the juncture to flood the arroyo which got at the bottom of the valley. For a moment the flames of the prairie fire seemed to suspend themselves in the bank of the arroyo in an attempt to bridge the water to the construction camp on the opposite shore, then slowly simmered out at the water's edge. Who's that coming? The gang who's responsible for setting the fire and stampeding the buffalo case. Ah, them right. Plenty fast. Yeah, that's what I can't figure out. They look like somebody's chasing them. The sheriff is chasing them with a posse. Look, the gang's turning off. They'll get away. Come on, syllabus. Get them up, scouts. Come on, boys. That's a rocky hole, gang. After them. Oh, man. The crew's riding the headers off. What? The lone ranger. You won't take me. Shut that gun. I'm shitting lead at you. Oh, man, you! You want another? I'm going to surrender, man. That's a foul to settle with you two. You, Larson and Baird. Not as many as I have, Sheriff. Ask them who put them up to all the low-down tricks they pull on us since we start to lay wire for this telegraph line. I don't have to, Erskham Case. I know it's a rocky hole outfit, but they got more to answer to than that. Murder. Murder? Yeah. Killing old Jeb Collins in the telegraph office. I had nothing to do with that. That was Baird's work. Well, you're double-crossing scouts. That's enough out of you two. Yeah. In case you don't want to lose that contract to rocky hole, you better start bringing that telegraph wire into Canyon City. Yeah, that's right. You heard him, boys. Get moving. I reckon we got enough evidence to a crooked play to blast the rocky hole outfit out of business, huh? You know, we can thank the Lone Ranger for that, Sheriff. Yes, and tonneau. Yeah. And young Dan Reed. He's the one who rode to me with the Lone Ranger's plan to surprise them coyotes from behind. You have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.