 with a speed of light, a 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 come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse, Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. The furious beat of a horse's hoofs echoed in the shadowy night. Dan Reed quickly reigned in his all-white cold at the edge of the trail and gave the oncoming horseman the ride away. He saw a youth, his face strained, his eyes intent upon the trail, reigned swiftly alongside to stride a black stallion, then disappear into the night. Golly, something must be wrong. Sure isn't a hurry, huh, Victor? Come on, boy, let's travel. We've got to meet the Lone Ranger. Come on, Victor! A short time later, the black stallion and his tense young rider raced to a halt before the porch of a ranch house. The youth leaped to the ground. Tim, oh, Tim, I'm so glad you've come. I thought perhaps Father had sent you with the other men to herd steers. Wait a minute. Tim, what's happened? You look so, so strange. Amy, I can't explain, but I've got to go away. Go away? But why? Where? I don't understand. Honey, believe me, I'd tell you the reason if I could, but I, I can't. How long will you be gone? I don't know. Maybe a month, maybe forever. Oh, Tim, you can't mean that. We, we were going to be married. We can't be married, Amy. We can't ever be married. Tim! It's better this way. I'm no good for you. You, you got to forget we ever met. You don't have to run away just because you've stopped loving me, Tim. You can keep on working for Father just as if nothing had happened. Oh, Amy, Amy, do you think I could ever stop loving you? Don't you understand, dear? I, I don't want to go. I've got to. Then what is it? You can tell me. Tim, you're in trouble. I can see it in your eyes. What is it, darling? What's happened? Please, Amy, don't question me anymore. Have you... is the sheriff after you? What makes you say that? I never saw you wear two guns before. Well, I, I... Oh, Tim, whatever it is, whatever you've done, don't run away. Stay here. We'll see it through together. Amy, I can't. Somebody's coming. No, Tim, not your guns. Well, if you two ain't together again, you're as kitten so seeing one of you without the others is rare as snow in July. Hello, Dad. Evening, Mr. Thatcher. Hey, what's eating you two this time? Make it up your mind is when you're fixing to get hitched? I, we, well, not exactly, Dad. You see, Tim... Yeah, glad to look at you. You're blushing like a bride already. The god of honey don't tell me this young maverick ain't even proposed yet. Well, you see, sir, I... If it's me you're worried about, Jim, forget it. You've been one of my hands for only six months, but I knew you were coming the minute I laid eyes on you. I've got great plans for you as soon as you and Amy make up your minds. I reckon I'll be going. No, Tim, no. Yeah, what's your hurry, young fella? Evening is young. Run over and warm yourself with the fire. Can't be chilly out here. We're coming, Dad. How are things in town? Kind of exciting, Amy. There's a rumor going around that that young bandit killer, the cactus kid, is in these bars. The cactus kid? Amy, you don't think... Yep, of course we can't be sure, because nobody in these diggers knows what the critter looks like, but the marshal's coming over from Crown Point. He can identify the kid on the side. When is the marshal coming? Tonight, Tim. As a matter of fact, he ought to be here. In a minute. Here? Yep. We're holding kind of a meeting here, and we'll discuss with what the cactus kid's done and how we can recognize him. Well, what has he done, Dad? What hasn't he done is more like it. Low down, coyotes, robbed, and killed folks in three counties. Even hanging is too good for him. Oh, no. Amy, you mustn't believe him. He dropped out his side about six months ago. I reckon the law was too hard on his trail, and he wanted to wait till it changed quite a down. I see. Mr. Thatcher, I've got to go. I can't stay here any longer. Who in tarnation can that be? They won't get me. Thatcher! That's it. Wonder what got him all stood up. Tim, quick. You're going to escape by the black door. Amy, you mustn't believe me. I'm not... Please, go. Go quickly. Boss, you're very compassionate. He's been a murderer. A murderer? All silence possible, but killed. Somebody shot him and set his house on fire. It's blazing now. The boys are getting ready to fight it. Well, go with you. Who do you suppose done it, sir? Ain't but one hombre in these parts who could have done it and asked Cactus' kid. Oh, that's not true. I... What's that, Miss Amy? Nothing, Seth. I... Come on, Tim. We've got some firefighting to do. I can't, Mr. Thatcher. I've tried to tell you... Here's the boys with the horses. You know time to talk now, Tim. Climb onto that black ear, isn't it? Let's ride. But, Mr. Thatcher... That red-haired boy for the last time saved it. That fire won't wait. I'm going with you. You stay here, Amy. The Cactus' kid's lurking around that house. I'll be done quickly. I don't care. I'm going. I've got to. All right. Join it with all this play. We'll never get there in time to stop the fire. Amy. Oh, Tim. All right, boys. Let's ride. Meanwhile, three figures, Captain and Roy, watched a red glare spread against the night sky. They were the Lone Ranger, Tonto, and Dan. Fire, Tonto. Maybe seven, eight miles from here. Golly, maybe it's a prairie fire. No, Dan. A prairie fire spreads fast. This one is concentrated in one spot. We go. Maybe help put it out. Bobby. Here's a little bit. Come, Scouts. Come on, Victor. We're going to ride. There's nothing more we can do, boys. That house is too far going to save it. And old Silas Constable's gone with it, thanks to the Cactus' kid. Yes, I guess you're right, Seth. Old Silas kept a lot of cash in that house. He wouldn't trust the bank with a dime. Kid must have heard about it and murdered them so as to make a rich haul. Dad, how can you say that? Oh, son, raise your namey. What's wrong with saying it? All right, Amy. It was the Cactus' kid. Tim, you don't mean... Oh, good, Marshal. Hello, Patcher. Thought I'd find you here. Yeah, Dimash. The boy's me with this remark. And this fire looks like it might be the work of the Cactus' kid. He shouldn't be surprised. He's a mighty... Hey, wait up there. You're not taking me. Out of my way, Patcher. Wait! Tim! Grab him, Patcher. Got it, Marshal. We won't... Make another wrong move, kid, and I'll let you have it through the heart instead of the hand. Kid, you... You don't mean Tim is the Cactus' kid? That's just what I mean, Patcher. I reckon because nobody means parts knew what he looked like, he thought he could pull the wool over your eyes. Come on. Find him out of his car. I'd better take my guns, Mr. Patcher. I'd guess I'd slap the leather if you hadn't been standing in front of the Marshal. I couldn't shoot Amy's father. Tim... Hey, you two-faced snake. Passing yourself off on me and my daughter is an honest, enterprising man. All you wanted was to use my ranch for a hideout till he could risk robbing and kill another decent folk. You don't understand that. You're coming with me, kid. About time you saw the inside of a jail. Amy. Golly, they've captured the Cactus' kid. They're heading for town. Ah. Then not notice us on fringe of crowds. Are we gonna follow him? No, Dan. Marshal Brand is capable of taking care of the kid. All right. Oh, Silver, oh boy. Oh, thank you, oh boy. What's your fee? Is that you, big fella? For this match. May have been one of those used to start the fire. Ah. That's strange. Match broken. Yes. Here's another one. Breaking matches seems to be a habit with a Cactus' kid. Yeah. Hey, but it couldn't have been a kid who started this fire. Why not, Dan? Because I saw him about an hour before the fire. Riding in the opposite direction. Are you sure? Maybe you make a mistake, Dan. Pretty hard to see horsemen in dark. I took special notice of this one though. Because he was riding so hard, he almost ran Victor and me down. And I got a good look at him when he went by. That's a yard. Yes. Dan is right. The real murderer of Silas Constable is still at large. Gosh. And the ranchers believe the kid did it. There's something strange about the kid. Did you notice the way he behaved when he was caught? The real killer would have opened fire on the Marshal whether Thatcher was in the way or not. That's right. I wonder. What do you think? Is that a big fella? The Marshal's from Crown Point. You keep the kid prisoner in the local jail overnight and start back with him in the morning. It's too late to start back tonight. Come on, Silver. Get him out of the scoundrel. Come on, Victor. Where are we going? We're going to visit the jail faster, Silver. Get him out of the scoundrel. Come on, Victor. Stand here, Dan, for you can keep a lookout in all directions. Yes, sir. You'll know what to do if you need to warn us. Come along, Donald. Uh-huh. Lift your hands. Mask. An engine. Keep your gun in leather and you won't be hurt. I'll borrow these cell keys. What are you aiming to do? Visit your prisoner. Keep him covered, Donald. Ah, me watch him. Kid. Well, who's that? Boy. Perhaps you'll know more if I light this match. Well, are you masked? I want to talk to you. Eh, you must have another name besides the cactus kid. What is it? It's Tim. Tim Craig. You'll notice that I've left your cell door open, Tim. You're free to go. What do you mean? Well, the services of the cactus kid could be very valuable to certain parties on the outside. You mean outlaws? That's what you are. You want me to join you again? If you remain a prisoner, you'll hang. I... The door is still open, Tim. You're free to leave whenever you want. I... No. No, I'm not going. I won't join your gang. That doesn't sound like an outlaw. What if I did escape? They'd only catch me again. Let them do what they like with me. Even hang before all I care. What's that? I've got to go now, Tim. I don't give up. I'm going to help you while I can. I don't understand. You don't talk like an outlaw. Who are you? What is it, Donald? An inch more up come. Can't be angry at a kid for a fire murder. Maybe hang him. We've got to stop them. Come on. Hey, wait up there. Look at that, man. Look at that again. And an engine. Hey, that's not all right. It's part of the captain's kid. What are we waiting for? Let's get them boys. Come on. 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. As the lynch mob swept toward them, the Lone Ranger called to his nephew, concealed in a clump of trees. Stay where you are, Dan. They can't see you. We'll join you later at camp. Yeah, but what about you? Come on, puddle the horses. Let's get them down. Here, Silver. Hey, big fella. I'm not too fast, puddle. I've got to let them keep us in sight. Trail them up. Come on, Silver. Get them up. Pull them to this clump of trees, puddle. Hold, Silver. Hold, boy. Hold. All right, big fella. Do you want them to trail us here? Them right past. I think we're still right ahead. Yes. It'll be some time before they learn the truth. Too late for them to carry out their plan to storm the jail. Now, what do you find out from Cactus Kid? I'm convinced he isn't a Cactus Kid, Tonto. He's simply posing as a killer. Oh, why? I don't know. Oh, we catch real killer. That's the second thing we've got to do, Tonto. The first is to convince Marshall Brant that his prisoner is innocent. Come on, Silver. Get him up to the couch. Late that night, Marshall Brant climbed the creaking stairs at the town's only hotel to his room. Night's work. Yes, sir, mighty good night's work. It's taken me a long time to catch up with a Cactus Kid, but I've done it. Now, if I can only make him tell me where he hid the cash he stole from old Silas Constable. Get me a good night's sleep and start for Crown Point with him at summer. I left a lamp burning in my room when I went out. Eight months since enlightened again, I can find the bunk in the dark. Brant. What's with Sam here? Who's there? Show yourself, Prado, I'll grill you. There's no need for gunplay. That voice seems like I heard it before. You have. We've met before. I could just remember the way till I liked this lamp. The ration I should have known. I came to the window. I'll leave the same way. But first, I have a favor to ask of you. Ask away. I haven't forgotten our first meeting. You turned the Shelley gang over to me single-handed and rid off without even waiting for the reward. I've been hoping for a chance to repay you. Oh, you can, Brant. By keeping your prisoner jail where he is for a few days. A cactus kid? I don't believe he is the cactus kid. He don't believe... Leaping horned toads, of course he's the cactus kid. I've seen that hombre before. At any rate, he didn't set fire to the house. I don't savvy. What do you want from me? Your promise to keep the prisoner where he is till I've had a chance to prove his innocence. I can tell you now you're letting yourself in for a wild goose chase. I'll take that chance. But I owe you a favor. So you have my word. Good. You'll see me again shortly. With the real cactus kid in tow, eh? I hope so, Marshal. Adios. Early the next day, Amy Thatcher was saddling her mare in the corral when she heard her father's voice. They really needed me, right? They really, really. Well, I... I've got several errands to do, Dad. Oh, uh, one of them wouldn't be dropping in to see the cactus kid of the jail, would it? Dad, I wish you wouldn't call Tim by that horrible name. There's his head in it. Likely it's not Tim, ain't his real name at all. I... I still can't believe it. All right. I know just how you feel, Amy. I took a fancy to the youngster myself. But he's a killer. He's got to pay for it. But he didn't look like a killer last night when he let the Marshal take him prisoner without even drawing his gun. You heard him tell why? It was because I was standing between him and the Marshal. Yes, he said he couldn't shoot my father. He let himself be taken and stabbed. Uh, it wouldn't have made no difference if he had open fire. The boys would have nabbed him before he could get away. Dad, do you... do you think they'll hang him? Why shouldn't they hang him? He murdered poor old Santa's customer, didn't he? No, he didn't. He... he couldn't have. Why not? Because he was with me when the fire started. Oh, that just proves how smart he is. What do you mean? Well, he shot and killed Silas, and likely fixed things so the fire wouldn't break out until after he'd been here a time. But how could he do that? Easy. Just set a candle burner on some shaven. They wouldn't catch till the candle burner down low. I... I still don't believe Tim did it. Well, don't make no difference whether you're doing that. Just don't go near that jail. Steady, boy. Sorry, Dad, but I... I guess I'll have to disappoint you. I'm not only going near the jail, but in it. Get up, Prince. Whoa, Prince, whoa, whoa, boy, whoa. This is a surprise. Ain't often a jail gets a visit from a pretty girl. Marshall, I... I've got to see Tim. Who? The man you called the... the cactus kid. Well, I don't know what he means. Mighty irregular for me to let a killer like the kid have visitors. Please, Marshall, I... I simply must see him. Well, I reckon it won't do no harm to let you talk to him through the bars of his cell. Just keep going straight ahead. Oh, thank you. Amy. Tim. Oh, Tim. Oh, gosh, it's good to see you. And you. Tim, tell me it isn't true. Last night, I prayed I'd wake up and learn it was all a horrible dream. Only it were. Tim, you've got to help me. I keep telling myself, but I've got to hear it from you. Tell me you aren't a killer like they say, that you aren't the cactus kid. Oh, Amy, what difference does it make now what I am and what I'm not? They think I'm the kid, let them. You said you loved me. Oh, I do. Then if you're innocent, why won't you fight to prove it and live for me? Fight? Yes. Maybe you're right. He said he'd help me. Who? Tim, what are you talking about? Last night, a mask man visited me here in my cell. A mask man? You mean an outlaw? Well, that's what I thought at first. But he didn't talk like an outlaw. And he wore silver-mounted six guns. Silver-mounted? Yes, sir. I have a message for you. Why, it's a boy standing outside your window. What is it, sir? Who sent it? You know when you open it. How do yours? Tim, what does it say? It says, don't give up. Well, that's what the mask man said last night. Look, something fell out of the envelope. Yes, sir. Why, it's a bullet. A silver bullet. Masked in a silver bullet? Tim, do you know what that means? Well, you've been talking to the Lone Ranger. A few days later, the Lone Ranger and Tonto reigned in their weary horses before the hitch rail of a disruptive cafe in a neighborhood town. In their quest for the cactus kid that explored the woods and valleys nearby towns without success. Unless their efforts were rewarded soon, Tim Craig seemed doomed to hang. This looks like our last resort, Tonto. The cactus kid is around here. He's taking good care to hide his tracks. Uh, what make you think him may be in cafe? Well, it's a hangout for outlaws and gunmen. Maybe the type of place it would attract him. Tim, not say him, not cactus kid. He's shielding someone, Tonto. Not here, cafe. We'll look around, see if we can find anyone who's... What you see? I can't believe it, and yet... Me not savvy. Over by the bar, Tonto. It's Tim. He must have escaped from the jail. Now me see him. That's plenty strange. Yes, I... What you think? I wonder. It's possible. It's possible that he isn't Tim Kimosabi. There's one way to find out. Come on. Did you see that? He looked directly at me and didn't recognize me. That man were Tim. He'd remember me from my visit to the jail. Him not Tim. What makes you so sure? Let me find this in floor beside him. Broken match. Ah, same as match can be used to set fire to house. That's why Tim wouldn't deny that he was a cactus kid, Tonto. He couldn't bring himself to expose the real killer as his twin brother. What we do? Listen carefully. I have a plan. The Lone Ranger, Tonto, Dan, and Marshall Brant are paired at the jail nearby from the concealment of a clump of trees. I don't know. It all seems mighty fanciful to me. If you say it's true. It is true. Tonight you'll have the proof. Ah, golly, I wish he'd hurry up. Seems like we've been waiting for him forever. Maybe he won't get here. He's as smart as he seems to be. He'll come. I thought I made sure he overheard us talking in the cafe. Ah, we make him think we outlaw and make plan to break Tim from jail at midnight. What makes you think that we'll lure the cactus kid into coming to kill Tim? Tim died. Everyone would believe the cactus kid was dead. The real kid would be free of the law. Regan, you're right. Anyway, nothing can happen to Tim. Long as he's being held in custody outside the jail. What is it, Tonto? He sees shadow in moonlight, creeped out of jail. The cactus kid. Quiet then. He wants to have sharp eyes, engine. I can't see a thing in this dark. You'll not see it now. Look. A flame. He set fire to the jail. Come on, Tonto. As the lone ranger and Tonto race toward the cactus kid, flames leap high up the flimsy wooden walls of the jail. It's the jail. The cactus kid's in there. Now get the prisoner out. How that fire gets started. That's the jail. The prisoner will be burned up in there. Where's the marshal? I'll take it easy. Everything's going to be all right. Well, it's started, Marshal. Cactus kid set it afire. I knew it. That proves the kid's guilty. He'd rather burn than stay in trial. He'd have no chance to fight that fire. That wood is dry as tender. The flame's got too good a start. Well, see if the kid's in there. Of course he's inside. Where else would he be? What the incentive are you doing here, Amy? This is no place for a woman, is it? Dad, I've got to know it. Is Tim in there? Yes, Amy is. Now listen to me, all of you. The cactus kid is not in that jail. Where in town good is he? Here he comes. That man's bringing him. Here's your man, Marshal. I guess there ain't no doubt about this one being a cactus kid. I saw him like the jail with my own eyes. Tim? No, Amy, this isn't Tim. It's Tim's brother. You mean that they're twins? Yes, that's why Tim kept silent. He couldn't betray his own brother. Amy, Amy! Tim, I'm here. Amy, I'm free. We're free to be made and live the life we've always wanted. Darling, I'm so glad I fell in love with the right twin. I'm still with you! It is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.