 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty high old silver, the lone ranger. Indian companion Tato, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. Welcome to one of the most thrilling days of yesteryear, from out of the past of the thundering who feeds the great horse silver. The lone ranger rides again. I'm still there. I'm still there. Old Bob and Betty Parkwood near the split rail corral on their father's ranch with worried expressions on their well-tanned faces. The horses in the corral represented a varied assortment of old and young, tame, half-rogan. A number of these were scrubs, but the twins loved it. Gosh, Betty. I don't know. He's talking right. He's serious about them. Maybe he and the foreman aren't talking about selling them at all. They're talking about it already. How do you know? Because of her dad telling mom just a little while ago, he's going to meet with me. I'll hear it to corral and tell him what horses to sell. I wonder if they'll sell blacky. I bet he won't, too. I hope not. Betty, let's see if we can get over close enough to hear what dad and the care sing. Come on. Come on. It's hard to pick them. I wouldn't do it if I didn't need the cash. It's too bad it has to be children instead of some man that knows how to treat a horse. I suppose I should consider myself lucky to find someone that's willing to take the scrubs. As good as I've needed Cullen for a long time. You'd have those scrubs on your hands for a long time if children could buy a horse flesh anywhere else. He's tried and truly has tried. Other ranchers won't deal with him. Well, I'll deal with him. I've got to. Well, you've got to pick three more. What about that bay? Well, he's a bad riding horse. Short-winded. Mark him down. That makes 13. We need two more. It's getting hard to pick him. How about that oversized paint? He's mean. He's a good-looking horse. Good-looking, yeah. But it's poison. One of these days, he's going to turn the killer. You better get rid of him, boss. He's a dangerous one to have around. Especially with a couple of nine-year-olds that like horses as much as you're interested in. All right, McKay, mark down the paint. We'll need one more, don't we? Yeah, one more. But boss, I... What is it, McKay? Why don't you tell Cirrus he can only have 14 horses? He wants 15. But we don't have 15 to sell at his price. He's paying for cubs. He's not buying first-class horse flesh. Mack, you know, blame well, there's one more horse neck rally we ought to get rid of. I don't know any such thing. You do. What about Flacky? Well, I... Flacky should go with those others. All right, maybe he should. And again, maybe he shouldn't. You know what? Store your youngster's head on that horse. He's the... Sandman can't enter into horse team. Well, it doesn't. You know, blame well, it does, boss. If you didn't feel the same as I do, you'd have picked Flacky and the first five horses to go. Well, I... You've been hoping you could make up the 15 without taking Flacky. Isn't that it? Yeah, I reckon you're right, man. I can't do it. Flacky's got to go with the others. You really mean that, boss? Put him down. That makes 15. Cut him off first thing in the morning. All right, boss. You see something? No. No, Dad. Hey, what's this? Dad, you can't sell Flacky. Or you can't let Flacky go. Where did you two come from? We're right over there, Dad. We've been hoping you would get rid of Flacky. You can. You can't do it. Oh, Flacky's our friend. The children will beat him. He'll mistreat him terrible. Oh, please, Dad. Do what Max said. Tell Mr. Childress he can't have 15 horses. Now, just a minute, both of you. Listen to me. If I'd promised you two I wouldn't sell Flacky, I wouldn't do it. You'll never know me to go back on a promise. Of course not. You? No. All right, then. I made a promise to Mr. Childress. I promised him 15 horses. But Flacky's always been our horse. He's the one that taught Bob and me how to ride. You kids are young. Too young to have a horse of your own. You just wait a couple of years and I'll get you a first class saddle horse. One for each of you. But we want Flacky. No, you don't. Flacky's old and stowed in. He is not. I didn't mean to say it that way. But I mean... I'm sorry, kids, but it's gotta be the way I said it. Let me see how brave you two are. Eh, come with me, Mac. I've got some instructions for you. All right, boss. Go along, guys. Don't cry, Betty. Please don't cry. But Flacky, go on. You just wait. Flacky's our friend and he's not going to get a horse with my Zeke Childress. Not if I can help it. What do you mean, Bob? Maybe they think they're going to sell Flacky. But they're not. If they've taken the Zeke Childress, they're going to get him back. It was the next day when the top hand, MacKay, returned to bark to the ranch after delivering the cold horses. He rained up at the ranch house to report to his boss. Easy, boy. I got back faster than I figured, boss. Yeah. How many was that? Yeah. He got the horses to Childress, all right. Yep. Any trouble? No. No trouble. I sure hated to see Flacky go. Poor kids, they feel sorry for him. So do I, MacKay. I can't be helped. Here's the money. The Childress paid up in cash according to the agreement. You better count it, boss. You counted it, didn't you? Sure. Jim, have you seen anything of... Oh, sorry to interrupt. It's all right, Marvin. MacKay just got back from delivering the horses. I don't suppose it's the only thing of the children around the crowd, did you Mac? The kids? No, ma'am. Yeah, I wonder where they've gone. I've been looking everywhere for them. You didn't see them, did you, Jim? Me? No. I just came in from the saddle check, and they weren't out there. Where can they be? I'm worried. I reckon they'll come in when they get hungry. And if that don't fetch them, the storm will. It's gonna rain in a little while. But they've never been away this long. Jim, you don't suppose something could have happened to them, do you? What could happen to them? My name. The sakes alive. You can't expect them to stand to your nose all the time. Now, they don't show up in an hour, so I'll go looking for them. Ah, come by the cash, man. Ride for us and go over it and make sure children didn't hold out. The Barton twins were father or foothold that either of their parents realized. Goaded by their affection for the old horse called Flacky, they'd made their way to the children's ranch. Meanwhile, the sky had grown dark as thunderheads rolled up with rumbled warnings of a coming storm. There's Flacky. See him? Through the bushes there. If we take Flacky, it'll be stealing. The children can send him to jail. He won't get the chance. Bob, let's go back home. Please, I-I'm tired, and I'm so awful hungry. And besides, it's gonna rain. Flacky'll be more tired and hungry if we don't rescue him, but... We'll get him over there. Doesn't he look sad and more so? He does. You've got to help me. But how can I help, Bob? What should I do? Do you get rocked there? Yes. You can stand on top of it and watch out for Mr. Childress while I climb the fence. We've got to hurry or we'll get wet. Two horsemen had been riding toward the children's ranch. One was an Indian with the other wore a mask over his face. They were the lone ranger and his faithful Indian companion, Tonto. They rained up near a dense growth of bushes to study the sky and wind. Right up, Kimosabi. Oh, so it's gonna open up? Open up. Look at those clouds, Tonto. Ah. Then, underhand. Plenty dark. If anyone who wants a lot of rain the wind is in the right direction. The storm's going to hit a little while, Tonto. That's right. When it comes, it's going to hit hard. After the storm has been building up for a long time, many people need water. They'll get it. Maybe too much of it. What do you think? Well, Indian entirely expect flood water. You see, plenty Indian move into hills. Perhaps we'd better get into the hills ourselves. We need some shelter on the ranch over yonder. Maybe we get shelter there. Oh, not there, Tonto. That's the children's ranch. What matter with children's ranch? I've heard a lot about Zeke childrens. He doesn't know how to treat his horses. Oh. I don't know anything to do with a man. Easy. Tonto, do you hear that? Ah, that kind of big thunderbolt. You're talking about the thunder. I thought I heard someone shouting. It sounded like a child. Don't let me hear that. Young scamp. Let me go. I'll deal with you just as I do. I can't take your horses. Let me go with the children. I'll use this whip on you until you've had a lesson you'll never forget. You let my brother go with the children. Don't you dare hit him again. I'll give you a taste of this whip. No, no. Please. I'll teach you. Please. That's enough of that. What's over here? Come on. Come on. Let them go, children. Look. Man. You want to mix in? You can have the whip. Two here. You need this. Doing here. I'll tell you why they're here, mister. I'll tell you why they needed the lick and I was giving them. Well. Those two young scamps are playing downright horses. Horses. Yes. I'm going to have the law on them. I brought them right here after stealing one of my horses. I won't believe until you've said it about you, because I don't think you and your sister are horses anymore. Well. I guess. That's it. Children is right. We're just what he said we are. And Bob Barton, you can't deny it. We're a horse season. Tonight I reckon we deserve any punishment we get. Curtin Falls are the first act of our load ranger story. Before the next exciting scene, please submit us to pause for just a few moments. Continue our story. After Betty had said that she and her brother were horse thieves, the load ranger and tanto took the Barton twins and Zeke Childress into the Childress saddle shed where they heard the story of old Blackie, while the storm broke in all its fury. The masked man listened to the story of a gentle old horse that was greatly beloved by the twins. Yes, we were going to steal it. But he didn't stop to think. He didn't stop to think. There's a minute, George. Like he means much more to these children than he does to you. Ah, tell me, Rod. Yes. Loyally, it's something you wouldn't understand. Let them have the horse. I'll go home with them and explain the situation to their father. I'm sure I can make him understand it so he'll return the money you paid him for Blackie. Bob, oh, did you hear that? Dolly, do you really mean that? What do you say, Childress? Why should I? I'll tell you one reason why you should. It's about time you did one decent thing. Here's another reason. You deserve a lot more punishment than I gave you. I'm ready to continue where we left off. Are you? Well, you don't give me much choice. No, Childress. I don't give you much choice. Take the horse. Betty, Betty, did you hear that? We're going to have Blackie. We're going to have her horseback. Oh, mister. Oh, mister, you're awful good. Lean down here. I'm going to hug you as tight as I can. There. Well, that's a pretty fine report, babe. Well, stop the foolishness. You're going to take the horse, take it, and get out. You're going to stay here until the rain stops. Are you going to go home with us, mister? Yes, Bob. I'll go with you. You and Betty can ride Blackie. Rain stop. Plenty quick. As tired as soon as we can, Tutto. Going to beat Dorothy before we reach the Barton Ranch. After the storm had spent the worst of its fury, she continued into the darkness. By that time, Martha Barton was almost beside herself with worry for the twins. She paced the floor of the house waiting for Jim and the foreman to return from their search. Then she could stand at no longer, leaving the door wide open and the frenzy father dashed into the night. I've got to find them. Blackie's pitch. Martha didn't know where she was going. She didn't care. Bob! Betty! Stumbling over a protruding root, Bill struck her head against the trunk of a large tree. Lay both of them. What's happened? Hold that landed close, Mac. Well, boss, she's hurt. She's hit her head. Martha, speak to me, honey. Oh, Mac, this looks bad. Yeah. Better get her to the house, boss. If you would take the landing out, carry her. No, no, I can carry her. You just go ahead and hold the landed. Wait a minute. Is she breathing? Yeah. I hear a horse coming. The twins! Heather, not alone. There's three horses there. Oh, Silver Horse. You twins. Who's that with you? A horse, one of those masks. What's happened here? Hold on, mister. Just who are you? What's that mask, man? Who's the Indian? Save your questions a little later. Where have you kids been? How'd you get that horse? Oh, Dad, we went over to Mr. Childress' place and Mr. Childress caught it and he was going to lick us when the masked man came. And the masked man helped us. You've been gone all day because you went to get your horse back. Yes. Just a minute, boy. What? How is she, Totter? Her. Plenty bad. That's what I thought. Is there a doctor in town? Yeah. Doc Hathaway. He's the only one. Better go get him right away. This woman's badly in need of expert attention. Well, Mommy, die. I'll get going right away, boys. Take my horse, man. Right. Meanwhile, we'll get this woman into the house. If she dies, it's because of that dog going worthless, no count horse. Let's discuss that later. Follow me, Totter, and lead the horses. I need Dr. Plenty bad. Mommy! Facing the floor won't help, Barton. That dog. That dog-owned horse. He's responsible for this. If anything happens to Martha, it's that horse who'll be to blame. Mother, speak to me. Can't you speak to me? Not yet, Barton. You, Bob, if you hadn't gone to get back at Stoom and Old Critter, Father wouldn't have gone out looking for you. Don't say any more right now, Barton. Perhaps you'll have blamed for selling the horse. What's that? Blackie means a lot to Bob and Betty. You might your own affairs, Mr. Mack. I'm sorry. Where's the doctor? I couldn't make it, boss. What? The bridge is down. The river's a raging flood. I couldn't get across. You mean you couldn't get to town? You couldn't get the doctor? That's right. We're completely cut off from town. We've got to have the doctor. Martha will die. No, I know. I did my best, boss. There's no horse alive can cross that river tonight. Oh, but Blackie can do it. Blackie? Blackie, here. All right. You mention that horse again, and I'll shoot him without waiting for daybreak. Barton, I'm going to have a try at that river. You? Come with me, Tutto. Bob, we're going to borrow your horse, Blackie. What are you talking about? No horse can cross that river. And even if you were lucky enough to get across, you couldn't get the dock back. You'll have to take a spare horse for the doctor. That's why I want to borrow Blackie. He can do it, Mr. Honesty can. Let me go with you. You stay here, Bob. Tutto will go with me. Uh-uh. Are you ready? Blackie. He'll not stand on horse. We'll take him along and leave him on the side of the river. Why do that? Blackie's got to justify the love of those children. Any way, Silver. Will you leave Blackie? Uh-uh. He'll leave them. He'll be a big fella. Oh, Silver, come up. Come up, Silver. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on, my man. By the load ranger and Tutto, who led Blackie reach the bank of the river, they found it even worse than they had anticipated. Whitewater chured madly in the darkness. Tutto thought the task ahead impossible. You're going to stay on this side, Tutto. I'm going ahead on Silver and lead Scout. You've got to have him to bring the doctor back. Maybe Dr. Notcom. He's got to come. You stay here. Tutto, try it. Hit the ground, Tutto. No. We don't like it. I'm sorry, Kimosabi. Come on there, Scout. You're going with Silver and me. Take a look at that water, Silver. That's where we're going. All right, come on, Silver. Silver immediately struck water over his depth. He struggled bravely, holding his head high. While the masked man holding firm to Scout's bridle, sheltered words of courage. Hold him, Silver. Hold on, boy. You can make it. You've done this trick before, and you'll do it now. What could the doctor do if he didn't get here? The masked man said he'd have medicine, so it would help her. Ah, what's the use of thinking of that? If the streams which you said, no man or horse could cross it. It's all I said and more. Black, you will know how much depends on him. Don't you mention that horse again. You hear me? There must be something we can do. I wish I knew what to suggest, boss. I can't just stand here. I can't just wait and do nothing. You know, there was something about that masked man. What do you mean? The way he acted, the way he talked. He seemed so old-fashioned, sure of himself. You think he could cross that stream? I don't know. Even if he could. Even if he got to town, he couldn't get back with the doctor. You seem to think he could. You know, I've been thinking about him, boss, and wondering... Doc! Doc Hathaway! How'd you get here? Go ask me how I got here, Barton. All I know is a masked man come to my house and said I was crossing the river on horseback. Oh, doctor, doctor! Do something for mommy. You can help her, can't you, doctor? You've got to help her. Open my bag, Barton. Well, I have a look at the wound. An Indian looked at it. Doc, he said that you... I know. He told me about it. Doc, did you really cross the river on horseback? If it hadn't been for that masked man and the extra horse he brought for me to ride, I'd never been able to make it. Hello, Barton. Barton, need careful watching and a lot of attention. And she'll have to be kept quiet. And you... you think there's a chance? Yes, she'll live. Oh, don't go in there. Now I'm going to stay right here for a day or so to make sure that she's out of danger before I leave. Doc, you... You can have anything I've got for crossing that river on a night like this. You're indebted to the masked man. You're indebted to the masked man who came to get me and the horse that defied the river. Doctor, wasn't my horse... was it Blackie? Well, it was too dark to see the horse's collar, Bob. The masked man told me I could call the horse Blackie. Dad, Dad, did you hear that? Blackie crossed the river. I guess I made a mistake, son. Blackie's a part of the family. I never should have sold him in the first place. Bob... Betty... We're here, Mom. We're right here. And Mommy, Blackie's here, too. And he's going to stay with us. And everything is all right. Everything's all right. And if too bad, Scout would not get credit for helping you, Silver. But if not married. I guess Scout wouldn't mind helping a poor old horse like Blackie establish a reputation. Daddy, need you to come up. Most of the land, let's count. Until the... Copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.