 Firey horse with a speed of light, the cloud of dust and a hardy high old silver, the lone ranger. At his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the planes 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. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeat of the great horse, Silver. The lone ranger rides again. Come on, Silver! Let's go, big fellow! I am Silver! Hey! When Tonto camped alone, he was even more completely hidden than when he made camp with the lone ranger. Tonto was alone in an arroyo and unnoticed by two men who met in a clump of cottonwoods on the level ground a few yards away. Well, here's half the cash ticket. You and Red will get the rest when the job is done. All right, Jico. You just make sure Tonto carries in the tunnel tomorrow morning. We'll do the rest. He's there every morning. He's working the night alone for the time being. There's another angle that maybe you didn't think about, Jico. What's that? Tom Carter's got a wife. If he's killed, won't she and Herod his share of the gold mine? She will if she's alive. Then how can Tom's death help you and Pa now? That didn't concern you, Ticket. Make sure you blast between 10 and 11 tomorrow morning. That's all you had to do. You'll get the blast. There's a very good chance that Dory Carter will be in the tunnel with her husband. That's heavy. I should have known that you and Pa now wouldn't overlook anything. Maybe me and Red should charge him more, being as there will be a double murder. You're hired to place and fire charge a powder, that's all. If anyone is in the tunnel, their death will be accidental. Don't worry, Jico. We won't raise our rates. I'll be around at noon tomorrow to collect a balance that'll be devious. Adios. Adios. Get up. Get up there. Jekyll and Tiger rode in opposite directions. When they were gone, Tonto brought his paint horse out of the arroyo, mounted, raised toward the top of a nearby hill. Get him up, scoundrel. There he built three fires. Towers of smoke were noticed by several people who saw no reason to become excited. They were also seen by a masked man. You knew there were Tonto's way of saying, You come quick. There's trouble. All right, Tonto. Send him in. Concealer! The lone ranger held his great horse, Silver, to a steady loop that covered a lot of ground with a minimum of energy. He went through a lush valley then at the top of another hill. Again, he saw the signals rising against the setting sun. Twilight lengthened into darkness, and then, instead of smoke, there were three distant dots of firelight for a beacon. The masked man pushed on through the night, pausing briefly from time to time to give the gallant horse a chance to rest. Morning found him at the burned out fires. Tonto was gone, but the Indian had left tracks that could be followed down the shale-covered mountain. In the side of the mountain, two men watched from their place of concealment. They saw Tonto approach the mouth of a tunnel and look around carefully. How about it, Taggart? Should that drill that red skin? Not yet. Hold it, Red. But he's snooping around. Look, he's right where we got the fuse burning. Shots likely to bring Tom Carter to investigate. It looks to me like the red skins put out the fuse. Wait, Red. He's going away. I still think I ought to shoot him. Ah, let him go. What's the sense in killing someone unless we're paid for it? Getting to his horse. Riding uphill toward the place where he had built signal fires, Tonto saw a powerful white horse and a masked rider coming to meet him. Who's the... Oh, Scottie. He's a big fella. Oh, you... You see signal? Yes, Tonto. What's going on? Three fella. Own goal, mine. Two fella, higher killers, to murder a third one. Look down there. You see entrance to mine? Yes, I see it. Who's supposed to be killed? Young fella who worked mine. Him named Tom Carter. Last set near mouth of tunnel. We better warn him. Uh, him not in tunnel now. We stop him on way to tunnel. Send him to wake and camp. Good for you. You know the men who arranged the murder? Feller named Jekyll, higher two killer. There's a couple of men down there heading for the tunnel. Are those the ones? And then, fella, who set blast. Blast go any minute. Me say fuse, Vernon. Then why are those men heading for the tunnel? Maybe think Tonto put fuse out. You've got to try to stop them. Come on, silver. Get them up, stop. You got matches, haven't you, Tiger? Yeah. I'd like to club that red skin for stepping up the fuse. They don't matter, Red. We can later again. Hey, look. The fuse is burning. Get back, Red. It's almost to the powder. You two, get away. Hurry up, Red. A land slide following a blast swept silver off his feet and through the lone ranger to the ground. The land slide increased in fury. The lone ranger and Tonto and their horses were carried into the valley with a sliding chain of gravel. The lone ranger lay momentarily stunned against a massive boulder. As he regained consciousness, he heard an angry voice on the other side of that boulder. And for that, I'm killing you. Carter. Oh, plenty of food. Put gun away. How was the food? Well, it just sent me away from the tunnel. If I'd gone home, my wife wouldn't have been killed. The only reason I don't shoot her right now is because I am to get some information out of you. And you better talk and talk faster. I'll start nipping your ears with lead. And what do you want, no? Why did someone trick my wife into going in the tunnel to go as long as...? Take it easy. Carter. Put the gun down, Tom. Yes. So you're in cahoots with this Indian? The gun. I'm not putting it down. See? You can shoot me if you want, but even if I'm hit, I'll manage to get this Indian. Let's put it this way, Tom. Your finger tightens on that trigger. You might get tunnel, but I'll certainly get you. I'll just talk it over. Oh, him make big mistake. Wife, not in tunnels. And where is she? She's not at home. How do you know that? I was just there. I saw the note that someone sent telling her that she was to meet me inside the tunnel. Why do you go home? Me tell you, go camp. Wait there. Yeah. Yeah, that's the way you'd have liked it, huh? I was trying to tell you that your wife was not in the tunnel. You see, Jacob hired a couple of men to kill both you and your wife. Jacob? No, I can't believe it. He's always been a close friend. I won't believe it. He and Mr. Pornhill Grubbs take me for a long time before I struck gold. Now that you've struck it, they begrudge you your share. They hired two men to close the tunnel with you and your wife inside. Who are the men? They looked to me like a couple of men who make killing a profession. Where are they now? I think they were caught in a blast. The last I saw of them, they were near the mouth of the tunnel. I think they were trapped with a landslide. Where's my wife? You see her plenty soon. Tom, listen to me. Well, the men who tried to kill you and your wife will try again unless they're exposed. The only witnesses against them are dead. It'll take a lot to convince me that my back has double-crossed me. It'll take even more to convince the law. That's why everyone must think that you and your wife are dead. Late that afternoon, Sam J. Kew sat in his office with another successful businessman named Henry Pornhill. You example the mountain there, Pornhill? That's right. And it'll take at least two weeks or digging to reopen the tunnel. Two weeks, huh? If Carter and his wife weren't killed by the explosion, they'd suffocate or die of starvation before they can brew leaves. My, my. Isn't that a shame? Some men from town are digging around, but they're not getting very far. There's an awful lot of loose rock to be moved. Well, partner, it seems as though we've increased our holdings in a valuable piece of property, huh? What about the men you hired to work for us this morning? What about them? Is there a chance they might talk? Well, I know they don't do business with anyone who's likely to tell everything they know. Uh-huh. Tagging Miss Powell are murderers. They signed confession of a murder they committed a month ago. Oh, I see. They won't turn on me. They don't want to hang. You see, uh, make it a practice to get something I can, uh, all over my associates. You should know that. Yes. I know. How did you get the confession from them? The same way I got one from you, partner. They wanted to borrow money without security. I gave them a loan, took the confession. They know if they don't pay me back, I can hang them. Speaking of the money I borrowed from you... What about it? Are you ready to repay me? No, but I have other security now. I have quite a bit of property. I'd like to give you a mortgage on my property and take back the, uh, document I signed. If you died suddenly... I don't expect to die suddenly. No, but if you did, the sheriff might get that confession. That would be unfortunate, wouldn't it? You'd, uh, better do all you can for now to see that I don't die suddenly. Hey, Mr. Jacob. Well, what do you want? I just came over the mountain while there was that landslide. What about it? I was there a little while ago. Have they broken through to our tunnel? No, sir, but they found two men who'd been buried with the slide. Two men? Yeah. Was Tom Carter one of them? No, sir. One of them was Lefty Taggart and the other was a red-headed fellow that had been seen around town with Taggart. How did they get caught in the landslide? Well, gosh, nobody knows, Mr. Jacob, but they sure was trapped. They're being taken over the corners for burying. What about the tunnel? Well, men are working on it, but it'll take a couple of weeks of digging to get her open. What a shame. Yeah, it sure is too bad for Tom Carter. Most unfortunately. I guess there's not much hope for him. Worst of it is, I guess his wife was in there with him. Well, you better get back and give a hand with the digging. Well, yes, sir. I'm going right away. I just thought I'd better tell you about Taggart and his friend. Thank you. You heard that, poor man. I heard it. That disposes of those two. Did you have a hand in it? The death of Taggart and Red. No, that was just coincidence. A lucky coincidence. Now then, you better go over to the tunnel and keep an eye on developments. All right. But how soon do you think we can readjust the stock issue? Not until we have proof it cut in his wife or dead. There must be proof, eh? I mean to say that dead bodies will have to be produced. Certainly. Well, I'll get over to the tunnel. I'll keep you posted. Please do. Oh. Yeah? I've been waiting for you to come out of Jekyll's office. Mashed? There's your horse hold saddle and waiting. Not up and keep your mouth shut. Who are you? It doesn't matter. We have a job to do and we need you to help us with it. Get that saddle and keep quiet. But I tell you... You'll get to understand. Yes, yes, I am. Put that knife away. Easy, Silver. They're going to ride between us. But where? And why? What do you want to be? You'll find out. Start your horse. Get up there. Come on, Silver. Get him off the count. 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. Now to continue our story. Hornel was surprised when the Lone Ranger and Tonto captured him and left the office of his partner, J.Kill. During the ride to a camp in the nearby woods, he regained some of his composure. Oh, so... What's going on, Polar? Bonner, Polel. Sorry, Silver. This is abduction. Is it? You can't get away with it. I don't care who you are. I have a friend, in fact, a partner who will see that you're punished. Indeed. Yes. If anything happens to me, you'll have every lawman in the county searching for you. What's the name of this influential friend? J.Kill. Samuel J.Kill. I dare say you've heard of him. So you think J.Kill will put lawman on my trail? He certainly will. Just as he did in the case of the murderers of his other partner. What do you mean? I'm speaking about Tom Carter. What makes you think he's been murdered? Oh, I'll admit it doesn't look like murder. But you've got to admire J.Kill. He certainly plans things carefully. What do you mean? Your finish will look like an accident, too. My finish? Oh, yes. Didn't I tell you? You're not going to kill me. Not exactly. How about the pitfalls, I know. Is it ready? Ah, it's already. It's right over this way. Pitfall. There are mountain lions around here, you know, Pawnel. Every so often you'll find a pitfall, someone is dug and bedded in the hope of capturing a mountain lion. It's quite easy to step into one, but practically impossible to get out. Either way, Tutto, I'll bring Mr. Pawnel. Now, wait. Well? Did J.Kill pay you to do this to me? You'll have to figure that out for yourself. Now, wait. For what? I have money. I'll pay it to let me go. No matter what J.Kill has paid you, I'll pay you more. You haven't cash enough in your pocket to interest me, Pawnel. Start walking. I'll get more. More? You mean you go back to town, get more money, then bring it back here to me? Yes, yes. Oh, no, Pawnel. I think the temptation to stay in town might be too strong. But I don't want to die in a pitfall. I don't suppose Tom Carter wanted to die in a tunnel. After all, you'll be better off than he was. You'll have plenty of fresh air and light. You can look at the trees in the sky, hear the birds, while you're starving to death. Here, pitfall. This is it, Pawnel. Lots bigger than a grave, isn't it? Oh, no. Deeper, too. Too deep for you to climb off. No, no. Don't put me down there. Please don't. I'll do anything. I'll give you all I have. Give me a hand, Willing Tutto. We'll lower him as gently as possible so he won't break a leg when he lands. I'll take his right hand. No, no. Please. Please don't put me in there. Over, Willing. Don't let me go. Don't drop me. Let him go, Tutto. Help! Pawnel, in this game, there is no mercy. Within an hour, the Lone Ranger and Tutto were back at Jake Hill's office. The masked man entered without bothering to wrap on the door. Jake Hill leaped to his feet. Hold it, Jake Hill. You're covered. I met Pawnel a while ago. I saw you through my window. Rope him, Tutto. If you do nothing of the sort, I... We tried. Take that rope off. Just let me go. There you do this to me. Make it tight, Tutto. What's your idea? What do you want? Pawnel learned a lot from you, Jake Hill. What? Half of a gold mine is better than a third, but the whole is better than a half. So that's it. You taught Pawnel a few things when you planned Tom Carter's death? Who says I planned such a thing? Oh, we needn't discuss that. Put a few more knots in the rope. Let me do it. Here's Pawnel out of his mind. Doesn't he know what'll happen to him if anything happens to me? What will happen to him? He'll hang. That's what'll happen. You tell him that. Tell him the confession will be found. Very interesting. You'd better untie me before I decide to turn that confession over to the law. Perhaps Pawnel has found the confession. He has not. Well, he didn't speak of it when I talked to him. I doubt if he's worried much about it. He'd better worry about it. It will probably be destroyed the same time you are by the same accident. Actually... Perhaps I should say the same fire. What fire? Well, this building will go fast. Once it's started, it'll start quite easily when the candle burns low enough to start the paper burning. Oh, Lord, you can't do that. A moment ago, you told Tom Carter he couldn't rope you. You're a poor profit, Jekyll. Put him in the chair, Tullo. I'll get the candle started. No, wait, listen. Let me discuss this. Sorry? I'll pay you more than Pawnel is. I turned down a lot of offers. Don't do this. We can make some sort of deal. Oh, we can't. Is he tied to the chair so he can't get out? I didn't tie it, buddy. Hold on, then, Tullo. No, no, wait. Come back here. You have about ten minutes, Jekyll. It's too bad everyone is digging on the mountainside. One is near enough to hear your cries for help. Goodbye, Jekyll. Him yell plenty loud, huh? He won't yell long. As soon as he sees a knife, he'll use his energy to get out of the ropes. That's right. You stay here at the window, Tullo. The candle burns dangerously close to the paper before he gets out of the ropes. You'll have to help him. Him got a knife. Stay here until he's free. Then you know what to do. I'm going to find the shirt and tell him what's going on. Study easy, Silver. Come on, Silver! The Lone Ranger found Sheriff Kimberley alone in his office and spent some time persuading the lawman to place confidence in a man who wore a mask. He told Kimberley what he knew and what he had done. Then, by the time he had outlined his plans, Tullo arrived with Tom Carter and his wife. Tom, I'm downright happy to see you and Dory alive. Now you can thank this Indian. Oh, Sheriff, I shuddered to think of the narrow escape we had. Tullo, do forgive the things I said when you stopped me and took me to camp. I don't blame you as I do, Dory. I reckon you said a plenty. I did. You see, I got a note that said Tom had been hurt and needed me at the tunnel right away. Tullo stopped me, tied me, and took me to his camp. He'd already met me and sent me to the camp. I see. You didn't stay there, though, Tom. No, I left to go home. When I got there, I saw the note that had been sent to Dory. I knew it was a trick or some sort, so I headed for the tunnel. I was in view of it when the blast let go. Now, suppose you two know about the maskman's plan? Yes. He told us that Pawn Hill was in a pitfall and Jekyll tied up. Oh, him not tied now. Pawn Hill should be out of the pit by this time. See, there were some heavy timbers on the floor of the hole. He should be able to stand one of them up and climb out. We'll go and look for Jekyll, hmm? Each of those men suspects the other. When they meet, there should be some interesting conversation. You see, Sheriff, they might say enough to prove that they planned that cave in the kill door in me. We'd better go to Jekyll's office. Hey, look at the window. Jekyll is coming here. Sure enough. We don't want to be seen here. I'll meet him alone, Sheriff. Yes, but where can we go? Back there in the storeroom. You two talk about it. Come on, Dory. What'll I say to Jekyll? See what he has to say to you. And they're all of you. Hurry. Kimberly, I want to speak to you. Well, come right in, Mr. Jekyll. I'm sorry to hear about your partner and his wife. Yes, it was sad. Very sad. It, well, it makes one realize we're here one day and go on the next. Well, sit down. Sit down. A man should never have anything on his conscience. He never knows how soon he'll die. That's why I came here, Jav. I've been guilty of shielding a murder. I did it because he was a friend and a partner. But I realized he was wrong. And as a good citizen, it's my duty to turn him over to the law. Who is he? What proof you got? Pawnel. No. Is he a murderer? Yes, Jav. He signed confession. That tells you all about it. Great Scott. Why, this'll hang Pawnel. So he's the one who killed Steve. Yep. He did it. Of course, you're turning him over to the law because of your conscience. The fact that you get to be the sole owner of the gold mine wouldn't figure anything. Nearly incidental. Now, I suppose it was also incidental that you didn't get bothered by your conscience till Pawnel had used his knowledge of mining to help you. Well... Ah, you're not fooling me, Jaco. Now that you don't need Pawnel any longer, you're getting rid of him. I wonder if you wanted to get rid of Tom and Carter. What would you say, Kimberley? Mm-hmm. Don't like to hear a talk like that. Don't make any charges you can't prove. Nope, I won't. Jaco! You, Pawnel. We're snooking for you. Well, take a good look. I'm right here. Put that gun down, Pawnel. You've got that paper. Yes, and I'm... One more reason for me to kill you, Jaco. You're a fine one to talk. I'll talk plenty. Sheriff, you listen to me. Why, you... No! Stay where you are. Don't make a move or I'll shoot. Jaco wants me out of the way, so he'll own all of our gold mine. Well, he paid for the murder of Tom Carter and his wife for the same reason. Yeah. Pay no attention to this raving fool. If you doubt me, Sheriff, you examine the cash in Target's pocket. Set the corners. What about it? Jaco paid Target and Red to blow up the tunnel. He paid a new phone and money. You'll find the money in his cash box. Shut up, you fool. I won't shut up. Now, listen to me, Sheriff. The money in Jaco's box has numbers that are right in series with what he gave Target. Stop it, puddle. You're rid of as far as I am. Maybe so, but I'm due to hang anyway. Well, before they hang me, I'll have a few things to say about you, Jaco. Target and Red are dead because of you. Maybe the law can make a hang in charge of that. How about it, Sheriff? Well, I don't know. If the law can't get rid of Jaco, I can. Let me wait. Don't shoot. Why not? I can only hang one... There you are, Jaco. I'd have got him if you hadn't winged me. Sheriff, that masked man. Jaco sent him to get me. He lies. Now, listen, Sheriff. Panel sent that masked man to burn me alive. He's the one who lies. You did, Panel. You hired him to kill me. You hired him to throw me in a pitfall so to look like an accident. You're the one who's told me... That's enough. That's enough. Both of you be quiet. I wasn't hired by either one of you. He worked on his own. Carter. Mrs. Carter. You're surprised to see me alive, aren't you? Sheriff, while we were in the storeroom, Mrs. Carter compared a certain note with some samples of Jaco's handwriting. I think you'll find that Jaco tried to send her to death in the tunnel. That'll help hang him. I guess when all the facts are in, we'll have a plenty on both here. Then, according to the agreement of the partners, who will get the gold mine? As I see it, Tom Carter and his wife will be sole owners. That's what I wanted to confirm. Come on, Carter. The horses are inside. Well, hey, wait. Come back here a minute. Tom, don't let those two leave. We owe our lives to that engine and the masked man. So who was that masked man? Well, where'd he treat us like he did? What's he after? Zakel, it looks to me like he was after you and Pawnel. Andy Shor gotcha. Oh, gosh. I wish that masked man was my partner. Imagine, Dory, being partners with the Lone Ranger. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.