 The Lone Ranger! A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty high old silver! The Lone Ranger! Before this exciting adventure, a word from our sponsor. Time sure have changed. Time was when people saved cookouts and picnics for summer, and lazy Sundays spent under a big oak tree in the town park. Well, today's family eating habits are much more flexible. Mom might have forgotten how easy it is to fix a cook-in for lunch. Maybe with hot dogs and baked beans. Or a casual dinner with cheeseburgers, soup, and salad. And as you're planning your easy-going meals, don't forget to invite Merida. As in Merida hot dog and hamburger bus. Remember Merida? We're the people who bake while you sleep. That's the only way Merida can promise you'll find the freshest rolls and bread and cakes the very next day on your grocer's shelf. But remember, we bake our famous hot dog and hamburger rolls all year long. So relax a little, plan quick and easy meals your family will love. And don't forget Merida. Merida enriched hot dog and hamburger rolls. We're not just a summertime thing. With his faithful Indian companion Toto, the daring and resourceful mask writer 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. 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, let's go because I'm still there. On a mid-summer evening in 1862, three men met in the office of the Territorial Land Company in Middleton. A settlement on the Missouri River near the boundary of Iowa and Dakota Territory. One of the trio was Lake Sanford, a shrewd ruthless speculator who operated the land company. His equally ruthless companions were Cap Haley, a boatmaker, and Tim Torrance, a rancher. The land speculator said, Boys, I just had word that the new railroad's not gone through here as we figured. Not gone? Why, that means we're stuck with all the land we bought out. Where are the tracks to run? Through the manned and Indian village in the Deepwater area. Ten miles from here. That's your auntie. What about the loss we'll take? You got any ideas, Leif? Yeah, Cap. I have ideas. I'll let him. Now if the manned and Indians leave the Deepwater area, the government will open that land for homesteading. We'll hire them to make homestead claims. They'll get titles to the land and then turn it over to ours. Can that be done? It can be worked by a man who knows the tricks. And I'm that man. By the time the railroad's built, we'll own all the land in the Deepwater area. And it'll be worth plenty. Leif! It'll cost money to hire the man you spoke of. We've already put a lot into your real estate deal. That's the point, Tim. If we don't do this, we'll lose all the money we put in. This is the only way we can come out ahead. Now what we make on our land and land, we'll mourn offset whether we spent buying up the land around here. Sounds like a good deal, but Leif, what makes you think the Indians will clear out? They always do when the fastest strikes one of their villages. Well, all we gotta do is burn down the Mandan village and do it in such a way that the Sioux will be blamed. Just the three of us? Oh, we'll need help. But a dozen men should be plenty. We disguise ourselves as Sioux Indians and make a sneak attack at midnight with fire arrows so we can get away before the Mandans realize what happens. Fire arrows. It's a good idea. The Mandan house is nothing but a light framework of poles covered by dry bark. Those places will burn like kidneys. Yes. My houses are close together. If a few fires are started, the whole village will burn. As I said, we'll dress like Sioux and let the Mandans get a quick look at me right away. Land sounds good, Leif. I'll get my ranch hands to help. They can be trusted. And I know some river routes about to do almost anything for a few dollars. Then wind them up, Captain. What about this guy? It'll be easier to pick up buckskins and feathers and put on war paint, but we'll need bows and arrows. I can make those in my boat shop. Good. When will we make the raid? It'll take a few days to get ready. Let's see. Let's plant it for Saturday night. All right. On the following Saturday night, the lone ranger and tattle rode toward the Mandan village to visit their old friend, Chief Cornflower. As they approached the crest of a hill, they saw a red glow in her distant shouts and cries. Hotos, something's going on in the village. It looked like fire. Come on, Tiller. It looks terrible. Burging their horses to greater speed, a masked man with Indian companions soon reached the hilltop overlooking the village. They saw fire arrows flying through the air, and many of the Mandan houses were inflamed. Come on, Tiller. A moment later, as he rode downhill, the lone ranger shouted, Attackers are running away. Open fire on them. The raiders made no attempt to return the gunfire. Bullets struck one man on the shoulder and another in the arm, as the terrorists, with backward glances, burned their horses and fled. Come right away, King Maccabi. Let them go. Right in. Come on, Tiller. As Calvin Silver came to a halt within 50 yards of the nearest burning cabin, the lone ranger said, Hotos, with a bright moon, I'm sure you'll be able to see the trail of those men. That's right, King Maccabi. I'd like to know where they go. Ride past the village and follow the trail, but stay far enough back so no one will not know they're being followed. Meet Sammy. Easy, Tiller. Meanwhile, I'll find out what happened to the Mandans. You leave Tiller here? Yes. It's far enough back so you'll not be bothered by smoking sparks if the wind changes. Come back when you've learned about the attackers. If I'm not here, wait for me. Me too. Get them up. Come. As he walked ahead, the lone ranger saw that none of the pole and bark lodges of the Indians could be saved. Burning like tinder, many had already been reduced to piles of glowing embers. The angry Mandan tribesmen and their families stood in small groups and, apart from these, Chief Cornflatter stood near the Blazing Council House. He gave the masked man a sign of recognition and said, Good friend, me glad you come. Chief Cornflatter, I'm glad to see that you're alive. Oh, me alive, but village gone. Are many of your people hurt? Many know of only one. Medicine man, take care of him. Him hurt by error, but not much. That's good. I see you, Tonto, right downhill. Shoot plenty fast. Drive off, bad Indian. Me, thank you. You know why you were attacked? Not know. Maybe enemy wants horses. But they didn't take your horses. Not have chance. You come too quick. Me glad horses left. They're needed for move. Move? That right? In morning, we leave here by new place for village. You can't abandon your crops. Must leave. Bad Indian make raid. Go away. Them come back. Maybe many more bad Indian comes. Maybe steal horses. Kill women, children. We go. We go for that happen. The bad Indians will be captured and punished. They'll not be able to attack again. Oh, friends speak good words. But we not take chance. We move. Here come medicine man. He's bringing you an arrow. No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. Him say this arrow from raiders it one that wound Indian. May I see it? Scorched from fire. This is not a Sue arrow. The iron head was cut in shape with white man's hand. You see that? Furthermore, the shaft is made of cypress wood. Me not know cypress wood. It's used for boat building. Chief corn platter, are you sure the attackers were Sue Indians? Maybe not sure. Then wear clothes, war paint like Sue Indian. But me hear men shout when raid begins. Then shout white man words. In the excitement of a raid, no Indian would shot them English. You think white men make attack? Yes, I think so. We never heard white men why them attack. I don't know unless they want to drive you away from the deep water area. You may have something the white men want. Now has gold or any other precious mineral been found on your land? Oh, not know of any. Have you seen any white men examining your land? Only men who come from railroad. They measure land, drive plenty stick in ground. Railroad surveyors. Ah, them not look for gold. Them here only to mark where track go. Did they tell you the railroad would go through here? Oh, them say that. And that's the answer. Corn planner, you know of any one in this part of the country who builds boats? Me know man named Haley. He make boat in shop on river bank. Where? Ten miles from here in Middleton. This arrow may have come from his shop. You think raiders go to Middleton? They rode toward there. Then me take men of tribe. Go there, get revenge. Oh, no, no. You must not do that. Them come here, burn houses? Because of that, the law is on your side. The law will be against you if you attack the white man's village. I'll go to Middleton alone and try to get through if the raiders came from there. Silly! Hey, boy! Come here, silly! Me know a way to reach town ahead of raiders. How? We're in a straight line across Cornfield to Canyon. But how can I cross to Canyon? We make bridge so we plant corn on other side of Canyon. Good. I'll see you later. Easy, silly big fella. Come on, silly! As Chief Cornplanner watched his masked friend right away, he muttered, Him go to danger, tell me stay here. But me not promise obey, that men kill masked friends. The man in chief made a sudden decision. Planting the cypress arrow in his fist. He waved it overhead and shot it. I know that way no Kiko. The chief hurriedly selected men who owned horses and good rifles. Too nearly a score of brave. The Cornplanner at their head rolled in a column toward the canyon bridge. We'll continue our lone ranger adventure in just a moment. Hello there. I'd like to just take a minute to talk to you about Merida Brown and Thurve Roll. As you know, Merida means all that's fresh and good that goes into and comes out of your oven. And Merida Brown and Thurve Rolls are the ones that bake to a flaky golden brown in just six minutes. There are 12 delicious Merida Brown and Thurve Rolls in every package. And if you don't use them all right away, that's all right too. Merida guarantees freshness for several days after you buy them. Of course, in your freezer, they'll last indefinitely. But don't wait for company to have Merida Brown and Thurve. Your family would love to have a basket of fresh steaming hot rolls with breakfast or lunch or dinner. It'll mean you care. And what a delicious way to show your love. After all, your family deserves the best. They deserve Merida. Merida Brown and Thurve Rolls. Now to continue. Lace, Tim, Cap and the men recruited by them for the raid had halted several miles from the Mandan Village. The three leaders conferred, while Lace wounded Arm and the shoulder wound of another man were being bandaged. The bandage is too tight, Lace. It's all right, Cap. Did you get a good look at those two men who fired at us? I just got a quick look, but it seemed to me one of them was an engineer. That's what I thought. It looked to me like the other man who wore a mask. Did you notice him, Tim? Yeah. It looked to me like he was me. I wonder who there was no brazier. They must be friends with the Mandans. That's what I've been thinking. If they are friends with the Mandans, they may try to follow us. But if anyone fails, there's no middle ground. We're taking no chances. Cap, you and Tim hide in the brush alongside the trail. If the mask man of Indian come along, capture him. We'll ride on slow, so you'll have no trouble catching up to us. Come on, boys. Get him. Riding into the thicket that bordered the moonlit trail, Cap and Tim sapped silently in their saddles until the sound of approaching hoofbeats reached their ears. As Tonto drew a breast of the hidden men, Tim the rancher stood in his stirrups and cast a loop of his lariat over the tops of the bushes. It fell over the Indian shoulder. I got him. The rope was drawn tight, and Tonto's arms were pinned to his sides. Then, Haley, riding from behind the bushes, shouted, Keep the rope tight. You'll injure your cover, not struggling around shoes. Hold, hold, hold, hold. A short time later, Tim and Cap, with Tonto as their prisoner, overtook Leif and the other raiders. Leif calls... Leave him for his own. Oh, oh, no. What are you doing? We got the engine, Leif, but he won't answer a question. He won't say a word about the mask man. Never mind, Cap. We'll take him to your shop. And then what? After we get rid of these discolors, we'll persuade him to tell us everything we want to know. That's your voice. Come on, get up there. While the raiders were still on their way to Middleton, the lone ranger, having traveled by a shorter route, rode into a clump of willows on the river bank near Cap Haley's boat shop. Oh, he's making fun. Dismounting, he left Silver in the thicket and hurried forward to the boatmaker's shop. At the side door, he pried off the hassle of the padlock. He left the door open for a quick escape. Moonlight, sliding through the windows, revealed a partly finished skiff and a supply of cypress lumber. On a workbench, the lone ranger found a supply of arrow feathers, scrap metal from which arrow heads had been cut, and one broken arrow with oily oakum tied to the head. Fire arrow. Meanwhile, the raiders, to avoid being seen in their Indian disguises by townspeople, broke north of Middleton to the river. There, they turned and followed the river bank. As they passed the willow thicket where Silver had been left, the stallions, sensing the nearness of danger, tried to warn the lone ranger. The raiders quickly found Silver and recognized him as the horse of the lone ranger. Then Cap noticed the door of the boat shop standing open and said, That man must be inside my shop right now. Alright, bring the Indian. Let's go the rest of the way on for a bit. We'll close in on the shop and call on the masked man to surrender. He'll do it. If what I've heard is true, he'll do a lot to help his Indian pile. And not only surrender, he'll talk. Talk? Yes. I would have found out if he's tipped off the law or anyone else about it. Can't let him and the Indian stay alive. Well, not gone, eh? Come on, boy. Meanwhile, the lone ranger had heard Silver's whinny and looked through a window. He saw the gang halt near the willow thicket and was still watching when the outlaws approached the shop on foot. In the black moonlight, he recognized Toto and saw that his friend was a captive. Then Leif shot it. You and the shop. We've got your trap. And we've got your Indian pile. Toto. You must put your hands up for we'll kill the Indian. The lone ranger knew that the outlaw leader meant what he said. Make it fast. We know you're in there. Hold the knife against your butt to his back. Moving to the open door, the masked man raised his hands and called. I'll do as you say. Keep your hands high and don't try to trick. My hands are up. Watch him, boys. Keep your guns on him. Toto, have they hurt you? No, Kimosabe. Put them, plan, kill it cold. Hold it, we see. You're close enough. Lower your hand real slow and unbuckle your gun belt. You're playing a dangerous game. Lock your gun belt. You men may hang for burning an Indian village. Eh. How can anyone prove we've won this? Easily. Aside from the clothes and war paint you're wearing, there's evidence inside the boat shop to show where the fire arrows were made. Moreover, your horse has left a trail between here and the inmandan village. It won't take long to get rid of the evidence. Now take off that mask and let's see your face. If you want the mask removed, step forward and take it off. I told you to take it off. Are you going to shoot me if I refuse? I doubt it. People in town would hear the shot and come here on the run. You'd have a hard time expending your buck's skins and war paint. Take off that mask or I'll run this night to Tuddu's back. Me not afraid to die. Hey, what are you doing? Hey, Tuddu. Tuddu, it's warm weather. Led by their chiefs, the mandan warriors rushed from their places of concealment. They came from behind rocks and trees, from behind the boat shop and below the river bank. As they closed in, they fired loads. Several of the raiders dropped with bullets in their legs. While the lone ranger taking advantage of the diversion, leap past Tuddu and seize Lake Sanford. Not a chance. Get that knife. I dropped it. Now I'll drop you. The mandans, closing in for hand-to-hand combat, outnumbered the raiders who soon surrendered. After the fight ended with the Indians victorious, the raiders were tied hand and foot and the wounded were given first aid. The work was nearly completed when the sheriff and a number of other men from town arrived to investigate the shooting. What's going on here? Corn planter, what are you doing here? You were massacred. Oh, him good friend. I'll explain, sheriff. These men disguised as Indians burned the mandan village. They went there with fire on them. The lone ranger quickly told what had happened and the sheriff had only to look at the white men in war-painted buckskins and the expressions on their faces to know that the masked man spoke the truth. And for further proof, sheriff, look in Cap Haley's bull shop. That's where the arrows were made. Cap Haley? And Tim and Lacey? Well, I'm downright surprised. You ornery po-clash. No, I can't. It was all Lacey's idea. He stopped us into the deal. If it hadn't been for him... You and Tim were equal parties. Used to to make as much as I did. That was your idea. How that'll do. Corn planter, you and your men shouldn't be here. Me bring men cause me think masked friends in danger. They were fighting on your side. Well, they better get back to their own place now. I've got men enough to take the prisoners to town. She's corn planter. You need to have no fear that these enemies will return. That's right. We stay in Deepwater Village. Build new houses, harvest crops. You must not be... He's silver. All right, Tonto. We're ready to leave. Boys, start moving the prisoners to town. We'll see you corn planter when your village is rebuilt. Oh, that's good. I didn't get around to questioning that masked man. What part did he have in this deal? Him, good friend of man and good friend of white people. Him, lone ranger. I'd like to read you something. The label on a loaf of Merida Old-Fashioned Enriched White Bread. And I quote, Enriched means that eight ounces of this bread supplies the following percentages of minimum daily requirement for these essential food substances. Thyman, vitamin D1, 90%. Riboflavin, vitamin D2, 66%. Niacin, another B vitamin, 75%. Iron, 62.5%. Calcium, 20%. But that's just the outside story. What goes into Merida Old-Fashioned White Bread is another story. A story of a rich old recipe. A recipe that produces an old-fashioned bread that's rounded at the top with a crust of golden brown. Firm yet tender, moist and very delicious. So when you buy a Merida Old-Fashioned Enriched White Bread, read what's on it and remember what's in it. Listen to the lone ranger. The following morning, the lone ranger posing as a cowpoke was taken to the barge with the other workers. He was put to work with the others, leveling the mud and silk that had been scooped into the hold of the barge the day before. Finally, at noon, a bell rang. And the men stopped work to go on the single part deck after the barge and eat their noontime dinner from tales they had brought with them. The lone ranger had waited a chance to look over the barge. On the flat deck half, there was a wooden super structure containing the crew quarters and the storeroom. Just above the storeroom door, there was a grilled air vent. The lone ranger was out of sight of the others so he decided to pull himself up and look through the grills to see if he could huddle against the far wall of the storeroom. Looking for something crazy? All right, get down to your place. Just wondering what was in there. That's all I'm going to tell them. Too dark to make out anything, though. They're not fooling me. They're walking in front of me around the side of the barge and scooping each and every viewer. Listen to the lone ranger brought to you by special recording at this same time. The lone ranger, a copyrighted feature of the lone ranger incorporated, is produced by Kendall Campbell, your incorporator. The part of the lone ranger is played by Brace Beamer.