 The horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty high old silver. The Lone Ranger. The onion tato, with daring and resourceful mask 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. 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 Lone Ranger was accompanied by his nephew Dan Reed and his Indian companion, Tato, when he rode into the patio of a Spanish mission. The Padre was on hand to welcome his three friends. Where's Dears Padre? Where's Dears Amigo? It is good to see all three of you. We met some Indians Padre who told us that you were hoping we would come here soon. You have come at just the right time. The teacher is inside at this very moment. Your teacher? He is in the mission school. Her name is Sally Denton. Oh? I know that you have many things to do. Things of great importance to the development of our country. I do not like to ask that you spend time with something you may consider unimportant. Oh, what is your problem Padre? The problem belongs to the school teacher. Teachers in the west are among the most important people. They are the custodians of our future leaders. Padre, this must be the man you told me about. Your friend who wears the mask. Yes. You are Miss Denton? Yes, that's right. I just started telling my friend about you. This is Tato. I'm glad to meet you, Tato. Oh, and my, and Dan Reed. How do you do, Miss Denton? Well, you're just a boy. Yes, I guess so. A boy to be traveling with the Lone Ranger and Tato. Oh, not always. Dan spends lots of his time in school. Why, you must be just about the age of Joe Fletcher. Fletcher. Do you know him, sir? I know of a man named Fletcher, Zachary Fletcher. He's the father of the boy in my school. I see. I know what you're thinking. Zachary Fletcher is a bad man. His friends are... Well, I don't like to speak against any man. Zachary Fletcher is generally supposed to be the leader of a gang of cooks. They remain out of jail only because they've killed everyone who might be a witness against them. I didn't know that Zachary had a son. The boy came from the east a short time ago after the death of his mother. He came to my school. At first he behaved very well and he was a good student, but lately he's been changing. Padre, may I speak frankly? Of course. Please do. Joe Fletcher has become bad. Miss Denton, in this country, there are a lot of bad men, but I've never known up a bad boy. Joe lies and cheats and steals. He brags and bullies the other children. Why, just the other day, he was boasting of the fact that his father was the leader of a gang. I... Well, I'm afraid of his effect on the other children. I'd like to tell him that he cannot come to school anymore. Oh, no. No, he must remain in school. It is he who needs it more than the others. Yes, I... I agree with the Padre. The Padre told me a lot about you. Perhaps... perhaps you can find a way to put Joe's father and the members of his gang in jail. Sheriff Walker would lose no time in jailing those men if he had any evidence against them. Yes, I suppose so. Frankly, I see no hope for Joe unless he can be taken from the influence of his home. Does Joe any friends, boys of his own age? No. Every boy should have a chum. But what boy would want to be a chum? Miss Deppin, Miss Deppin, have you ruined your school for one more boy? Why, of course. How about it, then? How about it? What do you mean, sir? Here's a chance for you to do a good turn. Go to the mission school for a few weeks and get acquainted with Joe Fletcher. Oh, but, golly, I've been to school. I'm just starting a vacation. Extra school not hurt, Dan. Oh, Dan. Dan, you often said you'd like to be a lawman or a secret service man. Well, here's your chance. The law would like to get some evidence against Fletcher's gang. Now, you go to the school and get acquainted with Joe. He might drop something to give us an inside track on the plans of the gang. See, he might have that. Maybe I can get some information to help to smash that gang. Maybe you can. I'll be a regular detective, huh? Well, that's the idea. Miss Denton, will you take Dan inside and make arrangements for him to start in your school tomorrow? Why, of course. Dan, I shall be pleased to have you in my school. Now, let's go talk about it. You must have a... that one way to get Dan in school. Do you, amigo, think your friend will have some influence through Dan? We'll learn a lot about Joe Fletcher. Then we may be able to take steps so a misguided boy will not become a bad man. Oh, I hope so. Padre, can you find a place for Dan to board somewhere in town? But, of course. I can arrange for him to live with a sheriff in his life. But what of you and Tondo? Oh, we'll find a place in the woods near town and make a camp. Dan can report to us each evening and let us know how he's progressing with Joe Fletcher. Dan enrolled in the school the following day. Each evening he rode to the Lone Ranger's camp, but there was little to report. He had been unable to establish any friendly acquaintance with Joe Fletcher. Joe had remained aloof and barely nodded to the new boy. It was the end of the session one week after Dan had started in the school. The students were filing past the teachers there. Now, don't forget to leave your examination papers on my desk. Place them right here. Thank you, Jimmy. Here's mine. Thank you. Where's your paper, Dan? I must have lost it. I had it finished before reset. Listen to him. No one had the papers done before reset. I did, but now I can't find it. Never mind, Dan. You may do it over tomorrow. Here's my paper, Miss Denton. It's all finished. Those questions were easy. Joe, you found those questions easy? A sure thing. I'm glad to hear it. Red faced and embarrassed, Dan Reed lacked the school building with Joe Fletcher close behind. Most of the students laughed and ran and shouted as they headed homeward. But not Joe Fletcher. Joe walked silently away from the school and Dan Reed followed until the two were well away from the other pupils. Hey there, Joe. Huh? Oh, you. What's the idea? You following me? I want to talk to you about that paper with my desk. What? You accuse me of stealing your paper? Got a good notion of smack in the mouth. Don't lie about it, Joe. I saw you. Just before recess was over, you went inside and took it out of my desk. It's the same as calling me a thief. Joe, I'll be glad to help you with your lessons. But don't go into my desk again. Understand? You can't talk to me like that. You've made one mistake today. Don't make another one now. Why, you? Well, I'll show you. Take that. All right. You started it. Here's one for you. I'll get you for that. I'll knock your head off. You'll miss. I'll get you this time. Joe Fletcher swung wild and desperately, but Dan Reed dodged your parries most of the blows. And those that landed were merely glancing. Dan had been trained by the Lone Ranger in the use of his fists and struck clean, sharp blows that landed accurately. Then Joe went down and grabbed one arm. Now, Joe. Now, let me go. I'll get you for this. Did you take the papers off my desk? Let go of me. I can put more pressure on your arm. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Let me go now, will you? It's better. Sorry I had to be rough with you, Joe. You'll be sorry. Come on. I'll help you. I'll help you. Well, where'd you learn to fight like that? You're the first kid ever to knock me down. I had a good teacher. Who is he? You wouldn't know his name. But he's one of the greatest fighting men who ever lived. I'll bet my dad could knock his ears off. He's been in more fights than anybody. And he's never lost one either. You... you think a lot of your dad, don't you, Joe? Are sure. Why shouldn't I? What's wrong with my dad? Don't get sorry at me, Joe. I didn't say anything was wrong with him. You had him better. Look here, Joe. Why don't you come over to my room at the sheriff's house? Well, let me show you some of my things. You're... you're bored with the sheriff? What's wrong with that? I've got to have some place to live. How about coming along and staying for supper? Well, gosh, I don't know. I'd like to show you the hunting knife and the leather jacket that an Indian chief gave me. An Indian chief? Hey, golly, no fooling? No fooling. And I'll show you my horse. Your own horse? Yes, sir. Did you swipe it? Of course not. He's pure white, except for a black star in his forehead. I call him Victor. Come on with me, Joe. I'll saddle him and let you ride him. Gosh, uh, I suppose I could. My pop generally stays awake in the shack till pretty late. No fun to eat alone. The only thing is that the sheriff's got no use for me and my dad. Well, where did you get that idea? Dad and I know how everyone feels toward us. Don't worry about the sheriff. I know that any friend of mine will be welcome. It was the expectation of riding Dan's horse that accounted for Joe's decision to accompany Dan to the sheriff's home. In the meantime, Sally Denon, the school teacher, stopped as usual on her way home for a chat with John Ladoo, who worked at delivery stable. Sally didn't suspect that Ladoo was secretly a member of Zach Fletcher's gang. Well, hearty, Miss Denton. Good to see you. Thank you, Mr. Ladoo. Hey, you look sort of tired. Then have more trouble with the Fletcher boy? He got his comeuppance today. I saw it from the window of the schoolroom. Wow, you saw what? Joe met more than his match. He was not down. You don't say. Are one of the other boys? A boy named Dan Reed. Who's Dan Reed? I never heard of him. Well, can you keep a secret? Of course you can. The boy who whipped Joe Fletcher is a friend of the Lone Ranger. What? You don't say. What's he doing around here? The Lone Ranger himself is camped in the woods. For what? What's he doing here? That's all I can tell you. Well, let's Sally, the sheriff, has been downright anxious to get some evidence on Zach Fletcher. Joe's found it. Do you suppose that Lone Ranger is here to help him? What? Don't it sound like it? If that Reed boy is fighting with young Joe... I shouldn't tell you anymore. Perhaps I shouldn't have said so much. But you'll not tell anyone, will you? And don't you worry, Miss Sally. I know when to talk and when to keep still. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger adventure. Before the next exciting scene, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. To entertain the outlaw leader's son, Zach Fletcher himself was meeting his gang in a camp. Somebody's coming. And whoever it is isn't making no effort to sneak up on this. Maybe it's Ladoo. You will get everything, sit with him for tomorrow when we rob the bank. You sure? And the sheriff starts running around getting the posse together. Ladoo will see that there's lots of delay in getting the horses ready. That is Ladoo. Hi, Ladoo. News boy. Yeah, what is it? The sheriff has helped. He needs plenty of help. Well, he has plenty. He has helped name the Lone Ranger. How do you know you got the true facts? I got it straight from the school line. A kid named Dan Reed, a friend of the Lone Rangers, in her school. And he's staying at the sheriff's house. What are we doing now? Baker, saddle your horse and ride back to town with Ladoo. Well, what for? There's about one hour of daylight left. You'll get to the sheriff's house just about time it's getting dark. Sheriff's house, what? We're at a minute's act. What's on your mind? That kid friend of the Lone Rangers. Get him, and we'll have the Lone Ranger eating out of our hands. Ladoo had been hunting in the hills. They were on their way to camp as twilight was evening. I wonder if Dad will have news for us tonight. Oh, we're gone. Nothing happened yet. Maybe soon we'll find out. Wait, Ladoo, I hear hoof beats. The horse traveled plenty fast. There, horse, that way. Coming from town. And two fellow chasers. Ladoo, that's Dan Reed's horse. Must be Dan riding. Ladoo and back, fire guns. Let's go! He was slightly ahead of Ladoo, racing to meet the rider of the white horse and the two men who were firing at the boy. One of the bullets found a mark. The fleeing boy, reel in the saddle over his shoulder and pointed to the ground. Baker, him, Ladoo. I'm going after those two. He was a shoulder wound. We're tied and forced to ride to the place where Tato was bandaging a boy's arm. Then, for the first time, the lone ranger realized that the boy was not Dan Reed. Him, I've hurt bad. Just scratch him out. I'm all right. I'll get square with those dirty cooks. Who are you, son? I'm Joe Fletcher. Joe Fletcher? Where did you get that white horse? A friend loaned him to me. A friend? Dan Reed. You wouldn't know him. I do know him. I recognize the horse. I thought you were Dan Reed. I see here, mister. What about that mask? Who are you? I'll tell you after I hear how you got Dan Reed's horse. Did he really loan it to you? Oh, sure. I went to the sheriff's house with him. I had supper there. He showed me his things and then he let me ride his horse. When I got to the edge of town, they're doing another man jump me. I got away. Then they took after me and shot me. You'll be all right, Joe. I'll take you to a doctor. Follow. Take those two men to Sheriff Walker and tell him what happened. Oh, me do it. Joe, you'll find it hard to guide a horse with that hand. You'd better ride with me on silver. Huh? Victor will follow us to town. Silver? Yes, that's right. Any more? Gosh. Now that I know about that mask and that horse, Dan Reed told me he had a friend, a fighting man. You're his friend. You're the Lone Ranger. Joe, I want to be your friend, too. Now, let's get to town. The Lone Ranger left Joe with a doctor, then helped the sheriff question two captured men. It was later than usual when Zachary Fletcher returned to his shack in town that night. Striking a mask, she lighted the oil lamp that stood on the bare table. We should have kept it cleaned up around here. That shade's a blacky tint. Joe, you had been? Where'd you come from? Didn't you want to see me? Oh, nice to see you. I heard you were around. Yeah, sure. Always had a hankering to meet the Lone Ranger. Well, how are you going to draw that gun? Right now. It hurts when a gun comes out of your hand. You beat me to the trigger, all right? All right, I got no gun. Go ahead, shoot me. That's what you aim to do. I don't want to shoot you, Fletcher. But you deserve the worst beating any man has ever had. You think you're big enough to give it to me? I'm going to try. Just hold through that gun and see what I do to you. And it's hosted. Oh, you missed. Take a second. You'll pay for that? Well, Zach, Zach Fletcher found his brute strength, no match for the Lone Ranger skill. Oh, show it on his chin and hand. Hard jams caught him in the stomach. Until finally he grew weak. He could no longer defend himself. Then his knees buckled and he slumped to the floor. All right, head enough. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You lick me. You deserve more than that for shooting a boy. I never shot a boy. You sent a dude and another man to capture Dan Reed. How do you do? I know. They knew Dan's horse better than they knew Dan. You and his partner didn't know that it was your son riding the white horse. Joe? My son? Joe, I... You mean I killed my boy? I did as you care. That kill he was all I had. I always wanted to get rich, so I... Go on. It's all my fault. Don't you wish you could have another chance to do the right thing for him? I'd give all I got, all I ever hoped to have if only Joe was alive. I'm sure you're going to get another chance. What? Your boys are alive. You mean that? Yes, he's with the sheriff. I'll take you to him. Then you and I have something to talk about. It was the next morning. From several different directions, Fletcher's men, in accordance with the plan to rob the bank, rode into town and made their way to the cafe. When they were all on hand, Fletcher rose from his chair, his men followed him into the room and closed the door. Everything all set, boss. Everything is off, Denoban. What? The whole deal is off, that clean enough. Now, wait a minute. How come? What made you... Are you getting scared out in a kind of a lone ranger? Denoban, there's never been a man could question my courage. I said the deal is off. Forget it. Take your horses and clear that. You can't let us down like this. We count it on that bank. I don't care what you count it on. I've got someone more important than you boys to consider. Nobody's got anything new, fellas. Take my advice and travel, split up and travel far. Oh, no, you don't, Zack. We planned on this job and it's going through. If you won't leave the boys, then I will. We'll tackle that bank ourselves. Don't do it, Denoban. Because if you do, I'll be waiting for you when you get there. You go with us, Fletcher. Don't move. You better hold for that gun, Denoban. Not a chance. One of you boys just armed Fletcher. We'll take him along so he can't tip off our plans. And one plan to move from him and now personally shoot him. You hear that, Fletcher? The boys are with me. Now you just walk right ahead of us. We'll go slow and careful into the bank. We'll be right in back of you. If there's any gunplay, you'll be the first one shot. Fletcher knew that the lone ranger and lawman were waiting in the bank. He had given his men a chance to leave town and go unpunished for all their past crimes. And now hatred filled his heart when he saw how quickly those men could switch their loyalty to Donovan. He'd given them no further warning, even though he knew that he would be the first man shot. His face was grim as he led the way through the doors of the bank. Keep your eyes peeled and shoot if you have. Watch it now, boys. I'm going to the cashier. All right, mister. Just stick up. Pass out the cash. You folks don't make a move. We're ready to shoot. Get to stick up. They're rovers. Keep your hands high. No one will get hurt. Come on in, men. They were waiting for you, coyotes. I tried to send you away. Thanks to that you didn't go. The ring fire from lawman hidden behind the counters in the bank quickly cut down the outlaws. Two were dead. The rest were wounded. The man seriously wounded lay dying. The sheriff came from the inner office with Joe Fletcher and approached the dying man. Dad, what happened? You got no time to tell you what happened. But today I took on a new job. Carry it. Dad. Take it easy, Joe. Your dad became a good man. He said he had a new job. His new job was helping me. Helping the law. He wants you to do the same. I want to, Chef. Do my best. Good boy. Maybe you'd like to come and live with me. You can have the room that Dan read you. Dan read you. He's gone. He's waiting on the trail for that man mounting his horse outside. Chef, he's the lone ranger. Graded by George W. Trendall. Produced by Trendall Campbell Enterprises. And directed by Charles D. Livingston. Tonight's drama was written by Fran Stryker. The part of the loa...