 A fiery horse 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 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. 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. Lone Ranger and Tonto had rained up in the bottom of an arroyo where they planned to camp for the night. Before they had a chance to build a fire, they heard the slow rhythm of approaching hoofbeats. Someone come this way. Yes. Moving along the top of the arroyo just behind that screen of trees. Fire Silver, silly boy. You not want anyone to see you, sir? No, Tonto. It just leads to a lot of questions about my mask. They'll keep quiet until they pass. Take whatever it feels like giving us a step of their pay, boy. All right, Silver. Silly boy. You know the answer. Any time Jackson wants him, he can build a dooper's in the jail. Yeah, he'll be all right. I'm still fed up with the situation. I'm just about ready to do something about it. What do you think you're going to do? I'll tell you what I'm going to do, Sam. I've got ideas and I'm going to carry them out if you're willing to help me. I'll take a little plan and a little reward. One fellow named Sam, other Bart. Yes, Tonto. Did you hear what they said about a man called Jackson? No. Whoever Jackson is, he can put those two men in jail. What, him not do it? No. And according to the law, it makes him as guilty as they are. Oh, what we do? I think we'll change our plans about camping here tonight. Show those two guns back at the saddles. Where we go? Going to shove on to the next town. Oh, that near Thunder Martin. Yes, in Clarabelle Hornblow's ranch. You can see if either of our friends know anything about this man, Jackson. Oh, are you ready? Are you ready? Clarabelle Hornblow was one of the Lone Ranger's friends. None of the few people on whom he counted poor information. It was soon after breakfast and Clarabelle was washing dishes when Thunder Martin returned from sound and rained up at the open door. Hugh Thunder! That hunk of paper don't look like flour and bacon and beans. Where it is the stuff a sent you to town to get. I didn't get it. And I'll tell you why. Didn't get it? Why, you overdo- Now, don't get your bristles up, Clarabelle. When I give orders- Oh, orders be hanged. I'm no rather than my ranch hand. I'm only working on your ranch to pay for pasture and my mules. Your mules ate according to the work you do around this place. They'd be darn right sorry looking critters. Oh, give me that paper. Let me see what you got there. I can tell you what's in it. And I'll also tell you that you shouldn't go around signing your name to things. What? Of all the- Keep still, let me read this. Forget it. By the sheriff told me to bring it to you. It's a notice that says you're going to pay solitary Jackson $2,000 by the first of the month. $2,000? By the first of the month. Dad, rather than Clarabelle, why'd you borrow money like that? I never did. Now you didn't even try to fib to me. I never fibbed to no one. I never borrowed $2,000. Your signature says you borrowed it. I saw it on the mortgage you gave solitary Jackson. Thunder, where'd you get this paper? Well, Jackson brought it into the sheriff's office while I was there. And he told the sheriff the mortgage was fallen due and he wanted the cash. Now hold on Thunder, you're not telling true facts. What? Who's not? Solitary Jackson's been living at the edge of town for a good many years and he don't show himself at once in a blue moon. That's why they call him solitary. I know that. Well, he don't like people and he don't like fresh air sun. Stays in that big closed up house of his like a bear hibernating in winter. Well, he come out today and I seen him so there. And he says I owed him $2,000. That's not at all woman I know what I'm talking about. I know what I see. Clara Bell, you can trust me. Maybe you lost the money gambling or something. Gambling? Why you spab and big eared mule face? Where's my bruise? All right, all right, all right. Nothing, you didn't lose it, Gavlin. But you borrowed it for something and it wasn't good sense to borrow that much on a mortgage. Can't you get it through that thick head of yours that I didn't borrow $2,000? Great day. Look who's coming. It's the mask man. And Tondo is safe still alive. Build up that fire, Thunder. Build up that fire so as we can get some hot breakfast for him. Hi there. Hi. Come on in here and let me rustle up some breakfast for you. Good to see you again, Clara Bell. You too, Thunder. God, you're a sight for sore eyes. Hi there, Tondo. How? Sit your cells right down here and I'll bust up a mess of eggs and a skillet of bacon to stir up that fire, Thunder. You bet. Thanks, Clara Bell. We can do with some breakfast. We're ridden all night. He, I guess, sure come at the right time. You know, Clara Bell has got herself in that $2,000 worth of trouble. That's not so. Oh, what kind of trouble, Clara Bell? Oh, this local galute has things all mixed up. I know what's in that there paper. This is what he's talking about. Oh, there I see it. Oh, yeah. You see, a solitary Jackson claims that Clara Bell owes him $2,000. Jackson? Why'd he say the name like that? Well, uh, how did I heard two men talking about someone called Jackson? Men who seem to be crooks. They came here to see if you knew anyone by that name. You're all gone right, I do. And if he says I owe him $2,000, he's a crook. Well, according to this paper, Clara Bell, you must pay him $2,000 for the first of the month. I should say $200. That's what I borrowed. $200, and I can pay it back to him any time. $200? Yep. Lots of ranchers borrow a little cash from solitary to tie them over until the cattle pay it goes in. No, no, no, no. I said by totally I aimed to find out about it. I'm going back to town and talk to Jackson. Well, close that door behind you. We'd like to hear more about this, Clara Bell. What do you know about this man Jackson? Well, no one knows much about him. He lives by himself with nothing but a housekeeper that goes in daytime. He's always seemed like a good sort. Do the people in town think well of him? Sure. Most everyone in town has borrowed a little cash from him time to time to tie them over for a spell. I told you, I borrowed $200 from him. But he wants you to pay back $2,000. That's what I don't savvy. Now, how about some eggs and bacon? How many can you eat? I think we'll wait until later, Clara Bell. I don't know. I'll go to town and see what happens when thunder calls on solitary. Thunder martin rained up in front of the large gloomy looking house at the edge of town where the man named Jackson lived the life of a recluse and earned the nickname solitary. Solitary? Hey you solitary, open this door. I want to talk to you. Open up, I tell you, before I have this door to pieces. Thunder paused but there was no response to his pounding on the door. He waited a moment then pounded again harder than before. You had better answer the door, Jackson. I don't aim to waste much more time wearing out my knuckles. I'll open up, I tell you. The big man tried the door and found it unlocked. It swung inward. Well, doggone. But I'm going to look around in here and find the old cook for myself. And if he's not here, I'll wait till he comes. Police smells like it hadn't had no fresh air in the dog's age. Well, it wouldn't hurt none to open a few shutters on the windows and let the little sun get in. Don't see him in this here room. She'll put in a juteper. Jackson! Jackson, what's the matter with you? Wake up, Jackson. It's me, Thunder Martin. I got it. Dead. Dead in the door now. Sheriff Brady, come in here. Dog gonna look at old Jackson. You done the, Mr. Jackson. Don't make no fast moves, Thunder. Sheriff, is he hurt, man? He's dead. That's what he is. Why are you murdering him? Hold on there. I didn't do it, Brady. You killed Mr. Jackson. You did it. You're the only one around here. How'd you get in here? I just walked in. That's not true. Mr. Jackson never let the door unlock. Not even when he was in the house. Well, it was unmarked when I got here. The way, Sheriff. What are you doing here? Just came here with me. Come in the back way. Maggie's the housekeeper. She comes every day about this time to clean things up and set up Jackson's dinner. I don't want to open the back door because Mr. Jackson never likes to be disturbed. Brady, if you've got the brains of a tadpole, you'll know I didn't kill Jackson. Why would I kill old Solitaire? Well, you'll see about that. Maggie, you go get my deputy. Come to come here on the run. Meanwhile, Thunder, I'll take that shooting iron of yours. You're under arrest. Arrest him. Now listen, Brady. I haven't been in this house more than two minutes. That's what you say. Three or four hours. But you can't arrest me without more evidence than that. I said hand over your gun. Come on now. Draw it out with your thumb and one finger and draw it slowly. Don't bother, Thunder. What's that? Hold it, Sheriff. Yes, sir. Your dog ought to write you better. Masks. So, Thunder, you got an outlaw partner. We'll discuss that some other time, Sheriff. Where'd you come from? Through the same door that Thunder Martin used a few minutes ago. You've got the drop on me right now, stranger. But that's not the final word. Not by any means. The final word won't be spoken until the man who killed Jackson is found guilty. Out that way, Thunder. How do I have the horses outside? I don't like running out on you, Sheriff. But I'm blamed if I aim to stick around and face a Higman's news. You leave here? It's because you're afraid to stand trial. You'd better look further for the murderer, Sheriff. I'm satisfied. I know the murderers as well as the motive. If you think I'd kill a man for $2,000... Don't discuss it, Thunder. Come on, tunnel's waiting. Go on, Thunder. Go on and run. That'll prove your guilt. Then we'll go gunning for you, and I'll order them in to shoot a kill. I'll have a posse on your trail inside a half an hour. Sheriff, it wouldn't be wise to try to get through this door until you're sure we're gone. Oh, doggone. Now I'll sure be charged with that murder. We're going to find out more about this, Thunder. But first, we've got to get away from here. Let that settlement fellow tunnel in me. Which way? The woods right over there. Is that a big fella? Did you come, Thunder? Get up there! 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. The woods near town. The Lone Ranger rained up and gave instructions to Tonto and Thunder Martin. I'll stay in hiding until I join you, Thunder. Sheriff Brady is so firmly convinced that you're the one who killed Solitary Jackson. They won't look for evidence putting to the real murderer. Doggone, I wouldn't kill nobody. Yes, I know that, but Sheriff Brady doesn't. You do what I tell you. If I'm in hiding, I'll all be sure I'm the killer. Never mind that. You do as I say. You sure I'm ready to go, Tonto? Uh, you sure? You come, Thunder? Oh, all right. I did it that way. You know what? Just come. All right, big fella. Tonto took Thunder to a well-concealed camp that had been used on previous occasions. There, the two men waited through the long afternoon while a manhunt went on. It was long after dark when they heard the sound of an approaching horse. Someone coming for it. All right. That horse, Silver. Oh, Silver, oh, he's a silly club. Silly out. Long time, King Affiliate. Great day. Where did Tarnation of you be? After I left you, I put on a disguise and went back to Jackson's house. I met it anew. Sheriff Brady did just what I thought he'd do. What's that? He was so convinced that you were guilty, Thunder, that he formed a posse and set out to find you. What'd you find? Well, I found some tracks, Tonto, and I followed them for quite a distance. And I saw two men approaching, so I ducked off the trail and hid behind a rock. Hey, who'd you see? The men were called Bart and Sam. Bart and Sam? That name's a... Yes, Tonto. They were returning to town. I followed their back trail and learned a few things. Now, Thunder, here's what you're going to do. Yeah. In the morning, you're going to return to town and give yourself up. Now, hold on. Do as I say. We'll give a couple of men, including the sheriff, the biggest surprise they've ever had. After an all-night search, they returned to town with reports of nothing but failure. It was then that Sheriff Brady and the deputy went to Clarabel Hornblow's ranch. Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Now, Bart and Sam, you'll see what Clarabel has to say. I don't know as we'll get anywhere with it, Sheriff. Is that John Wright Kent Tango's woman to talk to? You'll see. You don't think Thunder would be fooling up to come right back here to the ranch, do you, Sheriff? Brady, look over yonder. See that pasture land? Sure I do. And it's mules that are grazing. Thunder Martin's mules. He thinks more of those homely, long-eared critters than he does of his life. He wouldn't go far for keeps until he leaves those mules here. Open the door, Clarabel. It's the law. Come on here, Sheriff. Clarabel, I aim to find Thunder Martin. Then you better change your sights. You're aiming in the wrong place. Now, see here, Clarabel, the talking, Brady. If you've got a talk, you might as well come on in, Sheriff. Clarabel, we saw Thunder's mules out in the pasture. I know how Thunder feels about those mules. He wouldn't go away and leave them, not by her darn sight. Oh, he wouldn't, huh? Well, that's just what he's done. He's left the mules and he's left the chores. He near wore out in splitting wood and toting water and doing other things that Thunder's always done. Right, Clare, I never half appreciated the big overgrove sidewinder. How late, two to one? She knows where he's hiding. He's got to be somewhere around here, Clarabel. He has, huh? I tell you, Clarabel, we've looked everywhere else without finding hiding her hair at Thunder Martin. That's why I'm here. Well, you know as much about him as I do. Now, go on, Brady. Clear out of my kitchen. I've got work to do. You know where he's hiding. Clarabel, shield and thunder makes you an accessory after the fed. Never mind flaunting your law on me. Clarabel, one of the men in town thinks it was the Lone Ranger that helped Thunder get away. What about it? That makes the Lone Ranger wanted by the law. That's a good one. The law wanting the Lone Ranger. What's funny about it? Now, listen to me, Brady. As far as I'm concerned, the Lone Ranger is the law. Stop talking nonsense and go out and look for the critter to kill solitary Jackson. The killer's got to have a motive, Clarabel. Then find a motive. We found one. Well, don't look at me. I know what you're hinting at. Think Thunder killed him because Jackson tried to say I owed him $2,000 when it was only $200. Yes, that's motive enough. No one else had a reason to kill Jackson. That's where you're wrong. What other reason was it? Who had it? I don't know. But if someone didn't have a reason, Jackson wouldn't be dead. Hey, that's Thunder. Thunder, clear out the sheriff's tears. Don't you try to get away. Get covered, Thunder. And don't try to run. Oh, now, Clarabel, don't call me names like that. Don't you recognize Brady's horse? Sure. That's why I come here. Huh? What's that? Well, I figured you'd want to see me, Brady. You don't blame well I want to see you. You knew it when you made your break yesterday. What are you waiting for? Why don't you take me to jail? That's what we aim to do. Thunder Martin, you mean to say you're giving yourself up without a fight? I reckon they won't string me up without a trial. You'll get your trial all right enough, Martin. You'll get your day in court. That's all I'm asking, Brady. Thunder, what intonation has come over you? Have you gone soft? Where's the mask, man? Why did he let you come here? Now, Clarabel, there's no use riling yourself over nothing. Come on, Martin. Where's the mask, man? He's the one told me to come in here and surrender. Well, did I come in here and surrender? He did that? Yep, and he sure wouldn't have done it if he had thought I was going to get my neck stretched. You know the way to town, Martin. Just start that away and we'll be right on your heels. To the jail. That's right. Now get a move on. Thunder went to jail without resistance. Through the barred door, he could see the sheriff sitting at his desk with a couple of deputies lounging nearby. Well, I guess we solved this murder in short order, huh, Sheriff? Sure enough. Yeah, we said Thunder, get into trouble some day. Yeah, that's what you said all right. And where are these two coming in? I don't know who they are. I've seen them around town a couple of times. Close the door behind you, sir. Right, Bart. Guess you're Sheriff Brady, huh? That's right. My name's Bart Kessel. Howdy. It's my partner, Sam Webster. Howdy, Sheriff Brady. You two got business here? I guess this is the place to come where Mr. Jackson's heirs. Here? We heard he was dead, so he comes straight here. He sent us a letter with this here wheel, naming us as his heirs, and we turned for some paves. We've done them a long time ago. Uh-huh. See, we saved his life once. I reckon you found a copy of this wheel somewhere as in Jackson's papers, didn't you, Sheriff? He hasn't gone through his private papers yet. He left the wheel, the chances are we'll find it. There you are. There you are. I'll go for guns. What is this, a stick-up? Oh, it's no stick-up. You've been out of the door a couple of times. He wants it. You're under arrest. You're the one that held Thunder Martin. I'm the one who sent Thunder Martin back here to surrender. What's more, Sheriff Brady? Thunder, you son of a... I'll tell you who that masked man is. Hey, what? Sheriff, it looks like you've got your hands full. Maybe Sam and I'd better come back later. There you are. Go to the door, Totto. You can't keep us here against our will. Sit down. Mister, I don't care who you are. You aided in the better the escape of Thunder Martin, making yourself an accessory after the fact. All a wish doesn't mean a thing, unless you can prove that Thunder Martin is a murderer. Now do that in court. When you go under court, you'll prove that those two men are murderers. You can't call us murderers. Sam's fight words. Sit down. When I finish talking, either of you want fighting words, you'll get them. And if you want to fight, you'll be accommodated. You talk like you had plenty to say. Yes, I have, Sheriff. The fact that Jackson kept apart from everyone, including his housekeeper and had no close friends, made it easy for someone to impersonate him. Impersonate him? Three men plotted his capture. Two of the three men said, three men sit right there. Bart Kessel and Sam Webster. Oh, she's here. Don't keep quiet. But I won't... Go on, mister. Talk some more. The three men planned to get all of Jackson's cash together, and then disappear. But instead, they killed Jackson. Is that it? Yes. The three men were too greedy. They not only wanted all the cash in the house, they also wanted all the money that was owed to Jackson. So they captured him and made him write some letters, so they could collect from people who owed him money. But Jackson himself was in my office. He told me personally that he wanted the money Clare Bell owed him. How do you know that man was solitary, Jackson? How do I know? He barely knew the man. Well, he said he was Jackson. There was no reason to doubt it. That man was not solitary, Jackson. No, I was. His name was Blackie Jackson. He was one of the three who captured solitary. He took the trouble to grow a heavy beard like solitary wore. That fool everyone, including the housekeeper, Dave, and he must have been the one who was killed. That's right. Well, then we're solitary. He was in a cave, held prisoners, so he could sign the necessary letters. Who killed him? You'll find the footprints of the killers near a window, Sheriff. The footprints of those two. I won't stay here. Let me out. No, you don't. You stop. You get back, Sheriff. Give me those guns. Here, Sheriff, take this one. Right. And here's the other. Oh, you two crooks are the killers. You can follow their tracks just as I did, Sheriff. The cave where solitary Jackson was held prisoner. You'll be your best witness against them. I brought him here. Come in here, Jackson. I sure will. I've been waiting for this chance to see these killers get what they deserve. They're solitary. That's Ian. Solitary. Yeah, I'm solitary, all right. Let me out of here. That's your lady. Unlock me a store and let me out. I got business to take care of. I'll hold your horses, Thunder. I'm letting you out. You need that cell for those two killers. Come in there, Debbie. All right. You heard the sheriff. Get in there, sir. All right. Go on. Right in there. I'll talk to him. You're a high solitary. We're in carnation. You get the idea. I'm trying to say that Claribel owes you $2,000. Now, calm down, Thunder. Calm down, you old cell amount. Calm down, nothing. Listen to me. Those crooks made me sign that paper so they could collect from Claribel. I signed it for 10 times what she owed me because I knew you would raise a howl and start things going. I figured you might keep them going until the truth come out and I was rescued. So that's it. Of course it is. And as for the $200, you can tell Claribel that it's paid and full. How are you plenty for rescuing? You don't owe me a dime. All you owe is owed to that mass manager. Hey, I'd come back here a minute. We'll go and tell Claribel that you're out of jail, Thunder. You'll be waiting for the news. Oh, hey, Thunder. Who is that mass man? That man? He's my friend. He's the Lone Ranger. I'll sue them! You have just heard as a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.