 horse of the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty high old silver, the lone ranger. Cattle raising was the first great industry to flourish in the western United States. And with no adequate law enforcing agency, cattle rustling kept pace with it. The mass driver of the planes fought the outlaws who preyed on the honest ranchers. Astride his great horse silver he rode through the length and breadth of seven states in the cause of justice. And the stories of his adventures were told around a thousand campfires. Those stories have come down to us through the generations. The part he played in the winning of the west will never be forgotten. Now let us return once more to those thrilling days of yesteryear. The lone ranger rides again. Jeb Mulvey owned the Cross J Ranch. And in spite of his 60 years, he was as active as anyone in the surrounding country. As our story opens, we see his daughter Sue seated in the living room of the ranch house awaiting her father's return. Night has fallen and outside a heavy rain is beating down. Suddenly footsteps are heard on the porch. The water is just coming down in sheets. It is a bad storm. But by gosh storm or no storm I found out tonight what I've been aiming to know all this time. Yes. Only it would have to happen on Saturday night and all the hanses in town spending their cash. You don't mean you found out about the rustle. I sure do. Oh, I'm so glad. Oh, wait till I pull up that chair. Oh, it's good to get off my feet again. And will you be able to find the catalyst, Vince Stolen? I don't know, but I'll sure get Midnight back anyhow. Midnight? Oh, don't tell me he's Vince Stolen. Now, now, honey, I know he's your favorite horse, but don't worry none. But I was riding Midnight only this afternoon. Well, it was him that low down rustler come for tonight. He took the horse ride out of the corral. Great heaven. Only this time with a rain and all, he weren't slick enough to hide his tracks. I found his footprints and I covered him with a board so as the rain wouldn't wash it out. Then it was Midnight you heard Winnie and Snort in a while ago. Yep. As long as the rustler stuck to sealing a couple of cows once in a while, he was all right. But taking a smart horse like Midnight's liable to cook his goose. It was Midnight that got you there in time to find those footprints. And I got a blame good ID whose shoes made them prints. At least twice I've seen a plenty like them. And honey, when I tell what I know, there's going to be some doggone surprise folks around here. I can't understand what's been done with them, Carrie. Across Jason, well known around here, they'd be hard to sell. I got a notion about that too. Well, if only the boys had been here to help you trail it. Shucks. It's only when they're gone the thief shows up. He savies what he's about all right. Can't you tell me who used to spare? I ain't saying nothing till I'm sure. But I will say this. The way I got it figured, there's two of them. One steals the cattle and the other takes it long ways off where it can be sold. But Midnight... Someone shot through the window. She got me. In the shoulder. It must have been that blame rustler. It must have been watching when I seen them tracks. Are you hurt bad? Let me see, Paul. Let me see. Oh, there ain't nothing you can do, honey. Just get me the doctor. Then you are hurt bad. It ain't nothing the doctor can fix up. Little rotten, dry culture. I sure hate to ask you to ride on a night like this. I'll go. I'll go right now. Seems like the rain's letting up a bit. Maybe it'll stop before you get fur. I'll hurry, Paul. Wait. Honey, ain't you going to put on your poncho and your boots? Your cane go like that. Those things don't matter now. It's only you that counts. Without hat or coat, unafraid of the storm, Sue ran into the night, saddled a mountain, urged it toward town at breakneck speed. Meanwhile, the lone ranger and his faithful Indian companion, Tondo, had made their camp under the protection of a rock shell at the side of the trail. Tondo, beside his masked friend, suddenly raised his head as his keen ears picked up the tattoo of horse's hoofs. Rider come very fast, too fast. Rail heat bad at the mud, and is full of gopher holes. That horse could easily slip and break its rider's neck. Maybe him drunk, we'll soon see. Wait. You here? Get up. Doctor! Tondo, that was a girl. She was crying. She said something about her father. She's not here playing. Perhaps she needs help, huh? And it's up to us to find out. What you do? We'll have to leave our shelter. You keep us out. We will follow our back trail. Find where she came from. Tondo, do. And I'll follow her. Here's silver. Here, white collar. We'll both meet here later. Here. Come on. Get him up. White collar. The cafe in town was a pleasant contrast to the bitter night outside. It was filled with cattlemen, cowboys, and townsmen, enjoying an evening of relaxation after the week's work. Whole dock's sea lay stood against the bar, and as the sheriff approached, dock raised the glass he held in greeting. Hi there, sheriff. Step up and join me. Howdy, dock. Don't this rain beat off? I just emptied this here glass. Figured it might as well be wet inside as well as out. I reckon you got the right idea. What's been keeping you? I look for you for this. Said blame rustling over the cross, Jay. I had some reports that had to be read out. I hear Jeff Mulvey's fit to be tired. He's the dog gone mad at the critter that's been stealing his stuff. Can't blame him for that, can you? Blame him. Why, then, I'd be a gunner in anybody eyes, fish, and tall. Well, one of these days we'll catch up with the skunk, the Stephen. Well, have a drink on it, huh? No mind if I do. I've... Dock's sea lay. It's Dock's sea lay in here. Doc, want there's someone calling your name? Why, why, it's Shul Mulvey. Now, what in blaze could bring Jeb's girl a town in a night like this? Shul, here I am. Oh, Dock's sea lay, come quick. Watch Aileen here. Now, take it easy, Miss Susan. You look all upset. Power shot. You don't mean it. Midnight, small horse was stolen and Pa found a thief's footprint. He found trace of the wrestler? Good for him. But, but the wrestler must have known Pa found this track, so he tried to kill him. Well, how'd it happen? Whoever he was. He shot through the window while we were sitting inside. The rotten code. How bad did he hurt? I don't know. He said it was just his shoulder, but I was afraid he's just trying to keep me from knowing the words. Well, then I'll be right with you. And you'll come too, Sheriff. You'll blame right, I will. If your Pa had a clue to the wrestler, I want to know all about it. Then hurry, please. My horse, he's just outside. I'll call my deputies. Slim. What do you want, Sheriff? Get a hold of Tex and Pudge. We're riding to the Cross J Ranch and we're riding in a blame-big hurry. Old Doc Sealy, the sheriff and his deputies, led by Sue Mulvey, rode through the night to the Cross J Ranch. The rain had stopped, but as the group of riders rained in their horses before the ranch house, they found the earth still soft and muddy from the storm. Still in the living room. The lights are still going. This mud. Oh, please hurry, Doc. Just wait till I get McKay's out of the saddlebag. The rest of you, fell stay outside and watch the horses. Right, Sheriff? Come on, Doc. Yeah, I'm ready. You'll do your best for Pa, won't you? Yes, who I am. Of course I will. Pa! Well, I don't see nothing of him. He's seen that. That just goes show. He won't hurt so bad you feared he was. He couldn't have gone to his own room if he was a dyin'. But I don't understand. Where's your Pa's room, Miss Susan? It's right over there. But he was sittin' right here when I left. I'll have a look in his room. If he's fit, tell Jeb I want to talk to him about them footprints. Yeah. Jeb. Hi, Jeb. I'm not sure he's in here. Where in Tunkin' could he have got to? Something's happened to him. There's blood. Oh, sittin' when he was shot. You needn't look so concerned wise, Sheriff. That just proves what we already know. Sue told us before Jeb was shot. Well, maybe he's in the kitchen. There's a darn funny thing. It is a bird. Even if Jeb weren't shot bad, there wouldn't be no reason for him to go with capes and all. It isn't in there either. No, no, keep your chin up, Sue. I've got to find Pa. I've got it. I'll bet the sneak and coyote that shot Jeb the first time just waited to see Miss Susan ride off. Oh, oh no. Yes, Suri, that's just what he done. Then when he seen there was nobody about, he come in and took Jeb off with him. By golly, that, it might have been it. Then go after him. Get him back. I'll do that same. Where was them tracks, Jeb, Sue? Maybe that'll give us a lead. By the corral, I think. I'm asking him. He's the outlaw. I heard what you said through the porch window. There are no tracks. Put up your hand. Arrest him. Ready, Sheriff? You're covered. Who asked you? This man must be the rustler. He knew about those tracks. If they're gone, it'll be his fault. Sure, that's it. How'd you get in here past my deputies? How'd those guarding them? Tonto. My friend, I'll see you again. Hold on there. Don't let him get away, Sheriff. Everything. He's out the door. Slim. Yes, Sheriff? Six. Push. Stop that mess, fella. Shoot him. I'll take a shot at him. I'll get him. They're almost out of sight. They're gone, all right. Blast it being so dark. It'd been daylight we'd have drilled that crook. And I'm here to say the next time we meet up, he ain't gonna get off so easy. The curtain falls on the first act of our thrilling Lone Ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue the story. When Jeb Mulvair Rancher discovered tracks of a rustler near his corral, after the theft of midnight, his daughter's favorite horse, he was shot. His daughter Sue raced to town for help and returned with a sheriff and old Doc Sealy. But on their return, they were mystified by Jeb's disappearance. Their surprise was still greater at the arrival of the Lone Ranger, who earlier in the evening had seen Sue as she rode to town. The masked man announced that the rustler's tracks were gone, then he disappeared into the night. Our second act opens two weeks later. The sheriff has searched unsuccessfully for a clue to the masked man, and Sue has taken up residence with the old doctor in town. We see the sheriff now in front of the cafe with a group of his friends. He is unaware that the tall stranger with them is the Lone Ranger in disguise. And fellas, we ain't seen hiding our hair that masked armbrayer Jeb since that night. Now that's what I call a mystery. It is a mystery, Sheriff. Slim here says he never seen a horse like the one the masked armbrayer rode. Yeah, sure never. Well, if I had my saddle and a horse like that, I'd figure myself the richest fellow west of the Mississippi. All I want is to get my hands on that crook. You think he was an outlaw, Sheriff? Of course he was. The mask proved it, didn't it? And nobody but an outlaw could draw like Grease Light and like he did. Any fellow that can draw on you, Sheriff, this has to be good. Have you any theories about Jeb's disappearance? I don't know as I have. Outside of the fact it must have been the rustler that took him away. We ain't like to never see Jeb around these parts again. Hey, Sheriff, who's that fellow riding this way? Another stranger. Say, look at that horse. Huh? Black all over, ain't it, Pudge? Just like midnight was. Maybe it is midnight. Maybe it's got a double notch left here. That's the way all the Cross J horses are notched. Whoa, hold on. Whoa, fella. I ain't coming at hairs. Look at that ear. And take a squint at the brand. Cross J. Say, stranger. Yeah? I want to ask you some questions. That's what I'm here for. Where can I get some grub for myself and feed for my horse? Never mind that now. Where'd you get that horse? Bought him? Why? Where'd you come from? Ain't you asking a sight of questions? Maybe them things are my business. Don't talk up to me. I'm the sheriff here. Uh-huh. He's got something to hide here for he'd be willing enough to talk. That's a lie. Now, look here. I don't know what this is all about, but ask what you want to. I'm no crook. What's the name of that coyose? I call him Blackie. Sheriff, he changed it from midnight. What's that? Slim's right. Midnight's the name of that horse. You must be local. Midnight was a cross J horse. And that horse you're riding is marked with a cross J as plain as your nose. Sure he's got the cross J mark, but I bought him fair and square. Yeah? And where would that be? Why, at San Jacinto. It's down the other end of Texas. This is the crook we want, all right. He's figured we'd swallow his yarn. What are you talking about? You're under arrest. Keep your eyes on him, fellas. He makes a break before shooting down. Should I put the handcuffs on him, Sheriff? They need it. Look here, you're making a big mistake. Oh, no, he... What are you doing to my horse? I just touched him, that's all. Leave the horse be. You strangers don't do nothing but cause trouble. Yes, Slim Pudge. We're taking this other stranger over the jailhouse. Now, hold on. Come along. I'm coming. But maybe you don't know I'm a good friend of Sue Mulvey. Yeah? I am. And it was when I was riding this way to see her that I met the breed that sold me this horse. Is there the best story you can think of? It's true. Sue told me about the black horse she called midnight. So when I seen this one with the Cross J brand, I bought it to give her. Here's the jail. Get up there and step. Your lies ain't gonna do you no good. You stubborn idiot. And calling me names won't mean them. Sue! Oh, Bob, what are they doing to you? Sue! Sue, tell the sheriff here who I am. Well, this is Bob Scott. He's my best friend. Yeah? And what horse is that black one over here on there? That one? Well, I don't know. It's midnight, ain't it? This fella stole it. Midnight? Of course it isn't. I know midnight anywhere. It's wearing the Cross J brand. But, but it isn't midnight. Now, look here. Nice to have you, but you're up to me, Susan. You're just trying to shield your friend. I'm doing no such thing. You're. And I got it all figured out. This fella killed your pa. Then come back here to marry you and get the ranch. Yeah, I have all the... Sue, Sue is your pa dead? I don't know, Bob. Midnight was stolen and then pa was shot. I rode to town for help. And when I got back, he was gone. And this fool, sir, thinks I killed it. There ain't no you sure denying it. Take him in, fellas. We'll lock him up. Wait. Bob, who did you buy this horse from? Stranger? Didn't I warn you to quit interference? Keep still. Who was it, Bob? Well, I bought him from a breed named Miguel that lived near San Jacinto. Thanks. But what do you want to know that for? You'll learn that later, Bob. Stand aside, Miss Susan. We're locking this fella up front of him. It'll be all right, honey. Get along with you. I got a right good sale waiting for you, Mr. And we're hoping you find it comfortable. Because that's where you're going to stay till court sets and the judge says you ought to hang. When the lone ranger left town, he took off his disguise and put on his mask again. He rode swiftly to the camp he shared with Tonto and told him what had happened when Bob arrived in town with a black horse. And Tonto, when I touched the Cross J brand on the horse Bob road, the horse jumped with pain. Oh, why? Why him do that? The brand had been freshly burned in Kimosabe. Oh. It was so fresh it still bothered the horse. Isn't that plenty strange thing? I watched the girl when she looked at the horse and I'm sure she was telling the truth. When she said it was not the horse that had been stolen from her. Huh? And I believe the sheriff knows it isn't the same. Then why him lock Bob up? That's something we'll have to find out. You. You got planned? There's a breed named Miguel near San Jacinto. Oh, Tonto know him. Him bad color. He sold Bob that horse. Huh? I want to know why he put the Cross J brand on that horse and notched his ears in the Cross J manner. Isn't that helping you? It's information we need. I wonder if Bob told that breed he was riding here. Maybe him do that. I wonder if the breed could have planned Bob's arrest for rustling. Him smart color. It would fit in. Bob's ignorance or whether cattle the stolen cattle had taken would seem like a refusal to talk. Huh? And at the trial, the sheriff will probably say Sue wouldn't identify the horse because she wanted to protect Bob. Not right. Unless we move fast, Tonto, Bob will be hung as a rustler. And Jeb's shooting will be blamed on him too. Them, them not know what we know, huh? Here, Silver. Where are you right? I'm going to San Jacinto. You, you right, he's fast. I will, Kimosabi. A man's life depends on this trip. Come on, Silver. Before the Lone Ranger returned from his long journey, the day set for the trial arrived and the entire territory was interested in its result. Everywhere, men discussed Bob's chances to escape the noose. He'll hang? I'll bet he hangs. Then why shouldn't he? Is enough evidence a hang or dozen, fellas? And good enough for him. Can you see inside the courthouse? The jury's come back. Then come on, let's hear the verdict. The jury has found you guilty as charged in the indictment. It is a sentence of this court that you be taken into the custody of the sheriff and held in jail until the morning of the 15th instant, at which time you will be executed by hanging by the neck until dead. Sentence was passed and Bob was returned to his cell in the sturdy building behind the sheriff's office. The date set for the hanging was the next morning, but Bob was permitted to speak to Sue Mulvey for a few minutes on this his last evening. Oh, Bob. Don't take on so heavy. You're not guilty, you're not. Bless you for saying that. It was unfair. The whole trial was rotten and crooked. I know. On the witness stand, everything I said was turned against you. The sheriff made up his mind to see me hung. But if they'd only believed us. Sure, honey, but they... Who would think they'd admit I'd know my own horse? When I told him your horse was midnight, they told me I was lying. If only your pork could be found. All right. I'm giving up all hope of that. Can't stand, Bob. Wait. Maybe you could smuggle me in a gun. That'd give me a chance to make a break for it. Oh, you... You couldn't do it, Bob. There's two guards outside the jail and the sheriff's in his office just to cross the way. But if you could own... Masked man! Hold the wheel. Back up. No, wait. You do what I say. Unlock Bob's cell door. It's that same masked man, Bob. What in places is he doing here? Take your keys. Unlock that door. You're helping the prisoner escape? I'm not. I'm leaving him with you. But you're going to take Bob to the window of the sheriff's office. What's that? You stand outside the window, and I want all of you to listen. Now unlock that door. Don't point that gun my way. I'm doing what you tell me. What are you helping me, first, stranger? I'm not taking you away, but I want you to hear something that'll happen. But I can't see what's... You men go quietly. Don't let the sheriff hear you outside. No, I don't know what you're after. You're risking nothing. Bob will be in your hands all the time. Don't worry. It won't hurt to do as this masked fella says. He and them guns are powerful, convincing. I'll leave you now. Note everything that goes on inside that office. Come along there, Bob. But if you try to get away, you'll sure regret it. I won't. But what's going on? Blame the find though and now hush up. There's the office. And the window's open. Let me look in it. We'll all look. Quiet. The door over there. I do not know. I didn't brought here. But now that I'm here, I... You lame fool. One back to San Jacinto before you get us both in trouble. I'm not saying that, I... Shut up. Don't argue with me. This is a second fool, stunt you fool. The first was when you sent that black horse here with a cross jay brand. But it was you that told me to do it. It never got us into trouble. The girl knew it wasn't her horse. Did I not tell you it would be so? I told you to fix it up so Jeb wouldn't suspect we was stealing his critters. That's what the horse is for, to put the blame on somebody else. But after Jeb was done for, there weren't no need of it. But why have you sent for me? Sent for you. I never sent for you. I've told you the only time I want to see you here is when I've rustled cows for you to take back. But the hombre that calls his horse silver, he say that you... I've heard enough. Jeb, move it. He's not dead. Your dog gone right, I ain't. I've been with the Masked Feller's friend, the Redskin, ever since he found me out the house the night I was shot. Why are you... I told the Masked Feller I figured them footprints was yours, Sheriff. So then he found out a few things for himself. Oh, you're alive. You're all fine. So easy to kill, honey. Oh, I'm so glad to see you. I'd have let you know there weren't nothing wrong with Miss Sue, but we figured it was best for the Masked Man's scheme to say nothing. Well, for all your scheming, you ain't going to get me. Yes, you do. Stop that gun. Where are you? Oh, my hand. Come along, Sheriff. Now we're going to lock you up. Here too, Miguel. It'll be a pleasure, you dirty snake. Come on, get along. You got nothing for me. The deputies will take care of the Sheriff and Miguel, Jeb. Thanks to you. And now I believe Miguel will be willing to tell what's been done with your rustled cattle. He'll talk a plenty of whore. We're done with him. And now Bob is free. Well, he ain't going to hang, that's for sure. And just as soon as a few things can be fixed up, he'll get out of jail. I'm so happy I couldn't cry. Now if that ain't just like a woman, if you cry when you're happy, what do you do when you're sad? Now dry them tears. There, there. We're going back to the ranch and thank our stars we met up with the Lone Ranger. All you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.