 With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the mask rider of the planes led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. The stories of his strength and courage, his daring and resourcefulness have come down to us through the generations. And 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, in the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver, the lone ranger rides again. Come on, Silver! Let's go, big fellow! I am Silver! The boys in the bunkhouse of the Box D ranch have been talking about famous fighting men at the frontier. And then when Wendy still got started, everyone else gave up. Wendy was a tall, slim cowboy, perhaps 35 years of age, and the boys would admit grudgingly a rather handsome fellow. But as Wendy still paced back and forth along the bunkhouse floor, the boys exchanged sly winks among one another. I want to tell you a chance right here and now that he was the only man, the absolute one and only, who could ever match Wendy still on the draw. If you were to tell us about some fellow that shaded you on running off the mouth, we wouldn't believe that either. Why, Skeeter, are you meaning to insinuate I was stretching the facts? Shucks, no, Wendy. I wasn't incinerating. I was just telling you. Now, boys, boys, I ask you, is that any way to look upon your old saddle, partner? Do you think for one minute I'd be standing here looking you homely buzzards right in the teeth and lying to you? Yes! And I guess you don't want to hear my story. Oh, go and tell it, Wendy. Oh, thanks, Tommy. Skeeter, he's going to tell it anyway, and we might as well listen to it. Personally, though, I don't believe a word of it. Well, he ain't even heard it yet. Or I don't believe there is such a generous alone ranger. Oh, wait a minute. Wait a minute, you fellas. There's some of you that's been more than five miles away from Homer, I reckon. And you fellas know there's a lone ranger, don't you? And the rest of you, then that ain't hardly dry behind the ears yet. You think there ain't no such fellas as a lone ranger, huh? That's right. Oh, I don't believe there was such a train robbie as you mentioned. And we don't believe that you and this lone ranger fella broke it up. And we don't believe that... Wait a minute, Skeeter. There happened to be a mate older than you. Sure, Tommy. Now, there was such a train robbie as Wendy told about. It was, let's see, it was about four or five years back. Union Pacific passenger train. And the holdup took place at, let me think... It was just west of Fort Benner. That's right. You're right about that part of it, Wendy. Well, the way it happened, I was a deputy United States Marshal at the time. I just happened to be riding the train to Skeeter to throw a chunk of wood in a stove, will you? Sure, Wendy. Go ahead with your tale. Well, anyway, I was on the train, and though I didn't know at the time, so was the president of the Union Pacific. And you know, you know who else was on that train? No. Well, sir, the most beautiful young woman I ever laid eyes on in my life. And today, that same young lady is known the world over, I suppose you saved your life, huh, Wendy? And then she fell in love with you and begged you to marry her. And you said no, huh? Well, no, no, not exactly Skeeter. But you're partly right. That train used to stop regular about ten miles west of Fort Benner to take on a load of wood. What was that beautiful young lady's name, Wendy? Well, her real name was Clementine Brown. Yeah, but, but she was better known as Molly Mayfair. Yep, yep, Molly Mayfair. And I reckon even you ignorant cusses have heard about her. Well, the train was stopping to take on fuel, like I said. And like I said, I was just riding there in the coach. When all of a sudden the door busts open and these four fellas come into the car. This is a stick up. Nobody make a move, it'll be a lag. Red, you keep that other door covered. Pete, you and Ryan start collecting. No, don't please. Don't take my purse, please. Get your hands off that girl, you mangy buzzard. Look out, Pete! Why are you... Oh! Come on, fellas, this way. That masked man, him and the engine are fighting the train robbers. Yippee! And I'm having it, big fella. Come on, let's get out of here. No, you don't, mister. You wanted to get on this train and you're going to stay on. Come on out, laws. When you get off, Pete, you go to jail. No, no, I'm hurt. I quit. Go down your gun when you had enough. That's enough, you win. All right, Marshal. You can gather up their guns now. Oh, God, mister, I don't know who you are, but you sure got here just in time. We found out in Fort Benton. These men were planning to rob this train when it stopped for fuel. We made it our business to be here when they tried it. Come on, Tutto. Oh, but hey, wait a minute. You'd better have some of these men help you take care of your prisoners, Marshal. Oh, oh, sure, yeah. But now, who do you suppose he was? What? Hey, do you folks hear that? You all heard the masked man call that Indian Tutto didn't you? Yeah, yeah. And did you hear him just now? Did you hear him yell, hi, oh, silver? Well, that man was a lone ranger. You're that kind of a good storyteller. Go on the stage, huh? Well, now, let me tell you about the time I did go on the stage. Yeah, and it was all an account of what happened when me and the lone ranger broke up that train robbery. Oh, I'm glad if one of us was to mention a million dollars, you'd want to tell us about the time you had a million. Oh, now, Tommy. But say, you know who else was on that train that I forgot to mention? No. You mentioned a million dollars. It just reminded me. Who was it? Diamond Jim Barton, that's who. And say you ought to see the way that fella could do it. Oh, holy mackerel, Wendy. Why don't you cut it out? You expect us to believe all that, Bologna? President of the railroad. Molly Mayfair, the lone ranger. Diamond Jim Barton. Oh, shit. Fellas, fellas, someday you're going to be mighty sorry for doubting my word. Someday, maybe next time we make a trail drive into Kansas City. I'll go to my strong box in the bank there and show you the check that was given to me by the president of the Union Pacific. Sure. And the pass he'd give me to ride in his railroad for nothing. Oh, hell, sure. If you just can stand more of this wind, salmon, but I can't. I'm going to turn in. Now, wait a minute, Skeeter. Might as well hear the rest. Go on, Wendy. Well, there was quite a hullabaloo when that train pulled in the Cheyenne. And after I got them prisoners in jail, we all had a big party. Me and the president and Miss Mayfair and Diamond Jim Barton, we had a big dinner. And that fellas in the Union Pacific are great service and I want to reward you. Oh, I was just doing my job. Anyway, if it hadn't been for the Lone Ranger, we... Well, someday, perhaps, I can reward him too. But right now I'm going to offer you a job with the Union Pacific for life. You'd better take that offer still. The Union Pacific is going to be a big outfit one of these days. Well, I reckon you're right, Mr. Barton, but I don't feel like getting tied down to no steady job. You're making a big mistake. Don't you think so, Miss Mayfair? You know, I'm just as grateful to Mr. Still as you are. And so am I. They wouldn't have gotten as much from me as from you, Mr. Barton, but... but I was carrying nearly $1,000 in cash every cent I have in the world. Now, tell you what, Still, if you won't take the job with us, I'm going to give you a check on the Union Pacific for $5,000. $5,000? Yes, and a pass to ride in the UP anytime, anywhere as long as you live. Well, I'll be dark gone. And Mr. Still. Uh, yeah, Miss Mayfair? I'm going to be at the opera house in Omaha for the next two weeks. If you should happen to be in Omaha, I'd love to have you come to the theater as my guest. Well, gee whelikers. I mean, well, that's just exactly where I was heading for. Omaha. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Oh, that's what I call a mighty strange... I was going to turn in, but doggone my eye, Wendy. I'm going to hear the rest of this yarn if I have to sit up all night. Well, there ain't much more to tell, gents. I, uh, went on into Omaha and seen Miss Mayfair, and she, uh... she threw another hunk of wood in the stove, will you, Skeeter? Yeah, sure. Uh, what was you saying? Uh, she what? She was mighty nice, fellas. Mighty awful nice. Uh, was that where you went on the stage and started play acting? Yeah. Yeah, that was a place. Well, I'm going to turn in and get some shut-eye. See you, Gents Magnana. Well, hey, what the... Start out with a story and just get up to the interesting part and then quit. Oh, come on, finish it, Wendy. Even if we don't believe a word of it, you ought to finish it. Oh, some other time, amigos. Some other time. Hey, the writer's coming. Yeah, wonder who to be this time of night. Well, whoever it is... Oh, hey, Michael, I'm asking you. What's your business here, Missy? I'm looking for a man named... What the... Wendy, what the blazes? He went right through the window. Hello, stop that man. That's Wendy still. What's the idea of him going through the window? I'll tell you why, Skeeter. Here he's been bragging all evening about being a friend of the Lone Ranger, ain't he? Sure. Unless I'm badly mistaken, this man, somebody is the Lone Ranger. And he's known to be after crooks and outlaws, ain't he? And I'd say he's mighty anxious to get his hands on Wendy still for some reason or other. Is that right, Mask Man, what Tommy says? Well, I'm mighty anxious to see Wendy. Come on, let's try to find him. For nearly two hours, the Lone Ranger, Tonto and the Cowboys of the Box B had searched the vicinity of the ranch house for some sign of Wendy still. Finally, it was evident to the men that the fugitive had either made his escape or was hiding under the cover of darkness. Well, there was a sign of the critter. And I'd sure give a pretty to know what made him scoot for cover when the Lone Ranger showed up. I reckon maybe the Mask Man here could answer that if he was a mine too. Either him or the engine, for that matter. How about it, mister? Was Wendy running from the law? Well, I, uh... I suppose he was, man. I don't think he's gone very far. And if he comes back, let him think Tonto and I have given up and left. You mean you're going to wait around for him to come back? We won't be far away. Come on, Tonto. Hey, but hey, what if he is around close by and what if he comes back? What are we supposed to do? Call the sheriff? There's no need of doing that. Let's make it your business to keep Wendy on the box B for a while, will you? Are you sure? Isn't there no reward offered for him? Not a cent. Let's go, Tonto. Uh-huh. Let's go. Get him up scoundrel, Tonto. Hey, I just thought of something. You know, that big fella never said he was a Lone Ranger. Maybe we just thought he was. Well, maybe he didn't say it to you, but he said it to me, Skeeter. Yeah? You mean he said he was a Lone Ranger? Yeah, not in just so many words, but look! Look what the mass man gave me and then figure out who else it could be. A real silver bullet. A dog gone. Ain't no question about who the mass man is. Not in my mind. Thing I'm wondering is, who's this jasper we know is Wendy still? You know one thing's certain. He's the biggest wind jammer that ever come down the road. I know that I never in my life heard one man who could talk as fast as that. Now listen, you fellas. You keep mum to Wendy when he comes back. What the Lone Ranger said about Wendy running from the law. You hear? Yeah, sure. Sure, but what somebody ought to go into big bend and tell a sheriff. Later, maybe, but first, let's find out what in thunder this is all about. 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. The Lone Ranger's sudden appearance at the bunkhouse of the Box B Ranch caused a great deal of surprise and speculation as to why he wanted Wendy still. A short time after leaving the Box B, the Lone Ranger went to the local telegraph office. Yes, sir, what can I do? Mask. A mask outlaw. I'd like you to send this message to St. Louis, but there's nothing illegal about it, and it means a lot to certain people. But who the blazes are you? My signature's on the message. There's a dollar for sending it. And there's another one to forget the signature after you sent it. Adios. Wait just a minute until I finish reading this message and see if I want to say... Well, I'll be quick. It's signed the Lone Ranger. One, two, man! The old opera house in St. Louis was jammed and the breathless crowd of Playgores marveled at the beauty and talent of the young lady on the stage. As the time for the final curtain grew near in the Shakespearean production, Taming of the Shrew. Husband, let's follow and see the end of this adieu. First kiss me, Kate, and we will. What? In the midst of the screen? What? Are thou ashamed of me? Oh, no, sir, God forbid. But ashamed of Kate. Why then, let's home again. Come, sir, ah, let's away. May I will give me a kiss? Now, pray thee, love. Stay. Is this not well? Come, my sweet Kate, better once than never or never too late. The great theater was empty when Molly Mayfair came out of her dressing room to find Ronald Camworth waiting for her. Ah, you were magnificent tonight, my dear. Magnificent. Thank you, Ronald. I have a carriage waiting, Malay. Will you dine with me? I, um, I think I'll go to the hotel if you don't mind. Ah, but I do mind, Malay. Yes? Why do you avoid me, darling? Why must I constantly tear my heart into bits over? Oh, please, Ronald, save your romantic emotions for the footlight. Next week we open in New Orleans, and I'm sure the ladies there will appreciate your order more than I. Ah, New Orleans. Truly a garden spot. A paradise of hyacinths, wisteria, magnolia blossoms, and, uh, and, um... Farghorns. They keep me awake every night. Ahem. Dear, dear New Orleans, how well I remember my last triumph there as Hamlet. It was during that glorious season of the Mardi Gras and throughout that beautiful city the name of Ronald Camworth flashed about from lip to lip and... Miss Mayfair. Oh. Just a moment, Ronald. Over here, Billy. Yes, sir. Here you are, ma'am. Here, Billy. And thanks for bringing it up. Oh, thank you, Miss Mayfair. Uh, telegraph, hmm? This is to advise you that... Why, Malay, what in the world is the matter, darling? You're a trembling child. Here, let me see that message. No. Oh, why, why I... I'm sorry to disappoint you about the wisteria and... and hyacinth and magnolia blossoms, Ronald. But why don't understand? We're not going to New Orleans after all. Not going? But we've got to... The opening will have to be canceled or... or postponed. Perhaps later you'll get your chance to triumph in New Orleans with a different leading lady. Good heavens, Malay. Well, please tell me what's the meaning of this mysterious talk. What does it all mean? It means that we open next Monday in a place called Big Bend, Texas for my last appearance on any stage anywhere. Big Bend? Big Bend. It's a cattle town in Texas. And for your l... Malay, what in heaven's name do you mean your last appearance? I'll not try to explain to you, Ronald. But, but, Malay, it's an affordable place you mentioned. Big Bend. Well, Malay, why? Why not New Orleans, Malay? Because I don't like Foghorns. That's why. Skeeter, I've been trying to figure out just what the law could be after Wendy's steel fog. It could be for a lot of things, Tommy. But of course, but... Look over yonder. They're on Ranger. Look at that white horse run, would you? Oh, son of a... When they come back to the bunkhouse after I left the box B... He sure did. We ain't been able to get a word out of the son of a gun. We know the fella's a liar, but whether he's an outlaw or not... It might turn out that he is neither. You mean he ain't been lying to us at all? You mean... You said your own south that Wendy was running away from the law. He could be doing that without the law chasing him, couldn't he? Sure. For Wendy being the liar you think he is, have a chance to find out next Monday. Yeah? Just how do you mean? Well, the girl he told you about, Molly Mayfair, she'll be in Big Ben with a troupe of show people. She will. If I were you, I'd make it my business to see that Wendy attends a play, Mr. Mayfair puts on in Big Ben. Man alive! You just bet your bottom dollar will happen there. And last, we're going to prove that Wendy still is nothing but a big talkin' windbag. You might be able to prove something. You watch your chance. I won't sell it. From behind the heavy curtains backstage, Ronald Camworth surveyed the group of noisy cowboys, prospectors and townspeople, who were jamming into the small theater. Molly, I tell you disappearance before these hoodlums is positively a disgrace to your career. I'm not thinking in terms of a career tonight, Molly. I can't understand what's come over you. Throw away your two weeks' engagement in New Orleans to play a one-night stand in Big Ben, Texas. Ha! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't come to send a stay overnight to this awful place. Excuse me. I must speak to the stagehands. What? I say, a masked outlaw! This gun is loaded, Camworth. Keep walking. Just what is the meaning of this outrage? Do you think... I think it can be arranged for the great Ronald Camworth to avoid lowering himself in such an awful place as Big Ben. But what? What do you intend? Keep moving, mister. And that's the story in a nutshell, Miss Mayfair. I thought you liked the privilege of telling Wendy the news yourself. Thank you. Thank you so very much... for everything. Thank you. I'm sorry to say that I have bad news about tonight's performance. My leading man, Mr. Ronald Camworth, has failed to appear. Oh, Miss Mayfair. There ain't no reason why this show came to one. We got a good actor here to take that fella's place. Oh? But I didn't know that... Your old friend here is Miss Mayfair. Hang on, boy. Oh, wait a minute. Skeeter, so help me out. Break your neck. Oh, I'm glad to hear it. Who... Who is this old friend? His name is Wendy Still. And I know that you'd be proud to help me out on your show. All right, all right, you fuzzard. But when this is over, I'm still gonna break your neck if he goes... Hello, Molly. Wendy, I'm glad to see you. You're glad? Last time I saw you, you didn't like fighting men, remember? I remember you ran away because you whipped a man in a fight. You thought, well, everyone thought the man died. What? You mean... He lived, Wendy, and that old warrant you've been running away from all this time, it was torn up long ago. Your friend told me just a few minutes ago. What friend? The best friend you ever had. The Lone Ranger. What? So that's why he wanted to see me. And I thought... A long time ago, I thought a career would be the most wonderful thing in the world. But now... Darling, I tried so hard to find you. Hey, how about some play acting? How about some play acting, Wendy? You bet, honey. And when we hit that last scene in the fifth act, we can stop play acting, huh? Yes, darling. We'll make it very real. Mr. Still has consented to assist me in presenting that great Shakespearean comedy The Taming of the Shrew. First, kiss me, Kate, and we'll wait. Tell me. I thought Wendy felt afraid that part, would you? After tonight, you mean it? That fella could tell me the moon was made of green cheese, and I'd believe it. Just listen to him. All right, then, let's home again. Come, sit down. Away. Okay, I will give you a kiss. Now, praise me, love. Stay. Is this not well? Come, my sweet Kate. Better once than never, or never too late. Thank you very much, everyone. I've never played before a nicer audience. Molly, darling, how'd you ever find out I was down here in Big Ben? The Loon Ranger sent me a telegraph message in St. Louis, and... Oh, good afternoon. What's the matter? Camworth, the great Ronald Camworth. He's bound and gagged in his dressing room. Let's go and tie him, shall we? The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Loon Ranger Incorporating.