 Plot of dust in a hearty high of silver, the lone ranger. 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, the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse, Silver. The lone ranger rides again. Come on, Silver, very big fellow, come on, Silver! Stage arrived in Mariposa after a hard downhill trip from the Colorado mountains near the Continental Divide. Nearly everyone searched up to welcome the garden driver, but Mr. Jackson and Mr. Denton were more interested in the young man who stood near the door of the restaurant. There's Kerrigan, take a good look at him, Denton. He looks young, I don't know, how does everyone trust my savings to such a young man? Young? Sure, about in eight years. It's brains that count, and Kerrigan's got brains aplenty. He dresses mighty fancy. Sure he does, he's rich. Those clothes he wears come all the way from New York. Come on over and meet him. You put your money in his plans? I sure did. I'm to be one of his partners. Howdy, Mr. Kerrigan. Oh, hello there, Mr. Jackson, remember? Oh, of course, please forgive me for not remembering. Oh, that's all right. Imagine forgetting the name of one of my business associates. Shake hands with my friend, Mr. Denton. Delighted. Howdy, I was thinking some were going into business with you. Well, I don't know about that, Mr. Denton. I don't want too many in it. Well, I've got the cash. Cash isn't so important. I must have men of proved executive ability. Well, don't go on it, I... Hey, Mr. Kerrigan, here's a letter for you. Just come in on the stage. Fine, just what I've been waiting for. Will you gentlemen excuse me? But I wouldn't have talked to you about... Some other time, Denton, can't you see it's the wrong time? Well, I'd like to show him where he should take me into the business. Oh, Mr. Kerrigan, Mr. Kerrigan, look what I've got. He just came in on the stage. Oh, Mrs. Granger, it's good to see you. Go right ahead and open your letter. No, no, no, there's no hurry about it. I'll read it later when I get back to my office. Oh, I've got the cash. I knew my sister lent it to me when she heard that I had a chance to make a first-class investment. Well, shall we go into my office? Sooner we close, I'll deal the quicker, I always say. Right over here. If you'd like to read that letter, you got. Why, don't let me stop you. Oh, no, it's just a personal letter. The young lady I know. My, she's a mighty lucky young lady. After you. Oh, thank you. Please sit down there, Mrs. Granger. Oh, thank you. Now, here's the package. I'll open it up and give you the cash. Mrs. Granger. Yes? Mrs. Granger, I don't think you should put your money into my idea. Now, don't you try to talk me out of it. I saw you and Jim Denton talking. I suppose he wants to get in instead of me. No, it is. You promised I could buy an interest in the business and I borrowed the money to do that same. Now, you've just got to let me. But perhaps you don't understand the business. Oh, sure I do. There's gold mines all around here. Only the best ore is sent out for extraction and refinement. The rest is just left. Yes, that's right. You've got figures to prove that the stuff we discard has plenty of silver and other metals in it. While it ain't worthwhile to ship it out, it could be refined right here at a big profit. That's the idea, ain't it? Yeah, yes, it is. Well, all right. But there's a certain risk. You might lose your money. You showed me facts and figures a few days ago. If those facts and figures don't lie, there's sure to be a profit in the scheme. Of course. But, well, well, you don't know but what I might run off with your money. Oh, Mr. Carrigan, I know an honest man when I see one. Eyes like yours don't come in the head of a crook. Hey, Carrigan, I, well, hello, Mrs. Granger. Hello. Jammer, I was just telling Mrs. Granger there's some risk in our business. Risk? Oh, there's Carrigan for you. Honest is the day is long. Well, there's some risk in everything. There's risk in eating. You might cut your tongue off with a knife, Jammer. Then there's a risk of walking down the street. Runaway horse might get you. But Mrs. Granger has borrowed the money. Oh, good, good. That's the spirit. Get in on a good thing by hook or by crook. And I'm going to be in. Now there's the money on the desk. You can send me the shares whenever you're ready. But Mrs. Granger, if you. I'm proud to be associated with two such honest young men. Good day. Jammer, you eternally confounded fool. What's the matter with you, Carrigan? Don't you wonder money? No. What? I'm fed up with this crooked game. The people trust me. And what do we do? Give them a big and fancy story that's a lot of lies and false figures from start to finish. Hold on, Carrigan. Have you gone honest all of a sudden? I don't know. Maybe I have. I want to get out. Don't get fool notions. We're in too deep to get out. I tell you, listen, Carrigan, we took 5,000 out of Flat Rock when we started this scheme. I know. And if anyone from Flat Rock finds us, they'll give us a dress and a tarn feathers and string us up from the highest tree. We can't quit now. But if we gave back the cash to the people. And we can't do that, we spent some of it. Besides, you got that sweetheart waiting for you. Why, the scheme is going big here in Mariposa. We can collect about $20,000 and then make a getaway and go east. You can send for your girl and settle down. If Mary Ann knew what a low down crook I am. No reason why she has to. Well, it reminds me. I got a letter from Mary Ann. Came in on the stage. Now go on and read it. I'll go over our list of names here. I think we can get cash from Denton. Jackson's good for another 1,000. We had this cash from Mrs. Granger. $2,000. Jammer. So anyway. This letter. Bad news. Oh, it's worse than that. We're deeper and deeper. Well, tell me. Mary Ann says her mother drew $2,000 all their savings from the bank. She sent it to her cousin, a woman named Mrs. Granger. Holy smoke. Mary Ann wants me to find out what Mrs. Granger's putting the money into and make sure it's on the level. Now what? I knew something would happen so Mary Ann would learn about me. This ends everything. Look here now. I need to give up all the cash we've collected here, Kerrigan. We've got to return it. Everything is called off. If this ain't a fine kettle of fish. Mrs. Granger had only told me where she was going to borrow the money. It's too late now. We'll just have to. You, Kerrigan, sit still. Sharon. Pete, is that the man? That's the creditor. That's his pal, too. Pete from Flat Rock. Those are the coyotes, Sheriff. They told the same pack of lies in Flat Rock. They collected the money and ran out on us. Kerrigan, you're done for. We're going to check and see if you ordered the machinery, the building supplies, and the workmen to make a factory, and all the other things you've told people you were doing. You needn't go to all that trouble, Sheriff. Give those crooks to the boys in Flat Rock. We'll deal with them. Kerrigan, you ready? Come on. Get that one right. Hit the sheriff again. Right. Come on. We've got to travel. Leave everything. Leave that cash in the desk. The horse is out there. Take the sheriff's horse. I'm with you. Hey, it's not him. Kerrigan's the one. Get up. Get up. Hey, they're shooting. Just ride. It's the road that they get. I know it. Look, there's a lot of men from the cafe that's starting after us. Get along there. Get along there. The short distance ahead of the pursuing townsman, Kerrigan and his pal, Jammer, rode for their very lives. They beat across the plane and for some time maintained their lead. Then the townsman began to game. Kerrigan felt that it was just a matter of time. He didn't notice the two horsemen who cut in at an angle until he heard a shout above the clatter of hooves. Come on, Silvia. Jammer, look. Mass and the red skin. Come on, Silvia. Hey, Guinness, leave us alone. Leave us be. This way. No. No. This way, or you'll be caught. Come on. The lone ranger and tanto turned the horses of the pursued men and guided them across the narrow bridge that slowed the pursuers. And then tanto led the way to a dense forest and used all his Indian skill to hide the tracks and find a place that, for the time, would be comparatively safe. Little while. But why did you do this? Kerrigan, we've got to keep moving. Those critters will lynch us. You leave here, they'll find you. You'll be all right here until dark. Why did you help us? Who are you? What's that mask for? Your horses can't go on without rest. When we reach our destination, you can send the horses back to the owners. Send them back? You, Kerrigan, have a lot of debts to pay off. Meaning you? What's it going to cost to have our lives saved? We'll get to that later. Now I'm all outlawed. You have a lot of ability, Kerrigan. With less, I'd have had an honest job and a fine wife. But now? I learned all about you. Your going where your ability will be worthwhile. No, no. Now I'm through. You go or return to the people who want to lynch you and your friend. Deeper and deeper. Wait a minute, Kerrigan. This gent seems to know what he's doing. I know a place where there used to be a lot of gold. The mines ran out. Most of the people left, but those who remained are living on their savings. There's a lot of money in that little community. Sounds good. You steer us and we'll split with you for saving our next. A jammer, I'd want to be out with you. Doesn't matter what you want, Kerrigan. You've a debt to pay off. Where is the place? High on the mountains near the Continental Divide. It is? Maybe you know the place. It has no name, but there's a hotel that is owned by Mr. Stacey. What? You mean the woman with a daughter named Marianne? Yes. Why, I'd sooner die than go there. Well, I wouldn't. Any place else, but not there. No other place will serve as well. Hold on. I can't go there. Mrs. Grains, you're a woman in Mariposa, borrowed money from Mr. Stacey. Once she writes to Mr. Stacey, I'll be fined out. I can't get away with it. I know we'll be with you and do what he can to prevent any complications. But I tell you. You'll meet a boy when you get there. His name is Dan Reed. He'll work in your office. Won't you let me go some other place? We start tonight. Carrigan and Jammer started slowly, but soon Jammer's enthusiasm ran high. And in less than a week, the whole community was talking about the proposed buildings. Then, late one afternoon, another day. How are things here in the office, Dan? Oh, everything was fine. I wrote those letters for you, Mr. Carrigan. Oh, those. Here they are. One about the machinery and another about the supplies for the buildings. All right, Dan. I'll take care of them. Oh, that Indian named Tonto is waiting outside for you. Oh, all right. Thanks. Good evening. Bye. See you in the morning. Right. Let me in, son. Goodbye, Dan. Bye, Mr. Jammer. Well, Carrigan, we sure are getting a lot of cash together. Money. What good is money? I can't talk to Mary Ann without feeling like something that crawled out from under a log. Here, throw these letters into the fire. What are those? Oh, just the ones the kid wrote. I have to maintain a pretense of going ahead with the plans. I've written for building supplies, machinery, laborers, railroad contracts, everything else. Sure. It makes it easier to sell the stock in the business if people think we're going to head fat. Jammer, I wonder if we couldn't sneak away. Oh, no. That red skin watches every move we make. I'm not a killer. And we couldn't get away with it. The only thing to do, Carrigan, is take all we can get and forget the girl you love. Oh, Mary Ann. Carrigan, someone just came to town. Who was it, honey? Mrs. Granger. And she says the man who tried to seal her money was named Carrigan. 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. To continue our story, Mrs. Granger, who knew that Carrigan's plan was a dishonest swindle, came to town. Mary Ann, the girl who loved Carrigan, brought the stunning news to the office. Well, did she bring back the money she borrowed from your mother? Yes, she did. And she told Mother all about you. Oh, I see. Well, Carrigan, I guess that's that. I told her she was very much mistaken about you. Mary Ann, you... I asked her if anyone in Mariposa had lost money. She had to admit that no one did. You stuck up for me? Of course I did. I told her you were going to do great things for our community. Well, how does Mrs. Granger think now? Well, she doesn't know. She didn't like the way you two ran away from Mariposa with the sheriff's horses. Do you admit, though, that the horses were returned? Oh, yes, they were returned, all right. Of course, Mrs. Granger has to be convinced that you didn't defraud the people in Flat Rock before you went to Mariposa. Oh, Mary Ann, there's a lot that I've got to explain. I want you to know the truth. Oh, one thing more. Yes? Here's the money Mrs. Granger brought back to Mother. Mother and I want to invest it in your factory. Mary Ann. Please take it. It isn't much, but it's all we have. It'll show the people in town that we trust you in spite of anything that Mrs. Granger might say. I don't want to. The masked man. You left the door wide open, Mary Ann. Who are you? Carrigan's friend. Where's the cash you've collected, Carrigan? I... it's here. This desk. See, it stays there. Carrigan? Who is that man? I'll use this office for a few minutes, Carrigan. Get out and take Jammer with you. But wait. Go on. I want to talk to Mary Ann. There are several things I'd like to tell her. I'm hanged about. Go ahead, Carrigan. I want to hear what this masked man has to say. Come on, Carrigan. We're the right outside the door. When you're through, I'll have a few things to say to you. Jammer, this is too much. That girl stuck up for me in spite of all that Mrs. Granger could say. I won't take her money. Carrigan, we got no choice. Yes, we have. We can go back and let those people in Flat Rock do what they want with us. I'm going to square myself. You stay here. Huh? See? That Redskin washes every move. You'll not go anywhere. I'll look here, Redskin. Me, named Tonto. All right then, Tonto, you listen to me. At first I thought I'd do almost anything to keep out of the hands of the people in Flat Rock. Ah, those fellas maybe give you tar feathers. Maybe hang you. I know. Carrigan, don't talk like that. I know what I'm saying. I've had too much. Now I'd sooner go back to Flat Rock and stay here. Let them do what they want. You do what Mask Man says. Tell them our deal is off. Tell them I won't go through with it. He can do what he wants. You stay here. You do what Mask Man says. Carrigan couldn't move without being closely watched by Tonto, Dan Reed or the Mask Man. In the days that followed, he tried several times to quit. But each time he found himself blocked. He tried to tell Mary the truth, but the girl refused to listen. He rarely left the office. When he did leave, Tonto was there to meet him. The Indians slept near his door at night. Carrigan became more desperate with every passing day. I'm a crook, I tell you. I'm a thief and a swindler. I stole your money. I never intended to build a factory. Carrigan, there's no use talking to me like that. I don't believe you when you say that you're a crook. Mary, you've got to believe me. Those letters I wrote were never mailed. There won't be any factory or refinery. The Mask Man and this Indian are going to take half the money. The Mask Man, talk to me, Carrigan. Don't believe him. Believe what I tell you. Tell your mother and everyone else to get their money back before the Mask Man makes off with it. You talk long enough. Maybe you better go now, huh? Oh, yes, Tonto. I'll go. Mary, tell Mrs. Granger to bring the folks here. Tell her to write to Flat Rock and tell those people where they can find me. She's already written to the sheriff at Flat Rock. She has? Oh, good. Good. Then he'll be here. He'll be here with a lot of people to prove to you that I'm no good. Oh, Mary, if only they get here before the cash is gone. Goodbye, Carrigan. Did you hear that, Tonto? Did you hear that? He'll be here from Flat Rock. Then you and that Mask Man will be caught. You won't get far with the money you made jam on me still. Carrigan, take it easy. Maybe better him stay in room for next few days. Carrigan and Jammer were both kept virtual prisoners in their hotel room. Several days went by. Then Mrs. Carrigan, Mrs. Granger went to the hotel and sought out Mary Ann and her mother in the lobby. Now I guess you would both pay some attention to me. I've heard from home. What did you hear, Mrs. Granger? Jenny, you look mighty pleased with yourself. I don't like to say I told you so, but you can see for yourself that I was right. Now here's a letter for Mrs. Jackson who cleaned out the desk that skinflint used. He wrote a lot of letters, but he never emailed or one of them. He never had any intention of going through with his plans. Well, if he's as bad as you say, mother and I will lose our savings. Chance's eye has already skipped out. Oh, no. No, he's ill. He's in his hotel room. You think he is? Of course he is, Jenny. Dan Reed is there with him part of the time. Isn't that Indian named Tuttle? His friend is there, too, Mr. Jammer. I'd like to see him and be sure. Where's all the money he took in? Well, Carrigan had it with him. Oh, my sakes are live. Well, you can bid it goodbye. I only wish I had this letter sooner than I... Howdy, Mary Ann. Oh, Sheriff Small. Howdy, Miss Stacy. Hello, Sheriff. Something we can do for you? Well, I hate to start trouble, ma'am, but the sheriff from Mariposa has just come in. He's got a lawman from Flat Rock with him. Now we'll get the truth. Where are they? Outside. They questioned some of the people that bought stock off Carrigan. Well, why don't they question me? Mother and I gave them our savings to invest in the refinery and factory. Well, Mary Ann, I reckon you're a little bit prejudiced. No, whole lot. What's that noise outside? I'm afraid the boys are in the way here. Carrigan, as what Flat Rock and Mariposa claim, they're like to lynch him. Oh, no. No, they can't. Where's Carrigan? Hang him out. We want our money back. Ma'am. Ma'am, wait a minute. Listen to me. Ain't no use defending him, Mary. Then, Carrigan's on the level. I know him better than any of you. He's going to make this town boom again. Like he done in Flat Rock? Like he tried to do in Mariposa. Oh, please, listen. You men who live here, you know how the gold mines petered out? You all own claims that aren't worth a thing. Carrigan's going to make them worthwhile. That's the story he gave us in Flat Rock. And in Mariposa, we want our money back. Which for himself? Boys, let Mary Ann finish talking. Please, listen. Carrigan's ore in the mines, and it can be made worthwhile. But it takes a refinery to reduce it, and it takes machinery, it takes a lot of things. Carrigan's going to bring them here. Mary Ann, you're blind. We want Carrigan. Where? Beyond the heavy door of Carrigan's room, Tonto stood guard. You've got to let me out there. At Marble's store in the place. Mary Ann doesn't deserve this sort of thing. Mask man, not let crowd make trouble. Carrigan, maybe we can get out this window. We don't make a getaway. They'll string us up. We can't run out now. We can't even do that. Everyone will hold it against Mary Ann. Well, you can stay and hang if you remind you. I don't like hanging. You stay here. I'm going out that window, and if you leave the door to stop me, Carrigan will go out the door. Carrigan, here, mask man. He's coming in the window. You, you made all that trouble. There's a mob in the hotel lobby. They're going to smash things. Mary Ann... You stop them, Carrigan. I'll stop. I'll what? They're going out there and meet those people. That's what I wanted to do, but Tonto wouldn't let me. No, it's all right. Stand aside, Tonto. I'll throw that pack of wolves out, and I'll let them know that Mary Ann can't be blamed. Just a minute. Before you go, there are a few things you've got to know. For some time, Mary Ann tried to calm the angry men. She pleaded with them for a little more time. She begged them to leave Carrigan alone until he had a chance to prove his sincerity. There were times when she came close to winning a reprieve. But each time, the man from Flat Rock or the one from Mariposa spoke up. If he's on the level, why did he run out on Mariposa? You can't deny he robbed the people in Flat Rock. Man, he has to have time to get the supplies here. You can't bring building supplies and machinery all the way here overnight. Do you think I'd love a man that was a crook? It's your love that blinds you, Mary Ann. Wait a minute. Long enough. Bring him out or we'll go get him. All right, you wild-eyed pack of crazy wolves. Here I am. But before you come any closer, you better hear what I've got to say. Oh, he's got to go. Oh, mercy. There'll be shooting. You and you and you. If you want your money back, you can have it. I'll tell you how you can get it. Sell your stock in the Leadville Corporation. The Leadville Corporation? What's the Leadville Corporation? You all thought your minds were worthless. Well, they're not. There's no gold in them, but there is lead. Lead enough to make all of you rich. You don't deserve it. You don't have confidence enough in honest people to deserve the break you're getting. How about Mariposa? Did anyone there lose anything? No, they did not. Flat Rock. Everyone in Flat Rock will be repaid. You see here, Mr. Swindler Karaghan, you're starting that slick talk again. You're long on promises, but short on delivery. That's right. A claim to write for building supplies and machinery and all such things, but we never get this thing. Hey, where's Karaghan? Right here. We got a caravan of wagons loaded with building supplies and machinery. Where do you want it? Where is it now? Alongside the hotel. Oh, look, the stuff of your factory. There's your factory, and the railroad will bring in a spur track. Here's the letter to prove it. Now, you want your factory or your money back? You see, boys, he's on the level. I never thought of owning a lead mine. We got a good thing. Hey! I'll buy the stock of anyone that don't want it. Oh, wait, wait just a minute. If you want your money back, come up here. If you don't, get out. Go on, clear out. Famous. Hey, look, your sheep is just a boy cut steel and cakes. Jenny, it's fitting that you apologize to Mr. Karaghan. Well, I sure am sorry I was swayed by opinion, Mr. Karaghan, but I always said you had an honest look. Yes. Mary Ann, I've got to see you alone. I know all about it, Karaghan. Come with me, Jenny. Leave those two alone. I sized him up as an honest man right at the start. Mary Ann, I didn't know. I still don't know. Dan Reed told the Masked Man every time you wrote a letter, Karaghan. Then the Masked Man sent the letters with your name on it. Never dawned on me that my plan was really a good one. Oh, and you thought the Lone Ranger was a crook. Lone Ranger? Is that who that Masked Man was? Uh-huh. He told me all about you that day in the office. He knew there was lead there, and he knew it took a man like you to develop it. But he let me think. He made me think he was a crook. When you were ready to go back and hang, rather than go through with the crooked scheme, he knew you were the man to make this town famous, as the lead city. Oh, Mary Ann, I'll make this place hum. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.