 A fiery horse for the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty, high-o-silver, the Lone Ranger! Cattle-raising was the first great industry in Texas, but when the days of the open range passed, many settlers turned to farming. Bitter disputes over boundaries and water rights arose between the ranchers and the farmers, and in time, this hard feeling changed to hatred. Range wars would have followed if the mass griter of the plains hadn't proved that the disputes could be settled by peaceful means. It was he more than any other man who brought law and order to the lawless frontier. Return with us now of those thrilling days when the West was young. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again! Our story opens at midnight, not far from Sam Hefner's ranch house. A man bound hand and foot lies on the ground. A younger man stands over him. You'll pay for this, Neil. Maybe. Now open your mouth so I can fix this gag. You? Open your mouth or I'll do it for you. If you hadn't sneaked up on me, you'd never got me like this. There, that'll fix you. You talk just once too often. Now quit jerking your head around while I get this tied. That's good enough, I reckon. So you're a hired gunhand, huh? Drawing double wages for Sam to keep me from his daughter, huh? Well, that'll take a dozen like you. Now, you just sit there and make yourself comfortable while I see if Kate's awake. And maybe you and me will meet up again someday. I think Kate's room. Maybe she isn't asleep yet. I'll toss and grab her again in the window. And I hope that Blazes, she hears it. Didn't hear me. Well, I'll... That you, Kate? Keep your voice down, honey. Listen, Kate, there ain't much time to talk. Is your pa awake? He's in the parlor reading. But why are you somewhere around in here? He's tied and gagged over beside the trail. Look here, honey, I'm in a bad fix. The sheriff rode to my place this evening to serve that warrant your boss wore out against me for fighting with his foreman. And now the sheriff's dead. Neil, you didn't shoot him. I didn't, Kate. I swear I didn't. But the worst of it is, I don't know who did. Will they blame you? Just as soon as they find out about it, they will. And Kate, I won't have a chance. Just because I'm a nester and live by raising crops instead of being a cow puncher, every cattleman in the county will be after my hide. But what do you do? Only one thing I can do. Well, you're out. Oh, no. Ain't no choice, honey. I ain't guilty. But everybody will say I got in a fight with the sheriff about that warrant, and draw it on him. And there's no way I can prove any different. But Neil, you can't leave me. Gosh, honey, you know I don't want to, but... No, I won't have it. If you'll leave her, Neil, then so am I. Huh? I mean, if you'll want me. Oh, Kate, what do you think I've been working day and night for? If it wasn't so as we could be hitched up when I had enough cash. But now everything's changed, don't you see? You can't... I don't see and I can. We'll leave this minute. I won't even stop to pack anything to take along. We can stop by at the widow Nelson's. She'll be glad to loan me anything I need. And then, then in the morning, we'll get married over to the county seat. Neil, wherever you go, I'll go. You're being plum foolish, honey. Oh, don't try and stop me, Neil. But, well, I reckon I'm just as foolish as you are. We'll do it. I can go just as I am. I didn't start to get ready to go to sleep. I was just sitting here, sinking. My horse is over there. It'll carry double as far as town. Here, give me your hands. I'll help you through the window. Hurry. There you are, honey. Now, come on. For all I know, maybe they found the sheriff already. When we get there, I'll borrow the widow's horse, too. Neil, watch out your... Made in Bethel, would I get to wake anybody? That tub was set there to catch the rain. I forgot all about it. Come on, run. Who made that noise? Is that you, honey? Up with you, honey. We've got to travel. Hurry, Neil. Who is that? Well, I'll be... Get up there. Wait. Hold on. Kate, is that you, Kate? Come back here. Wait. We're riding off of that no-good farmer. Whitey, where in places are you? Whitey, I'll skin that fool alive. Men, fellas, pile out of the bunkhouse. Come running. Whitey's disappeared and Kate's riding away with Neil Brogan. Something's happened at that ranch house, Tyler. Well, there's been a hold-up. Maybe, isn't that it? Oh, what that? Oh, Silver, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. It's a man tied in gag. Come on, huh? That's right. You cut the ropes, Tyler. Now, Tyler's gag. He cut them. Hold still. We'll have you free in a moment. This knot was drawn plenty tight. That does it. You're a blasted killer. I'll fix him. Tie me up, Willie. Run off with the boss's girl, Willie. Ride the load down. Say you're masked. And it's a red skin with you. Never mind that. Well, thanks anyhow, stranger, for what you've done. Gosh, I'd better let Sam know what'd become of me. It sounds like they're having a fit over by the house. Mayor, I'll help you to your feet. You must be safe after being tied like that. Golly, I am at that. But that don't matter. I have to tell Sam. There's Whitey. This way. I found him. Yes, fellow with a red skin got him. Raise your hands, there, you two. Hold on, boss. I'll teach these fellows to... Wait. They didn't hold me up, boss. They just now untied me. Huh? It was Neil Brogan tied me up and gagged me. He done it by coming at me from behind. And these fellows come along and found me. Is that right, stranger? It is. And if you wanted to work with Neil, what's that mask for? I have my own reasons for the mask. Yeah, I just bet you have. You Whitey. You ride in here, tell me what a hand you are with a shooting iron. And you ain't on the job 24 hours. When you let the blasted farmer get the best out of you. But I just now said these fellows... Ah, and you, Ray. You talking all the time about being sweet on Kate. You even have a fight with Neil about it. Then you just stand by while he comes and steals her away. But gosh, boss, I was sleeping, I tell you. Well, I'm wondering if you ain't asleep all the time. You idiots. I've a mind to fire the lot of you. I don't see how we could have helped it. And it ain't do no good standing here arguing about it. What I wanted to do is catch that pole cat and give him what he got coming. And that goes for me, Whitey. Come on, boss, let's ride for Neil's place now. Neil's place? Now they're likely to go there, ain't they? But where else would they go? I know where they'd head for. Bring them horses up here. What place you got in mind, boss? It's with her, Nelson's. She and Kate spend half their time visiting back and forth. That's the first place Kate and think of. Then let's get going. There's just one thing, boss. The fellas that have been coming into this part of the country to farm the nesters, they think of heaping you. Well, what about it? Nothing much. Only going after them like this. Well, they'll be taken sides. And this is likely to turn into a regular range war. Afraid? Of course I ain't. Then get in your saddle and shut up. Ready, fellas? Then come on. Get up there. Get up. Here's the white dress I wore when I got married to Lynn, Kate. You can have that for your wedding. Well, that's awfully good here, Mrs. Nelson. Here's a blue taffeta I can spare in these aprons. I don't know about these shoes, Kate. They'd maybe a mite too big for you. I can't possibly take all of these things. Just enough to do me till I can get where I can buy more. But you're sure of being mighty nice to us, Mrs. Nelson. Sure as if a body can't help her friends. You got the whole saddle, I said Kate could borrow an eel? Uh-huh. It's standing just outside. Well, then I'll get this release pass and then you better help her. And Kate, you be sure and write me. After what you've done for us, you think I'd forgive? Of course not, child. I was just talking. I reckon that's fast and good enough. I'll take it, Mrs. Nelson. Come on, honey, we can... What's that? Horsemen. You can't maybe let your pa and his men quick out of the bag. I'll try to hold them. All right, so there you are. Pa! We caught her, you poachess. Hand back her range. No, you don't, fella. Keep your hand away from that holster. You're covered. You whitey. Kate, I'm ashamed of you. A cattleman's daughter running away with a farmer. But you're going back home right now. No, Pa. I love Neil and he loves me. What if he ain't a rancher? I don't care what he is. That's enough of that talk. You come with me. Take your hands off, Kate. Even if you are a pa, that don't mean... Shut up or I'll taste land. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves, a whole pack of you. You, Sam. Y'all, this was the oddiest, most cantankerous creeper I ever seen. Have you ever raised a girl as nice as Kate? I don't know. Ray, they're a fine farmer, and he is. He's whining around about being local over Kate, but never having backbone enough to do more than run Neil down. And this fella here, what's his name? Why, uh, that's just whiny. We've done many a hard year today, huh? And a nister ties him up. A fostered crew if I ever seen one. Oh, talk all you want. All right, Kate. Come along. Please, Pa. I reckon you'd better go, honey, but I'll be seeing you again as soon as I can. You have a notion you're staying behind? What are you? Well, you ain't. We all got things to settle with you, me especially. Now get moving before I pull this trigger. Look, here you are. When I got you covered, I'll give the orders. Get going. Don't you worry, Neil, I'll tell you a brilliant thought is on their seat with the two-headed girls. If them farmers come into Fearing, we'll run them right out of the county. Close the door, Ray. Oh, you can't let them do anything to Neil. Kate, whatever happens to that skunk will be too good for him. Now get mounted and don't talk up. And that goes for you, fella. Into the saddle. Whitey, there'll be a time coming when you ain't got a gun on your hand. And we'll have this out, man to man. If you leave that long. All right, Neil, you'll come in with me. What? Clear out of here. Come on, Neil, we're riding. Get a hold of that, fella. Hand back. Get over here. Kill them. Missed. Try again. The masked man. You said he wasn't working with Neil. And now he rides in and grabs that blasted nester right out from under your noses. Come on. Get into the saddle and take after them. Come on, Silver. Come on, Silver. We shook them off, stranger. Where are you heading for now? To camp. Tell the road ahead and it's waiting for us. My friend, hurry, Silver, old fellow. Country, stranger. You have no idea who shot the sheriff? Not a notion. I couldn't even begin to make a guess. Well, I think I can. You what? I believe I know the murderer. But I can think of only one motive. I'll explain later when I have more to go on, Neil. But first, I want the answer to a question. What do you want to know? The sheriff had several deputies, didn't he? Sure. There's Ed Porter and Lige Mason. Which one would you trust the most? Which would I trust? Well, that'd be Ed Porter, I reckon. He's as square as he comes. Good. Tunnel, huh? We're going back to town, Kimosabi. We right now? At once. We'll have to be back here before daylight. Yes, Count. Here's Silver. But hold on. What about me? You're staying here, Neil. You've got a scheme to catch the killer. He'll be in on him. He'll be safer here. Who cares about being safe? That isn't all. Our horses are faster than yours. You were long, and it just handicapped us. But gosh, I want to do something. It's perhaps later there'll be plenty for you to do. But now you can help us most by staying here. Ready, Santa? You ready? Look at them fellas ride. I'm in a bad spot, sure enough. But if I had the whole west to choose from to get help, I wouldn't look no further than them two fellas there. 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 our story. The Lone Ranger, after rescuing Neil Brogan from Sam Hefner and his men, left Neil and his camp while he and Tauno returned to town to investigate the murder of the Sheriff. Isn't that the Sheriff's office up ahead? Hmm, I did, all right. We've got to get inside. Maybe. Or luck. Maybe. And I've got an idea and we'll find it isn't. Why do you think that? First we'll see if I'm right. Here we are. You see Tauno? Door. Door broke open. Whoever was here before us found the door locked. So we smashed his way inside. There's a lamp on the table. Light it Tauno. We'll look around in here. Maybe fella, see us. There isn't anybody likely to be near this time of night. I don't know where the broken door would have been discovered before this. Paper all over a room. Every drawer on the Sheriff's desk was open and searched. The man who did this didn't bother to replace the papers he looked at. He just threw them on the floor. Looked like him in big hurry. Well, that's enough Kimosabe. Now back to the horses. Where we go? Do you know where Ed Porter's home is? Huh? Him got place in town. Me? Let me show you. Let me see over here. Lead the way Tauno. Get him up. Come on, Silver. Come on, Silver. Come on, Silver. This is the place Tauno? No. Not right. I hope he's home. If he isn't, we'll have to find him. I'm not here, you. I'll try again. Open the door! If it's a Sheriff, what? A mask from us. Careful, Deputy. And the red skin, what in? You're going to get dressed at once. Look here, no outlaws going to order me or outlaw. I'm not an outlaw, and I have you covered. That draw. Now, will you do what I say? You won't get away with this. Get back inside and start dressing. We'll talk that over later. Blaster. Close the door, Tauno. Now, Deputy, I'm watching every move you make. Don't try anything. When you're finished, you're coming with us. During the next two days, the news of the Sheriff's murder spread through the range country. It was early in the morning when Kate went down to the Hefner Corral and saddled her horse. What do you think you were doing, Kate? I'm going for a ride, Pa. Like fun you are. I told you once, you wasn't leaving the ranch. And I meant just what I said. But Pa... You won't get no second chance to run off with no murderer. Neil didn't shoot the Sheriff. Yeah? Well, other folks think different. Not everybody. Everybody that counts does. Now, who in blazes is that coming here? What? It's Hank Graves and Paul Keaton. More dog-gone farmers. I thought I made it clear I didn't ever want to see one of them pole cats on my place. Don't start trouble, Pa. I'll handle things more on the way. What are you fellas doing here? We've been sent here, Sam. We didn't write clear out here just for the pleasure of talking to you. You can lay to that. Well, we aim to know what you've done with Neil Brogan and that Port of the Deputy. I don't know where Ed is, but I can tell you this. Neil run away to save his neck. You can bet on that. Yeah? Well, a widow Nelson tells a different story. She says you and your hired gunman came and took Neil out of her house. But he got away again. That's likely, ain't it. A half dozen you again, one of him. But a mask... Don't try no lies. What must have happened was this. You tried to frame Neil for the sheriff's killing, but most likely Ed found out about it, so he got rid of both of them to keep him from telling their stories in court. You're crazy. Well, I even hate Kate here can tell Neil was took away by some outlaw, can't you Kate? Is that so, Miss? I don't remember. Well, I dog-blast my height. He was... you was right there. You recollect as well as I do. Now you tell him. Put in your girl and make her back up your story, huh? Well, Ed, don't go down with us. You see here, we brought a message to you and we're delivering it. Either you produce Neil and Ed by six o'clock tomorrow evening or get ready for gunplay. Making threats, eh? Just so. And I'll tell you this, Sam, maybe us farmers ain't as handy with shooting irons as you cattlemen, but we got you out number two to one. And any gunplay we start, we'll finish. The deadline, six tomorrow. Don't be forgetting. Come on, Paul, let's get back. And Sam, when we say six, we mean six. Good day to you. Get up. Now, what was the idea of what you've done? Why didn't you tell him about the mass feller? If you was a young and again, I'd tan your height. They're on Neil's side, Pa. And so am I. Consigned woman, folks. You as bad your ma was before you. Hey, Pa. Eh? Oh, holly holly. Hello there, Ray. Why weren't you here just... Say, who's the Redskins? Me, Tonto. Tonto? The engine says he's got a note for you. He wouldn't turn it over to us. A note? Where is it? Yeah. You'll take him. What's it say, boss? Dog gone it quickly in and over my shoulder. Leaping lizards. It's signed by Ed Porter. The deputy? Is that his handwriting? I'd say it was. What do you think, boss? There ain't no doubt about it. But if this is true, say where the Redskins get to. I aim to ask him some questions. There he is. Getting on that paint horse. Hey, hold on, Redskins. Get him out of the crowd. Blast your comeback here. Now, why'd he sneak off like that? To keep him telling what he knew, that's why. But, boss, do you figure that note from Ed Porter is straight? I don't know. But we'll find out by tomorrow night, by thunder. Now get back to work. You why'd he keep an eye on Kate here? And Ray, you rouse them lazy rannies out of the bunkhouse and start them riding the line. Now get. The following day, the farmers gathered in town. They believed the cattlemen were responsible for the disappearance of Neil and the deputy. As the afternoon wore on toward evening, their suspicion became a certainty. Ten minutes to six. And no sign of Neil or Ed. Man, you better see to your guns. I got a notion there's going to be trouble. Six o'clock, fellas. We'll give him ten more minutes and then we'll ride. Time's up, everybody set? Be sure your guns are loaded. And anybody here that ain't hankering after a fight, it better get out right now. Hank, there's Joe riding this way. Looks like he's got something to tell us. Hold on a second. What's the matter? I just seen Sam Hefner in his hull outfit riding toward Signal Glove. Signal Glove? You sure? Didn't I tell you? You sure? Didn't I just say I saw myself? What'd they be going over there for? Don't ask me. Maybe they figured if we didn't find them at the ranch, we'd let them go. Well, if they did, they'll sure find out different. If they can ride over there, so can we. Come on, fellas. Let's show them how embrace a cattleman ain't running this county. Get up there. Get up there. What time you got, Ray? Near 7.30, boss. And where's Ed Potter at? We've waited the better part of an hour already. If he don't show up, blame soon, we're going home. He didn't say anything about the time in that note he wrote, boss. He just said he'd meet us at the foot of the bluff here after dark. Right after dark. Is that right now, Ed? What's he afraid of? He don't need to think that... Listen, maybe that's him. Not unless he needs a couple of dozen horses to get him here. Then who is it? Hold on. Yeah, that's them all right, the nesters. They must follow us here. Bound to have trouble, eh? Well, by thunder we'll show them where they get off at. Then, if one of their members makes a move for his gun, blast them out of their saddle. Here they are! So we found you after you figured on running away from us, eh? Run away from farmers? Don't yell at us! We want Neil and Ned and we aim to find out what's become of them. We warned you what would happen if they wasn't backed by six. But I said we're looking for the deputy ourselves. Yeah? He sent a note saying he'd be here after sundown. And I don't give a hoot if you believe me or not. Strolling again! Why would he meet you fellows here? To give evidence against Neil, that's why. Huh? Did Ed say that? Did he say Neil killed the sheriff? Just the same as. Meaning? That the sheriff knew a certain fellow was gunning for him. And the sheriff told Ed who that fellow was. And you don't know whether it was Neil or not. Ed wrote that he cleared out to keep him getting shot by that same fellow himself. And if he didn't mean Neil by that, I'll eat dirt. You just proved your lines. Why you? Ed wouldn't run from nobody. You're making that story up to keep clear of trouble, but your yellow tricks ain't pulling us for a minute. It's a fight, fellas! Kill us, you ass-ports, Sam! I've had this gun aimed right at you since we got here. And now I have! Hank, watch out! Look up above! It's Neil! We got that Hank from on top, the bluff! Neil! I knew you were doing it for me, Hank. But I couldn't let you shoot, Sam. You saved my life. Hank had me dead to rights. There's been too much trouble on economy already, Mr. Hefner. You come close to getting that bullet yourself. Well, all I can say is it's to blame bad juror Nester and wanted by the law. Neil, how in blazes did you happen to be up above? I've been laying up there out of sight ever since you fellas got here, Paul. I know, but... I'm sorry to say it, Neil, after what you just done. But that makes it look all the worse for you. You must have found out some way that Ed was coming here and was laying for him. There's no choice, I reckon. We'll just have to take the end of jail. Just hold on, Sam. Look here, Neil. Wasn't it the ranchers held you prisoner? I wasn't a prisoner, Hank. And I've been with a masked man and a red skin. Then, Sam, maybe you wasn't lying about that note. We'll just wait and see if Ed shows up. Suits me, Hank. And well, I... I'm hoping Ed don't say what I'm afraid he's gonna say. There's a right of us. That might be Ed. It must be. Ed! That's you? Surely is, and I've got big news. Oh, oh, there. We want to know who was gunning for the sheriff. And I can tell you, it's like this, Sam. I was you who expired last time. After, son! He's running you away! How to rob him! He's not armed! I shot his gun away! What's happening? There's a red skin over there. He's making ready to throw his rope. Somebody's heading for the trees. Let me go! Get that rope out of me! It's Whitey! He was Whitey shot at the deputy. Bring that polecat over here, Tonto. Let me bring him in. Let me go! Go quickly! Last year, let me go! There's your killer, Sam. The masked man. Where'd he come from? The masked fellow was up above two. Keep in march for anybody that tried to shoot the deputy. I'd have got him before this if I'd know the sheriff told him about me. So you did kill the sheriff, Whitey. I was tricked. There's just one thing, Whitey. What part of the country are you wanted by the law? Ask the deputy, blast him. I can't tell the masked man. If the sheriff told you I was gunning for him, you must have told you it was because he recognized me from a reward notice. But he never told me you was after him. Huh? What's that? Whitey, you told me you were the killer. That ain't so. You're a local. And that I untied you near Sam's ranch house. The first thing you did was call Neil a killer. You'd forgotten the sheriff's death couldn't have been discovered yet. Why you? When Neil told Kate about the murder, you were too far away to have hurt him. That's a fact. Whitey was over by the trail. You didn't mention it again, Whitey. And Sam said nothing about it at all. Although he was angry enough with Neil to have called him a murderer. He'd known of the sheriff's death. But wait! Only the killer, besides Neil, could have known that the sheriff was dead. And your slip of the tongue showed you up, Whitey. Dog gone if that don't beat all. I didn't know the murder myself at the time. But Whitey's statement made me curious. That's why I took Neil away, Sam. And Neil told me his story. But how'd you get on to Whitey being an outlaw? He'd been in this part of the country only 24 hours. So the motive for the sheriff's murder could only be something that had happened in the past. Finding the sheriff's office broken open and reward notices scattered around confirmed my suspicions. That's right, Sam. That's why the mask fella got me to write you that note. He knew blame well Whitey would try to shut me up and give himself away by doing so. Have you figured I had anything on him? That blasted note? Neil, maybe Kate was right about you after all. And as for you, Whitey, that note just goes to show you can't believe everything you read, especially when the masked man puts another fella up to writeen it. Come on, Neil, roll for us. There's been a home up near Alderaan. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.