 a fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hyal silver, the Lone Ranger. When the western United States was first opened to settlers, many criminals traveled to the new territory in the hope of finding easy wealth. They soon realized, however, that wealth could only be purchased by hard work, so they turned to robbery and cattle wrestling. It was these men that the masked rider of the plains fought so tirelessly, and was only through his efforts that law and order was finally established on the frontier. And our return with us to 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 in the town of Prairie Grove, a typical frontier settlement in southwestern Texas. It is late afternoon, and Clem Barton, a rancher, hurriedly enters the small post office on the main street. Fred, hey Fred, I'm in a doggone big hurry. You got an email for me? Might have. Well, then give it to me quick. I'm looking for something special. I'll just hold your horses. I'll have a look. Oh, man, can't exactly recollect whether there was something for you or not. Don't be so horrified slow about it. Just a second, just a second. Yeah, here's something. This is yours, I reckon. What do you mean so blame hasty about? I got to meet Bankershaw at five o'clock. That's why, and it's just about five now. Oh, here, give me that. You're meeting Bankershaw? I am, but this is what I'm looking for. Yippee, this is it, all right. If you're planning to see the bankie, you better get a hustle, aren't you? He's getting ready to take that stage. What's that? Look for yourself. You don't believe me. There's a stage just across the street. Well, of all that, it looks to me like he kind of forgot about you. I'll catch him. Hi there, Bankershaw. Hey. You're calling me, Clem? Gosh, Mr. Shaw, what are you doing with your bag all packed and everything? You ain't forgot our business, have you? Yeah, business? What business? You know, the ranch, the mortgage. Mortgage? I thunder claim it Clem slipped my mind. Gosh, I was hoping we'd get things cleared up today. Look, Mr. Shaw, step back away so his folks won't hear us, won't you? The stage won't be leaving for a couple minutes yet. Well, come along. Well, what is it? It's a dog-gone secret. Well, it's like this, Mr. Shaw. I just now got the cash I sent for it to pay off the mortgage. And I'd sure hate like blazes to take the risk of keeping it on me. Well, that's a shame, Clem. I'm sure sorry I forgot about our appointment. I wasn't going to Gold City. You could give me the cash now, and then you wouldn't have to worry about it. But can't you put off your trip till tomorrow, Mr. Shaw? Sorry, Clem. My business there is a sight too important for that. But then how about leaving the cash in your bank for the night? Now, Clem, you know better, Nat. The bank's closed up tight this late in the day. Of course, you could have him take care of it over to the cafe. After all, the hold-ups has been not by a blame sight. Then I reckon you'll just have to take it home with you again. But when are you coming back? When? Oh, I'll be back tomorrow evening. I'm just staying overnight. Could I see you tomorrow night, then? Yes, I suppose you could. Of course, the mortgage ain't due for another week yet. But I won't feel real easy keeping $5,000 out to the ranch. And I don't blame you, Clem. Well, let's say you meet me tomorrow night at 10 o'clock, then. That good enough? Oh, that do just fine. Get aboard, folks. We're set to travel. Well, the stage is ready to leave, Clem. Sorry I couldn't do no better for you. Oh, we'll make out, I reckon. So long, Mr. Shaw. Tomorrow at 10, then. Good day to you. Good day, Mr. Shaw. We're near to five minutes late. Getting started already. I'm ready, driver. You ain't forgot the time, have you, Clem? Huh, Sophie? Well, what time is it? Most 9 o'clock. I'm glad you had to be to meet Mr. Shaw in town at 10. Oh, gosh, I was near forgetting. Get the cash out of the cupboard for me, won't you, Sophie? I'll have to make tracks. I'll get it. My hat. Where in blazes is my hat? Your hat's on the chair where you put it. I declare when you get fussed you never know what you're doing. Well, I reckon I'm just feeling good knowing the mortgage is gonna be paid up, honey. It was mighty nice of your brother Ned to give us a lend of it. You'd better be careful with it. And what he says, things bein' the way they are back east, he won't be able to send you no more. You bet I'll be careful. Here it is, Clem. Now, you put it to a good safe place. Yeah. It won't fall out of that inside pocket, I reckon. Now, where'd your same hat was? Oh, here it is. Oh, you're hurryin' to town. The horse is all saddled outside. It's a nice moonlit night to ride. Well, you take care of yourself. Who in the blazes is that? Whoever it is, don't you stop to talk to him. You just keep going. If you want red skin, don't stand there, Clem. I'll deal with the engine. I'm a-going, honey. All right, engine. Whatcha say you want it? Me want food. Me pay you. Well, landscape, we got a whole lot on hand, but you're welcome to share. It's just for yourself. No, me got friend. Oh, there's two of you. Another red skin, huh? Him, white friend. White friend? Then why don't he come up mask for the grub instead of send a ninja after it? Well, I can't stand below in the shadows. Well, I reckon they don't matter, though. You just wait till I have a look in the kitchen, and I'll see you. They are sharp. That's the way Clem rode. Something's happened. Me, come. Stranger, don't let nothin' happen to Clem. Help him. Hurry, tunnel. Hit me ready. Come on. That's right. Sounded like a rifle. Hurry, tunnel. There's a horse. And there's a man lying on the trail. What's the matter, left the ranch house when you knocked on the door? He has the same power. He's not dead. Will it cut cross-head? Yes. Didn't wound him seriously, but it was enough to knock him out. He'll come, too. He'll be conscious in a moment. Look, channel. The shot must have come from behind that cut bank. It's the perfect spot to hide it if he wanted to drag out some man on this trail. The man who fired the shot could follow down the ghost and make his escape unseen. The cash. You'll be all right, friend. The bullet only scraped your scalp. Wait a minute. I gotta look. The cash. You were carrying money? It's gone. It was stolen? How much did you have? $5,000 in stolen money. $5,000 in all of it borrowed. You're a mask. You're the fellow that shot me. Easy, Clem. Your wife can prove we were at the ranch house when the shot was fired. And we didn't know you were carrying money on you. Here. Feel well enough, ride back to the house. Just let me rest a minute, stranger. Can you answer some questions? What questions? How many people knew you had that money? Nobody. That cash come from the east and I never told nobody about getting it. No one at all? Well, I did tell Bankers Shaw. But he don't count. What I mean is, it was him I was taking the cash to. So he'd have just as much reason as me for keeping it secret. I see. You see, Bankers Shaw holds a mortgage on my place and I was going to pay it off tonight. A mortgage for $5,000? Uh-huh. But from what I've seen of your place, it isn't worth that much. Well, as a matter of fact, stranger, it ain't. But when I asked for that $5,000, I needed it bad. And if the bank was willing to lend it, I wasn't going to put up no objections. Then Shaw would be more anxious to have you pay the mortgage than to take over your ranch. Shucks. I ain't suspecting him, stranger. You just asked me who knew about the cash and I told you. Of course, he might have been careless but Bankers Shaw don't ever say anything careless like. And besides, he couldn't have told nobody. We fixed up our meeting tonight just when he got on the stage yesterday. He's been out of town ever since. The stage is only due in now. We're going to try and get your money back for you, Clem. Say, do you mean that? We do. Gosh, you're sure a strange sort of fella to be wearing a mask and riding with a red skin. We're not crooks, Clem. You think you can make it back to the house now? Your wife will be worried. Your hand, will you? My head's like to split. Here, of course. Thanks, engine. I'll help you, Clem. Golly, I sure don't know what I'm going to say to Sophie when I get home. I'll sure get a tongue lashing with the cash gone and no way to borrow more. Steady silver. How soon does the mortgage have to be paid, Clem? Well, there's just six days left. A lot can happen in six days. You ready, Tello? Say, which way are you heading? Aren't you going back to the house with me? Not now, Clem, but we'll see you later. Hail, silver! They ain't the blamest fellas I ever seen. That night, the Lone Ranger and his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, made camp. But the next morning, they returned to the dry gulf to search for some trace of the man who'd robbed Clem Barton. Oh, hold this over. Hold this over. Too dark to follow the trail last night, Kimosami. The moon night didn't help any of this, Golly. But we may find something today. There. Empty shells. Yes. Look. Here's where the man kneeled to shoot. You can see the mark of his knee in the soft earth. That... that's right. And there are hoof prints. Of course, got broken shoe. The broken shoe on the left forefoot. There was a small horse. You can see how light the prints are. That's right. I'm afraid we can't trail him, Tello. No. Him ride on hard ground. Him not leave trail. Yeah, but I knew what he was about. Now what we do? Some things I don't understand, Tello. The outlaw must have known Clem had that money. That's right. Clem says the banker was the only one to know. If he'd loaned more than the ranch was worth, he stood to lose if the money wasn't delivered. Here's a loan, Tello. We're going to town, Kimosami. You've got plans? Yes, but there are things I want to find out. Two hours later, the loan ranger disguised, but without his mask, sat at a table in the cafe with Thoughto. They watched a hard-faced man call Pete as he talked with the banker. Hello, the hoof prints left by Peace Force are exactly the same as those we saw in the ghost. Oh. I wonder what business he could have with the banker. It looked plenty strange. Too bad we can't hear them. At least we can stay and see what happens. Well, I was telling them about it before. Yeah. Well, Mr. Shaw, I better be on my way. Even already? Yeah, I got it. But I'll be seeing you again. Uh-huh. Maybe there'll be some more business we can do together. I sure hope so. What happened to your head, Clem? Get in the shooting screen. Hey, hold on and tell us about it. Not now, boys. I got to talk to Mr. Shaw. Howdy, Mr. Shaw. Can I sit down? Thank you. Maybe you'll let me know what you've got to say for yourself. You kept me waiting last night till after midnight. Mr. Shaw, I was shot at. That's how I come to be wearing this bandage. Shot at? And the cash stole from me. Well, um, who done it? That's something I don't know. The only fellas I've seen was a masked man and an engine that rode up when they heard the shot. The bullet knocked me out cold. A masked man and a red skin? Why, there, the crooks have stole your cash. Well, that's when the shot was fired. Then they had a partner with them. Don't you see it? Their partner could have shot you and then rode off. And other fellas talked to Sophie so they'd have an alibi. Then they rode up and stole the cash off. You know why you were still out? And it worked because you was injured enough to think the same fella that shot you must have got the cash. See, do you really think that? I'll bet every penny in my bank it's so. Mr. Shaw, it wouldn't surprise me none of you was right, huh? I look over there. That's the same engine. And that fella with him, he's got a lot of money for this. Man, grab that red skin this friend. Get a hold of him. There they go. After them. They're heading for their horses. Grab your guns. There they are. Man, this is a job for the sheriff. Tell him claims you said $5,000 stole and those are the fellas that stole it. The curtain falls on the first act of our thrilling ronranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue the story. The ronranger and Tonto, suspected of the theft of Clem's money, made their escape from town. Their great horses carried them safely beyond pursuit. But that night, they returned under cover of darkness. That's Pete's place up ahead, isn't it, Tonto? Uh-huh. And there, like in Captain's. That means he's still at home. Now that we've got to make him talking, right, a man who would fire from cover must be a coward. I think we can persuade him to confess whether he planned that robbery alone or whether someone else gave him his instructions. Uh-huh. Someone must have told Pete about the money. Maybe Banker told him. Sure, no more money than the ranch was worth. Clem forgot that the banker could have hired someone to steal the money, and that's why he got the ranch too. Not right. Tonto, you saw Pete through the window. Oh, oh, oh, Silver. Come on. You may not be alone. All right. We're going to have a talk, Pete. Don't slap, Mother. Get out of here. I need my suit now. What's your idea? Good. Throw the fire. Now, Pete, you're going to tell us about your holder. You shot Clem. He stole the cash he was bringing to town. You can't lie out of it, Pete. You shot him from the dry ghost next to the trail. We found the Prince of your horse. My horse? No way. Who was your partner, Pete? Someone told you Clem had that money. I have a good idea of who that person was, but I want the information from you. How are you going to talk? Talk, I said. Talk or take the beating of your life. Quit shitting me. I've got no mercy for a cook like you. Talk. That's only a start. Get up. Stand by the door, Tonto. It makes a break for us to stop him. You can save yourself by telling me what I want to know. I don't know nothing about it. Stand back. Don't. I'll talk. Just don't beat me up. It was this way. I was down by the cafe the other day. We found out the name of the man who gave Pete his information, Tonto. But there's still more to do. We've got to trick him into returning the money. It won't help Clem to get the guilty man of the money. You've got a plan? I have. We're going to call on the banker. Open that door. Open that door. Come on, Tonto. Close the door, Shaw. You didn't think we'd be back in town, did you? The sheriff's looking for you, fellas. You're not leaving the house. If you try to reach that rifle hanging about the fireplace, you'll never make it. I can draw before you've taken another step. We'll see about that. I know who's responsible for the theft of Clem's money. You ought to know you took it. That accusation won't stand, Shaw. Tonto and I can prove we're innocent. What's more, you're going to help us prove it. I meant exactly what I said. You a friend of Clem's? And you want his money returned to him? Then listen to me and stop looking toward your gun. You'll listen whether you like it or not. The following day, Shaw, the banker, entered the cafe. Looked around a moment, then made his way for the man standing at the end of the bar. Come on, Mr. Shaw. Howdy, fellas. Hello there, Jake. Good afternoon, Fred. Howdy, Mr. Shaw. Have you ever heard something that settled the dust in your throat? Don't mind if I do. Have one with me, Fred? Glad to. Hey, what are you so pleased about? Ain't seen you with such a grin in your face since you shot the fellas that tried to hold up your bank. Just had a stroke of luck, that's all. Yeah? Come on. Let's sit over that table here and I'll tell you about it. Hey, Barkey, two of the usual. Bring them to our table. You're a thing, Mr. Shaw. Sit down, Fred. There. Now, what in blazes is it all about? I suppose you know I'm holding the mortgage on Clem's ranch. That ain't nothing for you to be grinning about. No. Give them 5,000 for that mortgage, didn't you? Yep. When you got the cash together to pay your off or what's stole from him, won't it? It wasn't a pay you with, can it? No. And if you can find anything in that to make you happy, I'd admire to know what it is. It was me I wouldn't give half the size of that mortgage for Clem's place. If you can grin about losing more than $2,000, you must be off your head. You're just Postmaster, Fred. Nobody'd expect you to understand these things. And you mean to sit down as much as say you want Clem's place? I ain't said it yet, but that's the fact. It beats me. I reckon you're needing to drink worse than I am. Just set them down, Barkeep. This'll pay for them. Thanks, Mr. Shaw. There you are. You can keep the change. You want a thing more, Judge Pollard? Look here, I've been taking over what you just said. Yeah? I've got a notion why you want Clem's ranch. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm bitten I eat. There's something on that ranch that makes it valuable. Now, what would that be? I don't know, but whatever it is, you know about it. Maybe it's coal, maybe it's oil, but that don't matter. I don't want to re-in that ranch with a heap of cash. Something that's got nothing to do with the cattle. Because the rain of cattle men alive would pay you $5,000 for that measly, dried-up ranch. Oh, come on. Tell me what it is. It's been nice talking to you, Fred. Wait. You haven't even tasted your drink. Change my mind. I don't want it. Good day to you, Fred. I savvy while you're living. I came to blame close to the truth, didn't I? Now, it's you that's off your head. See you later. Now, I wonder. Bye, heaven's tourist hunter. I'm going to find out. Hey, Fred, what's the matter with you? Huh? You look as though something bit you. Something did, just about. You saw me talking to Banker-Saw just now, didn't you? Of course I did. Didn't I bring you your drinks? Barkeep, there's something blame-funny going on. Huh? You know what Banker-Saw told me? He wants to foreclose on claim. He was laughing about it. No. I'm telling you the truth. But he'd be losing money. Barkeep, I'm just wondering if he would. Nobody, I said it. But he's got a reason for foreclosing. And just between you and me, Barkeep, maybe that same reason would make him keep Clem from paying off. Mind you, I ain't saying it's all. But it seems to me it's a mighty strange thing. Mighty strange. Alice? The Banker's aim to make himself rich with Clem's rights. What's that? There's oil or gold. Oh, just what's the Banker up to? I don't know. I don't know. It was Banker-Saw had Clem robbed. He aims to get his range. We must have barely done the Banker-Dunnett. Why else would he want to foreclose? All right. You know what, we ought to set the sheriff up on you. Banker-Dunnett sure is shooting. He can't get away with a thing like that. Hanging's too good for a polkaid like this. Shaw, you're in a heap of trouble. Yeah? Ain't you been uptown? Not since the last to talk to you. Well, everybody's talking about your full clothes, none of them. They're saying that if you're so blame-anxious to get his ranch, maybe you took steps to see that he didn't pay you. Nonsense. Yeah, if you think I'm lying, you just go over to the cafe again and see what happens. You mean they really think it was me rob Clem? They don't think nothing else. But they know better, Ned. I'm no crook. Why, I wouldn't take a penny. I didn't come by, honest. You didn't even tell me that, I believe you. But it ain't all the folks in town knows you as well as I do. There isn't going to be trouble, is there? Shaw, you and me have known each other since we were young. Sure we have. And we've been good friends all that time, too, haven't we? I reckon so. Well, then you can believe what I'm saying. I've seen some mighty mean crowds. I can recollect the time the folks in town raided the jail and hung their crook who shot the other sheriff in the back. What I did. Just you wait till I'm through talking. What I'm getting at is this. In all the time I've lived in this here town, I ain't never seen a crowd that meant business anymore than uptown tonight. Shaw, they're fixing to hang you. They put two and two together and decided you're guilty. They haven't any evidence. That's just why they're going to hang you themselves instead of waiting for the law to do it. They can't do that. They show her blazers are fixing to do just that. And you got just one chance to save your skin. I got a chance, you see? I got it all figured out. The only way you can keep from being hung is to show them you don't want Claims Ranch. What's that? It's not the ranch, then they'd never got the notion you was responsible for the holdup. Ain't that so? Hey, I guess so. Now, if you do something to prove your will and to give it up, maybe the crowd will change its mind about you being guilty. What can I do? I said we've always been friends, didn't I? I heard you. Well, I'm willing to buy that mortgage from you. Then I'll go uptown and tell the folks you sold it. After that, they'll have to figure you wasn't a bling. I'll take my chances, Fred, before I'll lose my $5,000. You won't be losing it. I mean, you'll pay me that much for the mortgage. I will. But just because we're friends. There you are. $5,000 even. Now make over the papers in the hurry so I can get back and head off to mob. That won't be necessary, Fred. For what? Where'd you fellas come from? We were hiding behind this other door, and just waiting for you to show us whether you had that cash on you or not. Well, Sheriff... The Sheriff has already told the townspeople to bring him in. He tried to escape last night. Had we forced the truth from him, the townspeople and I brought him back. Then the mascot had brought him around to my office and made him tell me who his partner was. You ain't gonna believe anything he says, are you? Fred, even without Pete testifying in you, that $5,000 you just put on my desk would almost prove it. Where could you have saved $5,000 on the salary of a postmaster? It's a mistake. You'll frame early on. It's no mistake, but we nearly made one without his receiving the money. Clem forgot that he opened the envelope which contained it in front of you in your post office. But the mask fella found out the truth, all right. And it was a mask man's scheme to make you think there was gold or oil on the ranch, Fred, so you'd hand over the cash you stole. If I get my hands on him, I'll... You ain't, Fred. You're going to jail. And, Clem, we might just as well take care of that mortgage right now. The mask fella cleared up the first robbery, but there's no sense in taking chances on another. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.