 with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hardy house, silver, the lone ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Toto, the masked rider of the plane fled 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, come a thundering hoopbeats of the great horse, Silver. The lone ranger rides again. One, two, there. Let's go, big toe. One, two. Water. Great torrent of water tumbled down the southern slope of Planny Ridge. It gouged new channels from the porched earth and swirled into the arid valley. A hundred voices shall enjoy. Someone's ride. Celebration. A celebration. The greatest little town of Planny Ridge can ever know. The cafe was jammed that night. Mark Boswell's plan to irrigate the valley had proved successful. Those who had stopped at his plan were on hand to honor Boswell, who sat grinning happily near one end of the bar. Here's to Mark Boswell. Let's have a feast. We'll make a speech. Say something. Mark, no, no, Suley. I can't speak like one you can. You're the sickest talker we ever saw. Get up on your feet. Quiet down, folks. Quiet down so Boswell can speak. Go ahead, Mark. Well, when my friends, I'm not one to make speeches. I feel that you do me undeserved honor. After all, my part was a small one. I happened to own the waterless waste in the valley. I merely diverted the mountain stream. Yes. And after all, there's nothing wonderful about making water go downhill. It would be far more wonderful if I could make the water run uphill. Boy, he's just modest, that's all. What did Bart do for us? Didn't he make the valley land good-growing land? Didn't he let us all buy farms from him real cheap? Didn't he say we could pay for that land a little in a time as we were able? No, we should be mighty grateful to Bart Boswell. A woman stood in the darkness outside the cafe. She peered through a crack in the door until the sound of forces crossed her turn. She faced the two men who dismounted her foes. There, mister. Yes? Are you going inside the cafe? Well, I don't know. What's going on in Red Pine? My state is a celebration. Mr. Boswell's plan worked out. Oh, what plan? Oh, my goodness. Haven't you heard? He channeled the war from Pine Hill. The valley's irrigated. All of us aboard Valley Farmland were Mr. Boswell. Oh, I see. Grand is the most generous man alive. He's given us as long as we want to pay for the land. Are you going inside? Possibly. Well, my husband is in there. His name is Ted Sloan. Tell him that he forgot to milk the cow. I'll see that he gets word. I... Oh, my face. What's the matter, Mr. Sloan? Step to the left of it. The life in the cafe just touched your face. Doesn't he see? I'm wearing a mask. Don't be afraid. Oh, my face. Alive. You better clear out of here. The United States Marshals in their cafe. I'm not dodging the law. But Dan Hawks is dead set against men who... Well, the fact that your mask is all it'll take. I don't go inside there. Never mind selling Sloan anything. I'll go and milk the cows myself. You'll get away from this town. Well, tunnel, did you hear what she said? Me here. Water on Pine Hill is flowing into the South Valley. That's bad. Twenty bad. It means that the Indians on the north side of the hill will be deprived of water. Huh. The White Eagle won't stand for that. The White Eagle will make plenty trouble. The Indians have been farming the northern slope for a long time. Those dreams dry up. The valley will become as aired as the South Valley's been. Huh. And what do we do? We'll camp nearby. Well, Baswell, this is your night, isn't it? Huh? Oh, yes, yes, Marshal Hawks. It's a dream come true. Army, a dream come true. Yes, indeed. You've had a lot of dreams in your day, haven't you? Well, what do you mean? Five years ago, you dreamed that people could be sold no good stock in fake gold mines. You made that dream come true in Taylor County. What? Remember? How'd you know that? There's a lot of men would like to hang you if you ever went back to Taylor County. No, Marshal, I... Don't bother with the handy lie. Your partner was caught and told the whole story. They lynched him, Hawks. I'll make of you. Listen to me, you foreflusher. What foreflusher? For the time being, I'll keep my mouth shut until I see what you're up to. But my dear sir... I've known cases where man reforms. Maybe this is one of them. Right now, you've got all your cash sunk in that valley project. You sold the land to the people around here, but you get it back ten times over when the people pay off their mortgages. Maybe you'll make restitution in Taylor County when you're able. Of course, Marshal. To be sure. That's my intention. I'll give you the chance. You haven't told anyone here about me? Nope. I can keep a still tongue in my head, Boswell. It all depends on you. I'll be around. So no one else knows. Well, maybe Marshal Hawks will be sorry he knows so much. Men have stood in my way before. And they've regretted it. Hey, Marshal! Come on! We have a perfect race! During the next few weeks, the Lone Ranger and Tonter watched both sides of Pliny Hills. In the newly watered valley to the south, they saw fields plowed and planted. Houses built and fences strung on posts. On the northern slope, where the Indian planters lived, it was a different story. The crops were withered, and the ground was so dry the great cracks appeared. The masked manantonto gazed out from the hill of the distant sound of a chant came to meet them. So, though, another song of the rain god? That's right. The Indians need water very badly. Ah, feel plenty dry. Grain bursts with heat. Crops turn brown. The dry season too. Any signs of rain? No. Rain not come for long time. Plenty long time. Even the water hold have dried up. White eagle make trouble. Plenty soon. I thought he'd take action before this. We've seen his kelts on this hill. They know where the water's going. That's right. I wonder why they've done nothing about it. Himasavi, yes. Look there. You see Indian coming uphill? Yes, I see him. Him boat a big rock over there. That white eagle? That's right. Tuttle, look at that rock. You see the shadow next to it? Ah, shadow or horse. White eagle's meeting someone. Yes, it's the man standing there. It's Bart Russell. Ah, we'd go there, huh? Yes, we'll hug this side of the rock where we can hear without being seen. Come on. I see you right on time. May come full meeting. I didn't know whether your scout would take my message to you. Bring message. And you know why I wanted to meet you, eh? You say you give water back to Indian. Well, that's not exactly right. I meant to tell you that I knew who stole the water from you. I know how you can get it back. Who take water? The man's name is Boswell. Bart Boswell. Anyone'll tell you that? Where Boswell? He lives in town right now. He's the one that dug the new channel and changed the course of the water. It's a man who changed water? That's right. It's not work of rain god who was angry with Indian? Oh, not for a minute. Your rain god didn't have a thing to do with it. Boswell is the one. Now, if you kill him, you can dam the water's present course and send it back to your side of the mountain. That's good. I'd better tell you just what Boswell looks like so you won't get the wrong man. Oh, him look. Well, he's a big man. Lots bigger than I am. He's got black hair and a small mustache. Do you know what I mean? Plenty of scouts. Yeah, yeah, that's right. And he's always smoking a big cigar. You know what a cigar is? Me know. Eagle know. You'll have to get your enemy tomorrow night. Me? He won't be around tonight. He might leave here after tomorrow night. Me get him tomorrow night. You just ask anyone where Boswell lives. Then sneak in after dark and you'll recognize the man I described. Big cigar. That's right. Black scout. You be on hand tomorrow night. It was the following day when Bart Boswell set up the second part of his trap for the Marshal. He strolled into the cafe outside of a cornered table. Well, well, Marshal, I'm glad to see you. You, uh, you mind if I sit down? Go ahead, Boswell. Good to sit down. I've been on my feet for a long time. Yeah? Uh, Marshal. Can you keep a secret? Uh, kept yours, haven't I? Yes, yes, of course you have. I should have realized that you were a man to be trusted. If you trust me, talk. If you don't, don't talk. Don't matter either way. Mind if I go on eating? Oh, no, no. Please proceed. I'll talk while you eat. Now, Marshal, for some time there's been an outfit known as the Snyder gang. Do you know anything about them? You tried to catch them, haven't you? They ain't in this section. That, sir, is where you are mistaken. Yeah? I've had a note from Snyder. He labors under the impression that I'm a man of wealth. A man of means. Let's see the note. Marshal, I'm sorry, but I haven't got it. I was so infuriated that I crumpled it up and threw it into the fire. What did you say? It was a demand for cash. A threat that I must pay or be exposed as well as a man who'd done business in Taylor County. Snyder, eh? Yes. He's going to come to my house tomorrow night. He is? I'm, uh, I'm frank to say I'm afraid. Yellow, eh? Well, how would you feel in my position? I'd like to line my sights on that Snyder crook. Hmm. You wouldn't have any better chance than I am. Who would? He'd pull your mustache out, hair at a time. He'd ram your cigar down your throat. Hmm. You think he would, eh? Marshal, I have an idea. I, uh, no, oh, you wouldn't take the risk, huh? I, I was going to suggest that, uh, you take my place. In your house? Yes, but that would be too dangerous. You have to be there alone. And did that note say what time Snyder would pay his call? About an hour after it gets dark. He, uh, he said that he'd kill me if I told anyone about him. I'll be at your house tomorrow night. What? You dare put your life on the line? Snyder has more cause for worry than me. Well, he's, he's mighty dangerous. He's a killer. Yeah, most every killer meets the same end. Maybe we'll have a funeral for Snyder right here in town. Eh, I hope it's his funeral. Not yours. From 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. Mark Boswell felt that he'd set a neat clap for Marshal Hawks. He was in his home in the hill when Tad Sloan, representing the townspeople, came to call. Tad was worried. He pointed out the prospect of an Indian uprising. He explained that the settler's land would be arid and worthless if the Indians reclaimed the water. Well, then we couldn't meet our payments and the mortgages. What would happen then, Sloan? You know the law as well as I do. Would you take our land? It would be worthless to you if it went dry. You would take it? Well, I don't know. Well, after he got it, if the water was sent back to this side again, we'd have our cash if we paid it. He'd have the land and all the buildings we put up. You could sell everything all over again, couldn't you? Sloan, you're worrying about things that are too far on the future. Forget all that nonsense. Now, uh, clear out. I have worries of my own. Torsen me out, huh? I'm a busy man. You're a mighty change, man. Now that you've got it sewed up, a mighty change, man. Good day, Boswell. Good day, Sloan. That critter would foreclose on us. Great day, man. Sloan, I want to speak to you. Well, what about... Who are you? I don't be frightened. Look, mister, I've got nothing worth robbing. I didn't come to steal from you. I came to help you. Help me? Are you talking to Bart Boswell? Yes, why? Well, is anyone there with him? I didn't see anyone. Sloan, you know a large man with a black hair and a mustache who usually smokes a cigar? Well, that sounds like it might be the United States Marshal. Fox? Yeah. But who are you? Nothing more. Do you know any reason why Boswell would want the Marshal kills? Oh, gosh, you know, those two are pretty good friends. Friends? They see each other pretty frequent. I can't imagine Boswell want anything like you suggest. Look, look here now. How do you know my name? How many of your friends are bought farms in the valley? Well, the last count has bought a score of us. Are all of these people friendly with you? Yeah, sure they are. We're all working together. Can you call on them for help? You better can. Why? Now, listen to me. You want to safeguard your property and keep your homes in the valley. Get your friends together for a meeting. What's your meeting for? I'll tell you more about it later. I'm on my way now to visit the Marshal, city big fella. Hold still there. A few moments after leaving the hillside home of Boswell, the masked man reigned up at the Marshal's house. Hold still there, city big fella. Fox saw him through a window and came charging from the house. Stand right where you are and don't make the move. I've got your cover. Put your gun away, Marshal. Come, local. Lift your hands slow and take that mask off. I didn't come here to unmask. I came to talk to you. I want to talk about tonight. Tonight? You're one of Snyder's men. The Snyder gang is more than a hundred miles from here. That's not true. I know different. I'll do as I say or I'll start shooting. I've told you the truth, Marshal. Now listen to me. Why did Boswell talk to the Indians? What's that? Why did he arrange for White Eagle to visit his house tonight? Tonight? Why did Boswell tell White Eagle to be sure to kill the owner of that house? Then proceeded to describe the owner as the man of your size with black hair and moustache and smoke cigars. He described me? Why did he tell White Eagle? The Indians could get their water back on the north side of Piney Ridge. They killed the man he described and damned the stream. What do you make of it, Marshal? He told me to be there and trap Snyder. They get you there for White Eagle to kill. He wants me out of the way. He's afraid I might talk. Why that? And he wants the farmers to lose their land. That's it. He aims to steal the land and he's got to get rid of me so he can get away with it. So that's it. He's up to his old skin-flint tricks. I'll go get that buzzard and bring the answers to some questions out of him. No, Marshal. Who are you to tell me what to do? You're going to do things my way. Well, of all the outlandish nerve. For the good of everyone. I warn that polecat. Put down your gun and listen to me. I'll be hanged if I put down my gun. I've still got the drop on you. For all I know, you're stringing out a lot of lies. Drop the gun. What? The gun wasn't in your hand a second ago. No. It's there now. Looks like a stalemate. All right. Call it a stalemate. Now, shall we talk things over? Mr. With a draw like you just demonstrated, we'll talk. The lone ranger finished talking to the Marshal. He wants more. Leap to the saddle and race away. Big white horse raced toward the distant hill where Tauna would wait. The masked man knew that every second was precious. He knew that the Indians had that very morning started a war dance. He knew that many of the Indians, desperate to cause the condition of their crops, were quite likely to attack the southern valley despite White Eagle's plans. The lone ranger rained up at Tauna's side, but the war dance rumbled in the distance. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, easy. Here, Tats, keep us up. Yes, Tauna. They've got to hold them back. They attack everything. We'll be spoiled. That's right. I've got to talk to White Eagle and you've got to talk to the Indians in his tribe. They've got to have their health to carry out their plans for the night. And what plans? The plans I made with Marshall Hawks. I'm out of time. We had a chance to tell you what I've learned. You ready? Come on. Let's go. That night, soon after darkness fell, Bob Boswell paced the floor of his home as he waited impatient for the arrival of the marshal. When he saw the laman approach, he breathed a sigh of relief. Oh, at last. Marshall, I'm glad to see you. Glad indeed. I was afraid your courage would fail you. I'm here so you can toss that idea out the window. Well, as long as you're here, I think I'll get out and leave things to you. Make yourself quite at home. You'll find me a friend of cigars on the table near the easy chair. Where do you think you're going, Boswell? I? My dear friend, I don't care to be around when you and Snyder start shooting. You'd better stay around. What do you mean? I told you I planned to get out. I know you did. Well, you agree with me? I thought it over and changed my mind. I might as well sit, but I sit down, Boswell. Take your own chair. Well, I think I'm entitled to an explanation. I'd better turn the lamp down a little. Too much light makes us easy targets for someone outside. I'll turn this lamp all the way out. But we need light. Just a little. Just a little light will be a plenty. I don't want to stay here. I don't care much what you want. Have a cigar. I'll feel like smoking just now. Oh, sure you do. Good cigar will calm your nerves. Me, I sure like the smell of cigar smoke. It bothers me no when my throat dries up, so they can't use it. Oh, you are smoking? Not tonight, Boswell. That's why I want you to smoke. I can at least smell the cigar. Here you are, Bos. I'll light up for you. Oh, I don't feel like smoking either. Open your face. No, I don't. That's it. I'll strike a light. That's it. Get a mighty dark out. Why should I? I don't want to stay here. I'm afraid. No, Boswell. I don't think Snider's anywhere near here. You don't? No. What the... I don't think we've got to worry about him. Smoke that cigar a little harder, won't you, Boswell? I want a drink of water. Going out to the kitchen. Wait a minute. I thought I heard someone moving around outside. It must be Snider. I better turn this light a little lower. No, no. Leave it as it is. A little lower. The room should be nearly dark. That's better. Let me leave, Boswell. You act downright suspicious. I wonder if you could have been setting a trap for me. Wow. What do you mean? If you have, this is the time to say so. I know. Of course not. There's no trap. Sure. What sort of trap would this be? You'd have to tell me. I'd have no way of knowing, would I? Why? What makes you speak of a trap? The way you act. Maybe the best and safest thing would be for you to be fixed so you'd look like me. Dark hair and mustache. Then we could turn the light up. If someone came for me, they'd get you. No, no. Of course. If there was no trap, you'd be a lot safer if you were made up to look like me. Marshal, I don't feel well. Stomach, I guess. What's that? An Indian. Don't shoot. Don't shoot. I'm not the one. He's not smoking his cigar right now. What do you mean by that? Oh, I thought well. He's the one. What do you mean? Marshal, save me. Save me from that killer Indian. In the name of mercy, save me. I'm sorry. I did set a trap. Forgive me. You sent Indians to kill me. Don't let them get me. Save me. You lied about Schneider? Yes, I lied. You wanted me dead and out of your way so I couldn't tell what you did in Taylor County. Don't let that savage get me. Is it true you wanted me out of the way? Yes. Yes, I admit it. The Indians changed the water so you could foreclose the mortgages. Is that what your plan was? Yes, yes. Well, and the Indian here makes you sorry. I hear them. I hear them. They're all around the house. Ah, maybe burn house down. Oh, no. Mercy, Marshal. Call for help. Get men to fight the Indians. I'll confess to everything. Just save my life. Don't let them kill me. Go into pieces, eh, Marshal? Fight fake. I beseech you. Shut up. The Indians won't get you. They will. They're all around the house. All they want is a fair deal, that's all. Call the people in, son. No. They get them. Why, you, you call him Toto. Yes. There's a few surprises coming to you, Boswell. Look, a mask man. A number of men from the valley are here with the Indians. Marshal, here's Sloan. We heard all you said, Marshal. All the unda-handed steamers. Now, now, gents. Gents, I didn't mean to do any harm. I swear it. Save it, Boswell. You meant to swindle everyone. You meant to steal the land from these people. And when you owned it, you'd get the water back from the Indians. What can I do? What can I say? You didn't say anything. We'll tell you what to do. Indian, want water. You heard what he go? Yes. The Indians shall have water. Hey, wait. If they get the water, we'll go broke. That's just what Boswell wanted to happen. You'll not go broke, Sloan. That's water enough for everyone. Boswell is going to remain here and see if the water is divided. I am? You'll fix a lock on the divide. You can send water first to one valley, then to the other. Your personal safety depends upon the way you keep the people on both sides of the planning ridge. It's satisfied. You mean I'm not going to jail? Not to you, Boswell. I'll do anything you say. I told you what you'll do. Come on, now. I'll stay right here in the job to see what you do, as he said. And in the meantime, you'll repay the folks you robbed in Taylor County. Yes, yes, Marshal. I'll obey. But who is he? Who is the mask man? Well, they call him the Lone Ranger. Who's been there? The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporate.