 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty high old silver, the Lone Ranger. The discovery of gold in the western United States brought thousands of miners and prospectors from the east. And it was in the hill country that the mast right of the plains met his most exciting adventures. The greed for gold led to crime after crime, and the local sheriffs were unable to preserve the peace. It was the Lone Ranger more than any other man who finally brought law and order to the lawless frontier. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the Great Horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. Come on, pay for the hills! For years, Lidja Doolittle had lived alone high in the hills. A small garden provided him with food. His clothes were remnants of another day, and he slept on a bed of dry leaves. At last, week and old, he became ill. And when a traveler carried the news to the valley below, a 17-year-old girl climbed the mountain to the old man's cave and installed herself as his nurse. There. There now, Lidja. You've been awful good to me, darling. You and Jack Mason ain't no one else ever comes near me. Just lie back and try to get some sleep now. I just want to live to see you and Jack Mason get the gold. Gold? There now. Just lie back, Lidja. No, you gotta hear me. I ain't talking through fever. There's gold. Ain't no fever talking. What gold, Lidja? I found a gold claim. Don't look so, darling. I ain't out in my mind. I did find a gold claim. There's some folks at his suspicion that you must have heard the talk. Of course. Now, if you'll just be quiet. It's true. It's gospel, darling. I did find one. Now, come close here. Listen carefully. Yes? I want you to ride and fetch Jack Mason here. But, Lidja... You can't refuse, darling. Lidja, it'll take two days of riding to get Jack Mason and bring him back here. That's what I figured. Two days. And if I can hang on that long, it's all I care. You really want me to go, Lidja? It may be the last thing I'll ask of you, darling. I do believe you're telling the truth. You gotta believe it, darling. I won't rest till I know you and Jack have the gold mine. Can't you tell me where it is? No, I don't dare. For your own sake. You leave here alone. If I give you the map I got drawn, certain men may try to steal it from you. Jack Mason has got to know the same time you do. It'll take defending, darling. All right. I'll go with him. Wait. One thing first. I'll tell you where the map is. Just in case I ain't here when you come back. Yeah. I'm resting on it. It's buried under where I'm laying. Oh. Now go get Jack Mason. All right, Lidja. I'll leave food and water where you can reach it. Darling. Yes? One thing more. Tell me. You and Jack still plan to get married, don't you? Someday, Lidja, we've been waiting. I know. As long as you ain't split up, everything will be all right. You won't need to do no more waiting. You'll both be rich. Now, darling, ride. Ride and be careful. Jack Mason had made his camp in the banks of a mountain stream. The following morning, just as he dipped a pan full of gravel into the water and started washing for gold, he heard the sound of approaching hoofs. Something coming. We're running the end of gold here to make it interesting for someone to try and run. Why, darling? Yeah, thank goodness. Oh, oh, there we go. Darling, what nation you're doing here? You've been riding hard. Jack, there's not much time for talking. Yeah, but hold on. Now, wait a minute. Let me help you up with that horse. Hey, your horse is wore right out. One question first. You still have your two horses? Yes. Both of them? Sure. Can they stand a hard trip? Well, I reckon so. Here, darling, it ain't right to still have a man for the sight of you for so long, and that surprised me by coming here and talking to nothing but horses. I didn't look to see you again, Delilah. I finished working the stream for the season and went back to town. Well, we'll have lots of time to talk, Jack, a lifetime, but there's something more important first. We've got to ride. Where? Delilah, do little. He sent me to bring you back. What's the matter with all that? I'm afraid he's dying, Jack. Sure. Sandy just liked me to never stop and realize that there was something mighty, powerful, important to bring you here like this. What's the matter with poor life? I don't know, fever, I guess, and I guess his mind's wandering. I tried to humor him, but nothing would suit him, but I come here for you. I'll put your horse in pasture and get my pair saddled up. Come on, boy, it's green pairs just for you after their trip. Dolly, you go into the shack and I'll fix things here so I can leave for a time. We'll put some coffee on while I sing shop, and then we start back. All right. But hold on, you've read hard. Hadn't he sleep? No. Well, then you better wait. It ain't going to be safe to go over that mountain trail at night. Got to. Dolly, were you tired like you are? Stop thinking about me. Glad to do a little... It's dying. He wants you, Jack. We've got to ride the mountain trail at night. Well, okay then, Dolly. I ain't the one to argue with you. That evening, the Lone Ranger and Tonto made their camp close to the rocky trail that Jack and Dolly had to follow. At midnight, both the Masked Man and the Indian were asleep. But suddenly a sharp sound rang out from the trails. Instantly, the Lone Ranger was awake. Tonto. Huh? Did you hear it? Me here, hoof and rock. Not far off. Someone's coming this way. That's right. Nothing to the most urgent matter could make anyone ride this trail on a night when there's no moon. Steady, silver quiet boy. Silver here, too. Him give warning. There were horses on the trail above us. That's right. As soon as I get into these boots, we'll take a look up there. Pretty dark. Whoever's riding tonight is doing so because they're avoiding the law. We're in a lot of trouble. That gunshot. It wasn't far away. Quiet. Don't hear any more hoofs. Am I right? No further shots. Here, silver. Get a scout in that little behind me, Tonto. We're going to find out what's happened. Leave fire here. Yes, leave the fire. We'll need it to find our way back here. Come on, silver. Jack, keep that horse quiet. They'll hear us. I'm trying, Jack. Hello? He's coming closer, Jack. Likely one of the outlaws or large tool here, though. Well, if it is, it'll prove one thing. What's that? It may prove it. He really does have a gold mine. Look, there ain't no use trying to keep still. That rider's coming this way anyhow. Might as well face him. Well, whatever you think best, Jack. Have it out with him and be done with it. That's better than feeling these trailings the rest of the night. Besides, he's got a horse, and we need a horse. Where are you? Here. Now for it. Here, Dolly. Take this gun and stand back away from me. All right, Jack. If you make the move, I'll hurt you. I'll shoot. Oh, oh, listen to me. Hold one. Hold that one. Here I am, mister. And I've got a gun on you. You don't need a gun on me. Put it away before you hurt yourself. Is that a mask you're wearing? Yes, but don't let it fool you. What's the trouble you're in? What makes you think we're in trouble? People don't ride these hills at night. There was a shot. We were riding the hills at night. We? There are two of us, and you're covered two ways, so get off that horse. Is that your horse on the ground? It is. He busted a leg and I had to shoot him. So that was the shot. Now, there's a lot of traveling to do, and don't aim to go on foot. I hate to do it, mister, but I'm taking your horse. Oh? My name's Jack Mason. And if you'll come to Lides Doodle's place, you can have your horse back. That's straight west to Sagebrush, and anyone there will tell you where the cave is at. Why are you going there? That's none of your business. What are you doing here wearing a mask? Maybe I was watching for a horse thing. Now, listen here, you... I'm not a horse thief. Dolly. But we're downright determined to go on to the cave. Now, that means Bar and your horse will do it. Now, get down or I'll start shooting. You must be desperately in need of reaching that hermit. What's the matter with him? He's dying. He wants us. Dying? It's the fever of something. Look, mister, if you'll lend us your horse, we'll promise to bring it back here. You say hermit sick. Who's that? My friend Tata. You see, he was back in the shadows. Ready in case you were really serious about trying to steal Silver. Oh. Now put down the gun. Silver isn't saddled. And even if you did borrow him, you couldn't ride him. Oh, we've got to... We'll go back to my camp and saddle up. Silver can carry two. Between the three horses, I'm sure all of us can reach too little. You're going there too? Yes. No, no, you can't. He wouldn't want it. A mask, man. I think you may be mistaken, Dolly. Lies knows about me. He doesn't? Who are you? Just another of old Lige's friends. Come on back to camp now. Gosh, I... I reckon you think I'm half local stranger, but I'd do a lot more than steal a horse to do a favor for Lige. I understand. I guess we feel the same about him. I hope we can get to him before it's too late. But the Lone Ranger's suggestion, Tata did not return to camp, but rode on ahead. The next day, he met the Lone Ranger, Dolly and Jack, near the entrance of the cave, and... You stop here. Who? Who's there? Who? How are you, Tata? Can you help me? Not helping now. We'll go on and see. You wait. Leave horse here and be careful, not spoil tracks. Tracks? What tracks? Tracks of fellow who killed. Kill? His lides dead? Ah, him dead. What's this about a killer, Tata? Dolly said he was dying when she left him. Someone kill a old fellow. Murdered, eh? Not right. When? Some time in night. Time to come find tracks on ground. Maybe we follow tracks. Find killer. And we tried so hard. His last hope was that Jack could get here before he died. Well then, Aunt Dolly, we've done our best. I know, ma'am. We'd better dismount. Leave the horses here, as Tata suggests. Go and see if we can't find some trace of the murderers. Oh, ma'am, he wanted, sort of, to help Jack about the mess. The gold mine. He said it was buried in the ground beneath where he slept. We'll have a look there. His hope was that you, too, would have that mine. At least we can see that his last wish is fulfilled. Here. You look. What is it, Tata? This were horse a killer brush tree. There, horse hair. Gray. Killer ride gray horse. And here, footprint were in dismount. What do you make of the footprints, Tata? Him big fella. Big. Like you. A man my size, riding a gray. And that should help some. Maybe find more clue by and by. Which way did the killer come from? That way. From town. Oh, but there's a man in town that's got a gray horse. He's about your size. Who's that? Well, he couldn't be the killer. He's a sheriff. Well, shucks, Dolly. Sheriff Harkness wouldn't kill poor lunch. Oh, I know he wouldn't, Jack. And Reed Potter's big, but he don't have a horse. There's only one other gray horse I know of, and that's Dave Lawson's horse. But Dave's a small man. Then the sheriff is the only big man who owns a gray horse. That's right. I... I'm going to take poor lunch. I'll go with you, Dolly. We'll do what we can for him. We owe him that much. What do you think, Tender? Maybe he'll come from town tall. Maybe not. Chances are he did. Dolly told me something about the old man who was killed. There's long been a story around town that he knew where there was a gold man. He was afraid that someone would try to steal it from him before he could tell Jack and Dolly where it was. She thought he was talking through a fever. But now it seems that he's told the truth. How was he killed? Night. Well, he'll start from here and find that killer. He... He looks pretty peaceful now. Oh. I... I appreciate what you did, Tender. It was downright thoughtful of you to fix things before Dolly got there. You'll find that? No. We won't hunt for that till... till after we've had a little service and buried Lige. Very well, Jack, we'll do that. Then ride a murder trail. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger story. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue our story. Dolly returned to her home in the valley and two days later, the Lone Ranger called on her and asked for her help. But it's not fair to ask me to do just what you say. I haven't any idea what it might be. I'll tell you what it is, Dolly. You heard the discussion a couple of days ago. What discussion? There are three men in town who might be suspected of murdering the hermit. Oh, yes, I remember. The sheriff? Sheriff Hartnett. He's about the size and he has the right kind of horse. There were two other men. One the right size without a horse and the other with a horse. Oh, yes, I remember now. Big pot is a big man, but he has no horse and Jeb Lawson has a grey horse, but he's small. That's right. Well, what does it you want me to do? Well, I'll do most anything to find the murderer. Let me see your sewing basket. There should be needles and thread there. Oh, sure. It's right here. It's messed up, but I guess there's everything in it. Well, let me see. Needles. There you are. Thread. There's both black and white. Good. Now, how about buttons? Oh, I've lots of buttons. Every time I throw old clothes away, I save the buttons. You never know when they'll come in handy. Here. Good. I want you to leave that sewing basket in the bedroom and plain sight and spread a couple of the needles. All right. But what are you going to do? I hope I'm going to find the murderer. And you go and fix that basket and the needles in the bedroom. Well, I go outside for a minute and speak to Tato. Very well. Tato. Uh-huh. Tato here. Tato, I'm going after three men. I'm sure that one of those three is the killer of the hermit. Tato, go too. An old chemist. You're going to stay here. There's something mighty important for you to do. Now, I'll outline your part. Then I'm going to give three men the surprise of their lives. After giving Tato his instructions, the lone ranger mounted and raced through the night toward the sheriff's home. The lawman was dozing in his chair, but when he heard the clatter of silver's hoofs outside. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, what the Sam here? Before the big lawman could comment further, his door burst open and... Where is he here? Oh, the sheriff. Don't draw the gun. What's the meaning of this? Put down him shooting irons. Take off that mask. I don't mind the mask. I came to tell you something that's an interest to you. Who are you? Lige Doolittle has been murdered. Did you know that? Lige? You mean the old hermit? Yes. Well, are you sure? Great Scott would want to kill that old man. I don't know. I came here to try and find out. Well, there's no sense to it. Well, I Doolittle was more than half dead a couple of weeks ago. You sure it was murder? There's no doubt about it, Harkness. Oh, don't go on. I can't believe it. What was he killed for? Was he shot or what? You don't know about him. The first word I had was now. But see here, who are you? Put down him guns and take off that mask. There are more serious things to think of than my guns. You knew that Dolly Martin was a good friend of Lige's, didn't you? Yeah. Does she know about this yet? Yes. You'd better go and see her. She may have more to tell you than I have. I will. Hey, does she know you? I doubt it. Well, who are you? The man who murdered the old hermit was about your size. You see him? I don't know, but I'm sure of his size. And I know he rides a gray. A gray horse, eh? Hey, mine's a gray. Yes, I know. What dog on your hide? I won't stand for this. You busting here mask, holding guns on me? You're just about to accuse me of murder? Oh, you get over to Dolly's house. She needs you. Oh, well, why should I? Try to leave there. I think I'll bring the murderer to you. Who is he? I don't know. Then how do you know? Hey, hey, wait. Hey, you wait! I'll still wait! Don't take long for the masked man to cover the distance between the home of the sheriff and the town's only cafe, or he knew that Jeb Lawson would be found. The rancher was dealing a hand of poker when the Lone Ranger stepped through the doorway. Hey, hey, hey, what's that? A mask, Comrade. Look at him standing there. Ready? Gosh, the nerve on me. What's he after? Maybe a seek-up. There we are. Now look here, stranger. Where's Jeb Lawson? It's Jeb he's after. What's Jeb done? Where is he? Now you can't come in like this. Come on, speak up. I just want to speak to Jeb Lawson. Look here, mister, I've never seen you before. I know the man I'm looking for. No, I ain't said so. What's on your mind? I guess you'll do anyway. You're the right size. That's your gray at the head track. Come on, then. Sheriff Hark, this is waiting for you. I ain't done nothing. Who said your hand? Get going. Now look here. Jeb's been right here since this down. Yes, yes, yes, sir. This way, Jeb. Let go of my neck. Step lightly, then. We don't want to keep the sheriff waiting outside. Now what's up? Why are you dragging me out like this? Who are you? Jeb, perhaps you can tell me where to find Breed. Breed? Potter, where is he? You dragged me away from a game when I'm holding kings back to back to ask me about that honor of whole cat. That's not all I want from you, but it'll do for a start. Where is he? The home, I reckon. Why? Where's his home? Just find the dirtiest looking shack in town and that's it. Now I'm not going to spend the night looking for it. Where is it? Don't be satechy. It's the third house past the hotel. The hotel is down yonder where you see a two-story building. Thanks. Now get on both that horse of yours and head for Dolly Martin's place. For what? I'm coming for you. You'll learn what's wanted later on. And I'm not done. All you want me to take you. Well, I'll go. I'll go, strangers. It's alive, ain't I? Get on the board right now. Dolly Martin's place, huh? I'll be there myself in a few minutes to make sure you do what you're told. But what's Harkness want of me? He wants to learn about a murder. A what? A murder? Why kill no one? And go straight there. If you don't, it'll be evidence that you're the guilty party. Now get up. Get up there. Get up. The Lone Ranger raced on to Potter's and forced the half-breed to ride with him to Dolly Martin's. Meanwhile, at the home of the girl, the sheriff demanded an explanation. Hey, guess what is this I hear about Hermit Doolittle, Dolly? Well, I don't know how much you've heard, Sheriff, but he was murdered. The man who did it rode a big gray horse. You got any more proof of that than the word of that mass comrade? Yes. I saw the poor old man. And when was it? Me? What's this? You stay there. Oh, your local savage put down that knife. Dolly, who in thunder is it? Give me that chute knife. You stay there. Oh, by thunderation, I'll show you. I did not argue with Dolly, Sheriff Hartnett. You're pushing me into this here chair like I was a... Quiet. I'll go talk to him. Who's that? Howdy-ness, Dolly. Come in. What are you doing here? Why, Sheriff, ain't you looking for me to be here? Now, I never had no partner murder and no Hermit. I never done that. What's this? What's this? You sit there. Hey, this is going too far. Now, we see. Oh, that's a critter. Send me and send it here. Get in there, Breedon. I'm taking these guns out of there. What is this? Stay right there, Breedon. We're going to find a murderer tonight. I don't know what you're... You'll find out all you need to know very soon. Hey, look here, stranger. You can't take the law into your own hands like this. When I'm in your own hands, prove competence, Sheriff. I'll turn things over to you. For all I know, you might be the murderer. If you're not, you'll be able to jail one of these two men here. One of you three killed Lige Doolittle. I never know my born name. You'll be a quiet life finish. You, Breedon, have borrowed a horse. You're about the size of the killer. You, gentlemen, you will have the sort of horse the killer used. Perhaps you loaned that horse to someone. And you, Sheriff, are the right kind of horse, and you are the size of the killer. That's why you three were brought here. You tell me, stranger. Is that all the evidence you get? No. It ain't. Here in my hand, I have a clue. Something that was found at the scene of the murder clutched in the dead man's hand. Huh? You're careful. I've got it. Clumsy of me. Hey, where was that you dropped? I didn't intend any of you to see that clue. However, it doesn't matter a great deal. Breedon, you go into the bedroom. Wait there. For what? Go on. I want to talk to the sheriff and Jeb Lawson without you here. You think I kill you? Into the next room. I'll call you when you want it. You go. Ah, these make me sick. Call it a time question. Sheriff, I want you to search Jeb Lawson. What? About time you called on the law to help you. What am I searching for? A map that was supposed to have been stolen from Lyde. I ain't got no map. You're taking it like you'd have it on him anyhow. Yeah. We don't find nothing to sow it. Well, you go into the next room, Jeb. You'll bring the breed out. Come on, Breedon. Ah, what you want. The sheriff is going to search you for a stolen map. Be thorough, Sheriff. I am. But I don't see where it does any good. He said plenty of time to hide it. Nope. Don't find nothing of him. Well, I still have the clue that I found in Lyde's hand. Perhaps we won't need the map for evidence. Dahlia. Jack, wait. What's this? We're going to try and find the murderer, Jack, in just a minute. Come here, Jeb. Well, your doll is making me hide in the bedroom. Can you find the map? Not yet. Sheriff, I... Well? I'll turn the killer over to you. You've been saying it right along, but I don't... Jeb, I explained that I had a clue in my hand. It's a vest button. See it? All of you saw it when I dropped it on the floor, didn't you? All three of you men are quick-sighted. You wouldn't have missed it. You were given to understand that the button was torn from the killer's vest. We're sure. Look at your vest, Breed. Yeah? Sacre, I lose the buttons. So you're the murderer. It's not true. I don't kill him. You want to res- Don't let me at it. There's his frame off. Get to the jail. Wait, nothing. I'm taking his cookies. Look at your own vest, Sheriff. You've lost a button, too. It's true. You're the one who killed. You do it. That's all I am. You aren't guilty, Sheriff. Neither is the Breed. If you try to claim that I'm guilty, I'll do that. You aren't minus the vest button, are you, Jeb? Say for yourself. And I'll tell you why. Because while you were in the next room, you found the button and sewed it on. That ain't so. And how did the button get back on? It's how to cut a button from the vest of each one of you while he took your gun. Okay, sir. The two of you who were not guilty had no reason to look at your vest. The killer was worried. He thought that the missing button might trap him. So he replaced it while he was alone in the next room. It's a frame off. I don't know the murderer. No, no, I'm not. You're not the one who's a lot larger than your own size. You thought that would lead to someone else, didn't you? All right. You think it's a slick? Well, I won't be cut alive. Give me my gun. Stop him. Stop him. All right. Good work. There's your man, Sheriff. You mean I'm to take charge of him now? Are you satisfied with the evidence against them? There are plenty. I reckon we'll have Dolly and Jack for witnesses against him. You sure enough will. Well, they're easy. If Jack will stay here till the trial, I'll stay the head and back for that creaky. I reckon I'll be here for some time now, chef. You see, old Lige wanted Dolly and me to get married. Yeah? He left us the goldmine that he knew about. It was the map of that claim that the killer was after. That's the one thing I was wondering about. The motive for the murder. I reckon now we got the motive, we got the proof, and we got the killer all at one time. Jack's got Dolly, Dolly's got Jack, and you both got a goldmine. I'll kill you! The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.