 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty high old silver, the Lone Ranger. When the United States were first opened to settlers, the massed rider of the planes fought crime and criminals throughout the new territory. The local sheriffs gave him very little help, but he did have one trusted friend, the Indian scout Tonto. Tonto was only second to the Lone Ranger in courage and daring, and the stories of his devotion and loyalty have been told and retold until the faithful Indian has become the symbol of true friendship. Return with us now to those thrilling days when the West was young and adventure lay at the end of every trail. The Lone Ranger rides again. He was familiar to quite a number of people in the early West and known especially because of his association with the Lone Ranger. Next to the Indian friend of the masked mystery rider, Cactus Pete knew him better than anyone else. As we find the wandering musician, we learn that he has joined a group of cowmen on the open range. I'm sure his downright entertainer may have a little music on the prairie. Get sort of tiresome doing the same thing all the time without nothing to break them and not make a show. Give us another tune on the guitar, Cactus Pete. Don't groan it, boys. My fingers is plum wide from strumming that old guitar. Bobbler's doing all right on the harmonica. Besides, it's about time to turn in, ain't it? Shucks, we can always turn in. Hey, Pete. Yeah? Seems to me I've heard a plenty of stories about you and this Lone Ranger. Oh, shucks. I never done nothing except strum the guitar. You met up with the Lone Ranger frequent, ain't you? Yeah, I reckon so. You know, there's something I've always wondered about him, Pete. Well, don't ask me no questions. I don't know no more about him and you, fellas, do. Well, there's one thing I've always wondered about. Yeah? This Indian friend of his. Tonto? Yeah, Tonto. How'd him and the Lone Ranger meet up anyhow? Well, it's sort of a long story. Well, come on, tell it to us, Pete. Oh, I ain't no hand-to-telling story. Do the best you can, man. Well, you see, Gents, there's been a lot of stories about how the Lone Ranger Tonto come to be friends. Oh, I don't know when it really happened. Some say it was even before the Lone Ranger found his horse, Silver. And others don't. I heard that Tonto saved his life one time when him and all his partners was shot up outlaws. Yep. Tonto saved his life plenty times. And this one time, the Lone Ranger was the only one to survive the attack of the outlaws. Yep. That was down Texas way, yeah. Two of them met up before that, though. Well, tell us. Oh. Way higher than it was in the mining region. Mining region, huh? Yep. Up around Warshow County. There was a fellow there by the name of Dan Slade. He had half interest in the claim with a young fellow named Bob Reed. Seems that Bob was sort of hoping the claim had pan out good for a lot of reasons. Fact is, he was so busy hoping and working that he didn't take the time to notice what an ordinary coyote Dan Slade was. The two of them was digging, getting ready to fire a blast one hot afternoon. When the sun was blistering down from the sky, they hadn't showed a rain cloud for more than a month. Sure, a hot day for working, Dan. I'll be glad when we get this blast and powder ready to fire. Won't be long now. Tamp that ground down a little harder, Bob. Maybe this'll be the time to strike the motherload, huh? Won't be long. I've seen enough to satisfy me that she's there all right. I reckon the $50 cash you give me for half interest will prove to be a pretty good investment, huh? Don't get the idea I was fool enough to give you 50 bucks cash money for nothing. I knew what I was buying. Sure you did. You ain't a fool. Oh, there. I guess we're ready to light the fuse now, ain't we? Yep, I'll do it. Get out of the way. All right, Dan. There. Now run. We've got a powerful big charge in there. It ought to fit something. Keep running. We can't be too far away when that blast lets go. I'm running. Oh, gosh, Dan. Wouldn't it be swell if this would be the blast that brought home the bacon? Yep, there. I guess we can watch from behind this rock. There she goes. Come on, Dan. Let's hurry back and see what happened. I just got a hunch maybe that done the trick. You and your hunches make me sick. Well, there's no harm in hoping, Dan. That's what kept me going all this time. Hoping. Ah, try it. Dan, what's the matter with you anyway? Ain't you satisfied with the partnership? I've got to be satisfied, ain't I? Oh, gosh. Look at the hole that blast ripped up, will you? Ain't nothing strange about it. It'll be twice as strange if a charge that size went off without making a big hole. Dan, Dan, look. Give me that shovel quick. I'll handle it. My gosh, that looks like gold, Bob. Oh, hustle up. Shovel some out. Let's have a look. I am. Don't get so excited, though. Oh, gosh, Dan. I can't help it. What does it look like? It's a real thing, all right. Seems to me we've found the big vein. Look there. Dan. Dan, we sure did. That's it. That's it. Shut up. You're acting like a fool, kid. Dan, I am a fool, kid. Oh, gosh, Dan. If you only know what this means to Sally and the kids. New clothes, school, and a new house. Sure. Spend it all on them. What are you going to get out of it? Me. Well, I don't want nothing for myself. But gosh, Dan, just look at that gold. Look at it. Oh. Shut up a minute. I heard something. So did I. It seemed like someone groaning. White man, help. Dan, look. Look there. That fellow was caught in a blast. Serves him right. What's he doing around here? Here. Help me dig him out. He's half-buried. You. Help. He's nothing but a red skin. I'll fix him. No, Dan, no. Put your gun down. The dead engine is the good engine. I'll fix him so he won't need help. Dan, put that gun down. Don't shoot the poor devil. You dig here. Then Tonto. Be free. I'll dig out. He's hurt bad, Dan. Get out of the way, pub. We ain't saving no engine. I haven't scalped us some day. Just a minute. I wouldn't shoot if I were you. Say, who are you? He's got a mask on, Dan. I wasn't going to shoot the engine. I was just going to... No, help. Tonto. Tonto, is that your name? Dig him out. All right. That's how you feel? Here, Bob. Give me a hand. Maybe he's hurt pretty bad. We'll get him out and take him over to my shack. Well, gents, there was something about the way that mask man talked that made Dan Slade dog-gone willing to do what he said, especially when he seemed too big guns-leveled at him. That was a lone ranger, Alpique. That was him all right. He'd heard the blast and left his horse a little distant and come to see what it meant. After he'd seen that Dan and Bob were taking care of the red skin, he went to where his horse was waiting and swung into the saddle. I don't feel my way. He didn't know, the mask man didn't, that right then there was a scheme foreman and Dan Slade's brain. Dan, nurse the engine all right, took him to his shack, fixed him so the busted bone in his ankle was healing and took the first straight care of him. In the meantime, the mind become the talk of the whole county. Money rolled in fast to both Bob and Dan, and Dan done his best to spend it as fast as it come in. Dan was in the cafe one night talking to a critter called Slade. She did. You sure are a swell spender now, you rich. Sure thing, fellas. Easy come, easy go, that's my motto. Step right up boys, the next is on me. Indy, hand him up and give me the bill. Don't go on, Dan, you sure are spending it. I reckon I could afford it, eh? Hey there, stranger, here's your drink. Dan Slade's treating. Thanks, but I don't drink. Sure, stranger, that's the way to get acquainted. I ain't squeamish about spending for a fellow just because he's new in town. Say, Dan, how's that engine you got up to your shack? Him. I'm fixing him up to work for me. At the mine? Nope, at the shack. It's easier to patch up an engine to do the work around there and get meals and sweet floors and such. And it would be to get tied down with a wife, ain't it? He's getting better, is he? Yep, so is he. I don't know, he was sticking his nose around when the mine was being blasted and got broke up a bit. Says his name in his tando. Indian? Yeah. Well, drink her up, boys. Here's to Dan Slade. Thanks, boys. I gotta be going now. If any of you need some advice on buying in on a mine, just call our Dan Slade. The funny thing, this man Slade taking care of an Indian? He ain't funny. He ain't like him. I give half a buck to know what's on his mind. He's a deep one, Dan Slades. Yes, I can see that. He ain't taking care of a Redskian for nothing. He's got a scheme working and I'd like to know what it is. Dan seems to be popular. Sure he is. Who wouldn't be? Spend money like he does. There's a lot to what you say. Stranger, man is funny critters. They walk all over a fella trying to keep him down, and then when he gets to the top, they'll yelp their fool heads off, telling how they helped put him there. Who's Dan Slade's partner? Name's Bob Reed. Now, there's a fella that's like by most of the fellas here, but he got a dirty deal from Slade when he needed a little cash bag. Did it? Yep. Slade met him give half interest in his mind before he'd given the cash. Bob don't complain none though. Thinks he was right, fine as Slade to do it. He's so stranger, men sure are funny critters. Slim didn't know when he talked to the stranger in the café he was the lone ranger, disguised and not wearing his mask. Well, the mind went along in good shape, and there was no doubt that it'd make both Bob and Dan a couple of the richest men in the whole county. But Dan was greedy. Half the claim wasn't enough for him. One evening he decided to call on Bob, went to his house and wrapped on the door. It was kind of surprised to see Dan then. Dan, gosh, come on in. You're sort of a stranger these days. I'll come on business, Bob. Sally, come in here a minute. Well, good evening, Dan. Good evening. What business brought you here, Dan? I've been thinking. Now that the mind's going good, we ought to come to some kind of understanding. Sure thing. But there's nothing he'd already understood. You get half and I get half. But what if one of us dies? Then what? That ain't going to happen, Dan. You never can tell. Blastin' the way we are and all that. Never can tell when you or me will get hurt some. Bob, you didn't tell me it was so dangerous. It ain't, Sally. There ain't no danger at all. Now, suppose you go and make up a lunch. Me and Dan will have a talk. Well, all right. Just a minute. That's what you missed, Dan, not having a wife yourself. Maybe so, but I'm satisfied. I've got a paper for you to sign, Bob. What kind of paper? Just an agreement between the two of us. That's all. Let me see it. Sure. Now, you see, if you die, then, of course, I get the mind and agree to see that so much is paid to your wife and kids regularly. But if I die, you get the mind. But, Dan, it says here, you agree to pay my wife only $20 a month. That's more unfair, Bob. If I die, you get the whole thing. You don't have to pay out none of it. But I'm willing to help your wife out, you see. Oh, shucks, Dan. We don't need no agreement like this. It ain't just the same as the best way. Why, I even had a lawyer over to town draw it up so it's all legal and binding. Well, all right, then. I'll sign it if you want me to. Make me feel a heap better. I'll get a couple of witnesses to make it legal. Where can you get them? I brought them along. They're outside. I'll just call them in. Come on in, fellas. Howdy, Bob. Glad to see you. Oh, howdy, Slim. Hello, Wendy. Howdy. Now, Bob, you sign right here, and I'll sign here. We both sign each copy of this, and then we each keep a copy. And there. That all? Yep, most all. Now, you two fell a sign right down here. You'll be all fixed according to form. I'll feel much better this way, Bob. All right, Dan, whatever you say. You know a lot more about law than I do. Hey, Dan? All right. There's my signature. Well, Bob, we'll be going now, and thanks. Hold on. Don't be in a hurry. The alley's fixing up a lunch for us. I'm sorry. I'm pretty busy, Bob. Lots of work to do over at the shack. But I thought you had title working over there. You ain't able to get around much. Still use those crutches to walk. You fellas ready to go? Yeah, I'm ready. Wait a minute. My wife's fixing up something. Sorry, Bob. We've got to be going. Evening. Evening, Bob. The curtain falls on the first act of our thrilling Lone Rancher drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. The story of the beginning of the friendship between the Lone Rancher and Tonto. Signed the paper, Dan had fixed up, and a couple of witnesses made it all legal. Then Dan left before Sally got back into the room. He's a supper, Bob. What? Why was Dan gone to? He just left, Sally. But didn't he know I was fixing something to eat? He wasn't mad or nothing, was he? I don't know. He just said he couldn't wait. There's something wrong with him lately, Bob. I'm beginning to think maybe there is. He's been acting awful funny. Funny? I can't figure it. Sometimes it looks like he almost hates me. Oh, but then silly, Bob. No one hates you. Besides, aren't you the one made him rich? Yeah, but it's just the way he looks at me. Sometimes I feel mighty strange when he does it. I never liked Dan Slade much myself. But he seems to be popular enough in town, so I reckon he must be all right. He spends a lot of money on the boys. That's why he's so popular, Sally. What paper here? Well, that's what him and me just signed. It gives me the mind if Dan dies and him the mind if I die. Is that the way things are done? I reckon so. Dan even brought along two fellows from town to sign this here paper with him and me. Witnesses there was. I guess Dan's a good businessman, Bob. Yeah, I'll admit I don't know much about such things. Well, anyway, Dan's getting the mind along great shape. Running like a real business. With him there part of the time and me there part of the time. Well, I suppose Dan was all right. Look how he's taken care of that poor engine that has hurt. I can't forget, though, Sally, that at first Dan was aiming to shoot the engine. Dan wouldn't have done that. He sure would have if that lone ranger hadn't come along when he did and made Dan save Tonto. Gosh, I'd like to see the lone ranger sometime, Bob. You'd never seen him after that day, did you? Nope, never did. Fact is, I didn't know it was a lone ranger then. It wasn't until after he rode away and I heard him call his horse Silver that I realized who it was. It's mighty curious how Dan Slade's nature has changed after being talked to by that man. It sure is, Sally. I've been puzzling it over ever since. Slim and Wendy went with Dan after he left Bob Reed's. And Slim was mighty curious about the paper he'd signed. The two of them was in the saddle, moving slow, when Slim brought the matter up. Listen, Dan, what was that paper we put our names to back at Bob Reed's? It was another Slim, just a low form, that's all. But you said that Wendy here and me was witnesses. Sure, that's in case sometime if I should die in some relation of mine would try to claim the mine. And that is my half of it. Well, Bob could say it was his and you fellas could swear you'd see me sign the paper, see? Shucks, Dan. I could swear without that. Gosh, if he buys me all I want to drink for signing that paper, it'll be the cheapest jag I ever got. There would be. Ain't that so? Hold up there a minute. What's this? A man on a white horse. I'm going to post you, man. I know that voice. Where'd you come from? What is this? Pull up there. Pull up there. What is this? A holdup? Something like that. Let me see that paper you had Bob Reed signed. See here, that ain't no business of yours. Let me see it. Show it to him, Dan. He's got a mask on and his guns look tolerable. Quickly. Here it is. Ain't nothing but an agreement, that's all. Just an agreement of two business partners. It's like a mad Slim. I can't read in the dark. You know me well. Quick. Here you are, stranger. Thanks. Now let me see. There ain't nothing there that ain't regular in the court and the law in that paper. No, I see that there isn't. I'll be careful, Dan. Here's your paper. Come on, Gilbert. He's a robber. He wore a mask. I'm going to plug him. I'll show him. You missed him. Off into the night. I suppose you were wondering why he wanted to look at that paper that was signed by Bob. Yeah, Pete. What was it to it? We'll get back to that later. But after Dan saw the mask man right away, he left Sleming. Sleming got back to his own shack as quick as he could. He noted that for the next few days, Tonto kept looking at him, watching every movie made. And it began to get on Dan's Slade's nerves. Finally, he got plum-fed up with the way Tonto watched him. Are you looking to be that way for? Tonto didn't make any reply for a minute. Just kept staring out of them deep, dark eyes of his. Blast you? Can't you answer me? I ask you a question. What are you watching me for? Tonto know what you think. What do you mean you know what I think? You think murder. What's that? You make murder plans. Where you can't- Don't maybe Tonto walk. Then him leave here. Leave me after the way I fixed you up, huh? Not by a darn sight. You ain't gonna leave me till you've repaid me for all the time and bother I went to to fix that busted ankle of yours. You drink too much fire water. That ain't none of your business. I'm a rich man now. I don't need to listen to no talk like that, especially not from an ordinary red skin. Stop staring at me, do you hear? I tell you to stop staring at me. That'll learn you. Next time I'll catch you staring at me like you've been doing, I'll sling-lad. It was getting on Dan Slade's nerves the way Tonto kept close watch of him. Tonto was still hobbling around with some crutches he made. Couldn't travel fast or far. Just managed to hobble about the shack a little bit, but it was enough for what Dan Slade had in mind. I reckon tomorrow's a day for carrying out my plans. I'll just see that Bob's laid up at home. He was thinking, making plans all night long. He went over them again and again. I can let a beam fall on his head in the morning. That'll do it. Good heavy beam hit him on the head. Tonight soon as the redskins asleep, I'll borrow his crutches and fix things up. Well, that ordinary coyote Dan Slade slipped on the Marcusons that belonged to Tonto, who seemed to be sound asleep in the corner. Then he left the house, taking with him the crutches that Tonto had been using. He made sure to walk through plenty of mud to Bob Reed's house. There he fixed a few things, then crept back to his own shack with his murder plans all fixed. The next afternoon, Dan came into the café. There was quite a bunch of fellas gathered there. Well, there he is. Old Dan himself. How are you, Slim? Howdy. Howdy, Wendy. How are there, stranger? I need a drink. Good stiff one. Kind of worried. Worried? What's wrong, Dan? It's about Bob. He had a bad break this morning. No. Yep, a rafter in a mine fell on his head. Knocked him clean out. I lugged him home. Was he badly hurt? Oh, not so bad. Sally'll fix him up. But it ain't that that bothers me. It's that ungrateful engine. Tonto? What's hailing him? Well, Slim, I give it much thought. But you know the day that the red skin got hurt? Bob was for shooting him. Same as you do a horse with a busted leg. Fire had my way to shot him right then. Gosh, that was bad. Engines don't forget things like that. I know it. I'm kind of afraid that when Tonto gets to walk without his crutches, he may try and get revenge on Bob. Is that so, Dan? Yep, and I don't like the look in that critter's eyes. What would he do to Bob? I don't know. He might try to scalp him and his family. He might set the house on fire or blow it up. Blow it up? Yep. He might swipe some blast and powder and fuse in my own supply to home and then set it under Bob's house. Sovereign sage, bro. That's the engine. He stole my horse. Shoot him down, somebody get him. Wait, I'll go after him. I'll take care of your horse, Slim. Oh, right ahead, stranger. I ain't even a chaser drunken engine with a six car. I'm trying to catch him. I know that engine must man. How do you get my horse? There ain't no more horses here. Well, just let that fella go after him. We ain't got nothing to worry about. Ain't no skin off our nose. I reckon I'd better get over and see if Bob's all right, eh? Sure. I'll go with you, Dan. You see, boys, the lone ranger had already talked to Tonto and made plans to trap Dan Slade. Tonto carried out his part of the plans in first-rate style, acting like he was licking up and riding away while the lone ranger disguised as a stranger was around the town. When the lone ranger rode away on Slim's horse, he overtook Tonto. Well, Tonto, quickly now. Tell me where you put the mask. Over. Over here, under. Rock. But where's my own horse? Where's Silver? You call him. Here, Silver. Here, boy. You go past now. Candle all picked. What time will the candle burn down far enough to reach the fuse? Four o'clock. Four o'clock, eh? It's almost four now. Slade's going to pin this murder on you? That's right. Made the tracks with your crutches, didn't he? That's right. Him leave Tonto knife near Candle. Slade, there's Silver. You wait here, Tonto. I'll be back. All ready, Silver. Hurry up! One horse, and with his face mask, headed back toward Bob's home, Dan and Slim headed for the same place. Dan figured on walking slow enough so they'd see the explosion from a short distance. Well, I reckon Bob's all right, Slim. Don't see no signs of trouble around the house from here. That engine was just plum-roco, that's all, Dan. See, hold on. This here looks like crotch tracks from your shack to Bob's. Huh? Look on the ground. Oh, gosh, it does, don't it? I wonder if that low-down red skin's been over there. What time is it, Slim? By four o'clock, I reckon. Why? I was just wondering, that's all. I wish that fellow'd come back with my horse. I'll bet he stole it. That's what. I wouldn't be surprised. Hey, Slim, look. What's that on the ground next to Bob's place? Smoke. And it's moving along the ground. Look. It's a fuse, that's what. I bet it's a fuse. That engine must've swiped some of my blast-in powder just like I was afraid he would. Get back! Back! What problem? He killed Solar's whole family. Get back, I say. You can't do nothing anyways. It's too late. Who's that? Look at that white horse come. Gosh, how he can travel. Slim, it's that fellow. The hell is up the other night. The masked fellow. The lone ranger. He's shooting at us. No, he ain't. Look, he shot that fuse. Cut it with a bullet and him riding full speed. The next shot could be for you, Dan Slade. You don't want to stand right where you are. Don't shoot, don't. You shot that fuse to blow your partner into eternity. Dan, you've done that. No, no. You thought no one saw you last night when you took the crutches, made tracks that would pin this murder on the engine. Slim, if you want proof that Slade's a man who planned to murder Bob Reedock. I've turned you, Dan Slade. You look, you leave, they make him right now. No, no. Don't listen to the bastard. I tell you, I didn't. But I think you did. I knew it all the time. There was some reason why you kept that engine. You were just planning to make it. To make him take the blame for what you did. No, no, Slim. Listen to me. I can explain everything. You can't explain nothing to me, Slade. Now I see it all as plain as day. And that's why I had Bob sign that paper, too. Slim, if you need further proof. I don't. You can't prove it with me. Dan Slade, you were seen last night. What? Put your guns away, Mr. Mass Man. There's something that's got to be done for this community, but I aims to be the one to do it. No, no, Slim. Don't draw your gun. Don't shoot me. Slade, don't. Well, you yellow-livered pole cat, I wouldn't waste it. I figured it was a lie when you said Bob wanted to shoot the engine. I know it was a lie. And I thought it would blame funny you'd keep powder in your shack so you can start hiking for the sheriff's office. But, Slim... You know what? I reckon I know it was the senior last night. I also... Granted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.