 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust in the heart of Ohio Silver, the lone ranger. The masked rider of the plane was the greatest champion of law and order the West ever knew. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, he fought crime and criminals to the length and breadth of seven states. But Justice met more of him than the letter of the law, and he was always ready to match wits with a man who used legal means to rob honest men and women. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoops to the great horse Silver, the lone ranger rides again. Come on, Silver! We're having most fun! Nate Warren, his work crippled body, resting in an easy chair, watched his wife closely. She was standing at a window on the farther side of the room, and... Is it Matt, honey? I think so, Nate. Until he gets a little closer, it's a dark outside, it's hard to see. Uh-huh. It's him, all right. Can you see how he looks? Now, how could I this time of day? What's the use of your upsetting yourself, so? I declare, since Matt rode into town, you've been acting like you figured Mr. Thorne and tell him no. Wouldn't surprise me, none. Why should he? Of course he'd pay him, too. That's why. But if Matt would be able to take up that note, how? He'd rather Matt couldn't. So he could take over Matt's horses and sell them to the army itself. But I didn't think Mr. Thorne knew about the letter Matt got from Captain Ives. Who's gonna say what Thorne knows, and what he don't? All I said was I told Matt to keep still about it. That don't mean Thorne ain't found out. I've known that high binder for quite a spell now. Where there's a chance for a profit, he finds out plenty. But I know you're quiet. Hello, ma'am. How are you, Pa? How are you feeling tonight? The ache going out of your legs, any? Never mind me, son. You know what you're more than me waiting to hear. How'd you come out? The way you said I would. He turns you down? Oh, Matt, he wouldn't even give you one more week. No, not a day, even. In fact, this would have been better offer to ask for a year. Then he'd likely figured I was just hoping for things to get better. Asking for a week made him suspicious. Everything else being equally, new dog on, well, a week wouldn't be no help. So he guessed I had some kind of deal on the fire. Didn't I tell you about that fellow, ma'am? Oh, what a shame. Well, that's that. Wait from now on. I won't have to worry no more about how to make a horse ranch pay. I won't have any. He'll be thawing. Then when Captain Ive gets here, he'll have to buy horses from him for the army. Oh, it won't be that bad, will it, son? You'll be able to pay off part of the note and cash, won't you? And leave you some horses. Oh, I haven't a damn. What, there was 500? Gone. Gone, Matt? But what? Wait, honey. Matt, did I hear you right? Did you really say the cash you've been saving is gone? All of it. Where? How? Well, that. Oh, it don't matter none, does it? It's gone, talking about it won't bring it back. There's been expenses, of course. Doctors' expenses. Oh, now, Pa, I told you that... That the doctor you brought to see me didn't cost you none extra. That he was in town visiting from the east. Didn't charge you no more. Doc Macklin does. I told you. But if your 500's gone, I'm betting it's cause you're sent for that saw bones and had them come specially. Now, look, Pa. Ain't that so? Well, ain't it? All right, it is. But, dawg, gone, when I seen you moping around day in and day out, Pa, when maybe a good doctor from the east might be able to make you well again... But it was just for your own good. Now, you'll lose everything you own, the count of it. Well, if you'd had any sense, you'd have saved enough horses to sell to the army to get started all over again. Let's not talk about it, huh? I just don't feel up to it. I shouldn't take your word. I gotta go out. I ain't unsettled yet. Oh, nature shouldn't have been crossed with him. Why not? That money for you. It shows he's a fool. For the past ten years, he's been a fool. What's he mean by wasting good cash for grub and doctors and such? All his stove and all has been like me. Ain't I lived my life? You think all the saw bones in the world can ever make me good for anything again? Ah, anybody but a fool would have told me to pack up and get long ago. Oh, Nate. Now, what's the matter with you? For a minute, I thought you really were angry with me. Well, I am. I waited till I was flat-bushed for coming here. And he proved he didn't have good sense, but taken me in. Taken us in? Well, you kept house and cooked for him. You've earned your keep. But, Paul... I never. But I'm gonna. Huh? And, Hattie, you're gonna help me. I'll do anything Nate, you know I will. Then, first off, you get my boots and gun belt. Do what? You hurt me? Then, find me a horse and help me get aboard it. Nate, you haven't ridden for ten years. It's about time I did. You're not leaving this house. I am. No, you're not. Oh, look, honey. Listen to me. Yes? I'm about done for. No matter what kind of care I took of myself, I've got no great time to live. Nate, don't talk that way. Oh, listen. I'm just stating facts. When I say what happens to Matt is more important than anything happens to me, well, that's a fact too. So, give me my boots and the gun belt, honey. Then, put me on that horse. Afterwards, the law can have me. But Thor won't never collect on that note. Four hours later, the horse slowly entered the outskirts of the town of Stockton. In the saddle was a man who could barely keep his balance. Horse and rider hauled before a dimly lit office and then... Oh, oh, boy. Engine! Hi there, engine! What? What matter? Speak English, eh? Good. Give me a hand to get down. I reckon I'm some cheeky when I figure to be. You get hurt? Nothing like that, engine. Just old and stove in. Here, it's kind of holding me steady while I slide out of this year's saddle. Oh! Thanks. Thank you kindly. Wait a second. Nope. I'll never make it by myself, engine. Why do you think you're an old morcy whore like me that can't even walk by itself without asking help? Wouldn't think a fellow like me was good for much, eh? Where you going? Just inside there, engine. Just far enough to scotch a snake. Don't savvy that, do you? Well, maybe it's just as well you don't. Look, you mind helping me get to the door? Me help? What's your handle? Me name Tonto. All right then, Tonto, let's go. Ah! Yeah, no. Don't open it. I can make it inside when I'm ready. Ah, then, let me see. Yeah, but I have a look at my shooting iron first. All primed. What you do with gun? Engine? You can ask me lots of things, but that ain't one of them. Now, let me give you word of advice, eh? What that? Make tracks. Because I got a notion the farther you travel inside the next two minutes the less you're going to have to explain. It was still later that same evening when Matt Warren burst into the parlor where his mother was seated him. Moore, I thought you said Pa turned in. My lands, ain't it? Well, his room's empty. Why, son, you must be mistaken. I ain't, I tell you, I looked. I looked in his room to see if he was sleeping comfortable and he weren't there. Even his bed hadn't been touched. Well, what could have become of him? That's what I'd like to know. You think he'd have been low-quenched to try going outside without telling anybody? Don't seem like you would. I'll take a look, maybe. Hey! Moore? Yes, Matt? Did you help him do his room? Well, now that's a silly question to ask. Did you? Well, of course I did. And helped him to bed, too? Don't die over, son, since your pa's been crippled. Now, I think you better do it. And if you helped him to bed, like I say you did, how do you explain his bed and not being touched? What? Moore, you know something about his disappearing. You must. Where'd Pa go? What happened to him? Matt, you're talking foolish. No, I'm not. There's only two ways to explain about his bed. Either you never helped him in there, ma. Or you did. Then he left afterwards and you made his bed again when he was gone. Either way, you'd have to know about it. Now, what's this mean? Son, I don't... Carry him in. Say, what's the... The masked man? Oh, man! Don't look at him! You didn't wait! You have to do this! One moment. Put him in that chair, Kimosabi. David, why couldn't you have let me be injured? Why did you have to go and spoil it anyway? Oh, what's happened? Ain't none of your business. I'll explain if your father won't, Matt. He tried to call on Thorn tonight, but luckily for him it was Tal who he asked to help him to the office. He was calling on Mr. Thorn? With a six gun. Oh, you didn't mean to... What I meant to do is my affair. But look here... Matt, he meant to help you, even if he doesn't want to admit it. Tal have stopped him, brought him to me and I got the story out of him. Oh, he was trying to help me. How? He would have shot Thorn, taken the naughty holds and destroyed it. Did you go crazy? No such thing! Why shouldn't I have drilled this skunk? Don't you mean to put you out of business? But you'd have been jailed. What if I was? You are local. Quit calling me that, ain't! Would have saved you, wouldn't I? What's the difference between jail and anyplace else when you're too stove-in to get around anyhow? Well, you'd have gone to jail for me. If Tal hadn't meddled... I don't know what to say. Then don't say nothing! It's for you, charred old. You too, Mr. Mashman. I wish to heaven... That way you'd stayed out of this, I know. But would you feel better about it if I told you we can help Matt without having the kill to do it? Huh? You'd help me? Yes. What for? What are my troubles to you? Thorn needs a lesson. Perhaps he's within the law this time but I've heard enough about him to know the law doesn't mean much to him. If he's inside or out of it, he's a money-grabber. And then some! But I... Wait. Matt, as I understand it, an officer is coming here to buy your horses for the army. But he won't get here left to that note to do. Thorn will get my horses for a half of what they worth to make up what I own. Well, I'll be left with nothing. You have nothing else with which to pay? Not a thing. You see, I lease my land and pay rent for these buildings. The horses I raise are all I own. If Thorn couldn't just take your stock of your permission, the sheriff would have to put them up for sale and Thorn take his money out of what they brought in. But there ain't a market for fine stock around here. That's why selling to the army would be my only chance to stay in business so things get better. But now what'll happen is Thorn will bid in them horses himself, dirt cheap. He'd likely end up owning them with me stealing debt to him. When does that note you? Four days. And when can Captain Ives get here? Not for a week yet. Very well. Promise me one thing. Don't let the sheriff put your horses up for sale until the note is due. I wouldn't have any, huh? Good. Come, Thunder. Hold on. He said you'd help, huh? I will. How can you? Matt, that's something you'd better not know. Good night. One, two. I think we'll do what Thorn's done several times. Kimosabi? Yep. What that? We'll step outside the law. Ready? Uh-huh. Then let's go. Come on, old fellow. Get up, sir! Silver! 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. Four days passed. The note held by Thorn fell due. And immediately afterwards, the moneylender took steps to seize Matt Warren's stock. Both Thorn and Matt appeared before Judge Luther and... Judge that note's past due. Matt owes me a thousand dollars, can't pay. That's so, Matt. Can't you pay it? Well, I can't now, but I would have Thorn had given me another week. Well, Thorn, why don't you? Why should I? You sure wouldn't say you needed that thousand real bad? I always understood you was right while all. If I am, it was my letting folks owe me money, beg off from payin' it. No, no, I reckon not. Dog gone and I'm not beggin' off. I wanna pay at my will, if you don't... If I let you take your time about it. Well, that's not the way of doin' business. No, your way of doin' business is to grab a profit, no matter who gets hurt by it. That's a lie, Blashtow! No, you just... Here, here, stop it! Both of you! Now then, any more of that, and I'll tell the Sheriff to get in the fight. He'll handle you both. You hear that, Sheriff? Sure did, Judge. Remember it. Well, I'm sorry, Judge, but Dog gone it. You'd be mad, too, if you was me. The only reason Thorn's makin' me trouble is because I was rigid enough to ask him for just a week to get that thousand in. That showed him I was figurein' to make a deal, so he decided to make it himself. Math right, Thorn? I don't know what he's talkin' about, and neither does he. I suppose if the Judge tells the Sheriff to auction off my horses, you won't bid them in yourself. I'll have to. I don't know anybody else would buy them. You'll get them for almost nothin'. I'm not in the horse-breedin' business. They ain't worth much to me. But you've got a darn good notion you'll find out where I figure to sell them, ain't you? I don't know what you're... Maybe you'll be able to bid in my stock for less than a thousand. Then while I still owe you the difference, you'd hunt out the bar I hadn't mined, sell the horses, too, make a big profit, and all the time with me still in debt to you. Why confound you? I'll show you a few... I... I wasn't goin' to say anything. Then don't act like you was. George, you aren't gonna let my horses be put up for sale, are you? Matt, I'll have to admit, I'm kind of... I kind of sympathize with you. Well, then can't you do something for me? The law's the law. You all phone money. You can't pay it. So if he's entitled to get his cash, the best way he knows how. But it ain't fair, I tell ya! Quiet! Sheriff. Yeah? I'm authorizing you to seize Matt's horses. Advertise an auction to sell them off. All right. From what you take in, you'll take out whatever the sale costs the county. Plus, any taxes may be Matt owes. Then you'll give Thorn what he's got comin'. Or watch a kin of it. After that, there's any cash left? There won't be. As I was sayin', if there's anything left after that, it belongs to Matt. See that he gets it. Sure. Thank you, Judge. I would like that. Ben! What's the idea, Buston, here without being told to? Sheriff, see that Ben... But I gotta see Matt a second, Judge. It's important. Well, you can't see what Ben wants to judge it. It wouldn't take but just a second, and maybe it is important. All right. But then tell him to get out. Thank you. Judge. Well? About the auction. If it could be real soon, I'd appreciate it. Anxious to get them horses, huh? Not exactly that. But then... There ain't gonna be no sale. Huh? You threatened me, Matt? No. Then just what do you mean by what you say? Only what I told you. There won't be no sale, because there ain't no horses. Ben just brought the word. They've been stole. What? It's a trick. No, I tell you. Judge, if they were stole, Matt stole them himself. He stole them and cheated me out of what's rightful him. Look here, Thorn. But it won't work, Blastia. I'll see that you go to jail for it. You're nothing but a sneak and thief. Thorn left the courtroom and hurried on foot to the cafe, a block distant. There he sought out a dark, heavy-set man named Fresno. And, taking him to a corner table, he told him what had just happened. And you figure Matt stole them horses himself, Thorn? Of course he did. Why would he steal what belonged to him in the first place? To keep them horses from being sold to me, you fool? To stop the auction. Oh. But I told him he wouldn't get away with it and he won't. Fresno, I'll have that fellow jailed. Uh-huh. I don't blame you. But that'll take care of itself. What's important right now is getting them horses back. Yeah. And in a hurry. The sheriff will hunt for them, won't he? Yes, but so will you. Me? The sheriff will... Can't you understand they have to be found in a hurry? Can't you get it through your head that I can't wait for the sheriff to take his time finding them? Oh, what have you learned about Matt's deal? Nothing. Nothing at all. He ain't talked. Didn't you go out to his place? Sure. But none of them talk. Well, there you are. I know someone must want to buy or Matt would never have asked for extra time to meet my note. If them horses can be put up at auction, I'll get title to them. Whoever that buyer is, he'll come to me. He'll have to. Then what are you worrying about? I'm not worrying because I don't know the buyer. I'm worried because I don't know how soon he'll get here. What if he got here in time to bid against me? Then where'd I be? I couldn't bid more than he does if I'd never be able to sell him to him at a profit. If I bid less, he'd get the horses and I'd just get them out of the note. And you want more, Matt? I want every last penny I can make out of this deal. So I'm to look for them horses myself. You're to look for them and find them. You need money? I was born needing it. Then locate that herd. There'll be $100 in it for you. But find it within two days, then there'll be $100 more. Now get busy. Go out to the warren place and pick up the trail. For the next few days, the countryside was thoroughly searched for a clue to the disappearance of Matt Warren's horses. Fresno, the sheriff, and Matt himself led parties of expert trailers, but with no success. The animals were followed without difficulty until their trail crossed a wide expanse of hardened lava. And there all signs vanished. Conto, the faithful Indian companion of the Lone Ranger, kept an eye on these searching parties without allowing himself to be seen. Then late one afternoon, he heard himself hailed by the masked man. Oh, there's Teddy. Oh, where are the search parties? They're over that way. Still investigating those blind canyons off the lava field, eh? Uh, they're not pine horse, though. But they will soon, Turner. And pine trail? They're not that. I doubt they could find the horses in the next month without a hint. That's right. But it's time they got a hint. What you mean? Captain Ives is on the Stockton stage. Oh. He'll be in town before nightfall. That's good. So now's the time to carry out the rest of our plan, Turner. But we'll have to take care of Matt's under suspicion. We must be sure the law doesn't become certain he's behind what we've done. Come on, soon we'll get him on the sky! Hurry! When the stage arrived at Stockton, Captain Ives and civilian clothes descended, inquired the way to the war in place and arrived there just after dark. Matt's mother opened the door in response to his knock and... Yes? Good evening. This is where Matt Warren lives? Uh-huh. I'm his maw. Step in, won't you? Thanks. I'm Captain Ives. Your son has probably mentioned me. Well, good evening, sir. Howdy, Cap. Have a chair, won't you? Thank you, I will. Sure. Sit down and make yourself comfortable. Matt's my son. Right now he's cleaning up. Been to Saddle all day. Call him, won't you maw? Uh-huh. He'll be here in a second. But Cap, I'm afraid you got here too late. Too late? But I thought he understood that I was coming. He knew when you'd get here, Cap. That ain't it. Well, surely he hasn't sold his stock without letting me know. It ain't that either. This is him now, Cap. Maybe he'd better tell you about it. This is that army fellow you was expecting, son. Howdy. I wish I could say I was glad to see you. I'm afraid I don't understand. I ain't told him what happened yet, Matt. Oh. Well, Captain, you made a long trip for nothing. Right now I couldn't sell you a horse if you offered me a hold of cash in Texas. Crook stole every critter I owned. No. Sorry, but that's the way it is. You can't find no trace of him. It's like they've been swallowed up. That's what I've been doing today, trying to pick up the trail. Well, that is too bad. Maybe you had a long trip off for nothing, Cap, but Matt's flat-bushed it. Is that true? Yep. This cleans me out. But of course that don't concern you. I'm right, sir. You've had to waste your time. You still have to get off to somewheres, though, I suppose. Yes, we need remounts badly. Well, I'll give you the names of a couple fellas I know on the stage might look up. But you'll be staying the night, won't you? You must be right tired. Frankly, I'm tired enough, and I'd like to stay, but I'm afraid I can't. You see, I haven't much time. If you'll give me the names of those men you mentioned, maybe I'll still have a chance to catch tonight's stage. Oh, sure. Now, let me see. Oh, over near Grover, there's Max Duncan. He's got some mighty fine horses. Ridge Lawson's got a place over by the creek. Max, the horses! What? Matt, outside. They found them. What, sir? It must be them, son. There's all them horses, and I see Mr. Thorne and the sheriff. That's them now. Well, I'll be a hop toward you. Come in. Hang on, gentlemen, Fresno. Bring him on in here. Right. You found the horses? Howdy, folks. Yep, everyone, Matt. My deputies are turning them into your corrals right now. What did you say? And what's more? Here's one of the crooks that stole them. Me, not crook. Well, it's time to start all. It was me that seen them and trailed them to the canyon where they'd had the horses hid. Yep. It was Fresno tipped us off. Likely they was holding the horses till they'd seen their chance to run them across the border. But you got them back. Sheriff, I wish I could tell you how much I'm appreciating this. Shucks, Matt. I don't want to close it. Matt, so fast. Huh? I guess you're forgetting that court order, Matt. Them horses are going to be put up at auction. They don't belong to you anymore. As a matter of fact, your guess was right. I am going to bid them in. Sheriff? Yeah, Thorn? I demand that you hold the auction at the first possible moment. Good. Huh? Who are you? Captain Ives of the United States Army. Commissioned to buy cavalry remands. You... Then you're the fellow Matt was going to deal with. Yes. I'm willing to pay $5,000 if his stock meets with Army specifications. Are you prepared to go over that figure? No, no. $5,000? Of course he ain't. It was you, Captain. He figured to sell them horses, too. Oh, think of it. $5,000. It'll pay the thousand I own, leave us $4,000 over. Ain't that fine? And you can just bet those horses will be what you're looking for, Captain. You won't find better anyway. This ain't right. He ain't got that right. How long are you on, too, Thorn? But I must get them horses. We're found too late to do you any good. But don't you... But that don't mean you don't owe me a hundred for finding them. Just the same. You'll pay every other ticket out of your hide. This ain't legal. I'll see Judge Luther. No, shut up, or I'll see the judge. What? You told everybody in town I'd stole my own stock. Try to spoil things now and I'll sue you for every dollar you got. And Matt'll have a good chance to get it, too. Finding the engine with the horses proved you lied about me. I didn't mean it, Matt. I never meant to call you a thief. You won't sue, will you? Not if you don't meddle. The horses are yours if you want them. But, Redskin, I'll see that you hang as high as a kite. Come on, the time. Put your hands up with your hands, everyone. Now to one side quickly. That mask man's one of the crooks. Share of arrest him. Go after him. Get him to follow, but you won't find us. Adios. Sheriff, I don't take a lot of it. Oh, those are the two fellas that promised to help me. And instead, they tried to rob me. Well, son, I'm wondering about that. Uh-huh. I'm wondering a lot. Help! You have just heard as a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.