 speed of light, a cloud of dust in a hearty high of silver! The Lone Ranger! The full Indian companion taught all the daring and resourceful mass rider of the planes led the fight for law and order in the early Western United States. 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 Piasca with thundering hoopbeats of the Great Horse Silver, the Lone Ranger Here's Bart Walker and Dick Bowman had been friends and neighbors. They frequently visited each other's ranches and shared a profitable contract to supply the government troops with beef. I want that contract. You wanted us on? Yeah. And wolf I guess you know that I generally get what I want in one way or another. Yeah you sure do. How do you figure to take the contract away from Morgan Bowman? I've got it all worked out. You will handle all the tales. Bart Walker has heard in this cattle. I wanted stampeded. Bart Walker's men were going about their business when they heard gunfire in the distance. Without warning, masked men riding hard swept down the range with their guns blazing. What's this mean? It's stampeded the cattle. Cut them off. Close in on the left. Stop them. Walker's men heavily outnumbered had no chance to protect the cattle. Before they realized what was happening, the herd was hopelessly stampeded. The frightened beasts raced across the plains, scattered in all directions. I've beaten my cattle, eh? My friend Dick is going to pay for these. After poachers, my friend didn't even think he could get away with anything as double-crossed as this. Give me my guns. I'll corner Dick Bowman in the cafe and call for a shoot-down. Bart Walker, followed by several of his men, went into town and approached the cafe. They were grim-faced and wore their guns low, ready for a fast action. Yes, the second boys. Wait a minute. I want to put you straight before we go inside. We done what, boss? This is my fight, savvy. I don't want none of you interfering. But boss, you have me big. You just see that no one else butts in. When we get inside, spread out and keep an eye on things. If any of Dick's men slap live in, they're your meat. But Dick is for me, and don't forget him. All right, boss. All right, come on. Stay behind your bar, Wolf. I've got something personal to settle with Dick Bowman. Don't stay troubling my company. There he is, boss. Cross the room there. There you see him. Spread out like I told you, sure. Dick Bowman. Howdy, Bart. I'm particularly about my drinking partners. I might drink with a pole cap, but not with you. Bart, you trying to start something? Seems like you started it. I'm here to finish it. Now stand aside, folks. Anybody getting between me and Dick is likely to get hurt. What's got into you, Bart? You going loco? You and me have been sharing the contract for government beef. Sure, Bart. What about it? Maybe you want to be big and important. Maybe you'd like to have that contract for yourself. Is that it? I know who stampeded my trail herd before I could make delivery. I lost near all of them. I got a warrant from the agent. One more failure to make delivery, and my part of the contract's canceled. You think I stampeded your cow? I got proof. I'll draw you poor cat. Right. How many shot him out? There's a man, man. I've seen him. Hey, Bart Keep. Light some candles. We can't see a thing. Light some candles, Bart Keep. There they are. Hey, where's Bart? What's happened to Dick? Hey, boss, why are you? Hey, where's Bart? Who saw Bart? And Dick? They're both gone. It disappeared while the lights was out. Where they got to? There's a dog gone, 20 things. And Dick's me. Dick, maybe they went outside to settle the fight. You better take a look. Yeah, I reckon I better. Excitement's over, gents. Nothing more to worry about. Line up for the power and name your poison. The barkeep will take care of you. Drinks are on the house. You there, Jake? Yeah, Wolf. Come with me. Thorn will be waiting in my office. Get inside. Wolf, what's going on out there? What went wrong? I still ain't sure what happened. Wolf fired them shots. I don't know. It wasn't Bart and Dick. It was a mask, man, Wolf. I seen him just for a second when he stepped inside. A mask, man, huh? Yeah. Thorn, I don't know how it happened. Everything was set. Half-moon fellas stampede Walker's cows. Nick and Lucas, though, boomin' was the cost of it. When Walker came in here gunning for Bowman, Jake was all set to drill them both in cover while they were shooting it out. Don't go and Thorn, you couldn't ask for a better plan than that. Didn't work, did it? No, but... And I do ask for a better plan. Look here, Wolf, I want that government beef contract. I can't get it till Walker and Bowman lose out. I hired you to see that the job was done right. But if you can't handle it, I'll get somebody else. Well, I'll figure out something. You don't even know where they are. For all you know, they might be together right now, comparing notes. And if they do that, they're gonna put two and two together, begin getting the facts straight. Well, I'll do it. You'll find them, fellas, and show me some action. I'll do something. Get better. Look, that's the one. That's the man. Ready? Wolf, that's the same fella that shot out the lights. Is that so? Yes, it is. Who are you? Thorn, you're smart enough to know that that's a foolish question. Don't reach for that gun. Let's talk first. You heard the one that shot out the lights? Oh, I had some help. You made off with Barton, Deke? Yes. What was the idea? Maybe I wanted to cut myself in on this game. You... What are you talking about? Game? We ain't got no game. No. And those men stand between Thorn and the contract to supply beef for the army? I... Jake, weren't you instructed to shoot both men, making it look as though they'd killed each other? How'd you find out all that? See, I know the facts. Where have you got walking woman? Just outside town. When I leave here, I'm taking them to my camp and you're welcome to look for them as much as you want. What are you putting in for? This ain't no concern of yours. I'm making it mine. Well, what for? Thorn's paying you well, isn't he, Wolf? Oh, so that's it. You'll have to cash, too, huh? Perhaps. You figure I'll pay you to turn those two fellows over to me. Is that it? Would you, Thorn? Well, you... Quiet. Go and listen to me. I wish you'd take that mask off. Do you think you could get away with murder? Until Walker's herd was tampered, he and Bowman had always been good friends. People would remember that. Now, look here. He's still Wolf. Maybe this army's talking sense. Go ahead, stranger. And you overlooked another fact. Yeah? You made Walker believe Bowman wanted that contract for himself. Walker didn't stop to reason things out. He had. He'd realized that Bowman couldn't handle the entire contract. He has enough cattle. Nobody bothered to think that out. That's where you're mistaken. When they did, they'd realize that you, Thorn, benefited by the killings. Why would they? Somebody'd have to take over the beef contract, wouldn't they? That wouldn't be reason for suspicion in Thorn. Thorn, however, is the only ranch in the district who could take over the contract. The only ranch he was large enough heard. But he has trains here. I'm beginning to think it's lucky we met up. Letting Wolf have his way, I might have gotten real trouble. Exactly. You for hire? I might be. Suppose I hired you. What would you suggest? Well, I'd suggest that instead of killing Walker and Bowman, you drive them out. Yeah? Yeah. Throw a scare into them. Make them believe that they have their choice between giving up their contract or losing their lives. But you just now said that killing wasn't safe. I didn't suggest killing. I suggested making them believe their lives are in danger. There's a difference. They'd still suspicion who was behind it. Let them suspect all they want to. If you did it cleverly, they'd have no proof. How do you mean? You can handle that to suit yourself. We come to Thorn's. I'll deliver both men to you tomorrow night. They'll be blindfolded so they can't recognize you. How much is this gonna cost me? Well, what would you pay? Five hundred? Good enough. What time will we get them? Whereabouts? Midnight tomorrow beside Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock ain't convenient. That's making... I said Eagle Rock. Take it or leave it. Seems like I ain't got no choice. You haven't. Thorn, you're local. How do you know this fella ain't up to some trick? He tries anything. He don't get paid. And it's subtle? Sure, stranger. I'll be all my way then. Remember, midnight tomorrow at Eagle Rock. I'd like to catch a fella left that back door What's a funny thorn? That mask man, Wolf. I don't see nothing funny about it. Oh, that ain't it. Well, what struck me funny was that mask fella tried to make me think he's a crook. Huh? Why, you blame idiot. Didn't you guess who he was? How could I with him wearing that mask? That was the Lone Ranger. No, you sure? I'm willing to bet on it. Hey, we'd better watch our step. Wolf, this is one time the Lone Ranger gets fooled. Yeah? You savvy a scheme. Why he was so blamed anxious for us to meet him at Eagle Rock? I don't know. So he'd have the law planted there to get evidence against us. Yeah, just so. Yeah. Well, it ain't gonna work out that way. No, we'll stay away. But how do we get a hold of walking woman? If that fella's a Lone Ranger, give him warning. That won't matter. Oh, I want it. Because that mask fella ain't no fool. He knows door gone well. We won't go near Eagle Rock. Last we see him bring those ranchers there. Yeah, I suppose. But he's going to have the law. Wait. Let him. We'll get Walker and Bowman. Only we'll get him before they reach Eagle Rock. We'll get him on their way there from the mask fella's camp. But you don't know where his camp is. We'll find out. Where's that engine you hired last week? The one you said could follow a trail when his eyes closed. Red elk? Yeah. Get him in here. Yeah, go ahead, Jake. Engine's in the bar room. Bring him in here. Yeah. You're figuring on the red skin trailer in the mask man, huh? Right. Maybe he won't be able to. Well, if he ain't as good a trailer as he claims to be, it's time you was finding them out so as you can save his wages. Well, we're trying. Here he is. Get in there, Red Skin. Boss wants to talk to you. Red elk, you've been telling me how good you could follow a sign. Me? Good. Could you follow the trail of a horse at nine? Oh, me do. And that's what you're going to do right now. And where? The trail. There was a fellow in here just now. Come in the back way. So he must have had his horse waiting out back. You can pick up his trail from there. Oh, Jake, you go along with the engine. I want somebody with him I can trust. If we find a mask fella's camp, just get back as fast as you can. Let us know where it is. Don't let him know you found it neither. Yeah, we won't get on with it. Right. Come along engine. Well, that's it. Wolf, if that Red Skin finds a mask man's hideout, we've got things all our own way. 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. You are story. When the Lone Ranger left the Last Chance Cafe, he returned to the edge of town where Bart Walker and Dick Bowman securely tied awaited him. Placing his two prisoners on extra horses, he led the way across country to his well hidden camp in a small wood. All right, I know the saddle. Here, your hands are tied. I'll help you. How are you? Bless you. This is a stunt you and Bart fixed up between you. It isn't. It means the match made fixed up. They dredged your hide, Dick. If anybody playing this, it was you. All of you. Keep still. I'll do the talking. You'll both remain tired until I'm finished. Real hurry up. What is it? I hadn't interfered. Your men would be dead. Dick would be tired. Bart, you let yourself be tricked. Dick had nothing to do with the stampeding of your trailhead. That ain't so. My crew, someone to ditch me. Which one? Techsy. Texas really in the pay of Wolf Snyder. What? I'd like to know what this is all about. Bart saying I was after the whole beef contract for myself. And you say in Texas a crook. He is. You got proof of that? I'll tell you the facts and you can judge for yourself. The first place for the last month, there have been rumored at the fort that Thorne was going to take over the beef contract. Thorne? Yes. No one seemed to know why or how. So I came here to investigate. Go on. Dick, Tex Gamble is quite a lot at Wolf's place, doesn't he? What of it? He's been winning. Did it ever occur to you that Wolf might be letting him win? You know, Wolf's games are crooked. Why would he? To pay Tex for selling you out. Tex let himself be seen when Bart's herd was stampeded. So Bart naturally suspected you were behind it. Stranger, this sounds interesting. How do you know all these things? You'll learn that later. Now, do you believe what I've told you? Well, it did seem funny that after me and Dick being friends for so long, he tried to break me. Only how he's so mad I didn't stop to think. You don't have to believe me. Tomorrow night, I'll give you proof. It was nearly dawn when Jake and Tonto rained up at Wolf's office. Wolf and Thorne had been up all night waiting. Well, the engine done it. Is that right engine? You find that Maswellers came? Me find them. Over that woods beyond the creek. Beyond the creek? That's the other side of Eagle Rock. You're going to come in handy, Redskin. Well, Thorne, what do you think? Jake, how close did you get to the Maswellers' camp? Close enough to learn you had things figured right. Yeah. You hear him talking? Just so. What'd he say? Said he'd struck a bargain with you to deliver them fellas at Eagle Rock for cash. Said when he'd done that same, it was going to jail you. Jailer, sir? I reckon not. What have you got in mind? Well, Jake, Wolf, look here. Yeah. Say this is Eagle Rock, Savvy. A lot of make it just about halfway between here and where Jake says the Maswellers' camp is. That's right. All right. Now, the creek is about halfway again from the rock to the camp. Meaning? Meaning there's plenty of cover near the creek. Plenty of cover, Wolf, for, say, about four or five of your men. And then? The Maswellers will set out from his camp with Walker and Bowman. He thinks we'll meet him at Eagle Rock. So that's where you'll have the law waiting. I get it. Only he don't reach Eagle Rock, huh? Yes, sir. Your man will be waiting for him, or he ain't expecting it at the creek before he gets to the rock and out of gunshot of where the law will be hiding. Good enough. Ain't you going with us, Thorne? No, neither is Wolf. We're staying in town, so as we'll have alibis. Sure. You fellas will stay in town. Then if anything goes wrong, it's us who gets the blame while you stay in the clean. Don't be a fool, Jake. Get the blame anyhow. Even if we was along, wouldn't you? You ought to take the same chances as the rest of us. I'm paying for this job. What's more, a few fellas should slip up and you still got me and Wolf free to look out for you. What good would it do to have us all jailed? Well... Besides, nothing's going wrong. Don't worry about it. Hey! It was you who seemed to be doing all the worrying. That'll be enough of that, Jake. Thorne's a boss here. Well, Thorne, what do you want me to tell the boys? Should they drill them two ranchers? Take them prisoner. You get all the men together, Wolf. Eat me right here tonight before you start out. A number of hard-faced men, heavily armed and well-mounted, were ready to ride for Thorne that night. Even the bartender, anxious to make easy money, was with the group. There's no use passing up a chance to make a few dollars. That's what I say. What time is it, Jake? I got eight o'clock. About time for the boss to shut up. Here he comes, acting along as usual. Everyone here? Yeah, all of us. What have those boys looked like to you, Thorne? They were changed by the results. And Jake, where's the engine? Right here. Good. Now, boys, pay attention to me. Just to make sure there's no misunderstanding, I'll go over the plan so you'll all know just what's to be done. I already told them, Thorne. I'll tell them. And I'll know they got their orders straight. Boys, the gents you're going to gun is a man that's put a lot of your friends in a calaboose. He's generally known as the lone rangers. He thinks he's going to spring a trap that'll land me in jail. He don't know that I'm wise to his plans. Instead of going in his trap at Eagle Rock, you boys are going to make this mask man and the two that'll be with him before he gets to Eagle Rock. I'd walk her and dig boom when the wars will be with him. That's right. And I don't want either of them killed. I want them captured and brought right here to me. I'll deal with them personally. That clear? Yeah. Put as many slugs as you want in the mask man, but bring Walker and Bowman here to me. I'll get going. Jake knows where you'll lie and wait. Good luck to you. He's been led by Jake, made a wide deep tour around Eagle Rock, then pushed on toward the creek, but had to be crossed for the mask man on his way to keep the appointment. Arriving at the stream, he urged their horses into a dense thicket where they would be effectively concealed. What time you got, Jake? Just a little after eleven. We ain't too late. The engine. Uh-huh. Keeping a sharp watch in the trail, the mask man will come. Uh-huh. You watch. See that you do. There's a hill the other side of the creek. Stop it. You ought to be able to see it begin the sky. Just drill the mask, fella. Yeah, I'll tell you. Ha. We ought to drill Bowman and Walker, too. Wolf and Thorn said not to. And the idea is just to give them ranchers a scare, huh? Right. One that'll stick. One that'll persuade him they don't want that beef contract no longer and convince them they'd better do no loose talking afterwards. You people. Yeah? You're a good roper. We'll take the one closest to you. Check. Squint'll take the other. If either one of you misses, the others will end a hand. Yeah, they'll all do it. Them come. Yeah, they just hop in the rice. Not so loud, you fool. Huh? Now get this, fellas. And get it straight. Because there ain't much time left for talking. Yeah. Yeah, well, your rope's ready. See, they don't catch onto nothing. Let them cross to this side of the creek and wait till I give the word. I'll drill the mass man. You fellas rope Bowman and Walker and pull them back through the creek. That's straight now. Yeah, sure. You can just make them out. Bowman and Walker are blind for it, all right. The mass feller put a gunny sack in over their heads. So much to better. But keep quiet. They're almost to the creek. They're coming back with the law. He's got to ride to Eagle Rock first. There's time enough. Look at them fellers. Ain't they a sight? See the path they made when they was dragged up the bank? They made a furrow like there was plows. What's the matter? There's something wrong. These fellers are at the camp. There can't be nothing wrong. There is. Neither Bowman or Walker's as tall or hefty as these fellers. But I tell you, we get the gunny sack in all quick. Yeah. They think that we've got it. Golly. I don't know. There. Golly. Wolf. Fools. You blessed idiots. You're no good, idle-headed mavericks. We ought to knock your heads off. You like to kill us. Like me. But Wolf, you missed your thorn. How was we to know? We thought you was Bowman and Walker. We never meant to... Pull the saddle, the saddle. Drag us through the creek. I'll show you. Please. You scum. Talk up or you'll get the same as they gave Jake. Which one of you told a mass fella about our scheme? Which one of you let him know so as he could come to town and take me and Thorne prisoner? Speak up, blastage. The mass fella knew the whole thing. He made a strange close with them ranchers. He put that gunny sack in over our heads just so it couldn't be told who we was. Talk or I'll give every one of you just what I give. You need some more. No, no, no. Wait, Wolf. The engine. What about the engine? When I shot at the mass man, he bumped me. I thought it was accidental. But maybe he done it on purpose. Red skin? What about that? Yeah, the engine. It was him that was such a good trailer that he could follow the mass man right to his camp. By it, under, he knew where that camp was all the time. It was him that sold us out. Come on, Marshal. Stand where you are. Up with your hands, all of you. The United States, Marshal. As in, here's Bowman and Walker to see you crooks deal. And they're good riddance to the lot of you. We never harmed nobody. We tried. And we heard enough to prove it. Wolf, Otto joined your gang just for this. Tell them he your plans and make sure they failed. Come on, Otto. Come on, Nick, come on. Chuck, so on. The trap you and Wolf fixed up worked all right. But thanks to Otto and the mass man, you were the ones that caught. There's a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.