 doors for the speed of light, a cloud of dust in the hearty high old silver, the lone ranger. Even when the homestead days had passed in the western United States, immigrants still pushed into the new territory from the east. They had no money to buy land and settle wherever they could find water and fertile soil. The ranchers drove them off their property time and time again, but the nesters became desperate and a range war might have developed if it had not been for the mast rather the planes. It was he who found homes for the nesters. It was he who made the ranchers realize that there was room for all. It was his fight for justice, goodwill, and understanding that made the winning of the west possible. Return with us now those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse silver. The lone ranger rides again. Mustang mag, the lone ranger's old friend, was busy in her kitchen when the door burst open. An old Missouri rushed in. Mag! Wipe your feet! I said wipe your feet you scallowag, you thief! I got you! Never heard the news that was as important as a clean house. Them boots of yours wiped off good now. Cleaner than there ever been before! Then whatcha knew? Nesters! Huh? Thought that'd get ya? Yes sir, we nesters. Bigger's life and twice as pesky. You're trying to say nesters is figured on moving into this range? Yes, that ain't the half of it. Then what's the other half? They've been chased over three or four places, so now they're moving in on our place. What? As sure as I'm a foot high. Where's my shotgun? Get my horse saddled. Where's that extra buckshot I had? I'll show him. Going after him? What'd you think I'd do? Welcome, miss skunks. Get my horse saddled, you worthless old wreck, or I'll waste some buckshot on you! Missouri led the way to a small grove. A half dozen wagons had gone up in the trees, and mustang mag rained in before them. You know folks, permission to camp on my land. That's telling a man! Who's the boss here? Where's your leader? I reckon you must mean me, ma'am. You in charge of these folks? Yes, ma'am. They'll do like you tell them? Yes, ma'am. Then tell them to pack the dubs and get. I got this here shotgun, just a purpose for nesters, and I'm just itching to see if the blame thing shoots through. Ma'am. Well? We, we never meant no harm, ma'am. But we just got to have some place to live. Why do you? Why does nesters have to live at all? Well, folks, reckon we'd better be moving on. Hitch up the wagons, ma'am. Miranda, get the grub that was laid out and... What's that? Huh? Oh, that's just my granddaughter. She ailing? Yes, ma'am. Let me have a look at her. This way, ma'am. Now, ma'am, don't you go get them soft-hearted. You're always the worst thing to be put upon. Look in your tongue before I make you one. Uh, who's this? My daughter, please, ma'am. Nellie, this is the kind lady that... I ain't no kind lady. Uh, what's wrong with the young one? She's got a fever. Fever, huh? What's the idea of traipsing all over the country with a young one that's ailing? Begging you a pardon, ma'am. It ain't cause we want to. Then why is it? We, we all had homes, ma'am, but there was dust storms. We couldn't make nothing grow. We had to leave them. And now we don't know what's going to happen to us. We can start anytime now, Josh. Start for where? Well... And for why? But you just now said we had to move on. Never said anything of the kind. If I did, it was just Josh and you. Can't you take a joke? I knew it, ma'am. I knew it. A little, you know, could be stuck in my eye and never make me blink. You, you mean we can stay here? The others can, but you and the young unkind. You're coming home with me, Missouri. Help these folks move over closer to the waterholes. It's nicer there. Find out what drugs they need and see that they get it or turn your eyes. Ma'am. Mustang mags, ma'am. Mag. If there was only some way we could thank you. Go on, thanks. Too much of that in the world now is not enough reason for it. Now make yourselves at home and the Vandibaldi tries to bother you. Just let me know. Honest to gosh, Mag. You're all the time making out to be a hard-hearted... Oh, shut up. Yes, sir. Three weeks passed. Resentment grew among the ranches in the territory that Mustang mags should tolerate the nesters. She was warned several times, but she paid no attention. One afternoon, Nelly Madden was sitting at a window in Mustang mags' parlor. Her baby in her lap fanned. Oh, you sweet little baby. Oh, I'm sorry. What for? I should have been out in the kitchen helping you. But I got to playing with the baby. You say right where you are. Does me more good to see you in the young and chipper again than all the help in the kitchen you could give me in a year. You've been so kind. Kind. All I ever aim to be is human. That means being kind too, then it's just sort of incidental. Dennis! Nice man, I don't care what you say. I won't go to the Dennis. You ain't got a tooth left in your head. You don't know what I'm talking about anyway. Yeah, but I heard you say it. Close your trap. Look here, Missouri. You dug on shore, you seen the masked men. I did, Mag. I missed I did. Kind of expected them before this. Well... Say, Missouri, you look me in the eye. What are you keeping back? Nothing. Spit it out. Well, I did kind of mention I want no great hurry. You're a low-co-idget. But, Mag, even you didn't figure then that the ranchers would get as mean as they'd done. I knew they wouldn't just back down. We've caused you so much trouble. No such thing. I like a good fight. And before I get through these bull-headed cowmen around these parts to go to learn they can't tell me what to do, I'll teach them. Kind of looks like you can start teaching them right now. Huh? Oh, back again, huh? Lave Kent and Rick Sweeney and old Burgess. Three biggest ranchers in the county. They all look the same size to me. Walk in, ain't nothing stopping you. Oh, boys. And I don't say another word, Gents, before you listen to me. There's always. All I was gonna say is that if they get tough with you, they got me to deal with. And that ain't much. Well, out with it. Mag, there's some of us that's been here to talk to you before. I know it. We said you'd have to tell them, Nessers, to move on. You ain't paid no attention. Ain't it my land or on? Do you figure you can tell me who can live in my land and who can't? The next thing you'll be telling us to move on. I'll do the talking. Now, just a second, Mag. Ain't just a question of where they live. Why ain't it? Cause Nessers ain't never settled nowhere. But what ranchers started losing cows? And once you leave Ness to settle any place, there's always others that follow us. First thing we know, the whole county will be overrun with you. They ain't stalled under my cows. Sure not. They got you mad at them. They wouldn't have no place to stay. You're just the same as Colm's heave. Mag, the trouble is that Nessers don't think that killing a cow for beef every once in a while is stealing. They get the thing and they got a right to that meat. All right, then. Have you fellas been losing any cows yet? They ain't been here long enough for us to tell, but we will lose them if they stay. Only they ain't gonna stay. Here's how you talk to Mag Kent. I've been watching you all the time. None of your lip, Missouri. Hold on. I'll talk to Missouri that way, however of a mind, too, but I'll be blasted if anybody else will. What we want to know is what you're going to do. Look, Kent, Mr. Burgess, look at this girl here. Please, Mag. Don't mind them, honey. Look at this girl and her young'un. Three weeks ago, there was both the doggone thing you could almost see through them. The young'un was ailing and them all weren't much better. You fellas, if it had been left up to you, would have drawn them out of here. And maybe the young'un would have died because of it. We ain't responsible for Nessers. So you want to know what I'm gonna do, huh? Just so. All right, I'll tell you. I've got more range than I'll ever use. Some of it will make mighty fine farming land. I'm giving each family enough to make a living on. They can pay me when they're able. And ain't enough for you stubborn fools in the country to make me do any different. Now, put that in your pipe and smoke it. And I hope it chokes you. Well, uh... You tell her, Kent. Tell me what? Mag, me and the rest of the men had talked it over. We come to a decision. That's what we're here to tell you. Go on. Either them Nessers leave, or we're organizing to chase them out. Off my land. You heard it. Try it, and I'll drill the first one of your kit. Get out! Listen, Miss Zuri, don't you try to order surround. Get out before I get my dander out. Why you won't? You heard it, Miss Zuri. Get out. What? Come on, son of... Yippee! Mag, look who's here. I'm so dog-gone, glad to see you too. I can't find words for it. We saw those horses outside, Mag. We didn't let on where we were here until we learned what was going on. There's plenty going on. So it seemed. But now you and Donna are here to back me up. You see that, you pool cats? The Lone Ranger and Tonto are on our side. What we said still goes, Mag. Think it over. I'll thought it over, and you've got the final answer. You'll be sorry for it. So you've got yourself in trouble again, Mag. Friend, they couldn't abide without it. Tonto, plenty glad to see you. I'm sick, Tonto. You're no more glad than I am. I tell you it's worth any trouble I get in just to have you folks around. That night in the camp they had made not far from Mustang Mag's ranch house, the masked man revealed to Tonto that it was more than the trouble between nesters and ranchers, which had brought him to the district. Although the ranchers think that the nesters are their big problem. And them not know. They knew that the healer kid was camping the hills. They'd forget the nesters. You tell them. They know we're on Mag's side. If I told them now, they'd believe it was a trick to cover up for the nesters. Oh. They'd lose cattle. They'd claim we invented the story to protect the people really to blame. That's right. They'd believe us, however, if we could prove the healer kid was in the district. Then what we do? I want you to try to find his camp. How to try? I don't want you to attack them. Don't let yourself be discovered. Just locate their camp and report to me. When me ride. Now, enter the hills at night and you won't be observed. That good idea. I'll keep this camp. Return here as soon as you can. How to do that? While you're gone, Tonto, I'll make sure no harm comes to Mustang Mag or the nesters. That good. Me saddle scouts now. In the meantime, the ranchers told all their friends of Mag's answers to their challenge. Hatred of nesters was deep seated among the cowmen and feeling against Mag's attitude ran high. A meeting was called at Lake Kent's home and each of the ranchers voiced his opinion. So, gents, I say it ain't to be put up with. Them nesters have got to go before we start losing cattle and get so many nesters in here that they'll get too hard to handle. That's right. Looks like they ain't but one opinion on it. You bet there ain't, Kent. Them nesters got to go. Then listen to me. We all want to get rid of them. We should all act together. Ain't no use in our going to butter without being organized. We wouldn't get no place and besides, everybody ought to do his share. Yeah. They're just one thing, Kent. What's that, Rick? The lone range is on Mag's side. Yeah, I know. Now, I don't know how the rest of you fellas feel about it, but I'll be dog-gone if I walk that armory after me. Don't see how it can be helped. Listen, we back down. Sure it can. Yeah, how? That fella don't go for anybody unless he knows the fella he's aiming to get is guilty. Mm-hmm. So what I'd suggest is that when we run them nesters out, we wear hoods. Like vigilantes? Yes, sir. By thunder, Rick, you got it. You think so, Kent? I tell you, fellas, that's the only way we can do it. We all know the mask man's on Mag's side and I ain't taking no chances again of him, Well, what do the rest of you fellas say? I reckon I feel like him does about it. I'm for wearing hoods. I say the same. We can't let him recognize it. There ain't no telling what would happen to us if he did. Then it's agreed? Yes, sir. Good. We'll call our sales vigilantes and run them nesters right out of the country. 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. The half-dozen families of nesters were still camped at the waterhole on Mustang Mag's range, preferring to wait until the trouble was settled before moving to the farmland. It was at night two days later that Mag in Missouri called at the camp to inform the nesters of the talk Missouri had heard in town. Tell Mr. Simmons what you heard, Missouri. Don't hold nothing back. It's better for them to know the worst than they can be on guard against him. Well, Mr. Simmons... I, uh... I'd like it fine if you'd just call me Josh. Well, I sure would. Glad to, Josh. You were saying... Well, get on with it, Missouri. You can talk free enough when you ain't supposed to. Well, let me get on with it, won't ya? It's like I was saying, Josh, before Mag butted in, now them fool ranchers is calling themselves vigilantes. Yeah, they're going on where the hook. That's just it. They ain't satisfied with just picking on folks that can't defend themselves. They gotta hide their faces while they're doing it. We was awful contented here. And you're gonna stay that way. I think it'd be better for everybody if we just were cleared out, ma'am. You're scared? No, ma'am, ain't that. I ain't a fighting man, though I'd always be willing to fight from a home. No, you see, what I was thinking was if we cleared out, it'd be better for you. I've told Mag that a dozen times before, but she won't listen to me. Look here. Yes, ma'am. You just got through saying you was happy here. Yes, ma'am. And it's made me happy to help you. I've got right well acquainted with you folks in the last month, and they never did see anybody. I'd rather be neighbors, too. That's mighty kind of a mum, but... Don't butt in when a lady's talking. Now then, what it started to say is this. When I walk my own way, I get it. Ask Missouri if I don't. Well, I should smile. Yes, ma'am. Up to now, you folks have just had their answers again, ya. But if you folks sneak away after I've asked you to stay on, I'll be bound if I don't give each and every one of you to fire upon myself. Oh, Meg, I just hope I can be as fine and square as you. Nonsense. Now, here's another thing. I've told all you folks about the lone ranger and about him being here to help you. And now you have to see the ruckus that man can't handle. But we ain't seen nothing of him, ma'am. Well, that's of his own choosing. But he'll be on hand when he's needed. And that's something you can die to. So don't you folks pull stakes. Stay here. And if you have to, I'm ranchers better than I can give you. Well... Just I'm tired of being pushed around from pillar to post. Meg's give us a chance for homes, and I'm going to fight to keep it. Good for you. Well, if you folks think it's best... Yes, ma'am. No, ma'am. No, ma'am. What's that? It's him, Meg. It's him, the mask man. The mask man? Then that means something's up. You bet it does. He wouldn't be riding here if there wasn't. There he is. Hey! The ranchers are on their way here now. You sure? I've been keeping watch. I've been gathering all evening. They left Rick Sweeney's place an hour ago. You come all that way in just an hour? Thanks to Silver. How soon do you figure they can get here? I'll give them another half hour. Hey, Meg, I'll be getting back to the house for our guns and ammunition. You stay right here. Yeah, but... But we'll be needing something to fight them off with. We brought guns with us and you needn't pretend we didn't. Did we, Meg? You carried them. Guys, ain't that funny how it slipped my mind? Josh, I'll just say it. Wait. I came here to warn you. I'm riding back to meet them. How long? There'll be no fighting here if I can help it. But they'd shoot you. They aren't murderers. They're just ranchers blinded by prejudice. For sure. A mask man can't ride alone to meet them fellas. If he's going, you're going too. That's just what I want to do. I'd like nothing better in facing them pulled cats and telling them off. And it's just my blasted luck that my horse pulled up lame so I can't do it. When did that happen? Just as we got here. Didn't say nothing to you, Mag, because it didn't want to worry you. You're a story telling all my brothers. Oh, Mag. I'd rather ride alone anyway. Wait. Listen. Maybe that's them now. No. It's just a single horse. I keep a sabbath. Sando. Sando. Oscar. Oscar. Oscar. Did you find the healer kid? Me find him. The healer kid? Is that sad wonder around these parts? He's camping the hills, Mag. Landsakes. Rangers on the prod. Outlaws in the hills. Missouri in the way. There's trouble in every direction. No, Mag. You wait. What is it, Sando? Healer kid. Ride. Ride now. Ride? Huh? Where? Him, no. Rancher's ride. Him, rob, place, feller, name, Kent. Great day. Kent's with them ranchers riding here. And the healer kid's riding for Kent's place. Don't. Don't you think Mr. Kent ought to be warned? You ought to warn him, Josh, when you know Blame Well is coming here to run you off this land. Well, that is. Sando. Huh? It take maybe hour. And that means Kent can't be warned. The ranchers are approaching from the opposite direction from Rick Sweeney's place. Take time to warn Kent and the healer kid would have struck and gone. That's so. But if we rode it once, we can arrive almost when those outlaws do. What are you getting at? It's up to these people here. The men will join me. Kent's ranch can be saved. The herons above that mean they believe in the women folks behind without nobody to protect them when the vigilantes get here. Mag, you know those men well enough to realize they won't harm the women. I ain't afraid. But the vigilantes direct a camp here. Ma'am. Well? I don't want to cross you, ma'am, but I sort of think it's our duty to go with a masked man. Huh? We were just poor folks. Ain't got much to lose even if the vigilantes does wreck what we got. But if them outlaws was to burn Mr. Kent's place or something like that, why, that would mean quite a sizeable loss. Pa, you go. All right. The rest of you think I'm right? Yes. Well, I'll be switched. Doing favors for folks that are set to do your dirt. George, let me shake your hand. And it ain't only right. And to your horses. How's it here? When them vigilantes show up, they're gonna get a piece of my mind that'll hold them no judgment day. The men saddle their horses, then set out across country after the masked man in Tonto. They were within sight of their goal when suddenly a bright beacon of flame burst from the cluster of buildings ahead. The barn! They fired the barn! Get them up! Scout! Head to the whole place we'll go! The helik is still there. Take half the men and circle to the left. We'll surround them. How to do it? Half of you, follow me! Free your guns! Make ready the fire! Sweeping forward in two half-circles, the nasters threw a ring of armed men around the buildings. Not until they closed in. Charging down upon the outlaws was their approach discovered. Then, surprised and desperate, the helik hit and his men opened fire. Making from the lone range of saddles, fell on a loop around the helik hit shoulders. The fight was over. I give up! I give up! No! No, don't shoot! Don't shoot! Come on! I'll take that gun! Shadow! What do you want? Gather the prisoners together. Disarm them. Leave one man to guard them. The others are needed to fight that fire. How to do it? Josh! The rest of you! Help with the fire! Come on! It's likely to send the whole place up in smoke. The barn can't be saved. Just clean that heat. What's about the house? The corrals. The ranch house. Throw water from the well. Wherever Sparks and the barn can start another blaze, put them out. While Tonto stood guard over the prisoners, the nesters fought to control the blaze. Wherever Sparks lit, someone rushed to put them out. The night breeze made their task more difficult. But gradually as the barn burnt itself out, the danger lessened. At last, the masked man called out the danger was over. Much more of that and I just about cave in. Mister, if you see me again, if you see the way I lit that fire... You did good work, Missouri. Let's have a look at our prisoners. Any trouble with them, Tonto? They'll not try to get away. I sure hate to make a break for it without red skin watching me. Me time. Good. Well, Hila, this'll be about your last raid for a while. How'd you fellas know he was here? Tonto learned your plan. I'll take him back. Hey, look at that. The ranchers. No, man. Don't start no trouble with them. Don't do nothing unless they make you. Well, you'll have no trouble with them. Guys, there's Mag with them. These crooks and kept the ranch house from burning. They helped me some. You're a kid? I am. Here are some prisoners for you. I... Well, I... I should think you would have a hard time thinking of something to say. Every one of you critters ought to be so ashamed of yourselves it feel like keeping out a decent folkside. Mag, we... we didn't know. We figured nesters were just plain nesters. You ever had no use for them yourself? Well, you fellas were setting to run them out of the county. There was hair saving your property. You needn't keep robbing it in, Mag. I shouldn't die. It's all you've done since we left the water home. And I don't expect you to live to see the day when I won't remind you when I think you're needing it. Men, the nesters didn't stop to think of themselves. When they knew your homes were threatened, they acted. Look here, Mr. Simmons. Here. I reckon I'm speaking for the rest of the ranchers around here when I say I'm doggone sorry for everything that's happened. And from now on, you folks can take your pick of the best farms to be had. That's mighty handsome of you, Mr. Kent. But it took the mask, man, to open his eyes. Me and the mask, man, Mag. Don't you forget me. You. Why, you toothless old wreck, you ain't nothing but a drag. I. O. S. O. Where you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.