 with the speed of light, a clot of dust, and a hearty high old silver, the Lone Ranger. With his faithful Indian companion Pato, the mass rider of the planes led the fight for Lone Order in the early western United States. The stories of his strength and courage, his daring and resourcefulness have come down to us through the generations, and 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 past come a thundering hoofbeats of the great horse silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. It was long after sundown when Dan Reed finished buying supplies at the Crossville General Store. He was busy putting them into saddlebags when a horseman rained out of the hitch-ratch deciding. Ho, ho, ho, fellow, ho, fellow. Now find that double-crossed, no-cruel-to-dive horse of the Stentster, you crow-baked coyote! Stop digging that spur into his flank, maybe he would Stentster. Yeah, what's that? Oh, mind your own business, kid. I am. But I don't like to see horses abused. Why, you cocky little... Get out of my way. There's plenty of room, I'm not in your way. Where is the five-spot saloon? Right ahead of you, next to the General Store. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll move out of my way, kid, I'm going in. I'm not trying to stop you, I'm not in your way. Oh, one of them smart-talking buttons, huh? Well, I'll show you what I think of your... This is your fault, not mine. Why, you sneaky little... Sure, I told you, I did it in self-defense. You started the argument. And I ain't got the time to fool with you now. But if you ever cross me again, it'll be different. You savvy? Don't worry, I won't forget. Hey, if it ain't Mike Ballard. Don't stand there with your jaw flapping. Give me a drink. Sure, sure. But I haven't seen you for two years, Mike. I thought you were stealing. But I was still rotting away in territorial prison. Well, I ain't. I got out this morning. Now, where's that drink? Oh, yeah. Here you are, Mike. That's better. Now, it's a Saturday night, ain't it? Sure, but... Branch Potter used to be here in the five-spot every Saturday night. Where is he? Potter's back there playing poker, Mike. But you were no... All I wanted to know. I'm looking for a coyote named Potter. Branch Potter. Hey, look, Mike Ballard. I thought he was doing fine. He must have had him out. He really steamed up a truck. Yeah. I said it's Branch Potter in here. For me, Mike? I reckon I am. Not too drunk to know that you're the hombre who put me in territorial for two years. You're telling the truth about your cattle rustling makes me responsible. Yes, I put you in jail. You dirty snitch. Why shouldn't I send you to jail? You started swinging a long loop on lazy-ass cattle. And I caught you at it. Now, do the same thing again. Oh, no, you won't, Potter. Because you're not going to live that long. Gunning for me, eh? I'll fill your hand, you double-claw. Not too many, boys. Got you both covered. Stay out of this shirt. Put away those irons. Put away those irons, both of you. Ah, you can't come down here. Give me that. Got it. I said no lead slinging. I meant it. It's as much my fault as it is, Sheriff. No reason, Branch. I was standing across the street when Mike rode up. He was spawning for trouble then. Tried to push the young kid around, got tripped up. That little rammy hand. I'll keep it in his gun, Mike, till you sober up. In the meantime, get moving. You haven't got anything on me. I've served my time. How much you got? I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. Just because you got out of jail, there's no reason to go on to prod. You still got a little spread east of here. Go home and cool off. When you can come to town without wanting to fight, nobody will stop you. All right, law dog. You got the gun, so you're dealing. Next time it might be different. You hear that, Potter? I'll be waiting for you, Mike. Anytime you come with guns. Get moving, Mike. I mean it. I'm coming back. I don't know who's coming. Mike, wait a minute. What the... Who is it? I guess you don't remember me. I'm Skye Newell. Newell? I don't know anybody with a handle like that. What difference does it make? I'm falling out of the lazy ass. I don't want any Potter branch, Potter's range. Hey, I wait. I heard your ruckus with the old man. There's no reason why you and I can't do business. What do you mean? You've been away from these parts for two years. Remember old man Potter's daughter? A girl named Sue? Yeah. What about her? I was figuring out marrying her. The informant of the lazy ass and all that. But she ran off and got hitched to a young Jasper named Phil Haines. Listen, I don't care who ran off. Haines don't get along so well with Potter. He and Sue have a little rant on the other side of the lazy ass. They're having a hard time. I don't care. Haines has registered to figure 800 as his brand with the Kettleman's Association. The lazy ass? 800. Get it? This local talk don't make any sense to me. I'm going to get... Who was that? I don't know. Some cow folk heading for home. Now Mike, how about us getting together on that business deal? I still don't know what you're talking about. Hey, climb on your kites. We're right out of town, Oase. I'll explain it. Please, what? I got a bottle here and a saddlebag. Maybe that'll help you understand. Well, now, mister, now you're talking sense. Lead off. Now, get out there, boy. Get out. Whoa, whoa, big guy. Whoa. Steady, fella. You're late, Dan. I expected you right after sundown. Yeah, I know. Steady, what? There were a lot of people in the store and I had to wait to buy the supplies. Here they are. Good. Then a drunk fella tried to push me against the hitch rack, so I tripped him. What the? I didn't hurt him. He got right up and went into the cafe. Oh, great. He and the foreman of the Lazy S Ranch came out while I was packing the saddlebag. Oh, that's so. They didn't see me, but I never heard such crazy talk in my life. What do you mean? The foreman kept telling the drunken fella, he called him Mike, that they ought to go into business together. Nothing wrong in that? No, I guess not. But I still don't see any connection between Lazy S and 800, do you? Well, nothing less. Wait a minute. Lazy S Ranch belongs to Branch Potter. That's what they said. Well, I've never heard of the 800. It's the brand of a man who married Mr. Potter's daughter. The foreman said it was a little ranch that wasn't making very much money. I guess it was just a lot of crazy talk. Maybe not, Dan. At least it's worth investigating. How? Here, Silver. We passed the Lazy S Ranch this afternoon before we made camp. You mean we'll ride back that way now? Here, Victor. Don't do any harm, steady, Silver. Mike, do some good. Gee. Come on, Silver. In the meantime, Skye Newell and Mike Fallon rained up their horses near a large pit of steers sped it down on the Lazy S Ranch. Pull that one! There they are, Mike. There'll be no trouble at all to cut out about our dead. Yeah. But first, we got a little brand blotting job to do on two or three of those critters. You're talking to a gent who's a real expert. You got a running eye? Steady, Warke. Sure. Right here in my saddle boot. But don't forget. We don't want any expert jobs, have you? Don't worry. You dab a loop on the one of the steers. I'll rustle some wood for a fire. Collie, there are a lot of cattle over there on the slope. That's be the main herd of the Lazy S. Come on, Dan. We'll walk over that way and lead our horses. Sure. Gee, it must be a job. No, we can't. What's the matter? The wind just chained. I smell smoke. Collie, so do I. It smells like burn. Go ahead. Yes, I thought so. Somebody's branding cattle. Wouldn't they have to have a fire to burn? It must be a gully or a draw up ahead. Come on. There it is. Two men, then get the fire covered. You're only using one eye. Collie, those men look like the foreman and the other fellow I told you about. Are you sure, Dan? If I could sneak through this brush and get up to the edge of the gully, I could do it. Go ahead. All right. Be careful not to make any noise. That's the third one. Good. I'll handle these three. Put them where they belong. I'm slipping! Put them right ahead and slip me back into town. I'm going to get it. Oh, no, you're not. Hey, Sky, look. Up there in the edge of the draw. I'm not wearing a mat. Yeah, I see. I'm sure you're a sudden visit to this branding camp. Wasn't welcome, Dan. You hurt yourself? No, I just slipped. That's all. Good. Find back up. Sure. Hey, Sky, you can come. Don't let these two get away. Wait a minute, Beach boy. I'm warning you. Here, Dan. Give me your hand. Yeah. What will happen if they get away? It's a mistake you were warned about. Come on, Dan. Quick. Come on up. I didn't help it. No, we'll never know who it was. Yes, we will. I'll tell you my plan when we get back to camp. Oh, hey! It was early in the following morning when Branch Potter answered a knock on the kitchen door of the lazy-ass ranch house. Well, good morning, Shawty. What can I do for you? I'm looking for a job. A job, eh? Now, don't tell me that a button like you was a full-fledged cow hand. No, sir, but there must be a lot of odd jobs I could do around a ranch like this. I wouldn't be surprised. What's your name, son? Dan. Dan Reed. I'm Branch Potter. How about $15 a month, plus room and grub sound, do you? Golly, you mean I'm hired? That depends on how good you are with an ax on that wood pile over there. Gee, thanks for the job. How truthful of you I am. Smart-looking youngster. Wouldn't surprise me. Oh, I pulled it. Scurril, what's wrong with you? It looks like you were heading for a funeral. Hey, boy. Got some bad news, Branch? Yeah? What is it? Road over the West Range at Center. Made a rough telly on the herd. Over a hundred head are missing. What? Oh, could a hundred? They must have been stolen. And like it's not whoever did it. Excuse me, Mr. Potter. You forgot to tell me where I can find the ax. What the? Who's this? New handyman. Just hired him. Handyman? Well, I... I mean he... What are you trying to say, Skye? This... This kid. What about him? I don't know what he's told you. But I can prove he's a cattle rustler. A 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. To continue our story, Dan Reid didn't say a word when Skye knew he accused him of being a cattle rustler. He was following the Lone Ranger's instructions to confuse the foreman of the Lazy S. Cattle rustler? How could a young boy like Dan be... It's the truth. I saw him in a mask. I'll loot right near I heard on the West Range last night. What were you doing out there? Well, yeah. Never mind. What were you doing out there, Skye? Well, one of the punches and I were hunting strees. I made a fire to eat some grub. Then we spotted this kid in his outlaw pod. He even shouted at me. Look at my hand. Is that right, son? Part of it's right. See, he can't lie out of it. Now there's one thing a lot of stock is missing. Figure it out for yourself, Branch. Did you rustle any stairs, Dan? No, I didn't, Mr. Potter. It's kind of hard to believe. Don't see how a kid like you... I just told you he had a partner, a big hombre with a mask over his face. Maybe there's ever more. For all I know, there's a trail leading away from the main herd. That's plain enough. And we'll follow it. Call some of the boys out of the bunkhouse. Sure. Roll out, couple! Roll out! Can't see any reason for Skye to accuse you of stealing beef, Dan, unless... Got anything more to say? Not now, Mr. Potter. But I'm as anxious as you are to see where that trail is talking about me. Hmm. Start with your bronc and ride along with us. Sure. Brunch Potter, accompanied by his foreman, Skye Newell and Dan Reid, set up with the ranch hands for the place where the Lone Ranger and Dan had seen Mike Vallen with Skye branding the lazy ass cattle. As they rode along, Brunch glanced from Dan to Skye. He trusted Dan fully. Yet he couldn't believe that Skye, his own foreman, would actually rustle the lazy ass stuff. Within a short time, they drew a radar to spot the indicators by Skye Newell. Here's the place, Brunch. Those hoof marks. Yeah. Doc was cut out of the mean herd right here and moved along for the west. Sure looks that way. Right down there in the drawer is where I spotted the kid in his partner. Wait a minute. Dan! That boy who rode away from the ranch house with us. Hey, see? He played it off on his own about a mile back. Yeah. Took a round out, huh? Yeah, I figured he would. Well, I didn't. I guess this is one time I guess wrong. But we can still follow this trail. Sure, Brunch. The only bad part is where it's going to lead you. What do you mean by that? Hidden in this direction, there's only one place it can go. Over to the 800 spread. We're suing your son-in-law, Phil Haines. You trying to tell me my own family is stealing lazy ass cattle? You didn't believe me when I told you about that kid, so I'll shut up. From now on, I'm not believing anything, but Mo and I. Good. You and the boys head back for the ranch. I'll follow this trail alone. Anything you say, Brunch. Yeah. In the meantime, Dan Reed, after dropping behind unnoticed, turned Victor off the trail and headed to the fast-paced toward the Lone Ranger's camp to make his report. Time was precious, and he urged Victor forward and break next speed. Come on, Victor! Short time later, Dan spotted the camp and was soon pulling a sweating horse to a halt. Move it! Move it! What happened, Dan? Everything worked out just as you thought it would. A foreman claimed he caught you and me stealing cattle. And what did Mr. Potter say? He wanted to go right out and see the proof that the foreman was talking about. On a ride over there, I dropped out of sight. Good. Did you find out where they took the cattle? Yes, I think so, Dan. The only strange part is why Mike and Skye did such a poor job of brand blotting. Gee, yeah. I'm sure that if we keep our eyes open and wait until tomorrow, we'll know the answer. Branch Potter left the group of horsemen and rode on alone. He felt disgraced before the men over the fact that his own son-in-law was at the root of the rustling and been discovered by Skye. The nearer he rode to the 800 spread, the more his anger mounted. Then, when he realized that Skye knew it was right that the trail did lead to the 800 ranch, his anger knew no bounds. He pulled his horse to a halt in such a way that clearly showed his state of mind. Whoa, whoa, whoa, you crit. All the sneak and thieving stunts I've ever heard. And him, my own son-in-law. Oh, Mr. Potter. You're quite a stranger. Come on in. Oh, thanks. I'll do my talking right here. Well, what's wrong? Phil, I just found a couple of my steers grazing with your herd this side of the valley. What'd you do with the rest of them? A couple of... You must be joking. Yes. Won't you come in and have some breakfast? No thanks, Susan. I guess you have to eat with a cattle rustler, but I don't. But you're a local. Why should I steal any cattle? I'm not asking you why. All I want to know is what you did with the rest of them. Well, I don't know what you mean. Yeah, it is lost. I saw the proof of my own eyes. Two steers with the worst job of brand blotting I've ever seen. Trying to change a lazy ass into an 800. If you saw anything like that, it's news to me. Maybe. You're Sue's husband. So I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and not ask any more questions. If it happens again, I won't wait to ask questions. So long, Sue. Well, I'll be sure. Sue, I don't understand. Neither do I, Sue. Your dad is really on the war path. Oh, oh, I know that. Hey, Mike. Mike, where are you? Trying to fix it for our fence so we can keep these fabrics pinned up. Yeah, this scheme works. Work just like I thought it would. Yeah. The old man followed the trail these critters made when we drove past Bill Haines' place last night. You find the steer? Sure he did. Told me all about it when he got back to the ranch. When he found two steers with blotted brands, he figured his son-in-law must have the rest of them hit off. How long for a head for the border with these critters? It is plenty of time. You might as well take twice this money. You mean use that third steer or brand it? Why not? That'll convince the old man that Haines is guilty. You get the cattle, and I settle an old score. That's all right with me. When do we do it? Tonight. Meet me at the same place at midnight. I'll be there. Good. It was early the next morning when the foreman of the Lazy Gas Ranch made a startling announcement to his boss. Ranch! They've done it again. Who's done what? I'm missing some more stock. Cut out of the main herd and driven off the same way. Come on, let that burn. Maybe two Haines figures, whatever is yours, belongs to him too. That's even you. Tell one of the boys to saddle my horse, guys. Sure. Want me to ride over there with you? All right. It's a job that's got to be done, and you might as well help. I didn't think you were coming over here. Where's that cattle rustling husband of yours? Now what's wrong? As if you didn't know. Why are you always... Guy, I'll handle this. You tried the same trick again, Phil. It won't work. You don't make any more sense today than you did yesterday. I haven't stolen anything. You're lying. Even if you are, Sue's father, it doesn't give you the right to come over here. Why don't you just turn them over to the law, boss? I'm on law when it comes to cattle rustlers. Dad, please don't. Mr. Potter. What the... That kid rusted her, boss. He and Haines must be working in cahoots. How about it, Dan? Is that right? No, it isn't. But I know where you can find your stolen cattle. You... You too. You really know where they are? Yes, ma'am. What did I tell you? The kids are masquerading, and Phil and Haines are working together. The smartest thing you'll do is to call in the sheriff. Why don't you let me prove it? That's right, Dad. I don't know. You ran out on me the last time. They're not far from here. Let's ride over there. He's the local. All right, Dan. Maybe you do know something about this. Lead off. We'll follow you. Sure. Let's go. Quiet. This used to be Mike Valin's ranch. It still is. Hey, there's Valin. Running away from that shack. He's heading for his horse. I'll blow him full of holes. Wait. Don't make him alive. He wasn't in this alone. Let me try to rope him. Come on, Victor. Don't let him get away, kid. If I can just get this rope swinging? Come on, Tindy. Oh, golly. Once I get it, I'll take him. Riding like the wind, the masked man rushed past Dan Reed. He closed in on Mike Valin. His laureate swung overhead, and then snaked out. Pull. Back. Pull. Pull. Pull. Pull. Pull. Oh, golly. You sure roped him neat. Dan, don't you try that again. But I just wanted... Either you or Victor have learned how to brace yourselves I wanted to get that wrestler alive. I admire your courage, Dan. But don't do it again. Pull. Pull. Pull. Pull. He won't get away. Come here, Valin. I'll listen to him. It's the same kid and the same masked man. I should have known that you'd be in on it if there was any rustling going on. You will see some of your stock over in that corral. Back of the house. I see it, Dan. I can see your band on it. Are you sure to pray your eyes? There must be some secret branch. What do you mean? I'm not blind. Double cross line. You frame me into this. I get back. I... Will you win on this deal? No, no. Yes, he was. Don't listen to a mass stranger. Branch, you don't... Yeah, and I saw them night before last when they were blotting a lazy-ass brand. See, they purposely made a bad job of it and then put those two steers with Phil Haines' 800 stock. Make me think that Phil has stolen all of my stock of all the ordinary tricks. Sky knewer, you'd get your hands off all of you. What? You bet it is. That's as good as a confession. Maybe so. Move over here, Mike. Don't take that rope off. There you are, Vellum. It won't work, Sky. No! Stop yelling. You're not seriously hurt. Sky, you fat-headed fool. You've gone and proved the mass man's story. They'll both talk, Mr. Potter, when you turn them over to the law. How will you take over? I'll hold them. Come on, Dan. Wait a minute! Wait, Dan! Come on, Phil! Claim to find Osu, but I sure owe a lot to both of them. And I want to apologize to you, Phil. I'm just a hot-headed fool. Oh, no, you're not. It was a mistake, that's all. But, Phil, we still don't know who they are. From the way they're heading out. Like it's not, we never will know. Just a mighty, smart kid and a man in a black mask. There it is, a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.