 horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty high old silver, the lone ranger. A fountain figure of the plains rolled the trails of long ago to bring justice to the oppressed. Where he came from, no one ever knew, but his heroic deeds were recorded in the memories of the people of seven states. Even today the cowboy sit around the campfire and relate yarns of his daring, of his speed on the draw when he meted out punishment to the lawless, of his great horse Silver, the fastest the west has ever known. History does not record as many adventures, but the west will always remember the shalt which has come down through the years. The lone ranger rides again. Strange things had happened to the stages that covered the trail between Pine River and Calhoun. Twice within the past month death had struck mysteriously at both driver and guard. On each occasion the stage had been brought into town by the unguided horses. Ben Sawtell, district superintendent of the line, found himself helpless to solve the crimes. In the first actor tonight's lone ranger drama, we see him in his office with the sheriff Jack Beardsley. The superintendent is speaking of the deaths. Sure, they could have died by a bad heart or something, Sheriff. I might believe that if one of them had come in dead, but not with all four of them. Yeah, I guess you're right, Ben. Them boys must have been murdered. There ain't no two ways about that. Murdered so the stage can be robbed. Been robbed then? Both times. I thought there was a size of below this stuff when the stage came in. And so there was. The male sex was field most overflowing, and the rest of the things was as it should be. All but for one thing. What's that? The male had been pawed over and handled. For what? To steal the male it looked like it might have money in it, I guess. I see. I checked the male mighty careful when I had the chance, Sheriff, and seen that it was different than usual. That's why I say the killers had gone through it. Figuring the thiever wouldn't be discovered at all, huh? Sure. Hmm. Who's that skinny looking kid stopping outside there? Hmm. I don't know. Never seen him before. Mr. Sautel? That's me. Who are you and what do you want here? Well, my name's Barrett. Peter Barrett. You don't like, look like you've been eating regular, kid. Well, I ain't complaining, none. Where are you from? Kansas. They call me the Kansas kid over at Pine River, where I've been till now. Pine River. They come along the trail from there to here? Yep. Hmm. Bad country, ain't it? It's a very open country, but not much water. Lack of water, and the sun is what makes it tough going over that stretch. Yeah, they ain't but one water hole in the stretch that I know of. That's all there is. Well, get to the point. What do you want to see me for? I'm a stage driver. What? You. And I'm a full-blooded Cherokee doing a war dance. You done laughing? By Thunder Sautel, he's plumb serious about it. The Kansas kid, eh? Stage driver. Well, I, I heard that you was needing us some drivers, so I'll rid over here. On that stove in, Mexican plug this out front? Yes, sir. I, well, I, I need a job powerful bad, Mr. Sautel. If you'd give me a chance, I'd know. How about you? Eighteen. I'd never believe it. You got the size and weight of a fourteen-year-old, and not a husky one at that. Well, I'm eighteen, and I can handle a six-in-hand. If you'd give me a chance to prove that I know. Look here, bears. Kansas kid being as as what they called you. We need men to handle the stages, and all gone husky ones at that. You heard what's been taking place along the route? Yes, sir. And want the job in spite of it? Yes, sir. You make up and spunk what you lack and weight, don't you? I'll bring the horses through, Mr. Sautel. And when I get here to Calhoun, I'll be driving them. They won't be pulling the corpse like they done in the past. Maybe the kid knows something, Ben. What do you mean, Sheriff? Well, let me talk to him. Come here, kid. Yes, sir. You say you can handle a six-in-hand. Yes, sir. Where'd you ever do it? Well, I... that is... Did you ever try? I can handle them. Honest, I can't. Well, Granton, that you can. What makes you think you'll come through alive where big men, totem rifles and guns, and used all sorts of things on the stage trail, comes in dead? Oh, I can't answer you. Can't answer? Why can't you? Well, I... I just can't, that's all. Look here, Mr. Sautel. Just give me a try, won't you? Let me have just one chance. You ain't nothing to lose. Nothing but six good horses and a stage in cargo. No, I'll handle a stage alone before I let you take it. Is that all you've got to say, then? That's all. Except in this. I'm busy. They ain't to tie in a pull-over with a half-grove tow-head that calls himself the Kansas Kid. So, vermoose. Where to? Gee, horse of Ed, I don't care where to. Just vermoose, that's all. My horse can't do no more traveling. I've got to stay in Calhoun. Then stay in Calhoun, Gratchit. I ain't no cash to eat with. If you don't give me a job, I'll just have to starve, and then you'll have a variant to tend to. I, thunder, I never seem to like you, while I have a variant to tend to. Why should I be the one to put you to work? Because I wouldn't work nowhere else. Well, of all, if you won't work nowhere else, then blast your going starve. I don't give a hang. What is your going to say? What'd you say your name was? Pete Barrett. But you can put it on the payroll, the Kansas Kid. Look here, Sheriff, what am I to do with him? I'll lay awake nights thinking of him starving if I don't give him a job. Here you, take that broom and sweep this office up. Hang around and make yourself useful somehow. What about driving a stage? No! Then I'll hang around and make myself useful till all the other drivers are killed off. Then I'll, maybe I'll get my chance. Don't sweep it. Don't get under my feet or I'll likely step on you. I wonder if that kid does know something. He doesn't, can't likely. He's the most peculiar acting cuss I've ever seen. I can't make him out. He's likely catching a head. Imagine crossing that prairie land between Pine River and here on that no-account horse. The critter almost has to lean again the hitch-rack to keep him falling over. Come on outside, man. For what? Something to say. Shut that door. Maybe I'm loopy, but I got a hunch. Yeah? Keep an eye on that kid. Why? Who was powerful determined to get work here, wasn't he? Beat all I ever seen. He know you wouldn't bust him with a stage, but he figured he might get another job. Hmm. For what? Maybe just to hang around the office. Step around the side here. Let's look through the window. Somehow I got a notion that Kansas kids tied up with the mysterious murders and robberies. Yes. Yeah. Take a look. What's he doing? He's at my disc. Pulling through it. My darn, I told you so, Ben. He's found something. What's that book? The Schedule. It shows when the stage is due to leave the Pine River Station and when it's due to get here. Just so. The warrant is on the way here now from Pine River. The next one ain't leaving there until next week. Mm-hmm. Well, don't let the kid know your suspicion or anything, but watch him sharp. Big pardon, gentlemen, peeking in your own window. Huh? I should. You're both covered. A mask man. Put them guns down and surrender in the name of the law. If I intended to surrender, I wouldn't have come here. Who are you? What do you want? I'm here for information. What sort of information? What's that mask for? I'm not answering your questions, Sheriff. I'm here to find out the schedule of the stages. Wurzall! You're the mysterious killer, huh? You'll think that whether I deny it or not, so there's no use denying it. Then you admit it. No, I don't, Sheriff. I came here to ask you a simple question. You give that information to anyone who wants to buy a fare on the stage, why can't you give it to me? Because we... Your mask. That's the reason I have to keep my guns handy. How'd you get here so quiet? You were absorbed in washing through that window. You didn't hear my approach. When does the next stage leave Pine River? I ain't given out no information. Don't you want to solve the murders? Will I? Who's the rat skinned? Did you find out what we want to, Tuttle? Here, your horse, Silver. All right, Tuttle. That's all we need. Hey, don't you leave here! You're under arrest! Hey, you, Silver! Stop them! Shoot them! Shoot them, sir! You missed! Fire again! Take no use. Shoot at Greece, Lightning. Gosh! What horses them two has? And what the rat skinned do? He come into your office, and he forced me to look through the schedule book. The same book you was looking through? Huh? How'd you know? We've seen you. Yeah, and you've got a plenty things to explain, Pete Kansas kid Barrett. See what they done, Sheriff? The mask man kept us here while the rat skinned went inside. I know, we've been tricked. And it's too late to change the schedule. The stages will start from Pine River, one's most here already, and the other will start before we can get a man and a warrantage. Anyhow, we know two of the men that's behind the murders. Even if we don't know how they done it. And maybe a third. Yeah. You're going to the Kalaboos, kid. No! No! You can't lock me up. I gotta be free. I expect you have to help rob the stages and kill the drivers. But you're going to jail all the same. Please! You don't savvy. You don't understand. We savvy all we need to savvy. You're going to jail and starve till you tell all you know about the mystery of the stage trail. Here comes the stage from Pine River. I gotta tend to things. And I'll just put these handcuffs on you, kid, and hold you to the hitch-rack till I'm ready to jail you. Chef, there's passengers on this trip. Look, there's a man and a woman getting on the stage. Sure enough! Please! Please, don't, Chef! I don't hold you for a while. Come on, let's see what's up, Ben. Right. Chef, please don't leave me handcuffed. You can't do this! You can't, I tell you! Let me go! I'll go ask the garden driver a few questions about the trip, Ben. Here. Same you tend to the horses, Emil. I'm going inside the office and seeing the passengers. My name's Sortel. I'm in charge of the office here. My sakes, what a dusty trip we've had. We certainly have. My name is Lickett, Mr. Sortel. John Lickett. This is my wife. I'm sure enough bled to know you, Mr. Lickett. Howdy, Mrs. Lickett. If we were going on much further, I'd have a complaint to make about your drivers. What's that, Mrs. Lickett? The last half of the trip, it seems as if the driver picked every bumpy spot and stone in the trail to go over. I've never been so shaken in all my life. Certainly a rough trip. I suppose we should be grateful, though, that we're here alive. I hear there's been a lot of things happening on your line, Mr. Sortel. Sure enough, there's. And it clears relief to see this stage come through safe and sound. We've had a sight of trouble lately. I heard about it. Wasn't no trouble this trip, was there, Mr. Lickett? No, not a bit. It came right through without any trouble. No one stopped the stage or asked any questions. We didn't see a sign of anybody. Not a soul, all the way from Pine River here. I don't understand your complaining about the driver. He's one of the best men we've got. He can handle horses like no one I've ever seen. I want to ask them folks some questions, then. I can never be glad to answer, Sheriff. What happened on the trip? Nothing. Not a thing. Come on, speak up. Who stopped the stage? What happened, Sheriff? Answer my question. Who stopped the stage? No one. I'll swear to that. We didn't see a sign of anyone. Who got at the guard and driver? No one. It wasn't any way possible for anyone to get at them. What's the matter? Sheriff, what's happened? So there ain't no way for anyone to have got to Bixby. Well, the fact remains, him and the guard are dead. Right now. The curtain falls on the first act of tonight's Lone Ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now on with our story. We learned in the first act of tonight's Lone Ranger drama that the stage line between Pine River and Calhoun had been attacked. Three drivers and three guards had been killed, but no clue left behind which would explain the murders. Two passengers, a man by the name of Liggett and his wife, had been on the stage at the time of the last attack. But though they'd been present when the tragedy occurred, they could offer no explanation to account for it. We return now to the office of Ben Sawtell, manager of the stage line. Sheriff Beardsley has been questioning the Liggetts for more than an hour, but with no result. Well, that's all you can tell. We've told you the truth, Sheriff. You left Pine River with everyone in good shape and you didn't see no one on the way here, not a soul. We didn't even stop except for the men to fill their canteens with water. My wife means the guard and driver. No one could have shot him from ambush. Sheriff, you know, blame well, there ain't no signs of shooting. That's so. I don't see how the stage could be brought here with both those men dead. Well, the horses know the way as well as the men do. What do you folks come here for? Was she aiming to hit on West? No. Not unless we had to. We're looking for our son. Your son? Yeah. He, uh... Well, he ran away from home. We think he came this way. He said nothing about it before. You didn't give us a chance? You were too blame-busy trying to accuse us of murdering those two men. Have you seen Dave? There ain't been no one here by that name. Dave Religate, huh? Yes. He seemed to think he had an answer to these strange murders. Reed Scott. Maybe it's the kid. What's so looking, kid? Pin and pale and... He's only 16, but he looks even younger. Go-headed? Have you seen him? Thunderation. That's the Kansas kid. And we thought he was in cahoots with the killers. Where is he now? You've seen him, then? Yeah, he's handcuffed to the hitch-rack. He come here with big ideas, and we figured he was in with the killers. He acted peculiar-like. He was bound and determined to drive a stage. He'll work for me here at something or other. We catched him snooping in my books. Oh, John, what can we do with him? I'll go get him. Hey, Sheriff. So tell. Come fast. There's a masked man in India. It's our boy. Get him. We want him, too. Get him! Dave! Dave! You've got him and a horse for the masked man. I'll stop him this time. Don't shoot. You might hit David. Come on! There they go again. I've seen him loosen the handcuffs. That settles it. I'm going to get to the bottom of things if I have to jail everyone around here. I couldn't have stopped him, Sheriff. It's all right, Meakin. There wasn't nothing you could do. Great golly. What was another pair of men gone? New arrivals and that funny-acting kid? Hold on, Meakin. How do you know he was funny-acting? Huh? You ain't had nothing to do with him. How do you know he was funny-acting? Well, I... You've been snooping around this office while he was here, ain't you? I didn't mean no harm, Sheriff. Honest, I was... Get inside there. You, too, Liggett. Your wife with you. What are you going to do about the kid, Sheriff? Get me in there and form a posse. My boy's in the hands of that masked man. Do something, Sheriff. Fine, David Paul. I says, get inside. Maybe the kid is working for killers. Maybe you work with him. Maybe you lied about the trip here. Maybe you killed them guards and drivers. That's not true. How dare you say such things? I dare say what I blame, please. Now, sit down. I'm asking plenty more questions. You sit there, Meakin. I didn't mean no harm, Sheriff. All I'd done was to get where I could hear what the kid was saying. He looks so odd. Sit down and shut your mouth. You sit there, Liggett. And your wife next to you. Sawtail? Yeah? Go get all my deputies and tell them we're running things with a high hand around this town till we find out about the Liggetts and the kid and the engine and the masked man. Maybe then we'll know how men can die so sudden. Ben sawtail and Sheriff Beardsley suspected that young David Liggett, who called himself the Kansas kid, knew more than he wished to tell of the murders. The lone ranger believed that David would be willing to help solve the mystery. He rescued the boy and carried him to his camp. He's a masked man as he dismones. He'll be taking care of here, Dave, better than you would in prison. You'd have gone there because the Sheriff thought you were helping me. I reckon so. I'm glad you told me your real name while we were riding. I didn't know what it is, Mr. But... but in spite of your mask, there's something about ya. I... I can trust you, can't I? Yes, Dave, you can. I know that. The Indian, too. Tato's my best friend. What you come here for? I... Well, I... I didn't dare to mention what I know to the chef or to Mr. Sartel. Why? Well, you see, the killer might be one of them. If that is the case, then they just arranged for me to die a sudden like and the killer to go on. That's good straight-thinking, Dave. I didn't dare to tell Ma and Pa about what I thought because they'd say, well, they'd say I was too young to mix into things of the sort. Dave, just what do you suspect? Well, you see, Pa runs the store over at Pine Center. Yes. And I tend counters sometimes, and... and three times a certain man's come in and bought things. I've seen him around Calhoun, and he's one of the critters I suspect. Yes. Look here. If I tell you the whole thing, will ya... will ya take the chance of stringin' along with me and just seein' if I'm right? Tell me, Dave. No matter how local it sounds. Just tell me and we'll see. Tato and I came here to try and put an end to murder and robbery. If you have any idea how these stage drivers die, tell us. I will. The Lone Ranger and Tonto listened as Dave Liggett told his story, then formed certain plans. It was several days before these plans could be put into action, and meanwhile, Sheriff Beardsley and his men searched the vicinity for the mask man and his companions. The deputies hunted far and wide, but each morning they returned to the parents of David Liggett with the same report. Not a thing new. I'm downright sorry, folks. But he must be around here someplace, Sheriff. He couldn't simply drop out of sight. He's being kept in hiding by that mask man. It's the only way I can figure it out. Howdy, Mr. Mrs. Liggett. Good morning. Good morning. The next stage is comin' through today. I know it, Ben. I made arrangements like we talked of. Got men all along the trail at intervals? Yep. I had to drop the hunt for the kid to do it, but I sent the men out to their posts. Have enough men? I swore in a few extra ones. Good enough. He found no trace of the kid, have you? Nope. Seen meekin' around? Yeah, he's one of the new deputies. Oh, I wondered what he was this time. That coyote gets liquored and falls asleep somewhere in the woods ever so often. Takes two down many days off. Mind fire him if I was you saw-tale. I would, only I'm too short-handed already. Snoopin' in your office window like he done. There's somethin' we can do to find Dave. Can't we call out some army men or somethin'? After the stage comes through, I'll put all my men out huntin' him again, Mr. Liggett. That's all we can do. That voice. That's the miss, man. There he is! Stand where you are! It's life and death and you've got to listen to me. You're under arrest. Don't waste time and talk. Come on and follow me. Where's my boy? What have you done with Dave? Your boy's all right, I might not be if you don't come with me, Sheriff. But I do. Along the stage fails all these. It's another trick of some sort. It isn't. Bring some men and come. My men are scattered all along the trail. Pick them up as you ride. They're all looking for you and my son. In that case, I may follow me. Even if the sheriff won't help solve the mystery. Wait! Wait a minute! Come on, follow me! The lone ranger shouted for the sheriff to follow him. Then wheeled silver about and raced out of town to meet the westbound stage. When he passed the first of the deputies along the way, he called to the Miss Silver thundered by. Come on! Follow me! That's the mask man, the one we're hunting. Get flying! Get up there! The great horse Silver continued his wild dash eastward while the deputies tried to follow. Far ahead, Dave Lickett and Tonto held three men at bay with drawn guns. Two of the men are the driver and guard of the westbound stage. The third is Jake Meakin, the new deputy. It's just a matter of time when these two will have to let us go. Just so, guard, if the stage don't get to Calhoun on time, the rest of your deputies will ride out to meet it, won't they? Sure they will. Then they'll make this red skin and kid tell how they've been killing everyone. We ain't the killers. You'll find out soon enough. Look here, kid, you leave the three of us go and we'll give you a chance to get away. No! Well, at least give us a drink of water from that hole. My throat sparks. I ain't here to drink since my canteen went dry a while after we left Pine River. You'll not take them drink. If you're going to kill us in that mysterious way you had, why don't you do it and get it over with? We ain't the killers. And you'll know it, Meakin. You'll swing from murder when my pards get here. I want a drink. Well, at least you can do this. Let us have some water. No, no, you can't touch it. When I say go, we'll jump them. It's our only chance. What are you saying, Meakin? Go! Look out! Get up! Ah! Ah! Ah! You'll not touch water. Ah! Now hold them. Hold them till we get ropes. Never mind the ropes. Just drill them. It's a dog gone. Good idea. Let me up! Let me up! Listen to me. I'm here to help you. We ain't the killers. No, we got them at last. Six murders for him to tell about. Ah! Shoot them. Shoot the two of them. There comes a third. We got a fight driver. Feet your gun from the Redskins. Now shoot them. I'll fix them. Ah! Get them! Get the horse! Get the horse! That entrance horse. Look out. You'll get you. Huh? Stop that gun, Meakin. I'll show you. I'll keep them covered. I'll keep your hands up till the lawman get here. And then you'll all learn the truth. Keep them all covered. Stand back. All of you, heist your hands. You got them boys, huh? Good work. What's happened? What's happened here? Be quiet and let Dave Liggett tell his story. Mr. Sortel, will you listen now? No, I'm talking. Well, that fellow, Meakin, he came in to Pa's store a few times and he bought a certain thing that I... Well, I wondered a lot about. Well, what was it? Pison. A kind that's used for killing crop-destroyin' bugs. It don't hurt cattle none, but it's pison for a man. Look at Lies. He put it in that water hole. And when the guards and drivers would drink there, they'd get pison before they got to Calhoun. Then Meakin would stop the horses, loot the stage and send the horses on again. That ain't so. That ain't true. Sheriff, for proof, have Meakin drink the water. What about that Meakin? Them's the two that poisoned it. That engine and the kid. Hold on, Meakin. If that's true, why don't they let us drink the water? They blame Nier got killed for trying to keep us from drinking. The poison lasts only a short time and the water clears itself. Try it, Meakin. Here. Take a good big drink. Oh, no. Sheriff, Ben, help me. All right, Don Meakin, you've been missing for a few days. Every time a stage was robbed, you said you'd got too much to drink. But that was just a lie to cover up. I see it now. I think you'll find the stolen loot in Meakin's home. Meakin, you're going to drink that water. No, no. Don't make me. We'll pour it down your throat. Don't. Don't. I confess. I done it. I'm the killer. Gosh. Look here, kid. How do you know so much? Well, I just had a hunch and when the masked man got to listening, he figured it was a good hunch. So me and the Indian, Tano, come here. That's all. Son, if your folks is willing, you got a job on the stage line. Gosh. Thanks. Reason the last stage wasn't looted, I suppose, was on account of the passengers carried water for the trip with them and didn't drink from this hole. Well, Meakin, you dirty rat. I got a right to a trial. I got a right to tell my story. I'll tell... Mysterious murders. Why, Drat, you I can see through you as plain as day now. Come on and see what hanging's like. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.