 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a clot of dust and a hearty hyosilver, the Lone Ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Toto, the daring and resourceful Mask Rider of the Plains 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 past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse, Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. The Lone Ranger and Toto rode leisurely along the trail toward Hilton. The trail curved around a hillside, and as the two men rode, they kept their eyes open for a suitable campsite. We don't want to wait until we're too close to town, Toto. It should be a good place to pitch camp somewhere along here. That right, Kimosani. Maybe they'll be clearing soon where we can make... Those shots, Toto. Can you put up a head around the bend? Well, Silver! Look, Kimosani. Three men hold up stagecoach. Yes. Draw your guns, Toto, and begin shooting. MC is coming. Outlaws are leaving fast. I know, but look. The stage driver slumped over. The horses are running wild. Come on, Silver! The great and intelligent horse, Silver, sensed the urgency in his master's voice and responded to the masked man's ringing cry with a burst of speed. The masked man and Indian realized that at any moment the stage might be thrown against one of the many large boulders and be smashed to pieces. Hurry, Silver, fast, there! The books count! On stage! Yes. I'll kind of swing over to the boot. You ride on up front to the lead horses. Come on, Silver! No, please, Silver! Riding alongside the stage, the lone ranger gazed the distance as he reached the point opposite the front wheels. Rising in the stirrups, he paused for a split second. Then, with a mighty effort, leap toward the stage. This is it! At some moment, the tall masked figure seemed to hang on, certainly. Then, much to Tonto's relief, the lone ranger pulled himself to the boot of the stage and grabbed the reins from the unconscious driver. Hold her! Hold her! Slowly but surely, the stage was brought to a stop. Then, the lone ranger called out to Tonto, who sat holding the reins of the lead horses. They'll be all right now, Tonto. What about driver Kimusavi? I'll see. I'm sure he'll be all right soon, Tonto. Bullet creased his head. Take a look at him! I'll see about the passengers. Matt! Don't forget it, please. Are you all right? Yes, yes, I'm all right. I'm the only passenger, and I was so frightened when those men began shooting. Then, the horses started to run wild. I think it's wonderful the way... We're glad we could be of help. My Indian friend is fixing the driver's wound. Then, we'll see that you get to Hilton safely. It isn't far from here. Hilton! Why, that's my destination. Perhaps you can tell me where the Circle 2 ranch is. I... I'm afraid I don't know, Miss... I'm Mary Roberts from St. Louis. My uncle died a few months ago out here. I inherited the Circle 2 ranch along with a cousin I've never met. Jim Hanson. I see. I had a letter from Jim telling me the ranch is in badly run down and heavily mortgaged. He offered to buy my share for a small sum. Did you sell it? No, I didn't. Perhaps it's foolish of me to tell you all this, but... Well, I never owned property before, and... Well, even if the place is run down and everything, I sort of wanted to walk around in my own land before I sold out. I can understand your feeling. I wrote Jim. I was coming, but I heard no more from him. I'll stay in town, of course, until things are settled. Is there a hotel there, do you know? Yes, I... I believe there is. Driver-conscious, now, King of Sully. Him, feel better. Good. We'll put him in the coach tunnel, and you can drive the stage. I'll ride along with you to the edge of town. All right, let's get going. Meantime, three horsemen stopped in front of an office in Hilton. Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy. Easy, now. Come on. We've got to let lawyer Jones know that things didn't work out right. Right. Well, then, what's happened? We didn't get to hold up the stage, Mr. Jones. A couple of armories interfered, so we cleared out. Yeah, they come riding at us with guns blazing. One of them was mass, the other was an Indian. That's right. There were plenty of tough armories to try to buck. Did they follow you here? Nope. The driver took a bullet, and the horses on the stage were running wild. While they went after the stage, we lit out. Jim Hanson isn't good like this. Jim said if anything happened, we were to report here to you that you'd know what to do next. That's right. Boss said you'd have another plan ready, Mr. Jones. Luckily, I have. Bill, you and Jake ride out to the ranch and tell Jim what happened. All right. Tell him to go to the old Miller homestead on the West Trail, like we planned. Spike will stay with me. All right. Let's go, Jake. Sure. And don't waste any time getting there either. No, we won't. What are we going to do? Well, the two armories who ran you men off may have been alhoots who intended to hold up the stage themselves. Could be. But sooner or later, the stage will be brought to Hilton and the girl with it. We'll be ready to meet her and take her out to meet her cousin, Jim Hanson. I told Jim in the first place it was better to pay off the girl than to have something happen to her so close to Hilton. Ah, nobody could put the blame on him or us. Well, maybe not. But it was risky. Now, my plan is much easier and better. And it won't cost him very much to get the ranch legally. Well, let's get down to the stage office right now and be waiting. A short time later, Tonto drove the stage into town while the lone ranger stayed on the outskirts of Hilton. Half an hour went by before Tonto returned and drew rain where the masked man was waiting. Hold still. Open up. Open up. Is everything all right, Tonto? Me tell Sheriff Bob Outlaws, driver go to doctor. Well, what about Miss Roberts? Did she go to the hotel? No. Two men met her at stage. Me hear one say him lawyer for cousin. Him say him take girl to see ranch pronto. That's good. I was hoping someone would meet her. By the way, while we're here at the edge of town, you might as well get a few supplies, Tonto. Then we'll go find a campsite for the night. Ah, me go now. Me not be long. Get him up scout. Tonto went to the general store in Hilton and ordered what supplies he thought necessary. While he was waiting, he overheard two men talking near him. How's everything out of the circle too, Wong? Everything very fine. Much cattle, much grain. Many hands to feed all the time. Well, that's good. Sure was a shame old Jed Roberts had to pass on like he did. Guess you sort of miss him out there, don't you? Mrs. Jed, very fine man. Not make war work so hard like Mr. Hasson. Well, if it ever gets too tough for you, Wong, I know where they'd be glad to get a good Chinese cook like you. Soon maybe Miss Roberts comes to the ranch. Maybe it'd be not so much work for Wong. Who's she? Miss Roberts. She, girl, all the same would get part of the land like Miss Hasson. Oh, but say you're riding east in that buckboard. How about a lift as far as my place? You bet. Wong would be glad to have a company. Here's your stuff, Wong. The boy take the other stuff out the buckboard. Thank you very much, Mr. Stevens. We go now. I'll take a few for you. You come riding buckboard. Wong will be very happy. Well, have your things ready in a few minutes, Indian. Hold that. All right. All right. Anyway, uh, Chinese fella, him cook at Circle II Ranch? Yep, that's right. Wong's one of the best cooks in the territory. And they're mighty lucky to have him, seeing as he has so many to cook for out there. Circle II is one of the biggest and most profitable spreads around here, you know. Well, me not know that. I guess that's what you ordered. Money there and counter. After meeting Mary Roberts at the stage, Mr. Jones and Spike, who rode his horse beside the buckboard, took her out the west trail. A few miles from town, they approached a dilapidated old homestead, standing amidst an overgrowth of coarse grass and sagebrush. Lawyer Jones pointed to it and spoke. Well, there's the place, Miss Roberts. You mean that? The so-called ranch uncle Jed left a cousin Jim in me. Oh, that's it, all right. There's a sign up ahead at the entrance with the name of the ranch on it, the Circle II. Well, I heard from cousin Jim about the place, but I never thought it was as bad as that. Yes, he would have saved money if he'd have taken his word and let him send you a check for your share at St. Louis. Well, maybe so. But I thought I'd feel better satisfied with the place first. I'm terribly disappointed. Yeah, for that matter, so is your cousin. But he thought if he bought it outright from you, he might be able to do a little something with it. I think he's very foolish. Get up there. Get up. That ranch sure isn't much to look at, Miss Roberts. Yes, I know. I wonder why Jim doesn't just let the whole thing go for the mortgage. Well, the mortgage isn't much, but he'll lose money by the time he pays it off and gives you a small payment for your share. I wish I hadn't come. Well, don't worry. Jim will be waiting for you. And I have the necessary papers. We can get the entire deal over in short order. And you can leave Hilton whenever you're ready. The sooner the better. Well, there's the stage leaves tomorrow morning early. You can put up a hot place tonight. My wife will be glad to have you. And I'll see to it myself that you get to the stage. Well, I'd hope to stay in the West for at least a week or two after such a long trip. I could put up at the hotel in Hilton. Oh, you'll be sorry if you do stay. There's nothing here but rough men in sparse country. I suggest you leave when you have a chance tomorrow. Yes, I guess you're right after all. Oh, mercy, look at that awful-looking house. Oh, there, hello, hello. Oh, hello, fella. Steady, boy. I'll go tell Jim Hansen you're here. Oh, now that I've seen this place close up, I'll take your advice, Mr. Jones. The sooner I sell him, I share the better. And I'll leave him that stage in the morning. After joining the Lone Ranger at the edge of town, Tato suggested they ride east of town to find a campsite. As the two men rode along, the Lone Ranger spoke. I was wondering, Tato, why would you want to come out this way for a campsite, huh? Well, me want to see if we come to circle two ranch. Me hear Chinese cook from ranch say it out this way. Oh? Well, why so curious? Well, me hear men who meet Miss Robert say circle two out on West Trail. If not makes sense. Maybe you misunderstood. No. No, me sure. Me hear both cook and lawyer say that. That's right. You did say that one of the men who met her was her cousin's lawyer. Uh-huh. Me tell you that. I'm beginning to get curious too. Why should he take her out the West Trail if, oh, there's a large spread just ahead, Tato? The ranch house is very big. Ah. Then look, Kimusabe, there's sign just ahead. It's a circle two ranch. Ah, so it does. That's strange. Miss Robert's told me the ranch she and her cousin inherited was practically worthless. Oh, circle two ranch we see now worth plenty, Kimusabe. I know. Hold this over. Hold this over. Hold. Well, why we stop? There's something wrong, Tato. We're going to find out what it is. We're right over to the West Trail right now and find out where that lawyer took Miss Robert's and why. All right, let's go. Come on. Come on. Stop. 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. All to continue our story. When the Lone Ranger and Tato rode out the trail east of Hilton and saw the large and prosperous circle two ranch, the masked man realized that there was a decided difference between the story Mary Roberts had told about the ranch and the facts. He told Tato they were going to ride out the West Trail and try to locate Mary Roberts. Well, me remember story girl tell you what stage, Kimusabe, and that's why me want to come out here. Get look at circle two spread. Now that we've seen it, we know someone's misleading Mary Roberts. The fact now that I think it over could be that the stage incident was Tato. What I think is really true, Mary Roberts will lose plenty. In fact, she may even lose her life. Hold still there. I must count. Meantime, Mary Roberts and lawyer Jones entered the old house to which she had taken her. Terrible it is in here. Well, well, this must be my cousin Mary from St. Louis. That's right, Jim. Here she is. Miss Roberts, this is Jim Hansen. So your cousin Jim Hansen. How do you do? Nice meeting up with you, Mary. It seems like you and me were Uncle Jed's favorite relatives. Well, maybe from the looks of what it left us, he hated us the most. Well, I must say I'm not a bit impressed with our inheritance, cousin Jim. I was hoping it might not be as bad as you said in your letter, but... You mean you'd stay out here if it wasn't fair condition? Well, yes, I did have that idea in mind. Oh, my... The West is a dangerous place for a woman to live, Miss Roberts, especially when she's single and alone. I heard about your experience with that stage-holder. Oh. I should think that would have scared you about the West. You heard about it already? Well, news travels fast out here, ma'am. Oh, I see. But Lawyer Jones, even you couldn't have known about the hold-up until the stage arrived in town. And then we drove right out here. Oh, a friendly Indian came by a while ago, Mary. He told me about it just before you arrived here. Anyway, Spike told me when he came in just now and said you were out front. Oh, yes, of course. Spike could have told me. That's right. Now, if you want to get things over with in a hurry... There isn't any hurry, is there, Mr. Jones? I'd like to look around a bit. Well, I've never owned any land before, and well, even if it is sparse and uncultivated, I'd like to walk over it while it still belongs partly to me. Well, I reckon you can walk around a bit if you like to, cousin Mary. But I have to get going and don't have much time... You go right ahead, cousin Jim. I'll look things over and we can fix up any details in town tomorrow if necessary. But, Miss Roberts, you said you wanted to get the stage out of Hilton in the morning. And if you were going to our place for the night... I've changed my mind, Mr. Jones. Oh, and I won't impose upon you and your wife. I'll stay in Hilton a few days at the hotel. Perhaps I can get another stage that will connect with the railroad. I'll make this sort of a vacation since it's costing me so much anyway. Like lawyer Jones says, cousin Mary, we were both hoping to get this matter settled right now. The sooner I own the place outright, the sooner I can start fixing it up. If you sign the papers now, I'll pay you $500 for your share. Yep. But if you decide to wait, the price will go down to $300. Oh, my, you better take it, ma'am. Well, maybe you're right. But to be perfectly frank, the entire property doesn't look as though it's worth that money. Well, I told your cousin he was being very generous. Well, after all, cousin Mary spent time and money coming out here now. I appreciate your interest, Jim. I guess if you really want me to sign the place over to you now, well, there's no reason why I shouldn't. Fine, fine. I have the papers right here. Sit right down on this chair, cousin Mary. Thank you. I'll get pen and ink. Oh, you won't be sorry, Miss Roberts. You see, this says you give full right and title of your share of the circle to ranch with all other assets and properties, both real and personal. That would have been yours under your Uncle Jed's will. Of course, there's nothing but this old house and what you see in it. The land is worthless as it is. From the things it says in this paper, Miss Roberts was getting ready to sell a share in a large and prosperous ranch. I found the pen and ink. What was that you were saying about a large ranch? Miss Roberts was just commenting about the wording of the paper she's going to sign. All right, ma'am, you can sign right there where I need that extra. Hey, boss, there's an Indian and a masked man on a white horse coming along the trail. Looks like the same two who interfered in that stakeholder. Shut up, you fool. How did you know about them, Spike? That is, how could you know the masked man and what he looked like? I... I talked to the driver of the stage. You didn't have a chance and you know it. You left town with us right after I got off the stage. I'm beginning to think that some... Never mind doing too much thinking, cousin Mary. You just go ahead with the sign into that paper. Spike here can witness it. No, I've decided to wait. Anyhow, I want to go out and speak to that masked man as he goes by. No, you don't. Just sit where you are until they go by. Now listen here, cousin Jim, I don't like that at all. You have no right to... Shut up. We're through trying to be nice to you and talking into signing that paper. Take the pen and sign it. I haven't time to waste. No, you can't talk to me like that. I won't sign it until I'm ready. No, Jim, don't be so hasty. I'm sure Miss Roberts will settle this now. Not until I go out, as I said, and talk to that masked man and Indian. I say you're not going out. Let him ride by. I'll call out and they'll hear me. No, you won't. Take your hand away from my mouth. No, you bit me, you crazy coyote. No, I wouldn't sign anything over to you for any price. I'm going out. Grab a spike. Sure. Let me go. No, I know there's something wrong with this whole business. Let me go. Those two riders are just passing on the trail. Keep it quiet. They'll help me. Help! Shut up. I should let me go. Here, I'll gag her with this neckerchief. Mary struggled desperately to cry out once more before the long ranger and tato should ride out of hearing distance. But the gag was in place and her efforts were useless. Then she thought of an idea. Suddenly reaching out toward the table, she grabbed the ink well, and neither of the men could stop her. She flung it through a window at the front of the room. Look out, John. Now, why should she throw that at me? Now, see here, Miss Roberts. All this unpleasantness could be avoided if you'd signed that paper and let me take you to town. The Mayesh man and the Indian have gone by now, so you're being foolish to talk about seeing them. Looks like we'll have to force her to sign that paper now, John. It'll be easy. You can save money, too. Well, I prefer to have things settled legally and in a friendly fashion, Jim. I'm sure if you promise to pay the 500, Miss Roberts will sign. Well, all right. Take the gag out of him out, Spike, and let go of her. Oh, good. Yeah. I'll get some more ink, and then we'll get this business over with Prado. Just before Mary had tried to attract their attention, the Lone Ranger and Tutto had been following the West Trail and had been passing the old homestead. There's an old broken-down place, Tutto. There's a buckboard standing up front. And that looked like buckboard lawyer fella driving away from the stage office with a girl. I wonder. Tutto, look, that sign. Ah, sign says Circle 2 Ranch. There's something wrong here. Someone watched from window, Kimosabi. Me see him as we pass. Relax as though we don't notice. Keep writing. Tutto, did you hear something? Like a yell? Ah, sound like women call out. We could have been mistaken. We'd have to be sure before we... Someone throw something through window. And not to notice. As we get over that ride, we'll circle around and come up behind the house. One, two, and a month's come. Inside the house after the Lone Ranger and Tutto had passed, Jim went out to the kitchen and returned with more ink. Placing it on the table in front of Mary, he lifted the pen and held it out to her. All right. Now sign that paper. No. There's something strange about all this. I don't believe this is the place Uncle Jed left it all. And if it is, there's some reason why you want my share so badly. You know, I'm afraid you're getting a little too smart, young lady. Now I suggest you sign. You call yourself a lawyer. You must be a part of Jim's plan to get the share of the legacy away from me. Oh, let's get tough with it, Jim. You sign up then. And what if I do sign that paper? What assurance have I that I'll get safely back to Hilton? None at all. But if you don't sign, you know, doggone well, you won't get back there, you understand? Now sign that paper. You're hurting my arm. Go ahead, use the pen. All right. Don't say anything. Who said that? Look, let the broken wind of the mass man out. No, you won't. I leg. All right, you. I got my gun at the girl's back. She's between you and me. Oh, you dirty cow. Oh, shut up. Jones says sneak out the back and get the drop on that guy out of there. He'll see me leaving. Nobody leaves here. And you drop come. Look, the Indian. In the doorway. You say it, drop come. You sneak and let's get out. You forgot to keep the girl in front of you, Hanson. Keep them covered. I'll come in. You be all right now, girl. Thank heaven. I was afraid you and the mask man didn't hear my efforts to attract your attention. We hear. But we make out we're not here. Then we come up behind house. Are you all right, Mr. Robertson? Yes, thanks to you and the Indian. I don't quite understand, but these men were trying to... Yes, I know. They were trying to get you to sign over your share of the Circle 2 Ranch. One of the biggest and most prosperous ranches in this section of the West. You mean this place is... This isn't the Circle 2 spread as they wanted you to believe. The Circle 2 is out east of town. Well, we get these crooks to jail, Miss Robertson. Then you can make arrangements to look at the right ranch. From what that man over there said a while ago, I feel sure he was one of the men who raided the stage. Put the blame for that word belongs on that cousin of yours, Jim Hanson. Keep quiet, Spike. Oh, why should I? You wanted to have something happen to her so she wouldn't get her share. I heard you tell Bill to use a bullet on her when we held up the stage. They sure will be interested to hear all that. Otto, I'll take these men along with me. You bring Miss Robertson a buckboard. Ah, me do it. All right, let's get going. You... With my leg, it's wounded. Help him, Jones. Come on. I owe a lot to you and that mask man, Tonto. I never thought I'd be willing to put face in an Indian when I came West. Ah, you be safe now. Let me take you back to town, buckboard. Oh, I know I'll be safe. You've been wonderful. And to think my own cousin turned out to be a crook. Well, I'm sure when an accounting is made of the Circle II, it will show that cousin Jim has stolen so much that, well, I'll eventually own the whole Circle II ranch. That's right. With a big ranch like that, well, I'll need a man with a good business head and a firm hand to run things. That mask man, he's so masterful. So tall and handsome. Well, him always be good friend when you need help. And Tonto always be good friend, too. Oh, yes, of course. I understand. But Tonto, who is he? Oh, him. Him, good friend to all people who need him. Him called Lone Ranger. This is a feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated, created and produced by George W. Trendle, directed by Charles D. Livingston, and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beemer.