 By rehearsal, the speed of light is called of Dustin Hardy, Hale, Silver, the lone ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked writer 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 of the thundery who feeds the great horse Silver. The lone ranger rides again. Come on, Tilly! Let's go, Nicole! Come, Tilly! Oh! Tom Jamison's visit to the tiny mission created a stir of excitement among the Indians nearby. It wasn't often that the wealthy rancher came to see the kindly old Padre. The old priest motioned him to a seat in the patio. Thank you, Padre. You know why I've come to see you. Yes, my son. The evil doings in this county have become too much for even a man of your wealth and position to bear. It brought me much sorrow, too. I tell you, they've gone too far. Those smugglers have killed the sheriff, terrorized the town people, and driven off all the small ranchers. We must stop them. Have you tried? Tried everything I could think of. I organized the other ranchers into a posse. Half of them were killed. Then I asked the men in town to fight. The smugglers picked off the keymen before we could even get started. It's uncanny. And yet your ranch has not been disturbed. I've been lucky. I have a large crew and they're all tough fighters. So far, we've been able to stand them off. I don't know how long that can last. And that is why you've come to me? Yes, Padre. From what I hear, there's only one man who can bring the law back to this county. And that's the Lone Ranger. That thought has been in my mind many times, too. Will you send for him, Padre? I'm told you're the only one who can reach him. See, that is true. My Indian friends send up smoke signals. Other friendly tribes send them along. Wherever he is, the message will reach him. There isn't much time. Send for him immediately. Sure, may go. I will. If it's at all possible, he will see you within the week. Thank you, Padre. This means a great deal to me. It was mid-afternoon when the smoke signals were seen by the Lone Ranger and Total. They went to the mission at once. After a brief talk with the Padre, they rode on to Jamison's ranch. Taking a back trail, they reached his ranch house without being seen. That's Mask. Then you did come. We're welcome. You're Jamison? Yes. I've heard of your friend, too. His name is Tato, isn't he? Am I right? Good. Sit down, both of you. Thanks. The Padre told me about the smuggling gang. Who's the leader? Nobody knows. They say that even his men have never seen his face. Is he disguised? The rumor is he always wears a hood. I see. Where is their hideout? Nobody knows that either. That's why I asked the Padre for your help. If we can show the people around here that someone is on their side, someone who isn't afraid, I think we can lick those smugglers. I'll do what I can. That's all I can ask for. I can tell you this. Yes? Some of the gang is in town almost every evening. You can get a line on them that way, if you'd like. Good. We'll be there tonight. That evening, the Lone Ranger and Total rode to town, separating at the outskirts. Jamison said that if any of the smugglers do come to town tonight, they'll see them at the cafe. You go to the Silver Dollar, Tonto. I'll try the palace. Ah, you do it. Get all the information you can. We'll meet back here at midnight. Get them up. An air of tension hung over the Silver Dollar cafe as Tonto entered. The few men present were casting furtive glances at two hard-looking men seated at a far table. They were obviously looking for trouble. It's a matter with these critters here. I thought you came to a cafe to have fun, not just sit around whispering. Yeah. Anybody think they were scared of something? I don't see nothing to be scared of, do you, Ruth? Me? Of course not. We all just sitting around for. We came here to have a good time. That's right. Let's have some fun. Somebody do something. You earned my pal. Somebody do something quick. Now get started. We want some entertainment. Hey, cut that out. Who said? Hiya, Slash. You're just in time. We're trying to get some entertainment out of this crowd of deadwoods that cut it out and I meant it. Ah, we were just trying to have some fun. Austin don't like that kind of fun anymore. Get back to the hideout. Well, we just came from there. You heard me. Get started. All right. Come on, Hal. Someday I'm going to tell the boss where to get off. Yeah. You see him often enough. Haven't noticed you're doing much talking. Yeah. Well, when I come up against him wearing that hood, I just naturally don't have no wind left. Say, you're a Segundo. What's he look like without that hood? You're talking too much. Get started. Yeah. Might as well. Nothing to do around the town anyway. The two disgruntled outlaws left the cafe and started back to their secret hideout. Grumbling loudly as they rode. Unable to contact the lone ranger in time, Tonto followed them, staying as close as he dared. The trail wound through scrub brush, past deeper royals, toward a large clearing where the two men were hailed by hidden sentries. Satisfied, he knew the location of the hideout. Tonto turned to go back when... Hey, right where you are. You got to kill it. Get him up. Stop. Try that again. I'll aim at you next time. Now drop them guns. Me too. An engine. What'd you come here for? Me not talk. You'll talk all right when the boss wants you to. You've got ways. All right, get moving. Get him up scout. Parted along by the guard, Tonto rode into the clearing. You wanted to get a look at our hideout, Redskin. You'll take a good look. I don't guarantee you'll ever see it again after the boss finishes with you. Where will you go? The boss is shocked. You'll talk to you when he gets here later. What you got there, Slim Company? Yeah, your company. This Indian was following you when you rode in. What? Boy, that's dirty. Now wait, let me have them all fix them. Go on, back away from along. The boss will take care of him. You take care of you too for letting yourself be trailed, you dumb idiot. It's just as far as you go, Redskin. And get off that horse and get inside. You won't have long to wait. After a fruitless hour, the lone wanger returned to the spot where he was to meet Tonto. He became more and more worried as time went by, and by one o'clock he decided to go search for his friend. He mounted and rode back to the Silver Dollar Cafe. Oh, I know how I've heard of you these silly people. You're supposed to have been here most of the evening. I'd better check. Hello there. I thought I recognized your horse. Hi, hello, Jameson. I was just looking for you. I was hoping I'd find you here in town. Oh, what's happened? One of my boys came back to the ranch a while ago and told me he had seen an Indian trailing two of the smugglers. How'd I went after them? That's the way I figured it. I knew he wouldn't stand a chance alone, so I came after you. Which way did they go? He said they followed the trail south about two miles and then cut east across the Lazy M. Thanks. I'll go after him, study before you see. Maybe I'd better get some of my boys and come along. No, a crowd might make things too dangerous for him. I'll go myself. Let's go somewhere. Watch out for synthries. They may be all over the place. I will. Come on, move away. Hey, don't want to lose you before the job is done. The long ranger rode hard to the cut-off, but from here tracking was slow and difficult. As he had suspected, Tawny would stay in the shadows beside the trail and the doctors made the tracks almost invisible. He was so engrossed in trailing that he didn't see a dark shape rise up out of the bushes beside him. Freeze! Right where you are. Come down off your horse and don't try any funny stuff. All right. You're the second one tonight who didn't expect to guard out this far from the hideout. Was the other one an Indian? Yeah. How did you... You're a mess. What's the idea? I'll show you. Are you joking me? Where's the Indian? Talk fast, or I'll shut off all your wind. Boss is shagged. My stomach. My stomach. Let me go. Where is the shack? I can't breathe. Then talk fast. No, then. There's only shack there. Are there any more guards? Two and a quarter mile ahead. That's all I wanted to know. I'll keep you quiet for a while. I'll tie you up and I'll leave you here. Leaving the unconscious sentry hidden in the underbrush, mounted and rode carefully around the camp to approach it from the north. Within the clearing, there was only silence as the outlaws huddled deep inside their blanks. It took a few minutes to separate scouts from the rest of the horses. Then, leaving him with silver, a long ranger approached the shack warily. Peering through the window, you could see Tonto lying alone in a corner. Toto? Here, keep us up. Coming in for you. Me? Me glad you've come. I'll have you untied in a minute. Boss Speller, come tonight. Ask questions. Me, not Claude. There's foul in here. There, you're free. Boss, smoke black cigar like Mexicans. Let's go. Here, I'll give you a hand to the window. Outlaw takes scout. He's running over there with silver. Like against this wall. I didn't knock the guard out hard enough. Good. They're going the other way. They see horses. There's a chance that's running for it. There you go. Get them on the shelf. Tonto, you hit. No, I can't hurt that. I can't see us now. I'll be hiding these rocks quick. Keep in the shadows. I think we've gone around the bend. Maybe they'll stop here. We'll have to risk it. Have your gun ready, here they come. The curtain falls on the first act of our long ranger's story. Before the next exciting scene, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Go to the smuggler's camp and rescue him. But they were discovered as they rode off. Before they could get away, Tonto was hit. Rather than endangering his friend, the masked man resorted to a trick. I can't see us now. I need rocks quick. Close the door, boy. Keep in the shadows. Maybe they'll stop here. We'll have to risk it. Here they come. For a few minutes, anyway. How's the shoulder? Me, fix it. Sure, we can have it. Take it easy, man. We'll ride for camp. I can take care of it properly. Any of your guests from West? I know what to do now. You're not here horses now. All right, let's go. Trifling one. After a few hours' sleep, the long ranger and Tonto rode out to Jamison's ranch. There was only one man outside the ranch house, and he pulled a gun as soon as he saw the mask. Hold on there. Jamison, not tell men. There you go, boy. You sure got a lot of nerve riding up here and brought daylight with a mask on? We want to see Jamison. He asked us to come here. Yeah? I'll call your bluff. Hey, boss, come out here. Didn't expect me to take you up, did you? You want me to take you? Hello, come on in. Huh? Very big fella. All right, if we dismount tax. But that mask, I thought... It was a natural mistake. I was worried about you, Tonto. It's nothing. Well, I'm glad to hear that. Don't look so upset, Tex. He isn't in our loot. This is Tex Rocky, my foreman. Tex, this is the man I told you about. The man I'm depending on to help us. Glad to know you, Tex. You're the long ranger. Well, I'll be jigging. And this is his friend, Tonto. Howdy. And I thought that... Same here, Tex. Thank you. What happened last night? Well, me call us smugglers, find camp, me not watch close, get captured. I was afraid that would happen. When mask friend come, we ride. And stop some lead before you get away. You were lucky that it didn't shoot better. You mean you were in a hideout? That's right, Tex. We're going back tonight. If you're with me, Jameson. I'm with you all the way. Good. Tonto found out they're planning to break camp tomorrow. We can raid them tonight and round up the whole gang, including that mysterious leader of theirs. I'm with you. I'm sick of their mile hoots walking around as if they owned the country. How many men do you figure we'll need? Well, at least 20. I have 12 men here and I can round up some more in town. Men who aren't afraid to fight. Well, Tonto and I know the layout of the camp. So, have your men assemble here at 10 tonight. You hear that, Tex? Yeah. We'll be ready. That evening, the lone ranger outlined his plan of action to the 20 grim determined men grouped around him. You all know what you're supposed to do? Right. And the chance some of us won't come back. We'll be a certainty if we don't cover each other at the right time. We don't want any killing. There's any way of avoiding it. Those skunks deserve hanging. Every last one of them. Then we'll bring them back so the law can do it. All right. On up, men, we're riding. Don't move it! Get it down! It was close to midnight as the men began filtering into their assigned positions around the outlaw camp. You're men in place now, Jameson? Yes. They emptied that outlaw carousel thick as a whistle. Not a sound. Then we only have to wait for the signal from the men who are taking care of the sentry. As soon as they come back, we'll have the entire camp seen everything. As simple as you go wrong. The sentry must have seen them. Hey, what's happened? Who finally got shot? We're all out of them places, all of you! That was a warning signal! Get to the gun! Don't touch any weapons, any of you! You're surrounded! Come in toward the fire with your hands up. One false move and we'll start shooting. Watch them. They're tricky. You're saying so don't me a thing. Don't do it. It's a trick. Move in, men. Keep your guns handy. This isn't the way you planned it. Those shots upset my plan. We'll play it out this way. Come on, men! Every team, the outlaws suddenly dropped with their knees through their guns and fired. They were answered almost immediately by the advancing party. Then six guns were discarded in favor of fists and rifle butts. They're trying to get away! That's enough! That's enough, men! Bring them all over here. That'll take care of the Mavericks. We got them now. Get some men to take care of the wounded tech. Right. Shorty, Al! Go! Over here, we've got to take care of the boys. Give them something. Did you find him, Tutto? No. Him nothing's happened. He looked all over. He couldn't have gotten away. Who's in charge of these smugglers? Let's all resist bossing them around the town. Get over there, you wretch! Uh, you're not the leader of this gang? He's the second of us, as far as I can tell. Where's your leader? Never showed up tonight, dirty double-crosser. What do you mean? In strict orders, nobody was to leave camp tonight because we were moving out tomorrow. Must have known something like this had happened. Or he'd like to get my hands on it. Maybe you will, in jail. Get the horses, men, to take these outlaws back to town and put them into the lock-up where they belong. The smugglers were herded off to jail, the wounded taken care of, and the posse dispersed. But the lone ranger still wasn't satisfied. He went back to the ranch with Tom Jamison and paced the floor as they talked. Yes, that was a fine job tonight. The people in this county owe you a great debt. No, not yet. We're not finished. I know. We haven't found the leader of the gang. Only knew what he looked like. Have you talked to the smugglers? Yes, yes. Another member saw him without his hood. Well, we got the rest of them. That's the main thing. No, it isn't. As long as he's free, he can organize another gang. We can handle that when it happens. Have a cigar. Thanks, I don't smoke. They can't seem to find a match. Right here. Thank you. You're welcome. There's no all that bothers me. Too many little things that don't fit in. There are? Yes. The smugglers' hideout wasn't hard to find. And yet no one around here knew where it was. Well, that's because they were afraid to look, that's all. But you weren't afraid. You could have found it easily. Sure, but I couldn't have backed up my play. I didn't have enough men. But you had no trouble finding enough men tonight. That cigar is rather strong. Well, I like them that way. I import them especially from through there. That's smoke. The shack was filled with a two. And you're the leader of that gang. I wouldn't move if I were you. It might prove fatal. You had that gun hidden in the desk. Just in case I found you out, didn't you? That's right. I forgot I smoked a cigar in the shack when I questioned Tonto last night. The smoke was still thick when you rescued him, huh? I should have realized before that you were the leader of the gang. When you warned me, they'd try some trick. Only a member of the gang would have known what they were going to do. I taught them that trick. Now I'm going to have to kill you, my friend. I don't need you anymore. And you're too dangerous to live. You won't get away with this, Jameson. I thought it was right outside. Then I'll get him when I'm finished with you. What was that? What are you holding a gun on him for? Come in and close the door, Tex. What's this all about? You came in at the wrong time, fella. This is a man we've been looking for, Tex. Jameson is the leader of that smuggling gang. The boss? You must be local. Well, he called you in to capture them. I think I know why now. With the gang out of the way, Jameson wouldn't have to split with them. Was that it? Well, Jameson, the way you've been talking against them, it doesn't make sense. And no small answers, you're men terrorized. You bought them out too, didn't you? That's right. Move over to the mass, man, Tex. I can't waste any more time. You're going to kill me? I can't help it, Tex. You're a good foreman, but now you know too much. Only three of you know that. Know that I was the leader of that gang. When you're dead, I'll be safe. Nobody will ever find out. I'll take that gun. You're a player now. Good shooting, Tutto. You saved our lives. He hurt bad? Yes, I'm afraid so. Don't worry about your side, Jameson. It's your neck that's going to really bother you when they stretch it. Let me see him hold gun, not take 10. I'm glad you didn't. He was going to kill us. Now I can see why he didn't say much during the fight. The owl hoots never seen him, but they'd have recognized his voice. Can you take care of him, Tex? I'll try. And I'll go get a doctor. Meet me back with care fellow. Me help here. Help me. I guess we better take care of him, even if he don't deserve it. Let me have a look. I was so sure I thought I was so smart. Well, I guess you aren't the first to find out you're not as smart as the Lone Ranger. What you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.