 At the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty high old silver, the Vaughan Ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the mask rider of the planes led the fight for law and 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 and the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver, the lone ranger rides again. The little town of Jack Pine crouched like a starved and fleabitten dog at the foot of Snake Mountain. Its ramshackle wooden buildings were gray and lifeless after years of a losing fight with burning sun and alkali dust that blew in from Chickasie Basin. Its citizens, too, were grim and weather-beaten. Over a hundred ranchers and dirt farmers would homestead at the land ten years ago, only to discover that rain was an unknown quantity and that artesian wells ran dry. Land without water means nothing. They'd repeated that phrase to themselves a thousand times. And now, gathered in the Saddle Rock Cafe, they were hearing it again in the lips of a tall, frock-coated easterner. I ask you again, gentlemen, what good is land without water? I'll answer my own question. It's no good. Land without water means nothing. Your cattle are dying because they can't graze on cactus and mesquite. Your crops are scorched in the ground before they even get a chance to grow. You ain't telling us nothing we don't already know. Is that why you asked us all to come in here today, Mr. Denham? Oh, no, of course not. I've merely stated a common problem. I also have a solution for it. Yeah? What is it? As you all know, because I've made no secret of it, I represent an eastern land syndicate. If you want to sell your land, get out of this dust-bowl basin. I'll buy it. How much will you pay? Well, you all homesteaded your land. It didn't cost you anything. Now it's worth even less than that. I'm giving you a chance to move out with your household goods in stock, plus a thousand dollars in cash. What do you say? I say it's a good deal. Fine. Good. I'll just to keep the record straight, I'll have Kless Harlow call out your names, and you can give me individual answers. All right, Kless. Sam Pruitt. Sure, I'll sell. Cal Thompson. Me too. Nate Simon. Yeah. Arkey Snowden. Arkey Snowden. I'm here. Well, what do you say? Before I say anything, I'd like to ask Mr. Denham a question. Well, of course. What is it? Well, if this land here in the basin is so worthless, how come you're willing to pay us all a thousand dollars? Well, that's a fair question. I'm glad you asked it. The reason my syndicate can afford to spend sixty thousand dollars for Chick-a-Ce Basin is because while the land may be worthless now, it's a sound investment for idle capital. Someday it may be worth more. That doesn't make sense. Oh, yes it does. But how can you... Stop arguing, Snowden. Do you want to sell out like the rest of us are doing? No, I don't. What's that? The ranch of me and my brother Frank had got over near Snake Mountain as ours. We homesteaded it. We're not going to sell. Oh, wait just a minute. I don't wish to enter into any argument. It's up to the rest of you ranch owners. If you're going to let Mr. Snowden stand in the way of selling something you can't use, that's your own business. My offer will hold good until a week from the day. Well, Kless, I'm going back to my room at the hotel. Meet me over there as soon as you can. Here as quick as I could, Mr. Denon. That's all right. What's happening at the cafe? Everybody's arguing. I thought he's Snowden. He still refuses to sell his ranch? I guess so. That's what he was saying when I left. Mr. Snowden is a very obstinate young man. He's a sneaking yellow-livered pole cat. All them Snowdens are. Say, that reminds me. Wasn't there some sort of a feud between your family, the Harlow's, and the Snowdens a few years back? Yeah. It kind of died out when Matt went to jail five years ago. Matt. Matt's your older brother, isn't he? Yeah. Quite a fighter? Matt's double-barreled poison. He'd have gunned all the Snowdens if the law hadn't caught up with them. It gives me an idea. Those two Snowden boys are holding up the sale of this whole basin because they won't listen to reason. Machiavelli said divide and conquer. Machiavelli who? An Italian. He lived in the 16th century. And how could he tell you? Never mind. You wouldn't understand. I have some good political connections, class. I'm going to get your brother parole from territorial prison. Matt Harlow? Yeah. Warden wants to see you. I think it's a parole. Sure. I know it is. Yeah? Oh, come on. How come you know you're getting parole? Friend of mine fixed it. He's from my hometown, down to Jack Pine. I've got to work for him. That must be the big fella you was talking to, Warden, last week. What's his name? Phil Denham. Well, all I can say is you're lucky to have a friend like that. Yeah. Maybe he's the one who's lucky. What do you mean? The cat at job he once done calls for somebody named Harlow. And I'm just the hombre who can do it. Well, over a week, most of the farmers and ranchers of Chickasee Basin had tried to persuade the Snowden brothers to join them in selling their property. But the more the men argued, the more firmly the brothers refused. And grossed as they were in a heated discussion, no one noticed that two strangers had written into Jack Pine. Dan Reed and Tonto stood at the edge of the crowd. Hey, golly, Tonto. I wonder what's wrong? Oh, me not know, Dan. Men make plenty talk. Let's move in a little closer and see what it's all about, huh? What I can't figure out is why you two critters are so stubborn. No, we're not stubborn. We just don't want to sell. Isn't that right, Frank? Sure, it's all right, and we can do what we please with it. Yeah, you can starve to death on it like all the rest of us are doing. Well, if any of you ever stop to think there must be some reason why Phil Denham's willing to pay all that money for land, it's not worth anything? Yeah, you admit that hunk of dirt you call a ranch ain't worth anything, but you won't sell it. Well, every spread in the base can be worth a lot of money. We had some water. But there is no water. Used to be a long time ago. There's a dry creek bed running through them drawers in Snake Mountain. Well, it's run dry. There will never be any water in that creek in New North. Maybe. Oh, somebody gonna perform a miracle and make it start running? Ah, you're even dumber than Archie. If your whole family was like you two, I don't blame the Harlow's for feuding with you. Hey, no, wait a minute. It says nothing to do with the old feud between us and the Harlow's. That's dead and buried. Yeah? Maybe since Matt Harlow went to jail and you started sparking that kid's sister of his, things are different, huh? Ah, you're more yellow than ever. Leave Martha Harlow's name out of this. Listen, you dirty snooker. No, Frank, no, don't. Archie's right. We're not hashing over the Harlow Snowden feud. All we want to know is why you boys are standing in the way of the rest of us getting $1,000 a piece for our land. Well, we're sorry about that. Honest we are. I mean about not being able to sell your land unless we sell too. Well, those are Phil Dunham's terms. You were there when he made them. But when Maun Pawn Frank and I came out here from Arkansas and homesteaded that place near Snake Mountain, we intended to make it our home. Forever. Now, on a kind of a crazy feud with the Harlow's, the old folks are gone. But Frank and I are staying. Well, be your home for very long, Archie, without any water. Well, you may be right. Frank and I are hopeful that maybe someday there will be water here in the basin again. Still banking on that marigold? No, I'm not. But I'm not going to sell out the Phil Dunham or anybody else for $1,000. And that's final. Hey! Look who's coming down the street. Why, it's Matt Harlow. Matt Harlow? Thought he was in jail. I heard something about him getting a parole, but I didn't drink it. Harlow's in the Snowden's. There's going to be some lead flying, boys. All right, you yellow-buddy Snowden, could you step out of that car? It is, Matt Harlow, and I'm good. Well, Frank, no, don't draw it again. That's just what he wants you to do. Nobody like Matt Harlow can call me and yell and get away with it. Let go of my arm. No! And curtain three. Before I throw both of you, better fill your head. One, two... All right, man! Frank! Frank! I just... You... He's dead. There's one of them. I've got to slip for the other Snowden. All right, draw your Snowden. Now, you can see I'm not packing a gun, Matt. If you still want to shoot, well, go ahead. I forgot. You get Snowden, well, don't carry again, did he? All right, then maybe you'd rather get the barrel of this six-shooter alongside your skull. Come on. You wait. Matt, not there. You big fella, and you use gun. Him, small. Just have this. Red skin, eh? Listen, they didn't keep your greasy snood out of this. Me, not like that. Are you? Who's the red skin? Never saw him before. Say, whoever he is, he can sure punch. Look at that! Give it to him, Tunnel! I'll fix him. I don't know who you are, Indian, but I want to thank you for helping me out. Matt Harlow was swinging a gun in a few... Uh-huh. Me know. Is the engine a friend of yours, kid? Sure. You better tell him that unless he gets out of town before Matt Harlow comes to, he's dealt himself in on a feud. Well, that won't bother Tunnel. You see, this is kind of a tough spot for anybody named Snowden. The town was already set against us because we wouldn't sell our ranch. Now Matt's come back and killed my brother. Uh-huh. Well, me think it better we take dead man to ranch now. You get horse and go first. Me carry brother. Uh, what name a ranch? It's the Diamond S. Near Snake Mountain. Uh-huh. Dan, you ride to camp. Bring friend. Me help young fella. Sure, I understand. Steady, Victor. Steady, boy. Come on, Victor. Excited. What's wrong? Where's Tunnel? We stopped in Jack Pine. There was a big crowd. There was a man shot to death and Tunnel got in a fight with a fellow who killed him. He was helping a dead man's brother who didn't have a gun. Is he still there in town? What I left, he was going to ride to the Diamond S. ranch near Snake Mountain. That's where Rocky Snowden lives. Here's Silver. Snowden? I used to be a feud in this part of the country between the Snowdens and a family named Harlow. City big fella. It's worse than ever now. Matt Harlow's the man Tunnel had to fight with. Why did you say the Snowden ranch is? Somewhere near Snake Mountain. Come on, Silver. Get up, Victor. 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. It was less than half an hour later. Tonto and Rocky Snowden had just finished the sad task of burying Rocky's brother in Little Hill next to the Diamond S. ranch house. Hey, who were those fellas? I don't know them. Hold it. My security was at the point you went to. But who's he? Last. An outlaw. I'm no outlaw, Archie. Hello, Tonto. How? Oh, then what are you wearing that... Hey, how do you know my name? He's a pretty big fella. Dan Reed told me. Dan? That's me. He also told me about what happened in Jack Pine this morning. I'm sorry about your brother. Yeah, Frank never had a chance. Tell me something, Archie. What's the real reason you refuse to sell your ranch? Just like all the rest here in the basin? There's not a drop of water on any of them. I know. But why is Field Denim so anxious to get this land? I've been wondering the same thing. He wants this place in particular because it's near the mountain. Maybe that's the answer. The mountain? Is there anything up there? Nothing but lizards and volcanic rock. Not even any weeds. Call your horse, Tonto. Uh-huh. Yes, Count? You stay here at the ranch with Archie, Dan. Tonto and I are going to take a ride up Snake's Mountain. Who's Silver Horse? Oh, Tonto. Oh, Tonto. This is about as far as we can go up this dry creek bed on horseback, Tonto. Ah. The ground hits the horses and see how much further we can go on foot. Is that you, big fella? Uh-huh. What you look for, team of sabby? I don't know, Tonto. That's a trouble. Maybe nothing. It's worth a trial. Come on. Ah. Whoa! Whoa, boy! Why, sir? Archie, I've been almost crazy ever since I heard about what happened in town. Have you heard, Archie? No, it wasn't me that... I know, Frank. Oh, oh, Archie. If I could only tell you how sorry I am. That shot him in cold blood, didn't he? Well, there were a lot of witnesses, and I suppose they'd call it self-defense. Frank had a gun. Oh, it's terrible. Horrible. I didn't even know that Matt had been released from prison. Neither did I until he walked down the street. Then the Harlow Snowden feud started all over again. Oh. Martha, honey, I... I want to ask you something. What is it? About five years ago, I made you a promise. I promised I'd help to stop all this senseless killing by not carrying a gun. I know. Now I want you to release me from that promise. Archie, you mean... I'm going to kill Matt. To keep him from killing me. I hope you do. I wish you were dead now. He had no right to come back and start all this when we were so happy. Maybe it'll be best for you not to come over here. For a few days anyway. Not until after. You understand, honey? I'll do whatever you say. But, oh, Archie, please. Please be careful. I'll do my best. With a lonesome gun. Bye, Martha. Goodbye. Come on, boy. Look, Tutto, there's a shack made out of stone. Oh. No signs of life. Let's go in and look it over. Empty. Yeah. Nothing but a few cans of blasting powder. Maybe it's a minor storage shack that... All right, Rich. Get him high. Do what he says until we see who it is. That's better. I'll turn around. Well, I'll be... Mashed-out hooting an engine. What are you critters doing up here? We could ask you the same question. But you're not going to ask nothing. Because I'm shoving a load of daylight through your boat. Tutto, right above his head. What are you mumbling about? Before you pull that trigger, it might interest you to know that there's a coil rattlesnake on that ledge by the foot from your head. Nothing's going to strike. There. Even a rattlesnake isn't dangerous when his head's gone. Jump into your house if you blew the critter's head off. And just what I was going to plug you. Please don't think that's the reason I saved your life. Hey. Hey. I'll be out of here. That's a lot of plenty scared. So scared he forgot he was going to kill us. I wonder who he was. Well, the only result of our trip was an empty shack that would be killing a dead rattlesnake. Let's go back to the diamondous ranch, Tutto. Oh, that's strange. No light in the house. I wonder where Dan and Erky are. Strike a match, Tutto. Bamp on tables. Still warm. Yes, they can't be very... Wait a minute. Here's a note. It's from Dan. He says... Erky got a note from Martha Harlow. One of the cowhands brought it. She says it's important that Erky meet her at once near the Harlow ranch. I'm riding over with him. I don't like this tunnel. It might be a trap. Come on, we're going over there. Finally, we're let gag away from my mouth. At least I can breathe better. There's no way I can help you, Erky. My hands and feet are still tied. Thank you. All right. Wait a minute. There's somebody. Who's there? Who is it? You don't know me, kid. It's too dark in here for you to see. I'm Class Harlow. What do you want? You're a friend of that engine. You mean, Tunnel? I saw him this afternoon up in the mountain. He and the mass critters saved my life. How did... They don't make any difference. I can't help either of them because I don't know where they are. But you're their friend and I can't help you. I'm crossing my own brother. What do you mean? I'm going to cut them ropes and let you both sneak out of here. Carl, I... Turn around so I can use this knife. Yeah. It sure feels better. How about you, Erky? Yeah. Walk straight ahead. There's a side door. Your horses are hitched to a cottonwood tree outside. Gee, thanks. No time for that, hurry. Matt and Denim will be coming back here any minute. Any boy? Come on, Victor. Oh, oh, oh, oh, Silvus. Wait a minute. We better take a side trail until we... Oh, look. Dan and Erky snowed in the water. Oh, I can't believe it. Well, I am sure glad to see you. What's wrong, Dan? Matt Harlow, Phil Denim and almost every man in Jackpines after us. That note that Erky got was just a trick. They tied us up. We got loose. And Martha. Where is she? I don't know. I heard him say somebody had taken her to the shack in the mountain. I know. Come on, Silvus. Come on, Victor. You got that gun around. Martha, you all right? I will be if you untie my hand. Let him come up trail. Yes, we're in for a siege. Close the door and bullet. Then you keep that prisoner covered. Use your rifle, Tunnel, but don't shoot to kill. For the next 30 minutes, the lone ranger and his friends suffered a hail of lead as revolving rifle bullets ricocheted against the stone sheath. Are you all right, Martha? I'm safe enough. This dirt floor is cold, but I found a patch of grass here behind the door. What was that? What did you say? Nothing. Just this little patch of grass. Where? Let me see it. You're right. Grass growing up to the dirt floor of a stone shack. What? What does it mean? I don't know. It may mean that... Tutto, come here. Put your ear down there. Is it? Do you hear anything? Uh-huh. You're right, Kimus Abbey. What are you talking about? I haven't time to explain now. Quick, Tutto, bring me one of those cans of blasting powder. You do it. Open it while I hunt for some caps. Blasting powder is stored here. There should be some caps. Here, this little box. Are these what you mean? Yes. Hurry, all of you. Out that back window. Keep the prisoner ahead of you, Dan. All right. Let's go. Now, Tutto, I'm going to put my hat on top of this can of blasting powder. Now, open the door so they can see it. Come on. We've got a run for it. I'll do it. You've got the door open. Let him have it. I'll put that credit with the head on. Arc, you will explain it to you. I don't think you'll have any more trouble with the Harlow's or Phil Denon from now on. Neither do I. Thanks to you. Come on, Dan. Tutto. Loudon, about a hundred of us dumb glutes sure owe you an apology. We've got those crooks, Denon and my Harlow laced up down there. We'll turn them over to the law. I'm glad to hear it. You said you was figuring on a miracle. You sure pulled one all right. Oh, no, I didn't. It wasn't a miracle. Okay. I'm dying of curiosity. What happened? You remember that patch of grass you found in the Stone House? Yes. That was the only growing thing anyone's ever seen on all of Snake Mountain. And that meant there was water somewhere below it. Sunk in river, I guess. So when he put those caps in the blasting powder, it was to make sure that bullets would explode the powder and blast open the river. Check to see Basin will have plenty of water now after you've figured out. Wait a minute. Who's this he you're talking about? Is he the miracle? No. Just the Lone Ranger. You have just heard as a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.