 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 in the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver, the lone ranger rides again. The lead and Tonto had spent the night in Coldwater Canyon, halfway between the town of Coldwater and the partly finished bridge. They broke in camp at dawn and an hour later they were in the nearest part of the canyon within sight of the bridge. That bridge will be a mighty fine thing, won't it, Tonto? That's right. It saved plenty time. Sheriff Wallace was talking about it last night, remember? He said the bridge would cut 50 miles off the trail to the west. That's right, Dan. I'm sorry we're so early. I'd like to have seen the men working on that bridge. Well, maybe see them other time after we meet the lone ranger. Golly, Tonto. You suppose we could come back this way and watch the work for a little while? Maybe. We see what lone rangers say. Tonto, someone's calling for help. Let me hear him. Hold, Scott. Hold, Scott. Hold, Victor. Hold, Victor. Hold. Me see him. Come along, Dan. Get him up, Scout. Come on, Victor. I don't see him, Tonto. Over there. You see Fowler on ground? Not yet. Look on the bridge. I knew the bridge. And near edge it looked like Fowler hurt plenty bad. Hold, hold, boy. Hold, Scott. Hold, Fowler. Hold, Victor. Hold, steady there, Victor. Hold, Fowler. Hold. Get canteen, Dan. Let me see what's wrong. Right. Get me out of here. Yeah. Yeah, me help you. Pin down this timber. Yeah. Let me see it. Here. Here's the water, Tonto. I'm afraid my leg is broken. Dan, you get hold. We lift timber to one side. All right. I'm ready. Lift. Lift. That sure was heavy. I came here at daybreak to look the job over. Here. You take drink of water. Me look at leg. Legs. Is it broken, Tonto? Uh, leg broken. That's what I thought. If you can get me up to the top of the canyon, I live there. Let me put splint on leg first and then me carry you up. There's a ladder. Yeah, let me see it. Someone's coming down the ladder right now. What? I'm coming, Mr. Conway. Oh, that's Kirk. He's the foreman. Are you Mr. Conway? Yes, that's my name. Then you're the engineer in charge of this bridge. That's right. Me make splint of heavy stick and tie it to leg. Great guns, Mr. Conway. What happened to you? Kirk had a bad fall. Well, how'd it happen? Oh, some careless fool left a timber loose stepped on it. Here I am. I'm saying it all, Mr. Conway. I've told you it was dangerous to make an inspection every morning when no one was around, but you insisted on doing it. I know, Kirk. I know. Oh, well, me sorry to hurt you. It's all right. Who were these two? They were riding through the gap and heard me call. Well, me, Tonto. My name's Dan Reed, Mr. Kirk. Oh, well, get that splint in place so we can take the boss to his house. Go on it all anyhow. Just when we're trying to finish the bridge, this has to happen. Well, you're lucky to be alive after a fall like that. Lucky. How can I see that this bridge is done if I've got to be stuck in a shack with a broken leg? Oh, don't worry about the bridge. I'll see that the work goes on, Mr. Conway. Now, you'll have to, Kirk. We've got to get the job done by the time limit. What's more, you'll have to watch out for Sam Hine. That buzzard would do anything to keep us from finishing the bridge. Hine won't try anything, Mr. Conway. You watch out for him just the same. A few more accidents like this one and we'll be licked. Tonto carried John Conway up the ladder and made him as comfortable as possible in his small house. Dan remained with the injured man while the Indian rode to meet the Lone Ranger. The morning advanced with Jim Kirk giving orders to the men who worked on the bridge. Get going. Tie that rope on and lower those timbers. The men below are waiting. Hey, Kirk. Hey, what do you want to say? Mr. Hine has come to speak to you. Hine here. Oh, no, he's the janitor. We're working for him. Shut up. There he comes now. He's seen him. Now go over and run the donkey engine. You know what to do. Yeah, I know what to do. See you later. Good morning, Kirk. Hine, it's dangerous for you to come here. I've been waiting in town for news, Kirk. I didn't get any. So I came to find out why. This bridge is going along on schedule, isn't it? Yes, but you should... Kirk, you took my money and I want something for it. You'll get what you paid for. You guaranteed that Conway wouldn't finish this bridge on time. He won't. But he is. It's ahead of schedule. I'm counting on this job, Kirk. I want it when Conway forfeits a contract. Listen, Hine. Conway had an accident this morning. He did? Yeah. He went out on the bridge to make his usual morning inspection and stepped on a loose timber. He fell into the canyon. He broke his leg. Now you're in charge, huh? That's right. I've just sent Steve over to run the donkey engine. There's a likely to be another accident. Look over there, you can see him. I see him. The cable on that engine is pretty old. Steve's going to hoist some mighty heavy timbers. Oh, there they go. Swinging over the edge of the canyon. Yeah, I see them. They shouldn't put so much weight on that old cable. If it snaps and lets those timbers fall, it'll be awful bad. What's that? The cable. I'm satisfied. All right, what's going on over here, man? What happened there? Oh, what happened? Who's that? What's going on? Well, that's how it happened, Mr. Conway. Steve didn't realize that the cable was old. Con found this busted leg. Oh, it couldn't be helped, Mr. Conway. Anyone hurt, Kirk? Yeah. Timmons was down below. How bad is he hurt? He's dead. Well, I'll see you here, Kirk. Someone has to blame for that. Oh, I don't know, Mr. Conway. Someone has to blame for that, just the same as Skinny Rawlins has to blame for leaving that loose timber that made me fall into the canyon. Well, I fired Skinny for that. Who was to blame for snapping that cable? Well, Mr. Kirk Steve was at the donkey engine. He should have known better than to jerk the line with such a heavy load. You're all going right, you sure? Well, I fired Steve. Well, that won't help any... What about the bridge? Well, it got smashed up pretty bad. Con found the luck. I...let me out of this chair. Mr. Conway, the doctor said... Oh, Dan, Kirk, help me to the window. I've got to see you. You're not to get out of bed. But I... Oh, hang this no good leg. Well, there's nothing to see, Mr. Conway. It's all at the bottom of the canyon where you can't see it. Kirk, what did you do with Timmons? Well, the boys are getting him out of the canyon. You sure he's passed all hell? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, we made sure. How long will it take to repair the damage to the bridge? Oh, I'd say about at least two weeks. Two weeks? Well, we... Mr. Conway, you got to lie quiet. That leg's got... I know, Dan, I know. See here, Kirk, we can't spend two weeks repairing that damage. We can't lose two days of progress on that bridge. Well, I don't know what we can do about it. Do, we can get more help, get more men in the job, get the men to work longer hours, work by lanternlight if need be. Well, I'll see what we can do, Mr. Conway. Oh, look up Timmons' family and see if we can do something for them. Right. Oh, gone and all. This ain't the worst luck. Maybe my friends will have some suggestions when they get here, Mr. Conway. Ah, suggestions won't build a bridge. We got to get more men in the job. I tell you... Well, who? Oh, Conway. Oh, quick. Mass. Oh, Conway, I'm glad you're here. What's the idea of sneaking in the rear door? What's the... Hey. Dan, is this the friend you spoke of? Yes. I've been looking your bridge over. I reckon I wasn't very sociable when you came through that door. I saw a man asking... There's just been another accident. Yes, Dan, I know. Sit down. I owe a lot to this lad in the Indian. Conway, I've heard of situations similar to this. Yes? A rival contractor wanted to take the job away from the man who was building a tunnel. There were a lot of accidents on that job. At least they were called accidents. What are you getting at? I wonder if that accident would have happened if you had been on the job. But I... Say... You mean the hint that Kirk has sold me out? Oh, I didn't say that, Conway. Matter of fact, I don't know that anyone wants to see you fail on this job. Look here. It just happens that there is a buzzard. Oh. A critter by the name of Hind. Hind? Yes, he wanted the job of building the bridge. But he couldn't get the graft worked out the way he liked, so the job came to me. Well, that's interesting. If someone caused that cable to snap, it's a case of murder, isn't it? That's right. Poor Timmons was killed. Golly, do you think that's what happened? It would have to be proved, Dan. See here. Why do you hide your face by that mask? Who are you? You. What's the matter? I'll show you what's the matter. Kirk, what in the... All this dog gone leg easy there, Mr. Conway. I'm sorry to bust in like this, Mr. Conway. But this masked man and Indian with him have been snooping around asking questions. I looked for the foreman, Kirk, but you went around. So then you went snooping. I looked at the broken cable. And hittin' that it might have been broken intentionally. It's possible. And if it was, Timmons was murdered. We don't need masked outlaws around here. I'm not an outlaw, Kirk. Well, you're masked. Did you examine the broken cable? Sure I did. It was none too strong. The wrong kind of handling would have broken it. Well, Steve was careless, that's all. It's none of your business, anyhow. You fired him, didn't you? Sure I did. And you gave him the pay he had coming, didn't you? What about it? I talked to him. He was getting ready to go into town with a pocket full of spending money. What's that got to do with you? It has quite a bit to do with Mr. Conway and the bridge. Especially if Steve snapped that cable on purpose. Why, what do you get in that? If Steve's in town for the rest of the day spending his money, he'll be in a very talkative mood by evening. He might be made to admit snapping the cable. You mean to say he did it on purpose? I don't know, Kirk. But I think he should be questioned, don't you? Someone might have hired him. Right. Maybe he's right, Conway. I'll go into town and see him tonight. Perhaps it would be better if Sheriff Wallace questioned him. Well, you're hitting and I can't be trusted. You're as much as saying that I fixed it for Steve. No, no, Kirk, Kirk, Kirk. I'll handle this, Conway. This critter's just trying to stir up a lot of distrust and trouble. I'm gonna teach you a lesson you won't forget. Eddie Kirk, don't start anything. You can't finish. I can finish anything I start. I'll show you. You missed, Kirk. I won't miss the next time you... I'm sorry. Well, yeah. No man does that and gets away with it. He's got a gun. No more of that. My hand, my hand. You ask for that, Kirk. You wait. You just wait. I'll get you for this. You better get your hand bandaged. Collin will fix it for you. He's outside somewhere. I don't need his help. Now, Kirk, don't let your hot temper make a fool of you. The mask man is right. He's a meddler that's here to stir up trouble for all of us, Conway. Now, see that he pays for knocking me down and shooting me. For out a lot of distrust among the men on this job. Mr. I... I'm afraid you've made yourself an enemy. So it seems. Kirk ain't one to take what you gave him without doing something about it. 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. Shortly after his fight with Jim Kirk, the Lone Ranger called Tonto to Conway's house for a meeting with the contractor. Conway, when you said that a man named Hein was after this job, I was sure there was something underhanded in the accident. You know about Hein? Yes. Hein was a contractor who built the bridge at Little Rock. Yes. The original builder lost that contract because of a series of accidents. Oh, I see. How long has Hein been in cold water? He came there before I started work on the bridge. He's been there ever since. That's interesting. Him crook. Him plenty crook. We could just prove that. The time limit wouldn't mean anything if Hein wasn't on hand to take the job over. We're going to try to prove it. You spoke of questioning Steve. Yes. That might lead to something. Steve didn't have anything to do with your fault. No, no. The skinny Rawlins had left that loose timber for me to step on. He was fired this morning? Yeah. Isn't Jim Kirk very quick to fire men when you need all the help you can get? Well, I wonder... How far do you trust Kirk? I don't know. I never had reason to distrust him. But now... Conway, Toto and I are going to cold water. Right now? Yes, Dan. You're going to question Steve and skinny? No, not exactly. We're going to use them as bait. Come on, Toto. Ah, you ready? We'll see you later, Conway. I'll be here. Dan, those two friends of yours are certainly unusual men. You bet they are, Mr. Conway. Especially the Mask Man. Why is he so eager to help me? Mr. Conway, that's the Lone Ranger. What? Sure. I thought you knew it. The Lone Ranger. Come on, Toto. Get it up. That evening, a lot of things happened in the town of Coldwater. First of all, Sheriff Wallace had a visitor, a Mask Man who he had met previously. I don't know as it could be done. It can be done, Sheriff. Well... All right, it's worth a try, anyway. A few minutes later, Toto met the Mask Man in the shadows behind the cafe. Kirk just right into town. All right, Toto. The Sheriff will have his deputies ready. Or Steve and skinny in the cafe. And there. Then you know what to do, huh? Toto knew what to do. Because the Mask Man had given him careful instructions. He went to the cafe and sought skinny and Steve who were seated at the corner table. For some time, there was nothing to attract the attention of the others in the cafe. Then, without warning, violent action exploded in the corner. I never thought such a thing. That's super work. Go, go, go! Oh, it's a fire! A red-skinned sure-hand! Keep a plan out! Don't get him shot! Back it up! Come along! It's the Sheriff! Bust it up! The fight was halted, and Toto was taken with skinny and Steve to the one-room jail that opened from the Sheriff's office. Hind, the contractor, was already in the room. And when he saw the Sheriff... I demand my immediate release, Sheriff Wallace. Now, hold on, Mr. Hind. Why was I brought here in the first place? I reckon my deputy misunderstood Mr. Hind. You weren't to be locked up like a criminal. Well, I should hope not. I just sent the deputy to bring you here to answer a few questions. That's all. And open the store and let me out. Ask your questions and let me go. Oh, just a minute. Someone just came into my office. I gotta see who it is. You wait right here, and I'll be back in a minute. Sheriff! Hey, Sheriff Wallace! I'll be right there. I'll be back in a minute, Mr. Hind. You'd better be. Coming right up! Thought you'd have your hands full on the bridge job at the canyon. Well, I have. But you see, Sheriff, I came into town to find a couple of men I fired this morning. Oh? Yeah. Uh, Steve and Skinny. I understand you got them locked up. Well, they got into a row at the cafe. A sheriff, I, uh... Uh, I suppose they told you why they were fired. Oh, not yet, Kirk. The fact is I haven't had much chance to talk to them. Well, then I'll tell you. They, uh, they got careless and the man was killed. Hmm. That's bad. I just had word that the thing won't end with my firing him. No? No. You see, words got around that, uh, well, that Steve and Skinny were paid to make trouble. Oh. Is that so? Mm-hmm. Oh, I don't believe it, but you know how men are when a story like that gets started. And I came to town to warn the two that they'd, uh... well, that they'd better clear out when they got a chance. I see. Well, I got them here. It's a fine against them. I'll pay it. You can pass along what I said and just turn them loose. Well, don't you want to talk to them yourself? No, no, no. They, uh... See, they're probably sore at me for firing them. Uh, is there a fine to pay? No, that ain't necessary. I'll turn them loose. They're good. Want to wait? No. No, no. Might be just a little embarrassing. No, I'll shove on. Suit yourself, Kirk. Now, tell them what I told you and they can use their own judgment. Mm-hmm. Good night, Kirk. Good night. Ornery buzzard. As Kirk left his office, Sheriff Wallace stood in the open doorway looking after him for a few moments. He seemed lost in deep thought. Then, closing the door, he turned and walked slowly toward the cell, where Tauna was confined with Steve behind. Hmm. So Kirk was thoughtful enough to come here to warn the too many, says he fired. Sure, putting himself out to be kind-hearted. Ha, ha, ha. Looks like the masked man's plan is working out just like he figured it would at that. And now I'll unlock the cell door and tell them they're free to go. I'll unlock the cell, gents. Being as I'm letting Steve and Skinny go, the engine can leave, too. As for you, Mr. Heinen... I won't go. What's that, Steve? Ian Skinny ain't leaving here. That Redskim told us a few things and Kirk's coming here proves it was true. What are you talking about? You heard what Kirk said. He came here to warn you. He came here to fix us so as he could shoot us and have someone else to take the blame. Oh, why do you want to shoot here? I ain't talking, but I ain't leaving here. What are you waiting for, Redskim? Me not going. Of all the crazy... Well, it's dark outside. Too dark to see who comes from here. Maybe fellow, shoot me. Maybe think me one of these two fellow... I never seen a like of this. Mr. Heinen, you're free to leave. I, uh... I'm in no hurry. You can't stay here. Me and Skinny won't leave. Kirk's afraid we'll tell something. He wants to shut us up for Keith. These fellow take pay from Kirk. Get Cash to smash Bridge. What? Is that the truth? We ain't admit nothing, but we ain't leaving. Now, look here, Inge, and that don't make no sense. Why would Kirk pay anyone to smash the Bridge? He wouldn't gain nothing by it? This fellow pay a mind? No, no, no. That's not true. Come to think of it, if Conway fell down on his job, you'd take it over, wouldn't you? Are you making an accusation? No. But there ain't no one else who'd pay to block work on the Bridge. The word of an Indian. Then you don't take no stock in what the Injun said? Of course not. Yeah, Steve, you see, there's nothing to be afraid of. Well, Hine, go out first. The sheriff wants to ask me a few questions. I've changed my mind about that. Hine, I'll ask him some other time. You can go. But I, I want to speak to you about something. Tomorrow, I'll do. Stop hedging about it, Hine. Hine, you know better than anyone else if Kirk was paid to damage the Bridge. Well, look, well, someone else might have done it. Well, there ain't no one else who'd pay for that kind of work. You go out first. No, wait. You go out first. No. No, Kirk will shoot it. It's dark. He can't see. Then you admit you hired him and he paid babies. I admit nothing. Let me go. Make an Indian let me go. Now, open the door. Wait, wait, Sheriff, you want to ask me some questions. That's why you brought me here. Let these others go. We can talk. I'll ask you the question I figured on asking Hine. Did you hire men to smash that Bridge? Answer yes or no. No. All right, then. We got nothing to fear from Kirk or anyone else. Now, get out of this. No, no, no. Wait, wait. I'll confess. I'll admit it. You hired Kirk to smash the Bridge? Yes. And he hired them too? Yes, but I didn't intend to kill anyone. I was on accident, Sheriff. Get behind that far door. Put him in there, Tondo. You get back. Get back. Good work, Tondo. I'm not fixing her. Do you chance in the next room hear the confession? Yeah, we heard it all. We admit it. Good hunting, Sheriff. Yeah. What's this? Who are these men? Deputies and townsmen, Hine, so as we'd have witnesses to your confession. You framed this. It wasn't my idea. Get in there, Kirk. All right, all right. Don't shuffle it. Well, Kirk, inside your hands so neat. Well, Hine, you confounded fool. This was all frame. What, Kirk? I was a masked man outside. He grabbed and wrote me as soon as I left the office. You'd kept your mouth shut. They wouldn't have had a thing on him. Kirk, you ornery pole cat. You would have shot the men that helped you if you'd had the chance. Yes, and if you hadn't come here, they wouldn't have been able to trap us. Will you squeal or kill her? Shut up. Now, both of you, keep still. If you hadn't showed up, Kirk, we'd have got you anyhow. Hine would have squealed just as loud when we got him convinced that you were waiting outside. Open that door, deputy. Sheriff. What is it, Tondo? Conway, get more time to finish bridge now. Hell, shucks. Without Hine waiting to jump in and take the job over, I reckon Conway can have as much time as he needs. No, that's good. Me, go now. Get in there with your pals, Kirk. Hey, will you never suck this one up, shirt of Wallace? No, I admit that, Kirk. It's here with the plan that was thought up by the Lone Ranger. Get him up. You have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.