 horse to the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty high old silver, the Lone Ranger. The pioneers who first settled the western United States fought out laws and hostile Indians to protect their new homes. They accepted gun laws and natural things, and even the most honest ranchers prided themselves on the quickness of their draw. It was the masked rider of the planes who made them realize that there could be no peace and security on the frontier until law and order was established. It was he more than any other man who brought justice and civilization to the new territory. 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. It was almost midnight, but Wolf Snider's Last Chance Cafe was still going at full blast. The sound of discordant music and the shrill laughter was heard clearly by Burt Walker and his grim-faced companions as they walked up the steps of the cafe. It fellers, just a second before we step inside. Yeah. This is my fight, Savvy. I don't aim to have none of you interfering. But boss. You heard me Vic. All you're to do is see that nobody else butts in either. We get inside, spread out, and keep an eye on things. Any Adan's men slap leather, there you are, meat. Adan is for me and don't forget it. We forget it. All right, come on. Just stay behind your bar, Wolf, and get ready to duck lead. There's a skunk in here that's going to get his needons. Now don't you go shooting up my place, Bert. Shut up. There he is, boss. Cross the room there. I see him. Red out like I told you. Dan Bowman. I don't drink with pole cats. Just get out of that chair. I'm waiting for you to fill your hand. Tan aside, folks, anybody getting between me and Dan there is likely to get hurt. You and me have been sharing the contract for government beef. Shut up. But you've been getting notions. When getting the idea, you'd like to have that contract all for yourself. You stampede my trail hurt before I could make delivery. I lost near all of them. I got a warning from the agent. One more failure to make delivery and my part of the contract's canceled. You say I stampede your cows. You're crazy. Slap leather. Hey, Barkeep, light some candles. We can't see a thing. I don't get excited, folks. There'll be lights on in just a second. Get them candles going, Barkeep. There, Wolf. There they are. Boss, why are you? Hey, where's Bert got to? What's that? Hey, boss. Hey, boss. He's gone. If Dan's done this... Dan's going to. Well, I'll see. Ain't no sign of either one. But what's happened to him? He disappeared while the lights was out. Where have they got to? It's a dog-going funny thing. Each me. Vic, maybe they went outside to settle their fight. You'd better take a look. Yeah, I reckon I'd better. Excitement's over, gents. There's nothing more to worry about. Line up the bar and name your pison. Barkeep will take care of you. The drinks are on the house. Wolf Snider's invitation for a free drink on the house brought the customers to their feet and they crowded close to the bar. During the confusion, Wolf slipped quietly to the back of the cafe and spoken a low voice to a man hidden behind the stairway, leading to the living quarters overhead. You there, Jake? Yeah. Put up your shooting irons and come out from behind there. This is spiraling. He just disappeared, huh? Slick as a whistle. Come on in my office. No one's waiting for us. Yeah. Get inside. One I wish I knew. Things go wrong. Just as wrong as they could. Who fired them shots? I don't know. It was a mask, man, Wolf. I've seen him just for a second when he stepped inside. A mask, man. Yeah, he was... Forget about it. Well, we gotta figure out some other scheme. To hear you talk, Wolf, there wasn't nothing gonna stop this one. Oh, I don't know how it happened. Everything was set. I had moonfellers, stampede walkers' cows, making it look as though Bowman was the cause of it. When Walker came in here gunning for Bowman, Jack was all set to drill him both from cover while he was shooting it out. Oh, gone thorn. You couldn't ask for a better setup than that. It didn't work, did it? No. Look here, Wolf. I want that government beef contract. I can't get it till Walker and Bowman lose out. I hired you to see if the job was done right. But if you can't handle it, then I'll get somebody else. I'll figure out something. Yeah, you don't even know where they are. For all you know, they might be together right now, comparing notes. And if they do that, they're gonna put two and two together and begin getting the facts straight. I do. You'll find them fellows and show me some action. Hold on, Thorn. Well? Don't go distracting me. It wouldn't be healthy. With what I got on you, you'll string along with me and like it. You ain't got no more on me than I got on you. Then we'd be fools to split up. You just leave things to me. This won't work out yet. Well, it's better. Careful with the mask, man. Wolf. That's the same mask fellow that shot the lights out. Is that so? It is. Who are you? That's something you won't find out. Don't reach for that gun. Take it easy, Thorn. We'll get to the bottom of this. Maybe he had something to do with Bert and Dan disappearing. Did you? Wolf, right now both those men are my prisoners. Oh, well... What was the idea? Maybe I wanted to cut myself in on this game. You? What are you talking about? Game? We ain't got no game. Well, those men stand between Thorn here and the rich contract for army and reservation beef. I don't know. Jake here was instructed to shoot them. Making it look as though they'd killed each other. How'd you find out all that? I have my own way of learning things. I still don't seem... You don't have to see. Where have you got Walker and Bowman? Well, you won't find them. They can't be far. They aren't. They're just outside town. Now, leave here. I'm taking them to my camp. Then you're welcome to look for them as much as you want. What are you buttoning in for? This ain't no concern of yours. I'm making it mine. But what for? Thorn is paying you well, isn't he, Wolf? Oh, that's it. You're after Cash, too, huh? Perhaps. You figure I'll pay up to have them two fellas turned over to me. Is that it? I have the whip and... You won't get it. Thorn, you came to Wolf to get this job done. He ain't said so. He doesn't have to. I happen to know the facts. And Thorn couldn't have made a worse move when he hired you. And still, what do you mean by that? Thorn, how long do you think you could get away with murder? Till Walker's herd was stampeded, he and Bowman had always been good friends. People are going to remember that. Now look here. Keep still, Wolf. Maybe this Andre's talking sense. Go ahead, stranger. You overlooked another fact. Yeah? You made Walker believe Bowman wanted that contract for himself. Walker lost his temper and didn't stop to reason things out. He had, he'd realized that Bowman wouldn't want the entire contract. He hasn't enough cows to fill it. Nobody had bothered to think that out. That's where you're mistaken. And when they did, they'd realize that Thorn here benefited by the killings. Why would they? Somebody'd have to take over the beef contract, wouldn't they? That wouldn't be reason for suspicion of Thorn. Thorn, however, is the only rancher in the district who could take over the contract. He's the only rancher with a large enough herd. But I... Ranger, I'm beginning to think that it's lucky we made up. Letting Wolf have his way, I might've gotten real trouble. Exactly. You for hire? I might be. Supposing I hired you. What would you suggest? I'd suggest that instead of killing Walker and Bowman, you'd drive them out. Yeah? Throw a scare into them. Make them believe they have their choice between giving up their contract or losing their lives. What you just now said, killing wasn't safe. I didn't suggest killing. I suggested making them believe their lives are in danger. There's a difference. They'd steal suspicion. Who was behind it? Let them suspect all they want. If you did it cleverly, they'd have no proof. How do you mean? You can handle that to suit yourself. We come to terms, I'll deliver both men to you tomorrow night. They'll be blindfolded so they can't recognize you. How much is this going to cost me? What will you pay? Five hundred. Good enough. What time do we get them and whereabouts? At midnight tomorrow, beside Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock ain't convenient. Let's make it... I said Eagle Rock. Take it or leave it. Seems like I ain't got no choice. You haven't. I ain't paying you nothing till I get him. Well, well... Go on, you're a local. How do you know this fella ain't up for some trick? If he tries anything, he don't get paid. Then it's settled? Sure, stranger. I'll be on my way then. Remember, midnight tomorrow at Eagle Rock. I'd like to catch the fella that left that back door on me. What's the dog going on using, John? That mask, fella, Wolf. Oh, Carly. I don't see nothing funny about it. His button in is just going to cost you cash. That ain't it. Well... What struck me funny was that mask fella trying to make me think he's a crook. Huh? Why, you blaved at it. Didn't you guess who he was? How could I with him wearing that mask? That was the Lone Ranger. Oh. You sure? I am willing to bet on it. Carly, then we'd better watch our step. Wolf, this is... I don't know what to do. We'd better watch our step. Wolf, this is one time the Lone Ranger gets fooled. Yeah? Your saviour scheme? Why, he was so blamed anxious for us to meet him at Eagle Rock? I don't know. So you'd have the law planted there to get evidence against us? Just so. Only it ain't going to work out that way. Well, you stay away, sure. But how do we get a hold of Walker and Bowman? If that fella's a Lone Ranger, he'll give him a warning. That won't matter. Why won't it? Because that mask fella ain't no fool. He knows Dahl gone well. We won't go near Eagle Rock. Unless we see him, bring them ranchers there. I suppose. But if he's going to have the law weakened there... Let him. We'll get Walker and Bowman. Only we'll get them before they reach Eagle Rock. We'll get them on their way there from the Masked Fellows' camp. But you don't know where his camp is. We'll find out. Now, where's that engine you hired last week? The one you said could follow a trail with his eyes closed. Right out? Yeah, get him in here. Go ahead, Jake. The engine's in the bar room. Bring him in here? Yeah. You're figuring on the Redskins' trail in the Masked Man, huh? Right. Maybe he won't be able to. And if he ain't as good a trailer as he claims to be, it's time he was fined it out so she can save his wages. Well, it's worth trying. There he is. Get in there, Redskins. The boss wants to talk to you. Uh-huh. Red Elk, you've been telling me how good you could follow a sign. Me? Good. Could you follow the trail of a horse at night? Let me do that. Then that's what you're going to do right now. Where a trail? Oh, there's a fella in here just now. Come in the back way. So he must have had his horse waiting out back. You can pick up his trail from there. Jake. Yeah? You'll go along with the engine. I want somebody with him I can trust. And if we find that masked fella's camp, just get back as fast as you can and let us know where it is. And don't let him know you've found it, neither. We won't. Then get on with it. Right. Come along, engine. Well, that's that. The wolf, if that red skim finds the masked man's hideout, we've got things all our own way. 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. Gotta continue our story. When the Lone Ranger left the Last Chance Cafe, he returned to the edge of town where Burt Walker and Dan Bowman securely tied a weighted hen. Mounting his two prisoners on extra horses, he led the way across country to his well-hidden camp in a small wood. All right, out of the saddle. Here, your hand for Tide. I'll help you, Burt. Now, Dan. If this is a stunt you and Burt fixed up between you... It isn't. Let me and the masked man fixed up. Why, I've got your hide, Dan. If anybody planned this, it was you. You don't know what to do. Both of you keep still. I'll do the talking. You'll both remain tied until I'm finished. You'd better talk fast. If I hadn't interfered, you men would be dead. Dan would. Quiet. I said both of you and I meant both of you. Burt, you let yourself be tricked. Dan had nothing to do with the stampeding of your trail herd. That ain't so. My crew seen one of Dan's men. Which one? Tex Sealy. And Tex is really in the play of Wolf Snyder. Burt? I'd like to know what this is all about. Burt's saying I was after the whole beef contract for myself and you saying Tex is a crew. He is. You got proof of that? I'll tell you the facts and you can judge for yourself. The first place for the last month there have been rumors at the fourth that Thorne was going to take over the government beef contract. Thorne? Yes. No one seemed to know why or how. So I came here to investigate. Thorne. Dan, Tex gambles quite a lot at Wolf's place, doesn't he? What of it? And he's been winning. You know Wolf's games are crooked. Did it ever occur to you that Wolf might be letting him win? Why would he? To pay Tex for selling you out. Tex let himself be seen when Burt's herd was stampeded. Burt naturally suspected you were behind it. Stranger, this sounds interesting. You, Burt, went gunning for Dan. Wolf had one of his gunmen planted in the cafe. You'd had your fight, he would have shot both of you. And in the confusion, everyone present would have been certain you'd shot each other. How do you know all these things? You'll learn that later. You believe what I've told you? Well, it did seem funny that after me and Dan being friends for so long he'd try to break me. Well, I was so mad it didn't stop to think. You don't have to believe me. Tomorrow night I'll give you proof. Of what? Proof that Wolf is behind this trouble. And that Thorn in turn is behind him. Thorns hired him? He has. How do you prove it? I called on Wolf and Thorn after I took you from the cafe. I let them think I was a crook who wanted money. Tomorrow night I'll turn you over to Thorn and he'll pay me. So you're in with him? I'm not. But you said you were going to give us up. Because it's the only way to bring Thorn and Wolf to justice. You'll understand when the time comes. I don't see it. In the meantime, if you'll give me your words not to escape I'll release you. Well, I don't cotton much to be in tide. If you don't promise you'll stay tide. How long does that promise hold? Until tomorrow night. I'll promise. I get a hanker to see what's going to happen. And you, Bert? Strangely, you got my word, too. Take off these ropes. Wolf Snyder's last chance cafe had long since closed for the night. As dawn came, Wolf and Thorn still waved in the former's office. At last they heard two horses thundered to a stop outside. Then someone knocked on the door. Who's there? It's me, Wolf. Jake. Well? The ancient dunnock. Is that right, ancient? You find that mask, Fuller's camp? Uh, me find it. Or a box? Over in that woods, beyond the creek. Beyond the creek? That's the other side of Eagle Rock. Uh-huh. Ancient, you learned your keep. Wolf, I'm telling you, I never seen such trailing. He could see sign where it was so dull going dark I could hardly see the ground. And got there almost as fast as the red-skinned node where he was going right from the first. You're going to come in handy, Red Elk. Well, Thorn, what do you think? Jake, how close did you get to the mask, Fuller's camp? Close enough to learn you had things figured right. Yeah? You hear him talking? Yeah, just so. What did he say? Said he struck a bargain with you to deliver them fellas at Eagle Rock for cash. Said when he'd done that same, it was going to jail you. Yellis, huh? I reckon that. What have you got in mind? Jake's down here. Now, you two look here. Yeah. Say this is Eagle Rock, Savvy. They didn't make it just about halfway between here and where Jake says the Masked Fellows camp is. That's right. All right. Now, the Crick is about halfway again from the rock to the camp. Meaning? Meaning that there's plenty of cover near the Crick. Plenty of cover, Wolf, or say about four or five of your men. A man? The Masked Fellows set off from his camp with Walker and Bowman. He expects us to meet him at Eagle Rock. That's where you'll have the law waiting for you. I get it. Only he don't reach Eagle Rock, huh? Just so. Your men will be waiting for him where he ain't expecting it at the Crick before he gets to the rock and out a gunshot of where the law will be hiding. Good enough. But you don't sound like you was planning to help, Thorne. I ain't. Need this Wolf. We're staying in town, so we'll have alibis. Sure, you fellas will stay in town. And if anything goes wrong, it's us that get the blame while you stay in the clear. I'll be a fool, Jake. You'd get the blame anyhow if we was along, wouldn't you? You ought to take the same chance as the rest of us. I'm paying for this job. What's more, if you fellas should slip up, then you still got me and Wolf free to look out for you. What good would it do to have us all jailed? Well... Besides, nothing's going wrong. Don't worry about it. I ain't. It was you that seemed to be doing all the wor- That'll be enough of that, Jake. Thorne's the boss here. All right. Well, Thorne? What do you want me to tell the boys? Should they drill them fullers or just take them prisoners? They can drill them masks, man, and take Walker and Bowman prisoner. Masked fellow was trying to trick us, but he gave us some good advice, just the same. Sure. What's the use of killing them, fellas, to get that beef contract when a good scare will work just as well? Maybe soon. And when they find out even the Lone Ranger can't help them, I got a notion they'll scare easy. That night, the outlaw, Jake, led a half dozen horsemen and made a wide day tour around Eagle Rock, then pushed on toward the creek, the masked man would cross on his way to keep his appointment. Arriving at the stream, they urged their horses into a dense thicket. Pull up, fellas. This'll do. Oh, boy. What time you got, Jake? Can't be much after 11. We ain't too late. What you wanted to get here earlier? Yeah, and I would have if I hadn't waited for time looking for Wolf before we started. Wouldn't find him no place. What you want him for? Oh, nothing particular. But to find out if he had any special orders at all. What you want around, eh? Likely he kept away on purpose. Likely he figured if there was a slip-up, maybe somebody'd recollect Jake talking to him. Put two and two together. Yeah, that'd be his way. Wolf and Thorne. They don't come no slicker. Them fellas don't never take chances. So it's me. They can do the scheming and I'll do the work. For just as long as they pay good. Oh, I ain't kicking. Hey, Enchin. Uh-huh. They're keeping a sharp bot in the trail. The masked man'll come. Um, me watch him. See that you do. There's a hill on the other side of the creek. When they top it, you ought to be able to see him again in the sky. Uh-huh. Just drill the mask, fella. Yeah, I'll take him. Hmm. You ought to drill a boomer and walk her too. Wolf and Thorne said not to. They killed Thorne's the only one that gained by it. They'd leave a straight trail pining right at him. If they ain't killed, they'll recognize us. Oh, I know they won't. Why not? A masked fella said he'd deliver him blindfolded. That ain't saying he will. Why won't he? He's got sense enough to make it look like he's keeping his part of the bargain, ain't he? He said blindfolded and they'll be blindfolded. But to keep it looking right. Uh-huh. Then the idea is just to give them ranchers a scare. All right. One little stick. One that'll persuade them they don't want that beef contract no longer. And convention, they better not do no loose talking afterwards. You, Pete. Yeah? You're a good roper. You take the one closer to you. Sure. Squint will take the other. If he's the one he misses, the other'll end the hand. And don't be afraid to handle them rough. Drag them right off their horses, Savvy. Sure. Shake them up a bit, eh? Just so. When you got them on the ground, put spurs to your horses and drag them right back through the creek. It'll take some of the spunk out of them. It'll kind of hint that maybe they'd better listen to you. Then we let them get to this side of the creek before we do anything, eh? Right. Then come... Yeah, they just hop in the rocks. Pull out your foal. Now get this fellas and get it straight, because there ain't much time left for talking. Have your ropes ready. See that they don't catch on nothing. Let them cross to this side of the creek and wait till I give the word. I'll drill the mask man. You fellas rope Bowman and Walker and pull them back through the creek. That's straight now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And don't open your mouths again till I yell. Blasted I said to keep you up. I know it, I know it, Jake, but look. You can just make them out. Bowman and Walker are blindfolded already. All right. The mask fella put gunny sacking over their heads. That's so much the better. Now keep shut. They're almost to the creek. Get them! Get up there! Get up there! I'm gunning the mask fella! Oh, come on! Blasted, let's get you a bumping. You're spying on my aim. I wrote for them! I got the other one. I'm pulling from my sandals. Drag them through the creek. Get up there boy! Come on! Get up there! Come on, man. We ain't to kill them. Oh, oh there! Come on, we'll pick them up. The mask man will be coming back with the law. He's got the right eagle rock first. There's time enough. Look at them fellas. Ain't they at sight? The clothes just about tore off of me. They'll be squeezing water from their hides for a month to come. See, the path they made when they was dragged up the bank. They made a furl like they was plowed. Hey! What's the matter? There's something wrong. These fellas... There'd be nothing wrong. There is. Neither Bowman or Walker is as tall or hefty as these fellas. By a thunder... What would you like? 20 seconds off, quick. Wait, wait. I said do like I tell you. I'll get back, I'll do it myself. Pete, give me your light. That's a second. Hurry. Here you are. Pete, who does Jade think we got? I squint, I don't know. There! Got it. Wolf! And Thorne! You fool! You blessed idiot! You're no good at all. Headed Maverick. We don't knock your heads off. You like to kill us. Oh, my knee. But Wolf, Mr. Thorne, how was we to know? We thought you was Bowman and Walker. We never met you before. Pull this out of the saddle. Drag this through the creek. I'll show you. No, no, no. Don't hit me, please. Just stop. Ow! And all that. Pork up. And you'll get the same as I give Jade. Which one of you told the mass puller about our scheme? Which one of you let him know so he can come to town and take me and Thorne prisoner? That's why Jade couldn't find you before we left. Take up lessons. The mass puller know the whole thing. He made us change clothes with them ranchers. He put that gunny sack in over our heads just so it couldn't be told who we was. Pork or I'll give every one of you just what I give Jade. Oh, well. Wait a minute, Wolf. Oh, coming through, huh? Maybe you need some more. Wait, Wolf. The engine was... What about the engine? When I shot at the mask, man, he bumped me. I thought it was accidental, but maybe he done it a purpose. Red skin, what about that? You stand back. It was him that was such a good trailer he could follow the mask, man, right to his camp. By thunder, he knowed where that camp was all the time. It was him who pulled us out. Oh, who I have. You do nothing, Thorne. Come on, Marko. And where you are. And look at your hand. The U.S. Mars. A woman and Walker. To see you, Crook's jail. And a good witness to the lot of you. We never hired nobody. We tried, and we heard enough to prove it. Well, we figured the law was an Eagle Rock. How'd you get here so fast? What in time? The law wasn't near Eagle Rock. We was hired by the creek just like you was. Only we left our horses our ways back so they couldn't be heard. That dirty red skin. Careful, Wolf. You all right, Tondo? Me all right. Tondo? Did he call you Tondo engine? Me. Me, Tondo. You told me your name was Red Elk. And me fooled you plenty. Why? You're still covered, Wolf. Wolf, Tondo joined your gang for exactly this. Tell me your plans and make sure they failed. Come on, Tondo. Check, Thorne. The trap you and Wolf fixed up worked all right. But thanks to Tondo and the mask, man, you was the ones that caught. I know. I know. Get out, Scouts. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.