 horse of the speed of light, the cloud of dust, and a hearty high old silver, the Lone Ranger. In the early days of the western United States, the pony express riders were chosen for their endurance, skill, and bravery. The trails they followed led through a dangerous country and many times the mail would never have reached its destination if it had not been for the masked rider of the plains. It was he more than any other man who drove the outlaws from the new territory and safeguarded the first system of fast communication on the frontier. Return with us now to those thrilling days when the West was young. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the Great Horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. The one-story frame building that served as meeting hall and courtroom for the tiny frontier town of Buffalo Gap was jammed to the doorway with call-punchers and townspeople. Every eye was fixed on the young man who stood with his hands tied behind his back, his arm held by the sheriff as he faced the judge to hear his sentence. Podgrim, the juries found a guilty of murder according to the evidence. This court states that on the morning of Tuesday next, one weekend, you were to be taken out of dawn and hanged by the neck till you're dead. And may God have mercy on your soul. Take him back to the jailhouse, Sheriff. That's all. You can't string me up. I didn't do it. Come on, Graeme. I didn't do it, I tell you. You're making a ruckus. Come on. One side, folks. Right through this door, Graeme. No sample cutting through this curtain. Out of the way! Quiet! Quiet at this court! You just leave the sheriff. He is prisoner of oath! It's just across the street, Graeme. Keep walking. Yes. I tell you I didn't do it. The jury decided again that I reckon it settled. Hanged by the neck until dead. Next Tuesday. I reckon so. Only a week more. Just a week. And here we are. Reckon the matter. Put your back in your cell, Todd. Yeah. Todd, I... Don't go on it. I'm sorry about this. The evidence is again, the verdict's in. But all along, I couldn't believe you'd done it. I couldn't believe it. I agree with you, Sheriff. I'm an mask man. Don't slap leather, Sheriff. And now, Claude, I... I wouldn't if I were you. Shave, did you see that? Had his guns out and pointed at you before you moved a finger. Lightning fast on the drawer, aren't you, Mask Man? How'd you dare to come into town anyway? We knew the whole town would be in the courtroom. We left our horses out and back where they wouldn't be spotted. Todd-o. A ninja pard. Yes, Sheriff. Keep watching the street, Todd-o. Make sure we're warned before anyone comes here. Well, me tell me. Me watch. What did you come here for, mister? Your prisoner's name is Graeme, isn't it? Well, that's my name, but I've never seen you before. We found a saddle out on the plains. Had your name on it. An old saddle, Graeme. You and the engine found it? Yes. You can leave the window a moment, Todd-o. Oh, got a saddle in blanket. Yeah, a saddle. Oh, let me go back to wind. Well, that's mine, all right. Yeah, but I don't see what this proves, mister. Todd Graeme was convicted of that crime because one of his broken stirrups was found near the scene. This saddle is missing a stirrup. That clinches the case. Shave, all along, I told you the saddle was stolen from me long ago. Yeah, but that... Just a minute, Sheriff. On that stirrup you found, was the strap broken or cut? Why, broken, of course. Looked as if the leather just parted. Take a look at the strap on this saddle we brought in. What about it? What are you driving at? Take a good look. Oh, I don't savvy what all this fault all has to do with... Hold on. Be a pack mule. This leather's been cut. Not broken, it's been cut. Yes. Well, but it don't make sense. How could one end be cut and the other end broken? It would make sense if someone cut a stirrup off the saddle and tore the loose end so it would look broken. Ah, Sheriff, jumpin' golfers. What the man's manner says is what I've been saying all along. Somebody done it on purpose to make me look guilty. Well, yeah, it could have been that. But you need more than that to get you out, Grimm. That's too slim to get a new trial. It isn't. I'm afraid so. The whole town's against you. It's too bad, son. If I only had more time before this hanging is scheduled, the time to look for more evidence. You can make time, Sheriff. Well, how can I? Judge set the date a week from Tuesday. You can get a stay of execution from the governor of the territory. What? Well, so it can, by Pony Express. Would it get back in time? In plenty of time. And you could make sure you get the real criminal. I'll send a letter by this evening. Miss Manor, I don't know how to thank you. No, me. As Sheriff, I like to see justice done. And I think Todd's innocent. You know, when I found you here, I thought first, you might be meaning to break Todd out of jail with guns. My mission is to help the law, Sheriff. That means doing things according to law. Whoever you are, I'll never forget this. Never so long, Executive. Yes, Todd-O. We go now. And the men come. Right. We mustn't be found here. Out the back. Adios, Sheriff. Keep your chin up, Graham. Adios! Sir, they sure move fast. Sheriff, you think the governor will give me a stay of execution? You go on, Todd. Get into your cell, pronto. I got work to do. I got to write that letter and get it off on the Pony Express tonight. I'll send you away! Go away! Right as soon as any minute. Can't hold him up for one of the fresh horse. Concern that lazy groom. Howdy, Clanch. When you come in. Oh, I like to drop into the Pony Express office every once in a while, Johnson. I'd like to see the riders come in, get fresh horses and dash off again. Adds a little excitement to the town. Got plenty of excitement already. You mean Todd Graham getting convicted? Yeah. Too bad. He's a real nice gent. Not in my books. What I say is he's getting no more he deserves. I see the sheriff is sending a letter by Pony Express to the governor of the territory. That's private mail, Clanch. I was just curious, Johnson. No harm done. Yeah? Now look at here, Johnson. You don't for one minute think I got any reason to go prying on other people's affairs, do you? Please, come on, boy! It's Dudley coming in with the Pony Express. Yeah, let me help you with them saddlebags. Get away! All right, all right. Hang on to your precious mail. Dudley's coming in alive. You got that remount ready? He's ready and waiting, Mr. Johnson. Well, what in the blaze? Mrs. Dudley, since when did you take the grooming horses for the Pony Express? I told Lige to let me hold the reins. It's seldom enough I get to see my husband. That's all right, ma'am. Here, I'll just... Please, Mr. Johnson, let me put those saddlebags on the horse. Why, sure. Looks like you trust her and don't trust me, Johnson. Maybe so. Here he comes, Bob! Bob! Hi-D, everybody! Where's Marie-Bob's? I made record time for Middlebridge and I'm going to split the wind from here to Osage. I-Made! Hello, Bob. Have you got any time for your wife? Honey, what time I got is sure yours. How about a kiss? Dudley. Oh, oh, yeah, Johnson. I plum for God. Here's your mail for Buffalo Gap. This rest goes on to Osage. I'll sort this right now. Better get traveling, Dudley. Adios, Johnson! Sorry, May. Time to slip my foot in a stirrup. A friend of yours slipped more than a foot in a stirrup, Dudley. Oh, howdy, Clench. You didn't see me in the dark, huh? I saw you, but I'm not eager about talking to you. Just what did you mean by that passing remark? Todd Grimm's due for a necktie party. What? Well, are you... Bob, please. You haven't time. I'd like to lay one alongside Clench's jaw. Graham's a friend of mine and he knows it. You've got to ride. Yeah. Fair moves, Clench. Now, look here, Dudley. I said fair moves, cadet. Having you around is worse than playing leapfrog with a skunk. Get traveling. Kino, maybe I'll be seeing you later. That plays inside-winder. Now, Bob, listen. Is what he said true, May. Yes. Is Todd... Are they really gonna...? Yes, Bob. Next Tuesday. They've convicted him on that flimsy stirrup evidence? Oh, I tell you, May. Wait, Bob. There's still a little hope. Huh? I came here to see you, but there's something else. The sheriff is trying to get Todd a stay of execution. He is. There's a letter to the territorial governor writing that saddlebag. Gosh, then it ain't as bad as it seemed. I don't know what convinced the sheriff, but he's trying to help Todd. He sure is. And so will I. It's a horse of fat. When am I standing around for? Come here, horse. Sooner or I get a move. When the sooner that letter gets to the governor. Good boy, May. I got to travel. Now I'm really gonna bust the record. Get up there! Come on, boy! Get up, boy! It's me, Clench. It's you, Bullet Clench. You should have spoken your name sooner. You alone? What else would I be? Thought I was an outlaw, huh? I don't count in a lawman. Speak your piece, Clench. Just a second. You're acting spooky. Something wrong? Yeah. Maybe trouble. What kind of trouble? That job we done ain't certain as well as I figured. Yeah, stop circling. You're acting like a bird dog on the loose. Todd Graham may not hang, Spider. You're a local. He's already been convicted, ain't he? Yeah, but there's a chance... We've settled him good with that hold-up job. He was tried and the jury called him guilty. And the judge says he's to be strung up Tuesday next. Mm-hmm. And you still say there's trouble? You're dreaming up mirages, Clench. You're sure of route to the governor of the territory, Spider. I don't care what you say, huh? What's that? Maybe Graham's going to get a stay of execution. Is this straight? As a string. I moseyed over to the pony express office. Not only did I see the envelope, but I heard Dudley's wife tell him. What did you do? Nothing. Johnson was too suspicious of me. If I had the chance, I'd have taken a letter then and there. And now? In Dudley's saddlebags. He's riding boot and spur for Osage. Fast, huh? Fast as his pony can pound the prairie. Doggone it? Why didn't you ride after him and shoot him? Don't be a fool, Spider. He's got a fast pony. Besides, killing won't solve it. That stay of execution can't be stopped. There's only one way. There is? Supposing, Spider. Just supposing the governor's answer got misplaced. So it disappeared until after Tuesday. It wouldn't do Todd Graham any good then, would it? You mean it? I mean when a man's been hanged it's too late to bring him back, savvy. Yeah, Clench. We're riding toward Osage, Spider. We'll be waiting for Dudley when he heads back here. Yeah, Spider. Todd Graham wouldn't be feeling so chipper if he knew about us, huh? Yeah? Yeah, Todd. Here's your dinner coming. My dinner? You haven't got a tray in your hands. Nope, it's coming right along behind me. Come in, Miss Dudley. Hello, Todd. May. Oh, gosh, how are you? Just fine. Now, if you'll open the cell door, Sheriff. Shucks, I cling for God. May, how about bobbing that letter the Sheriff sent my pony express? Is there any news? Now, Todd, you just eat. Will, Todd. Take it easy, son. It's only been three days since that letter went. Only have four days left. Bob's laying over in Osage. That letter had to go all the way to St. Francis. He won't see the Governor's letter for another two days, at the very least. It'll leave only two days. That's time enough. Bob rides from Osage here in less than a day. Sure, Graham. And meantime, the masked man's helping me dig up the real evidence. I'm plumb certain somebody framed you. Who do you think? Well, I'd rather not say it, till I'm sure. But who's that? Jumping catfish. That sounds like the masked man. That, in a day, must be something important. Stay here and eat that grub, Todd. I'm going to eat that grub. I'm going to see. It can't stay too long. Hurry. I'm right here, masked man. Is it about Graham and it? Thunderation. I forgot to lock his cell door. Forget it, Sheriff. He won't break jail. Yeah, I reckon not. Sheriff, Todd and I have found some more evidence. It points to Clench and Spider. Enough to start a new trial? No, not enough. But then what's the use of it? That's not all. Todd and I went to their cabin. Sheriff, Clench and Spider are gone. They may have been gone for two or three days. But we could see their trail at least toward Osage. Osage? The Pony Express route. You're thinking the same thing we are. Do you think they're aiming at dry goats, Dudley? Todd and I have fast horses, Sheriff. You stay here. We can do it well alone. Sheriff Silver. Masked man, just a second. I can get a posse. There's no time, Sheriff. You stay here. What's the date for the hanging? You'll try on the trail, Todd. Get him on the trail, Silver. Sure, he'll try. But if anything goes wrong, heaven help Todd Graham. 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. How to continue our story. The Lone Ranger and Tonto had come to the aid of a man condemned to death. Convinced of his innocence, the masked rider had prevailed on the sheriff to send a letter by Pony Express asking the governor for a stay of execution. But the Lone Ranger found that the many suspected of the crime had left their cabin. Quickly, he and Tonto set out to trail them. The trail marks are faint, but they head east. Osage, that way. You think they go along Pony Express? It's hard to say. They may have quartered even further to the east. And why they do that? Towards St. Francis. That's where the governor is. They might try to hold up the stay of execution there. Maybe so. But maybe they think it better to stop Pony Express rider on trail. It's a gamble either way, Kimosabi. Only one thing for us to do. We keep on to follow the trail. Maybe slow going later, but we'll follow it as long as we can. What happen if we lose trail? We'll discuss that when the time comes. Faster, Silver. Very much so. Plains, how long do we track along this creek? Oh, a couple miles maybe. But what for? Just follow along, spider. I'd like to know what a reason for a thing is, Clanch. Kimos, spider. Start out bold as brass, making no more attempt to cover our tracks than a herd of stampede and buffalo. Yep. They make camp last night with a regular fire. Then this morning I wake up. You've scattered the fire, covered it up. Uh-huh. All day long, we've been covering our tracks real careful, like playing safe, spider. I got to thinking last night. Well, we know maybe the sheriff's got a line on us. He convicted Graham, didn't he? Sure, but then he got doubtful. Why else would he look for a stay of execution? Hey, that's so, Clanch. That's smart-figuring. I aim to keep it smart. You mean maybe the sheriff is still out looking for evidence? Yeah, evidence against us. Think he's got any? I don't know. That's why we're playing it close, Abby. We cross the hard pen four times. The horse has left no track. Then we cross the quicksand. That's enough to throw anybody off. And now this water. Yeah, when I do something, I do it complete. Like you frame Graham. Yeah, and like he's going to stay framed to let noose goes around his neck. He's getting dark, Clanch. You know, up this bank. Get up, horse. Make camp up here? Yeah, dry camp. No fire for anybody to see. How much further do we got to go before we're alongside the Pony Express Trail, Clanch? I guess you don't know where you are, huh? I lost my bearings long ago. You'll rain up your horse. Take a look around you, spider. Take a good look. You've been in this section before. Hey, this begins to look familiar. Yeah? We're sitting right next to the Pony Express Trail, right next to it. Yep. You mean all we got to do is camp here till dead becomes alone? Yes, spider, that's all. And I don't reckon there's anybody in the west slick enough to follow that trail, we said, either. We must have left this hard pen someplace, Kimosami. Ah, but where? Rocks stretch plenty far. We've been quartering across it all afternoon. Wherever the rock ends in sand or dirt, there isn't a sign of their tracks. We waste plenty time, huh? Too much. Here we are, back at the quicksand again and that's... Oh, what matter? Why, you stop? Out of. The quicksand, they might have used an old trick. What you mean? They could have crossed the quicksand that way. Hunter, not understand, Kimosami. If they take horse in quicksand, horse sink down till sand cover them. Ground too soft. You recall those willows we passed back before we hit the rock? Uh-huh. Many of the twigs and branches had been cut. I wondered why they took them. That's right. They not use them for firewood. They could have used them to cross this quicksand. Ah. You send me what they do. Hunter, not think of that. No wonder we found no trace. The quicksand leveled out as soon as they passed and the branches sank out of sight. Come on. We'll circle the quicksand until we locate them. You circle the west. I'll head around the eastern edge. If you see any sign, fire two shots. Maybe they're here shots. We'll have to risk that. Get them up, scoundrel. Come on, Silver. There's Tonneau up ahead, Silver. He didn't fire his gun. Aye! Any sign, Tonneau? No. We not find anything. I saw no tracks either, Kimosabe. That means only one thing. We lose trail. No. Huh? Follow me this way. Where we go? Just around this patch of sagebrush. Here. A creek. Yes, Kimosabe. The creek drains from the quicksand. They left the quicksand in the water. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. They left the quicksand no place else. They must have left it here. We go heat pass along creek now, huh? Until dark, Tonneau. And we'll start out again in the first light of morning. All I hope is that we're not too late. Spider. Spider on your feet. What? Clarence, what's the matter? Don't go all night. Spider, nothing wrong. You heard something. You heard somebody after us. Nobody's after us and I heard nothing. The only reason I'm rousing here is it's time to get set. Can't you see it's coming along to dawn. We're moving out. I've got the horses saddle already, Spider. Follow me. Spot I picked is just a hootin' holla down the trail. While we ride, I want you to take the kinks out of your lariat. Yeah, what for? Just do it. I'm doing likewise on mine. All right. Yeah, I want a nice and limber. Deadly ought to be galloping through this way in a couple hours. If he keeps the schedule. If anything, he'll be ahead of schedule. Yeah, he'll rain up. This the spot? Yeah. Good spot for an ambush. We can hide right behind them cotton woods and the bluff. Uh-huh. Tie these two lariats together, Spider. Right. Good and tight. How's that? It'll do. I'll tie this end around this tree. Blow down right near the ground. Take my horses reins. Lead them back toward our hiding place. You're burying that rope under the dirt? Sure. That's so as Dudley don't see it until it's too late. Until it's... Now I get a clench. So that's your ski. That's it. Come on. We'll stay hid back here further with one end of the rope snubbed around our saddle horns. We pull back just as Dudley crosses yonder. His pony hits the line and goes down in the heap. He'll never know what done it. Yeah, and we take the governor's letter from the saddlebags. Now all we do is wait. Simple, ain't it? The ground, boy. The pony express has got to get through. There's a bluff in the cotton woods. We're making extra good time. And we got it. I got that stay from the governor right in the saddlebag. I... Watch out! Come up just right to send him a sprawl. Is he hurt? No, no. Just unconscious. Use your gun. Don't be local. No sense in shooting. He's in such an old-fired hurry you'll start riding again the minute he comes to what I want is pony. Yeah, boy. Steady, fella. That's it, boy. That's it. Now! Hold his reins. I'll look through the saddlebags. Take the one that side. I got this. That's plenty of mail in this pouch. Here it is. I got it. Official seal. Take a look inside. The governor of the territory extends a stay of execution to Todd Graham at the request of Sheriff. Yeah, that's it. Throw it away. Throw it away. Nothing. Hey, what the... It's Dudley. He's coming too. What? I don't think he lost the letter. He won't stop to look now. Unhitch that last sue and get back out of sight. Yeah, take the horse. Fast. Come on, horses. Use the rope. Get back. There's just some time. He's waking up. What happened? Oh, I recollect. Must have put your foot in a gopher hole, boy. Steady now. Steady while I climb into the saddle. Pretty groggy, but I reckon it'll clear up. I hope you can travel, pony. At least ways you can make it to the next station with a fresh horse. We've got to get the buffalo gap before they hang, Todd. Come on, boy. You didn't even look to see if the letter was gone. His pony is limping. He'll make good time anyway. He gets fresh horses along, but it won't make any difference. He'll show up there without the stay of execution and Graham will be done for. You reckon I'm a right smart ombre, huh, spider? Where's the letter? Safe and sound. I'll hold it a while and toss it away. Let it drift with the wind. But I'll read it a couple of times more first. It makes me feel extra good. The territory extends a stay of execution to Todd Graham. Will you stop reading that letter, Clinch? Do you know it by heart now? Get rid of it, will you? Nothing can happen now. Clinch, two riders just come over the range. They travel. They're after us. They're coming up fast. Throw that letter away. There, there. It's gone. Grab for your horse to shoot him. Don't shoot again. That horse. Your mask. The lone ranger. Clinch did the killing when we held up that stage. I'll kill him, Graham. He's innocent. Spider, you yellow coyote. Let me pick up letter. You look. I'm a pardon from the governor. Clinch and Spider confessed. Toto, tie these men to their horses and head for Buffalo Gap. I'm riding ahead to save Todd Graham. You go plenty past. It's a long way to ride one horse. Silver can do it. He's beaten the Pony Express Relay before this. We'll make it. Come on, boy. Help, Silver! Here's the cottonwood, gents. I'm sorry about this, Graham. But, Sheriff, I could have swore I had that stay of execution on the saddle-bike. I must have lost it. You talked this over before, gents. The law is the law. I'm ready, Sheriff. I know you did your best for me. You too, Judge. Todd. Well, you better take me away from here. Promise me you won't rest till you find the real crooks. We promise, Todd. We promise. Graham, the rope's ready. Well, I reckon I am too. Come on, may you. Can't stay here. Not when they're gonna hang, Todd. Puttin' blazes. There's a mask, man. Don't shoot. The body's shoot. He's firing in his air. Don't shoot. Sheriff, we can start your hanging. Here's a note from the governor. It was stolen from the Pony Express on the trail. Glory to me. Deadly did you hear that? Graham, this is it. You're not gonna be strung up. Judge, Judge, take a look at this. Stolen from me on the trail? Yes, man. I don't savvy. Todd, hold on. I found where clenching spider has spilled your pony with a rope. A rope? So that was it. I never thought they're lookin' the saddle-bags. Missy, you saved my neck. Now, all the Sheriff's gotta do is to find clenching spider. Come on, head them now. What? They rope to their horses and they've confessed to the murder. Sheriff! Sheriff, do you hear that? The Masked Man's engine part's got clenching spider and they've confessed. He's bringing them in for you. Todd, that means you're a free man. Sheriff, let me go with you and bring those parmots in. Shucks, Graham. Use your eyes. Huh? There's no use in us goin'. The Masked Man's already on his way after him. Doin' the law's work for us. And, mister, he's doin' it better than any lawman I ever saw. You have just heard as a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.