 horse of the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty high, oh, silver, the lone r- The wild and untamed west of yesteryear, with all of its stirring action, is brought back to us in a vivid word picture, as the phantom figure of the planes rides on another exciting adventure. Listen to those silver shot-hoofs racing down the trails of old, the lone ranger rides again. Burton had made himself absolute master of a large district in the southwest. All who lived in that territory were forced to pay him tribute or suffer the consequences. His men, outlaws, and hired gunmen, openly punished those who refused to pay. Homes were stripped, buildings burned, cattle stolen or poisoned. Men who stubbornly defied Burton were murdered. The gang had become so powerful that the law was helpless. In the first scene of tonight's story, we see Burton and his lieutenant, Bat Jordan, riding to the home of a ranger named Tyler. Burton, look at what you're done. No, I ain't done it down right. Save it. I'm right over here to have a talk with you, Tyler. Why, you... you... Just an accident, that's all. I'm mighty sorry. I was just looking at my gun and went off and got that bull. Accident, my eye! Accidents do happen, Tyler. Yep, that's why it's smart to keep signed up with my company. Now, if only you'd paid up your fee last month, I'd have stood the loss of that bull. And because I didn't pay you, you're shot the critter. I wouldn't be so quick to say things like that, Tyler, especially when they can't be proved in court. Court? Everyone's afraid of you. You run the court, the same as you run the sheriff and everything else in this part of the country. You'd be smart to pair up your dues and button up your lip, Tyler. You know, I think you're just the fact that a man has signed up with me. You're just enough to keep thieves and troublemakers away. Now, look at how all my clients have been let alone. And look at how thieves have troubled them that ain't been registered with me. I know. When Bob Frisbee refused to pay you, he lost a hundred head of cattle from a poison pool. Then when he still held out, his house catch fire. Bad accident. Oh, sorry to see Bob wiped out like that. Yes, you was. Then there was Hank Fenton. My, but he had a streak of tough luck. Remember, Jordan, how them prowling thieves kept busting in his house and taking things? Yeah, he done well to sign up with us. His house is likely to catch fire easy. Yeah. Well, enough of that. Mr. Tyler, you owe just $50. That'll bring your payment right up to date. I ain't got no $50. No? Seems to me you sold some cattle last month. Ain't you been paid for it? I sent the cash to my niece at Red Bluff. That's bad. That's mighty bad. You should have thought of your own protection. Look here, Burton, I ain't a man to ask favors, but I've got to. My niece Betsy lost her paw and she's coming here to live with me. So you sent her all your money, huh? Her paw had some debts that she wanted to clean up before she left there. Now look here, Burton, just leave me alone and I'll pay you. I'll pay up in time if you just let me be. Tyler, I wouldn't do anything to you. You seem to think that I'm behind all the trouble around here. You ain't fooling me, Burton. Everyone knows about your gang and how you tell them to go to work on anyone that won't pay you. Well, when do you look for this niece of yours to get here? As soon as you can. Might be tomorrow or next week or next month. Well, we'll be on our way. I sure hope you'll be able to pay up what you owe, Tyler. Been quite a long dry spell. They ain't no telling when a man's house might catch fire. Come on, John. We'll go call our Mrs. Simmons. She's behind in a payment shoe. Yeah, come on. Get up here. Get up here. Cad, rat it. That poor boy. He ain't dead. I gotta take care of him. I'll go get my gun. Wait, Tyler, pull back. Here, two shots? Yes. If there's a third... Three shots, Tyler. That's always a danger sign. No man fires three shots. Unless he wants help and wants it bad. Shot come from that way. Come on, Silver, get him up here. The old ranger and his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, were riding along the trail when they heard the three shots. Throughout the west, three spaced shots were known as the signal of distress. The mass writer lost no time answering what he believed to be a call for help. And soon he and Tonto pulled their horses to a stop alongside of old Tyler, who stood beside the dead bull. What's the trouble here? Trouble? A plenty trouble. But you're talking to the wrong man, stranger. How's that? I reckon you're looking for the boss of all the outlaws, Jim Burton. Well, he went to see poor old Witte Simmons. Reckon he'll be drilling her cattle about now. Didn't you fire three shots for help? Huh? I'm no outlaw. Came here because I heard three spaced shots. Oh, plain six. I never thought of that. Guy, stranger, I didn't mean to signal for help. Even though the good Lord knows I needed plenty bad. I fired them shots to put this bull out in his suffering. Jim Burton purposely shot this critter just because I ain't paid him for protection. I see. Jim Burton, huh? Yeah. We hear a story about him. Yes. Well, I didn't think there could be any truth in those stories. Stranger, ain't none of my affair. And a smart man don't ask too many questions. But why wear that mask around here? I want you to know that I'm not afraid to wear that mask around here. I want you to tell me more about Jim Burton. Well, if you ride hard for the first White House you come to, head in that way, you'll likely catch him talking to Witte Simmons. Very well. If she don't tell you all you want to know about Jim Burton, just come on back here. And I'll tell her plenty. Come on, Silver. Stranger, I had to give him a last penny or the chances are my house would have catch fire tonight. Doesn't the sheriff do anything to stop that sort of thing? The sheriff? He can't do anything. No one can ever prove that Burton's the one who does all these things. Not even United States Marshal can do anything about it. Why don't all of you band together and refuse to pay him? They know I'm a funk enough to even speak against him. Except an old man, Tyler, and me. I tell you, Stranger, just to tell everyone I get the chance to tell. Jim Burton's the ornest cunt that ever breathed. You go ask Tyler to tell you a few things that he's done. I'm going to. The Lone Ranger gathered all the information concerning Jim Burton and his men. Among other things, he learned that many members of the gang were wanted by the law and other sections of the country. This knowledge suggested a way to break Burton's power. In town the next day, the men were gathered in the cafe. The masked man suddenly appeared in the doorway, his two heavy six-guns covering every person in the room. Hold it! Every one of you stand still. It's a sticker. It's no robbery. The man I want is Scar Lewis. Grab him, take his mask off. I'll try it. Leave your guns alone. You're wanted for murder and takeover. Burton, you ain't going to let him get me? Burton has nothing to say. Let me go. I'm covering the rest of you with one gun. Stay where you are. I'll be back, Burton, for some more of the crooks that you're shielding in this town. Let me go, Jim! During the next three days, the townspeople talked of nothing, but the daring action of the masked man. Burton and Jordan, with two of their men discussing the matter on the porch of the general store. They must have taken Scar all the way to Pay Coast. I reckon he must have. Just who's he think he is, Burton? Ain't no right to drag a man across the county line that way. We're on a mask, too. If he comes back here, butch, you better duck for cover. You're wanted in red blood. That's where he's going. What for you? Come to the side of the building. You won't get me. Burton, stay back. Stop him, Burton. And more of your gang that I want, Burton. I'll be back. Let me down. You're going to red blood, butch. Within the next two weeks, the lone rangers struck at Burton's gang four more times. He appeared when least expected. Forced an outlaw to go with him and made his escape before his surprise victims could defend themselves. In all, he had taken six of Burton's men and the gang leader was furious. We see Burton with Jordan considering a method to get rid of the lone ranger. If that man is the lone ranger, he wouldn't touch you unless he had proof for something to get you. I don't know about that. Maybe we've seen the last of them. I hope not. Jordan, I ain't going to rest until I see that man shot unmasked and planted six foot deep. As for me, I will let well enough alone. Well, I ain't. I'll get him, Jordan, if it's the last thing I do. Mr. Burton. Huh? No, huh, Tyler? You're about due to pay me some money. I know. Did you bring it with you? I-I hate no money. Well, I ain't waiting no longer. No, Mr. Burton. You pay up when there might be some accidents happening on the trail to Red Bluff. An accident that might affect there's niche you're expecting. Wait. Won't you listen to me? Money talks the only language I can't listen to. There's something we'll talk louder. What? I ain't give up plenty to get him. If-if I showed you where you could trap him, would you call what I owe you square and give me your protection for-for a few more months? For the rest of your life. That's what it means to me to get that mask, man. He's made things too darn tough around here. Do you know what he says? Well, do you? Yeah. I think I can find him. Set out on that, Tyler. Thanks. I don't mind if I do. Where's the loan ranger? I ain't saying I know where he is. You don't know? Wait. I know where he will be. You got something? Come on. Speak up. Now, let me tell it my own way. I got a scheme all worked out so you can get him. Let's hear it. You promised me that you won't make me no trouble. I told you I wouldn't. And you won't make no trouble for my niece Betsy? Of course not. All right, then it's a deal. I'll tell you how to get the loan ranger. The curtain falls on the first act of tonight's thrilling loan ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Continue our story. You will recall that in the first act of tonight's drama, the loan ranger learned of Burton's crooked activities. And in a series of daring raids, the masked man carried off those of Burton's men known to be outlaws. In the meantime, Burton tried desperately to defend himself against the loan ranger's attacks. Let us pick up the threads of our narrative as Tyler completes the outline of his plan. Now let me get this straight, Tyler. You ought to show me where to get this loan ranger. In exchange for that, I'll see that you're protected from trouble all sorts. It's a deal then. You don't know when this niece of yours is coming, do you? No. She ought to be getting here soon, though. She was only going to stay in Red Bluff till she paid up her pa's debts, then take her horse and ride down here. Maybe if she's good luck, I might take her to a couple parties. Now, hold on. One other thing I wasn't at agreement, Burton. Well? Jordan or none of the rest of your bunch are to come annoy in Betsy. All right, I'll see if they don't. You hear that, Jordan? Yeah, I hear it. Now, suppose you tell us how I aim to get this loan ranger while we can get at him. Well, there's an Indian friend of his. I heard about him. Tondo. What's Tondo got to do with it? I know where to capture the Indian. You see, him and the loan ranger have been friendly with me. The Indian has been to my place several times already and he'll be back again. Now, if you was to capture Tondo, the loan ranger would blame seem to know about it. Yeah, I suppose he would. All right. Then what will he do? Come riding like lightning with a couple guns blazing? You needn't fear about being shot. The loan ranger never shoots to kill. He'll come in fighting fair. What about it? When he comes along the trail where you men are holding Tondo making out to torture him so he'll tell where the mask man is, he'll hit a pitfall. Pitfall? Sure. You boys dig a deep hole in the ground then cover it with branches and things so he won't see it. He drops to the bottom of it and that finishes it. I'll just blaze at him with our guns. I'll tell you why, Jordan. You ought to know already. You tried to shoot him once before and one of them silver bullets blasted your six gun out in your hand. And blame there broke my hand. Of course. He sees any of us drawing a gun white. Let you have it. That's right, Jordan. Tyler's right. You wouldn't have a Chinese chance of getting him. Just don't pay no attention to him but what if he was to capture a few rattlers and put them in the pit? Sure. When he falls in the pit, they'd finish him. Sure they would. What's more, I'll provide them. Can you get them? Sure I can get them. Tyler, it seems to me that you're doing a lot to get the man that sort of worked in your behalf. How come? I'd do anything to make my home safe for my niece Betsy when she gets here. I see. We'll follow out that scheme. Jordan, get the boys together. We'll dig the pit and then we'll leave it up to Tyler to lead us to capture an ant in Gentanto. The Lone Ranger had captured all of Burton's men who had criminal records but Burton himself was still free. Our next scene opens in the masked man's hidden camp. He and Tonto are speaking of the gang leader. We can't put another one of them in jail, Tonto. The rest have no crimes chalked against them. That bad. And even if they had, the one man we must get is Jim Burton. Isn't that right? None of the others count. They can replace them as fast as we can capture them. Burton is the man who must be jailed. What jail him for? That's the problem. There's not a thing that can be proved against him. You know Sheriff here? I've talked to the sheriff. He's honest and he'd like to see Jim Burton's power broken just as much as we would. His hands are tied. Oh. Here, white fella. You're leaving now? Time, Tonto, go see old man. Very well. Maybe someday we get Burton's power. He is hoping Kimosabe. See you by and by. Yes, Tonto. Riding to Tonto's home, entered the trap set by Burton. The faithful Indian drew his horse to a stop before the ranch house, prepared to dismount and was immediately surrounded by the outlaws who advanced upon him with drawn guns. All right. What is this? You got him. Well, what's in him? Are you double-crossed? I had to do it. You'll get loose. It was you and me. All right, skin. It's you or the lone ranger. You got just one chance to save your neck. What do you mean? Tell us where to find the lone ranger and we'll let you go free. Not Tyler Peller. Him double-crossed. It was you or me. You better do the same thing and lead us to the lone ranger if you know what's good for you. Me not double-crossed. Oh, you figure you won't tell us, huh? That's right. We got ways of making any man talk. Tonto not talk. We'll see about that. Take him to the post, boys. Here's where we see just how much pain he can stand. Keep a close watch on him. Don't give him a chance to get free. Jordan, you ride ahead with Tonto and their mothers. Me and Tyler will follow you. Come on. He and I figured. He didn't put up no fight at all. No, he seemed there wasn't no use against such odds. I wonder if the lone ranger will come after him. I'm betting on it. Just look at the ground around here, how it's traveled. The lone ranger will see that Tonto don't get back to the camp, see the signs and follow the trail. I hope so. All you have to do is keep the engine at that post just beyond the pit until the lone ranger comes. Good. Unless he spots that trail, see where we went around the pit. Chuck, he won't do that. When he gets that post, he'll see his engine friend being tortured and come riding hard with eyes on us instead of on the trail. That's reasonable to suppose. How about the Rattlers? Well, Burton, I had to change that part, son. What? Yeah. You see, I managed to trap a mountain lion alive. I figured on trying to get bounty for it. When I seen how vicious the critter was, I thought it would be better to put that in the bottom of the pit instead of the Rattlers. It's all the same. Don't man it, then. That's the way I figured. A boundless strong rope was carried by Burton's men to a point along the trail that led from Red Bluff to town. There, within sight of the trail, he was tied to the stump of a dead tree. Not far beyond them could be heard a mountain lion supplied by Tyler, marking the location of the pitfall prepared for the lone ranger. We hear the outlaws as they wait for the masked man to appear in search of his companion. How much longer do you think you'd better wait, Burton? Yes, we waited about long enough. That blame mountain lion down the pit smells horses. Yeah, he's downright hungry. I can now move back to cover and have a look at him. Don't you do it. Why not? Damn critters can leap higher than a man's head. You might get out. Tyler's right. You sure are making a plenty of noise. Yeah, he's pretty hungry. Oh, by the way, I hope you made that pit deep enough. Sure, I did. Took a lot of us all night to dig it. Big enough for a man and a horse to drop in? Sure. Well, Burton, why don't you start on the red skin? Maybe we should wait until we see the lone ranger coming along the trail. What's the sense in that? You seem mighty anxious for things to get hot for the red skin, Tyler. Well, taking part in murder don't appeal to me. I want to get it over with. Murder? This is your first murder, too, ain't it, Burton? Mine? Sure. I figure you never take the risk of killing a man. Listen to him, Jordan. That's a good one. Well, have you? Tell him about the Parker affair, Burton. Yeah, the law ain't never found out about who'd done for Jack Parker. Did you? Well, I wouldn't admit it to the law, but of course I... You covered your tracks pretty slick on that job, boss. And you must have been the one that knifed Hank Green. Listen to him, man. Oh, but I don't reckon he was. Green was a pretty tough hombre to make a side of nerve for a man to fight him. Well, I done it. You did? Sure. Someone coming. Take a look. Hand ready with him last. It's a handle-tunner with... That ain't the lone ranger. That's my niece. Your niece? Yeah. She's heading down the trail. She'll fall into that hole. Stop her. Right ahead and stop her. We can't. There ain't none of us near to our horses. If she drops into that, we'll miss getting the lone ranger. Get for the horses. Hurry. They're behind them trees. We can't get to them in time. There's the lone ranger. He was behind them trees with the horses. Ride! Ride, Mr. Saved Betsy! Come on! Help us! He's getting to her. Thanks a good lord. Do you get her? Look at him travel. He's got her. He saved Betsy. All right, Tyler. Now, suppose you'd tell how he happened to be where he was. All right, Bert and I will tell. I can tell you now, because you talked all you needed to. What? The whole thing was staged just to get you to show your hands. What's that? Keep your gun on, Tyler. There's something funny here. You won't think it's a funny. We wanted you to show yourself and all your men are murderers. You've done that by setting this death trap. Well... Then I got you to talking about other murders you've done. You see, Berton, now there's enough on you to hang you. Well, ain't that interesting. Thought I'd double-cross the lone ranger, huh? Well, it was him and Tyler on me that staged the whole thing for your benefit. I had the lone ranger behind them trees to hear what we said. They ain't no one else back there, boss. No. And when Tyler and Tyler are done for, there ain't no one but the mask, man. They know what we said there. And we're shooting him as soon as he gets in gun range. Get ready, boys. Oh, no, you won't. Why? Because after you, gents, finished with that pitfall, the sheriff took it over. And now he's got plenty of evidence against you. With deputies to back my hand. What? They've been hit down there to hear the whole thing with ladders to climb out on. No, the rest of that brush your eyes, boys. We've got all we need. It's a frame up. We've got to shoot our way out. Come on. Cover them from behind. And I've got guns on you from here. Mask, friend, cut rope. Give tunnel guns. You want them. Oh! How did anyone else hide a use of guns? You see, Burton, it's downright foolish to try and beat the lone ranger's gun. Oh, you. As for that lion, you old cat. That's an old toothless mountain cat that's just as tame as a kitten. But he kept you boys from trying to look in the pit. We got your buttons and your men with you. Thanks, Connor, for helping us have these men. Thanks a lot, mister. You repaid me in full. You saved Betsy's life. She's waiting for you beyond the pitfall. You have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.