 The firey horse with the speed of light, the cloud of dust, and the hardy hay-o-silver, the lone ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early Western United States. 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 come the thundering hoof beat to the great horse Silver. The lone ranger rides again. In our last lone ranger story, the masked man and Tonto met Johnny Ains. Johnny, recently released from territorial prison, had returned to his hometown of Sorento to kill George Stratton, the banker whose testimony five years before had branded him an outlaw. Now while Tonto treats Johnny for a bullet wound, the lone ranger visits Matt Dougal, powerful owner of the Diamond S cattle ranch. So you're Johnny Ains. You seem to think so. You might as well take off the mask, Johnny. No need for that sort of thing among friends. Am I among friends? Sure, sure. I'm sorry, my son, Foss, and some of his crew went gun-crazy, done at the bull's head get paid this afternoon. It disobeyed my orders. That's all. What were your orders? A tool, Foss. I wanted to have a little talk with you. That's all. Talk? About what? Something you and I have in common. I've never met you before, and your son tried to kill me in a gunfight this afternoon. I don't think we have much in common. You're wrong, Johnny. But if you want to talk, you better stop signalling to whoever's at that porch window behind my back. You can see a gun barrel reflected in that mirror above your head. You go look who there's no one here. Move it. What the... Right through my head. You're lucky it wasn't your head. Stand up, Red. You can't be afraid, Matt. You're still yelling. Where's Foss? Now at the corral, I guess. That starting girl rode up a few minutes ago. Find him. He'll be coming to the house right away. Sure. Sure, boss. I'm sorry about this little accident, Johnny. Red, one of my carpentries must have mistaken you for now. It wasn't an accident. I'm sure there was no mistake on Red's part. This is one time he obeyed orders. No, you're wrong. Stop stalling, do-goo. If you have anything to say, start talking. Hey, you all right? It is. I know why you came back to surrender, arm. You do? Your arm. You're going to kill George Stratton. Isn't that right? Maybe. And I don't blame your arm. Stratton lied and framed you into a five-year prison strategy. He deserves to be murdered. There's one thing I've never been quite sure about. What's that? Just how George Stratton lies that frame up five years ago. Simple. He robbed the mic himself. How do you know? I investigated. Took a lot of time and money, but I have the proof. Why should you investigate if I was framed? Because I started that bang. I set Stratton up in business. It was my idea to loan all you Fally Ratch's money. On trick mortgages. That's right. When I moved into this territory, I decided to own all of it. I almost succeeded. Then Stratton robbed the bag. How did that interfere? Within a month after you were sent to prison, Stratton reported to me that all the ranchers were paying off their loans. Then he paid off what he owed me. I see. It gave him control of the bank. And he did all that with stolen money. You said you had proof. I have. Stratton was too smart to pay off the ranchers' mortgages with the same bank notes he'd stolen. So that's why he made the trip back east. To exchange the money? Of course. I hired detectives. They've been working on the case for four years. Now I have the currency and sworn statements to prove that George Stratton handled those bank notes after they were stolen, supposedly, by you. Then why haven't you called in the law? Because I don't trust any law but my own. Is this why you sent for me? Tell me these things before I kill Stratton. I thought you'd be interested in them. Then I wanted to tell you to hold off until tomorrow. Hold off? My son Fawce wants to marry the Stratton girl. The wedding will take place tomorrow night. After that, the sooner you get the job done, the better. You see, I've let the girl know in a roundabout way that her marriage to my son will make things easier for her father. I'll forget about the evidence I have. I see. Fawce, I don't want to be a coward. Hey, here's Fawce and Miss Linda now. Good evening, Linda. Good evening. I've just been discussing an important matter with you. Excuse me, Johnny. I guess you and Fawce have already met. The charming young lady is my future daughter-in-law, Miss Linda Stratton. How do you do? This is Johnny Ames. Don't mind that mask he's wearing. Johnny Ames? Oh, poor you, Loco. This mask humbries names. I told you, I saw Johnny. Talk to him. He's about half the size of this... May I ask you a question, Miss Linda? I suppose so. Do you really want to marry this man, Fawce Dougal? No, I'd... I mean, I... I, uh... I thought so. I'll tell you, poor. I never saw this mask. Could it be before he... It's your name, Johnny Ames. What do you think? I'm going to know it right now. You wish for the gun, either of you. I've got you covered. You've already seen a sample of my shooting, Mr. Dougal. Hey, he's nothing but a free-boot man, would you? But to be on the safe side, I think you'd both better raise your hands. Get them up. No, ma'am, Chef Lawrence... I said, up. Go ahead, Fawce. Don't risk having... That's good advice. Hey. All right. Now, maybe you'll tell why you're horned in doing something that's none of your business. I'm making it my business. What? That remains to be seen. Red! Heat! Come on, run it! Good. Now you can't get away. The boys from the bunkhouse will catch you off. That might be true if I intended going out the front way. I'll use the side door here instead. Why, you said the side door. All right, Stingy. Maybe all this is just a little joke that Fawce and I don't understand. Why don't you use that side door? Get away before there's any unnecessary gunplay. Don't let him get away. The boys will be here in a minute. I agree with you, Mr. Dougal. I'll leave it once. But before I go, I'd like to give him a strap and an important bit of advice. What do you mean? Be sure there's good faith on both sides before you make a bargain. I don't understand. Think it over between now and tomorrow night. Adios, gentlemen. I'll have to back down this hallway until I reach the outer door. So don't try to follow me. It was a group in the wall right behind me. You mean the trap down the hall is... What did you fool? Oh, he's disappeared. Not exactly disappeared, Linda. That mass meddler is where he belongs. Pull the trap back up, Fawce. Yeah. Nothing for you to worry about, my dear. Fortunately, there's a stone cyclone cellar beneath this part of the house. Makes it a good place for meddling out, Fawce. Who is he, Fawce? Where'd he come from? And the slightest idea. I thought he was Johnny Ames. Well, how'd he know that... We'll deal with him later. In the meantime, you better tell Red to stable the White Sand Lord. Sure. I'll be right back, Linda. All right, Fawce. Strange experience. A masked outlaw appears out of nowhere and advises me not... Nothing to worry you about, my dear. Just an accident, that's all. Who is he? You thought he was Johnny Ames, but I know that isn't true because I met Johnny Ames this afternoon in Dad's office. You did? Hmm... Well, no matter who this masked outlaw may be, he can't interfere with anything now. Maybe Fawce will find something in his saddlebags or gear that'll show who he is. What's up, Fawce? I was never ready to turn you up when I heard you yell. I had to put on my boots. That's a good thing, Fawce, and I didn't need help in a hurry. Trouble? Not now. We've got the trouble all bottled up. What do you mean? Never mind. See that white sally and ground hitched over there? Yeah. Who's he belonged to? From here on out, he belongs to the diamond S. Get the saddle and gear off and put them in a barn. Sure. Then I drop the saddlebags right here. I want to look them over. Come on, Caillouce. You're heading for the barn. What? Stand still, you proddy. Give me the weapon. Don't let me touch him. Maybe a good cut with raw hide across the point. Hey, Fawce. This local Caillouce. Whoa, whoa. God, hold him. Why didn't you hold him, you lame-brained digit? Try to hold her. Her stampede and steers is that white one. And you're supposed to be a horse ranger. Can't even hang on to one, Caillouce. I bet there ain't nobody else can hang on to that one. He's a spookiest critter. And me with a wounded hand. Forget it. Go on back to Buckhouse. Yeah. Is that mask, Armory? I told you about still inside, talking to your pa? Not any more. And what's more, he won't be talking to anybody for a long time to come. It was less than an hour later at the Lone Rangers' camp when Tonto heard the approach of familiar hoof beats. You hear a horse come plenty fast. That's Silver. Silver? Is that the Mount the Masked Gent road out of here? Yeah. I still don't see what. Hey, the saddle's empty. There's nobody riding him. Silver. Where you leave Masked Man? What do you think the horse is going to do, Indian? Talk to you? Ah, hoof prints make plenty talk. Knee follow him. Here, Scout. You mean you're going to back-back the horse? I'll go with you. No, better Tonto ride Lone. I don't want to just sit around here and wait. My shoulder feels a lot better now. Now better you wait. Tonto, find Masked Man and come back. Get him up, Scout. Come on, Silver. Meanwhile, in a stone-walled underground room at the Diamandes Ranch House, the Lone Ranger listened intently. There's someone walking that room above me. It doesn't help much. The walls of this cell are at least 20 feet high. 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. After falling through a trapdoor in a darkened hallway at the Diamandes Ranch House, the Lone Ranger had landed on a pile of straw. Careful examination proved to the Masked Man that his underground prison was lined with stone. A lighted match revealed to the trapdoor through which he had fallen was 20 feet above his head. Only one way out of here, the trapdoor in the ceiling, which is certain that how I'm going to get up there is a question without an answer. Meanwhile, Tonto following Silver's back trail and with the great white stallion and pacing his own horse reached a point not far from the Diamandes. Oh, Scott, oh, oh, oh. The trail sign will lead to Ranch House. The Lone Ranger there now. Tonto made him look see. I think I'd better head for home now, boss. It's getting late. Dad'll be worried about me. Anything you say, Linda. I'll ride back to town with you. Wait here with Paul for a minute. I'll bring up the horses. All right. Well, I'm glad you came out this evening, Linda. It's a good thing for an old bachelor house like this to get used to having a woman around. After all, from tomorrow on, as far as his wife, you'll be in charge here. Yes. I suppose so. But I... What's wrong, my dear? Well, nothing. Nothing, Mr. Dugan. You seem nervous. You're not still upset by that mass outlaw who stumbled in here. That exactly. I suppose outlaws are common enough out here on the range. It's what he said to me. Oh, no. Forget the whole thing. There's no accounting for accidents. The trap door that forced open, the outlaw fell through it. But where is he now? I told you there's an old storage cellar beneath this part of the house. You can't do any harm down there. But what are you going to... I mean, will you, John, please? Leave him there. No, I've told Foss to tell Sheriff Ed Craig about our visit. He'll come out and pick him up. I can't get over a strange feeling about... Ready, Linda? Yes, Foss. Good night, Mr. Dugan. Good night, my dear. It was only a few moments later when Tonto, standing in the deep shadows beside the ranch house, watched Foss Dugan and Linda ride toward Sorrento. It wasn't until then that the grave-faced Indian moved silently toward the front porch of the house. Inside the house, Matt Dugal sensed rather than heard the door close. Who are they? You rich kid, huh? No. You rich for gun, Tonto, you snag. You became an engineer. Oh, make up my arm. You make talk, you sabby. You dirty rich kid. You twist my arm to... What do you mean, make talk about what? Mask man, come here. You see him? Mask man, I don't know what you mean. He read trail sign. Know him here. How better you tell truth. No, I like telling truth. All right, I'll talk. That's good. A masked out who came in here tried to pass himself off to somebody else. I'll wear him now. You store each cellar underneath this room. You show way plenty fast. That way, in the hall. There's a trap door that... Make up my arm. You show Tonto quick. This roof here by the wall is hooked up to a trap door. You'll have to let go of my arms like bullets. Now you sneaky rich kid. Not like devil Ross. Not bad. Now Tonto put a rope. Kimo sabby. Hello. You all right? A rope, Tonto. Put out a rope. Bring it. You catch. Got it. Thank you very much, Tonto. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Got it. Thank you very much, Tonto. I'll pull myself up. Let me do it. I'm glad you showed up Kimo sabby. I'll detrail me. Let Simba come to camp. Me back track. Good. Where's Matt Dougal? Forcing the girl. You've got no names. Find Big Father next room. Make him show Tonto of this trap door. That's Matt Dougal. Where is he? You may not know. He hit him. And he hide and fall down here. He must have come too. That's where he went. He's rounded up a crew of men from the bunk house. What do we do? We'll have to run for it. I wanted to stay here and find out. I'll have to wait till later. Where are the horses, Tonto? You leave them up far. Inside the house. The only chance is through that window. We'll have to hurry. Come on. Get out of the glass, Tonto. I'll break it with my gun. Now follow me. We've got a trap too. Let's see. Yes, sir. There they are. Why are you stopping? Don't let them go. Yes, children, scouts. Good. Let's go. Let's go. Come on, children. Let's go. It was just after sundown on the following day when George Stratton hold his buggy in front of the Sorrento Bank. You're sure you don't want me to go in with you? No, Linda. You wait there. There's things here in my desk. How are you, Mr. Stratton? What? Who are you? How did you get in here? Getting in was easy. I've been waiting quite a while, but I was sure you'd stop here before you drove your daughter to her wedding. What? How did you know? What do you want? Is this a robbery? No, it isn't. Sit down for a minute. I want to talk to you. I... All right. What I have to say won't take long. I just want to put two parts of the story together. Two parts of us? What do you mean? Johnny Ames is one part. Matt Dougal is the other. You're the only one who can arrange them in their proper order. Johnny Ames? You're a friend of Johnny's? Then you must be here to... Kill you? No, Mr. Stratton. That's Johnny's idea, not mine. I just want to verify the fact that... Oh, wait. I want to show you something. Well, go on. What is it? It won't be necessary now. You said you wanted to verify something. I don't know who you are, why you're here. I was referring to what happened here five years ago. And you robbed your own bank and framed Johnny Ames for doing it. No, I... That's the truth, isn't it? Matt Dougal has a proof. It's warned statements from the men who exchanged the money for your back east. I... What is it to you? I'll pay my debt to Johnny Ames. Pay it in full. It may not be necessary, Mr. Stratton. And everything's explained to Johnny. And explained to the law. Well, what do you mean? Contrary to what some people think. The laws of this country are not enacted or enforced because of spite or vengeance. I don't understand. Well, generally the law carefully considers the motive for a man's crime a mistake. What are you trying to tell me? You robbed your bank to keep Matt Dougal from robbing the small ranches. You made your mistake by framing Johnny Ames. The important thing now is to prevent Johnny Ames from making an even greater mistake than you did. And I think it can be done when he understands everything. Why... You're talking in riddles. Maybe. But it won't be a riddle much longer. I'll meet you at the Diamond-Earth ranch house in a few minutes, Mr. Stratton. Wait! Folks, time for the wedding. Just a minute. Oh, look. It's that same mass critter who was here before. Red Pete. Throw down on the critter. Don't play with me a bad mistake in a crowded room like this. Don't move any of you. What do you want? A bank note you told me you have in your safe. A hold-up, eh? You know, eh, yes, it's a hold-up. I want those bank notes so that I can destroy them. My hand! I warned you not to try gunplay. Evidently, it takes a bullet to convince you. Now we'll go into the next room and open your safe. Hey, you dirty... Can't anybody here stop you, somebody? They're not going to try. You see, they've had an object lesson. Move! You wait out here, Tato. See that no one disturbs us. Ah, me do it. Oh, uh, by the way, Mr. Stratton and Linda, you come with us too. I... Come on, Dad. I don't know who he is, but I'm sure this masked man can be trusted. And there's one more person who should be with us. Oh, Johnny! Johnny Ames! Yeah, I'm still playing along, Mr. But I can't figure it out. By Johnny. Oh, you've been hurt. Not an important, Mr. Linda, just a scratch. Oh, it's important to me. All right, close the door, Johnny. Sure. You can't get away with this. I'll call the sheriff. That won't be necessary. I've already told Sheriff Craig the whole story. Which story? The one I'm going to burn, as soon as you hand me those banknotes. Open the safe and give them to me. All right. Passage. Yes? All right. Good. Oh, Mr. Stratton, are these the banknotes you exchanged in the east? Why... Well, I... Oh, excuse me. What a moment I forgot. What do you mean? Mr. Stratton is blind or nearly so. Isn't that true, Mr. Stratton? Yes, I... Dad's almost blind yet. But he does his work just as well as he ever did. I'm sure of that. The only reason I mentioned it was to show Johnny Ames that a handicap doesn't prevent a brave man from trying to rectify a mistake. He was willing to sacrifice his life, Johnny, so that you could even a score. I... I'm sure sorry I have a son. How did you ever discover all of this? Johnny and Matt Dougal told me most of it. I discovered your father's affliction this afternoon. He didn't know I was wearing a mask when he found me in his office. All right. You wipe his own head and bet with me. Several things. Miss Linda won't have to marry your son in the mistaken idea that she would be helping her father. Linda? Why, I had no idea you weren't really in love with Foss. I wanted you to marry him. Because I wanted you to have security. And I realized I was going blind. And you, Dougal, because you have no evidence, will forget any idea you have of controlling the smaller ranches here in the valley. Yes. You understand? Yes. All right. Good. Adios. Wait, don't go. Well, I'll be... He's gone. I wonder who he is. Tell me, now that you know I can't see very well, he mentioned a mask. Is he a tall man wearing a black mask? That's right, Dad. Why? I may be wrong, but I think we've been talking to the Lone Ranger. You have just heard it's a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.