 By special recording, The Lone Ranger! A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty Hio Silver! The Lone Ranger! With his faithful Indian companion, Toto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the planes 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 hoofbeats of the great horse Silver! The Lone Ranger rides again! Come on Silver! Let's go be close! I'm Silver! The police sundown in the town of Fair Play in southern Kansas when Sam Angel finished harnessing a team of bays to his new prairie schooner. Yeah, does it? They're all set to roll as soon as I corral the women folks. You talking to me or to yourself, Sam? Uh-oh. Oh, I didn't know you were in the wagon, Ian. I've been here all the afternoon. Where's Peg? I sent her to the general store to buy a few things I forgot to pack. Dad, red and you women are always holding things up. We've got a long trip ahead of us. I want to reach Fort Brazos by sundown Thursday. We've got to get started. Don't talk to me about getting started, Sam. Peg and I have been sitting in this wagon waiting to start for over a week. No, that's different. I had to wait for the blacksmith to make new trace chains. And the wheel ride took three days to fix the axle. Then you shouldn't mind waiting a few more minutes for your own daughter. My dog, Garnet, am I? I am, Mr. Angel. Oh, Sheriff Order. Howdy, Sheriff. Looks like you folks are all set to head for California. There we will be if Peg ever gets back from the store. No, no, Sam. I want to get started, Prado. Watch your hurry, Sam. There's a lot of lonesome miles between here and Fort Brazos. I want to hit the trail tonight, Sheriff. Why not wait till the wagon train comes through town? Lots of them head west, and they all stop here. I waited too long already. Your local to rest the trip alone. I'm well armed. I can take care of myself and the family. Suit yourself, Sam, but there's no law on the planes to protect you or your property. You're taking a big chance. No, I'm not worried. We'll get through to Brazos all right. If we ever get started, you stay here, Sam. Where are you going, Sam? I'm going to look for Peg. I'll be back as soon as I find her. You want to come with me, Sheriff? Sure thing. As Sam Angel and Sheriff Hapolder started for the center of town, two riders emerged from the trees behind the Wells Fargo office. One of the men was short and thin. His partner was tall and heavy set. Though their features had not appeared on reward notices, both of them had long criminal records. They were Joel Medler and Smokey Ballard. It was Smokey who signaled a halt. Who? Who's that? Think anyone spotted us, Smokey? I told you we wouldn't be seen if we rode through the hills instead of going through town. Steady boy. Get close to the building and tell your bandana over your face, Joe. Steady. Right. When we're ready to leave, the office will come out this way and we'll come out shooting. That'll keep folks off the street and give us a chance to get away. I'm all set. All right. Let's go. Meanwhile, Sam Angel and the sheriff had reached the center of town. No sign of Peg on the street. The general store is next to the Wells Fargo office, Sam. We'll probably find her there. I hope so. Oh, there she is, coming from the store. Oh, I see her. Peg! Hey, Peggy! Yeah, I'm Sheriff Older. Howdy, Ms. Peggy. Our time has come. What's that? Gunfire in the Wells Fargo office. Who must be a holder? Say back, Sam. You too, Ms. Peggy. I have my six guns. I'm going with you, Sheriff. Sheriff Older rushed through the front door of the Wells Fargo office. Joe Medler, standing just inside the rear door, saw him coming. Joe fired. The impact of a bullet in his gun arm sent the lawman staggering back. He fell against Sam. By the time Sam moved into the floor and ran through the door, the outlaws had disappeared. Yeah, too late. Don, don, let there gone. Hit me in the arm now. Take it easy, I'll help you. Get after those crooks. They had horses out back. They're already out of range, Sheriff. Dad, Dad, are you all right? Yeah, but the shares hurt. I'll get the doctor. Hey, you stay right here to assure there'll be no more gunplay. But for sure. You're Dad's right, Ms. Peggy. Sheriff, you hurt bad. It's my gun arm, Jim. The crook was at the back door when I came in the front. His partner was already outside. The rat I saw had his face covered. They both had their faces covered, but I heard the short thin fella who shot you call his partner Smokey. Smokey, huh? Smokey was tall and heavy-set. Might be Smokey Ballard. I've heard of him. Picks all of eyes. Skunks got away with $10,000 in golden paper money, Sheriff. I'll start after him as soon as Doc dresses my wound, Hank. I'll get the doctor, Sheriff. Thanks, Jim. Sam, this hold-up bears out what I told you and your wife. This is wild country. It'll be risky for you three to travel alone. Sheriff, if crooks like Smokey Ballard can come into a town and rob Wells Fargo right under the nose of the law, we'll be a whole lot safer on the plains. Come on, Peg. We're starting for Fort Mosin. Sometime later, the Lone Ranger's Indian friend, Toto, brought his horse to a rearing halt in the Masked Man's Camp, two miles west of Fair Play. Oh, Scott, hold my line. He's just got to keep the line. He's having a hard time, Toto. That's right. Let me get supplies, Kim, and come here. Let me get the store just before it closed. Oh, what happened in town? On the robbery. So that's why you were in a hurry to get back? Ah, two crooks robbed Wells Fargo office. Shoot Sheriff. Get away with gold, paper money. Was the Sheriff killed? No. He wounded in gun arms. Color in town say, Sheriff and two deputies start after crooks as soon as Dr. finished bandage on Sheriff's arm. Does the law have any idea who the thieves were? One crook named Smokey. Smokey. Toto, he might be Smokey Ballard. That's what Sheriff thinks. Which way was Ballard heading when he left town? West. He followed trail from Wells Fargo office far as Dead Indian Rock. That's half a mile from here. Am I right? He's just had a big fill up. They go there and take up the trail, Toto. You ready, cute buddy? Come on, sing with him. Let's go. A half-older and the two men with him made slow progress following the trail of the thieves from town. As they approached Dead Indian Rock, the light of a rising moon sharply illuminated the wounded lawman's frowning features. Father, those crooks won't be easy, boys. Well, if the moon's up, we might be able to make better time. Hey, listen. Couple of riders heading down from the hills. Anglin' down toward the trail might be the crux, Sheriff. Can't be unless we're following the wrong trail. We might have made a mistake. Just to be on a safe side, Jim, we'll draw rain and wait for those crooks. Get set for action. I'm ready. Unaware of the lawman waking near Dead Indian Rock, the Lone Ranger and Toto race down from the hills toward the trail. They saw the waking riders. At the same moment, the sheriff and his men saw the Lone Ranger's mask. Sheriff Alder shouted, Draw rain! You're covered! Last man in a red skin. Poor owl hoots. Keep him covered, boys. Yeah. If either one of you make a play for your guns, you'll stop lead. Get up there. Get up there. Oh, oh, there. I'm Sheriff Half Alder of the town of Fair Play. These men are my deputies. Toto and I are on your side of the law, Sheriff. You must think I'm a jughead, mister. I would be if I believed that. Hank, keep him covered while Jim disarms them. All right. And we'll take the mask off that fellow's face and see who he is. Under orders from the sheriff, Toto and the Lone Ranger dismounted. Easy, sir. Holding his hands at shoulder level, the mask man studied the deputy named Jim who stepped forward to disarm him. The careless deputies stopped in front of the Lone Ranger. But before he could reach for the mask man's holstered coats, the Lone Ranger drew his gun and shot it. Take him, Silver! The mighty stallion charged the horses of the sheriff and his other deputy. Their startled animals reared in panic, forcing their riders to fight to control them. The Lone Ranger called. All right, Silver. All right. As Silver obeyed the command, the Lohmann gained control of their frightened horses. Drop your gun, sheriff. You too, deputy. Drop all the conniving tricks I ever heard of. I said drop the gun. We'd better drop him, Hank. All right. Say, mister, you remind me of a mask man I once saw who owned a horse as smart as yours. I don't remember meeting you. I didn't meet that mask man. But I saw him in action. You've got the upper hand now, mister. But if I ever get the chance... Shimmer down with a mask I'll lose holding a gun on me. I think he's telling the truth. About what? Being on our side of the law. Mister, we're after a crook named Smoky Ballot. So are we. He and his partner should have been jailed a long time ago. I want to help put them behind bars. Sheriff, you know how long it took us to follow the tracks this far. Yeah, at the rate we're going, we'll never catch up to them. This engine might be better at reading signs than we are. He's the best man in the country at following a trail. I'd be glad to help you. We'll lead help to follow them, right, Sheriff? What'll I ride with you? That's right. Here, it's on the sheriff's side. Thanks, engine. Here, Hank. Yeah. Tato. White horse. All right, mister, for the time being, I'll forget your mask. But I hope I'm not wrong in what I'm thinking. Lead the way, engine. You used to be called Chief Hunter. Get an upscout! Get a tool there! It's a little way west. The town's man named Hank spoke to the sheriff. Sheriff. Years ago, I had a job laying track for Union Pacific. What about it? A masked man and engine helped us fight off a band of hostile Red Scouts. Yeah? I think they're the same one, Sheriff. This fellow's no crook. That is, he might be the Long Ranger. That's what I was thinking, Hank. Get up, get up there. Smokey Ballard and Joe Medler traveled hard until well after midnight. They reached a well-concealed spot in Warbonnet Mountains. After taking the saddles from their horses, they spread blankets on the ground. Yeah, we've covered a lot of ground, Smokey. We haven't made much headway. Can't make good time in these hills. I'm not trying to make time. I wanted to lose any lawn when the matter followed us. We'll head down to the plains in the morning. Good. Then we'll get someplace. Yeah. If we'd headed for the plains from town, we'd have left a trail anyone could have followed. We've wasted a lot of time. Better to lose time than have a posse stop you in your tracks. Yeah, we'll hit the Saddle of Dabry. Early the next morning, the outlaw started down the treacherous Rocky Mountainside. This trail's from mountain goats, not horses. Give the critters their heads. They'll make it all right. I don't know. My grave's mighty skittish. As Joe spoke, his horse lost its footing. Easy, easy, easy. Mid a shower of fighting rocks and soil, the big gray went down. Hey! The cry of dismayed Joe leaked from the Saddle to save himself. Joe, you all right? Yeah, I've started some cuts and bruises. I reckon I'm all right. I was afraid that could have gone down. Yeah, just when we were near the bottom of the slope. We'll be in real trouble if he's hurt too bad to travel. Yeah. Come on, we'll see how he is. Bad news awaited the outlaws at the bottom of the slope. As a result of the fall, the big gray was in no condition to travel. He's likely to be lame for a couple of weeks. What am I going to do in the meantime? He's not fit to ride, Joe. Oh, that dad-ready luck caught in the middle of nowhere without a horse. Might as well take the saddle. Joe put his gear on Smoky's horse. Then the two outlaws looked about hopelessly. Joe saw Sam Angel's wagon in the distance. Hey, look, Smoky. Prairie school, there. We're in luck, yeah. It's waving to us. There's one rider, honey. One of those fellas is a force. Something must have happened to his horse. Yeah. He stopped to see if we can give him a lift. Now be careful, Sam. It may not be safe to stop. Those fellas are in trouble, Ed. But it may be dangerous to try to help them. Boom! Hooray! Boom! Thanks for stopping, Mr. My partner and I had some bad luck. What happened? Joe's horse took a fall. He's too lame to travel. Too bad. But where you heading? West. We'd be downright obliged if you'd give us a lift. Well, sir, I don't like to turn down the fella in trouble. Come aboard, stranger. Yeah. Thanks a lot. I'll travel alongside. Come on, get in. I'm Sam Angel. This is my wife and my daughter Peg. Howdy. My name's Medley. Joe Medley. I'm glad to know you, Joe. Who's your partner? My partner's Smoky. What's your name? Smoky. Dad, a man named Smoky, Rob Wells Fargo. I ain't no one. Take it easy, Sam. I got it. They're crooks. I knew we shouldn't have stopped for them. There's 45 loaded with sudden death. So don't try a fast move. Hold on, boy. What's the trouble, Joe? These people are too smart, huh? I made the mistake of telling them your name's Smoky. You shot Sarah Valder. You stole golden cash from the Wells Fargo office. We never should have left town, Sam. We should have stayed there. Shut up, lady. What do we do with them? Jai, gag him and leave him here. We'll take the horses and ride on. Why not kill him and be done with him? I'm wanted for a lot of crimes, but murder's not one of them. We'll leave him here. Get ropes and gags on him, then we'll unhitch the horses. By riding most of the night while the outlaws slept, the lone ranger, Toto, the sheriff, and his deputies gained valuable time. When they started down the steep rocky trail, the fugitives had traveled to reach the plains. The pursuers were not far behind Joe and Smoky. At the bottom of the slope, they found Joe's lame horse and nearby the prairie schooner. Inside the wagon, they found the prisoners. As soon as they were free, Sam exclaimed... We've been robbed, Sheriff. The same critters who stole the Wells Fargo money stopped us. I told you you shouldn't travel alone, Sam. We stole our horses, Sheriff, and the cash and gold we had with us. If I could get my hands on those rats... Their trail will be easy to follow from here. Come on, Toto. Me ready? You sure, big fella? We'll bring them back here, Sheriff. I'm riding with you. My deputies will stay here. Let's go. Come on, sing it out! Who's the masked man, Hank? We met him and Tondo at Dead Indian Rock last night, Sam. I've been with us ever since. If Tondo hadn't been reading signs for us, we'd have lost the tracks for Joe. I sure hope they find those crooks. So do I. Yeah, you folks might as well relax. All we can do from now on is wait. After they left the wagon, Sheriff Alder realized that his bay was no match for the masked man's powerful stadion. In spite of his best efforts, the mighty white horse pulled ahead. Come on, sing it out! The trail the lone ranger followed was as easy to read as footprints in wet sand. Within a short time, he sighted Smokey and Joe ahead. Come on, sing it out! Silver shot hoops pondered the plains relentlessly, cutting down the distance, separating the lone ranger from the outlaws. Come on, sing it out! Smokey ballard and Joe turned in the saddle. They saw the masked man followed by a hard-winding Indian and Sheriff Alder. They're after us. Get him! As the thieves drew guns to fire, the lone rangers close throwing. A bullet in the arm nearly threw Joe from the saddle while Smokey pulled his racing horse to a rearing halt in an effort to fire accurately. But the lone ranger fired first. A silver bullet shattered Smokey's gun. Come on, sing it out! I've got him covered, sir! Come on, sing it out! Come on, sing it out! Sheriff and Tuttle covering Smokey ballard. The lone ranger started after Joe. But the wounded outlaw had lost the will to fight. His gun arm hanging limply at his side. Joe reigned his stolen horse to a halt as the masked man came alongside. Come on, sing it out! Come on, sing it out! Come on, sing it out! Let us shoot again, I give a... And turn around and join your partner. When the outlaws' hens were tied and Joe's wound bandaged, the capital cave returned to the prairie schooner. Well, Mr. Thanks to you and Tuttle, I got my horses back. And we likewise got the Wells Fargo money back. Mr. I am much obliged to you, too. I'm glad we were able to help you, Sheriff. You and your deputies will have no trouble getting the prisoners back to fair play with you. None at all, now. I'll drive the wagon back to town with you, Sheriff, just to make sure they get there all right. That's a good idea, Sam. And when I get there, I'll follow your advice and wait for the next wagon train head west. Our mission here is finished with the arrest of these crooks. So, adieu, Sheriff. So long, and thanks a lot. Goodbye, sir. Goodbye, sir. Come on, just come. Now, I know I'm right, Sheriff. About what, Hank? There's no doubt about it. That masked man's the Lone Ranger. I'll do it!