 with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty, high-o silver. The lone ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tuttle, 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 beats of the great horse, Silver. The lone ranger rides again! Clay was an ambitious little man with a spirit that was far bigger than his physique. He stood five feet two inches in his boots. John would stand up against anybody, but got the best of no one. Yet he continued to bristle like a batom rooster at the least slight or provocation. There was the time, for instance, when John was at the cafe in Rocktown. The man standing next to John was six feet tall. Hey, Barkeep, give me some service, will you? Be with you in a minute, John. Oh, keep the shirt on, Shorty. You'll get weighted on when your turn comes. Shorty, eh? Say that again, mister. I just dare you to say that again. Hey, John Meekley's rare enough again. Yep. Always picking on a big umbra, too. This is gonna be it. John, why don't you forget what he said? If you tell me what you want, I'll... No, wait a minute. I heard him call me Shorty. If you'll just dare to call me that again, I'll... Just work what you do. Shorty, why you... You better go outside and pull on it. I'll carry out it. Hey, put me down. Let me get through, folks. Someone open the door. Yeah, I'll open it on. Here you go. Time, John was getting ready to mount his horse at the hitch rack. When a buck board and team hurriedly swung in alongside and came to a quick stop. Easy there, stand still, will you? Hey, you crazy coyote, you almost knocked me down. Why don't you look where you're going? Well, I'm sorry, fella. Being as you're kind of short, I couldn't see you behind that horse. Shorty, am I? You listen to me. If you get down from that buck board, I'll teach you a thing or two. Well, now, I was... Yeah, I guess it didn't look so big to you when I was sitting down, fella. Don't make any difference. I'll teach you to watch where you're going. Oh, get out of my way. I'm in a hurry. Oh! I'll see you again sometime, half a minute. Even at home, John Meekly never used discretion in dealing with his big, strong-armed wife, Matty. Get up and move out of my way. How do you expect me to sweep with you sitting there? Matty, don't talk to me like that. I told you over and over. And if you don't learn to be more polite, sometime I'll... Threatening me again, huh? You little brute, get out of here. Go on, get out of here before I bring you with this brute. Oh, wait. After Matty had run John Meekly out of the house, the little man who wanted people to think he was tough mounted his horse and rode into Rocktown. As he approached the bank, great excitement suddenly broke out. Oh, oh! It looks like a couple of outlaws coming from the bank and heading for their horses. Yeah, they're coming. They're riding right this way. I better duck fast and get between the buildings. Get up there, get up. Yeah, come on. Yeah, yeah. A few minutes later, John came out from cover and rode to the hitch-rack in front of the cafe where a crowd stood watching. Oh, there! Oh, hey, John. Why didn't you try to staff those outlaws? Yeah, they were heading right your way. Yeah, Meekly's trying to act tough in the cafe, but he runs the cover when he's got a chance to prove he is tough. Listen here, you better get back inside and tend to your own business if you know what's good for you. There he goes, getting tough again. Someday someone will tear that bantam apart. Why, you honoree sight-winder? You can't call me a bantamist. Wait a minute. Get inside the cafe and get as many men as you can to form a posse. Yeah. All right, Sheriff. Hey, Sheriff, all right with the posse? Look, Meekly, you better stay here in town and help protect the women folk. Riding in a posse after outlaws is a man's job. That's right, Sheriff. Anyhow, John Meekly's a little too tough. He might hurt them outlaws while we can get them to jail. I'll go and find some men for the posse. If Bob wasn't your deputy, I'd tell you... Now, Meekly, don't make any more threats. Every time you do, somebody stands you on your head in the gutter. You better learn that acting tough and really being tough are two different things. You tell Bob to bring the man over to the jailhouse. Get up, then. Get up! Little John Meekly waited until he saw the posse leave town. Then he rode slowly homeward along the trail, feeling that the world was against him because of his size. As he rounded a bend in the trail, John was filled with sudden panic as he saw two horsemen riding toward him not more than 50 feet away. They were the lone ranger and his Indian companion, Tuttle. John pulled to a halt and thrust his hands high over his head. Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Now I'm in for it. Look, Mr. I, I know you two are outlaws and that you robbed the bank in town a while ago, but I, I got my hands up. We're not outlaws and we have no intention of drawing against you. That's right. You're not neat, put up hands. But, but the mask. I thought only outlaws wore masks. Forget the mask. What was that you mentioned about the bank being robbed a while ago? Yes, the Rocktown bank was robbed by two big outlaws. I remember now neither one of them was the Redskins so I guess they couldn't be you. The sheriff led a party after them out the west trail. I offered to go but they just laughed at me like always. Why should they laugh at you? Well, being little and all, I'm not able to be tough like the rest of them. Or try to act like them tough, but they all know it's just an act. Even my wife, Matty, run real the house with a broom when I try to act like a man shewed around his own home. There's more to being a man than just being tough, Mr. I'm John Meekly. I'm glad we met you, John. Tell me, did you ever hear of Napoleon Bonaparte? Can't say it's a half. Does he live around these parts? No. Some years ago, Napoleon was a great general and became emperor of France. He was a small man, John, not your bill. Yet at one time, he conquered almost all of Europe. He never let the fact that he was short-bothering. You don't tell me, but that's your something. He reckoned folks laughed at him, too? Well, if they did, they were sorry for it later. I sure wish there was some way I could make folks forget. I'm a little ombre. Maybe there is a way. What way, Mr.? If you're willing to trust me, you can come to our camp near here and we'll talk it over. I guess I can trust you all right since you didn't draw against me. Yes, I'll go along with you, stranger. And I sure hope you do have an idea that'll... it'll make things different from me around Rocktown. All right, let's get going. Get up there! After they arrived in the Lone Rangers' camp, John Meekly listened intently as the Lone Ranger talked. Todd and I were trailing a certain outlaw named Bill Derrick, big man riding a Palomino. He left Pecos with another outlaw, though we don't know anything about him. Say, one of those outlaws who robbed the bank had a Palomino? I noticed as they rode toward me. He was a big ombre, too. Both of them had bandanas covered part of their faces. I'm sure he was Bill Derrick. There's a reward for his capture, but he's smart enough always to evade a posse. Matt right. I've found that outlaws generally follow a certain pattern. One of Derrick's tricks was to have someone posted in town. Well, before and after he pulled a job. He took him off as to what was happening. You think he has someone spying out in town now? It's possible. And that's where you come in. Me? What could I do? You want to prove yourself to the men in town, don't you, John? Yes. Todd and I will always be nearby. And I promise you, you won't come to any harm. If things work out, everybody's attitude will change toward you. All right, mister. Reckon, if you've got a plan, I can do my part. Good. I'll listen closely, and I'll tell you exactly what to say. That afternoon, John Meekly went to Rocktown alone and entered the cafe. Come to Meekly. Too bad the sheriff decided not to take you with the posse. I reckon it's just as well. You see, in the excitement, I forgot to tell the sheriff I know who one of them outlaws is. You do? You mean you recognize one of them? Just who do you think he was, Meekly? Ever hear of an outlaw named Derrick? Bill Derrick? Bill Derrick? Yeah, the sheriff has a handbill on him. He posted it right out in front of the jail. Well, one of them was Derrick. I'm sure of it. Well, no one who he is, if he aren't making all that up, won't help much in catching him. Maybe I've got an idea of where he's hiding out, too. Well, look, Meekly, that's a going too far. Yeah, stop trying to act wise. How could you find out where Derrick's hiding? I'm not saying. But since the posse isn't back, if some of you want to go along with me, maybe we can capture them outlaws and get the reward. Listen to him. Now he wants to lead a posse of his own. Yeah, you go catch him yourself. Yeah, you're supposed to be tough. You can keep all the reward, too. All right, you sneering bunch of coyotes. Maybe I will go get Derrick. Maybe I will show you I can be tough. Shorty, if you ever did, I'd add a hundred to the reward and give drinks on the house taboo. All right, go on, laugh. But I'll show you. You just wait and see. John left the cafe and, mounting his horse, rode from town along the trail the outlaws had taken. Following the Lone Rangers' plan, he was playing a part, but he felt very nervous as he rode. I hoped the mask man and Indian saw me leave the cafe. Get up there. Oh, well there, oh. Shorty, I got this gun on you, so you better be careful and talk up. Well, I was, uh, I was just going down there. Now look, I heard that chatter of yours back in the Cathaynophology. Maybe like these armories back there say, you're just a lot of talk. But I knew better this time when you started blabbing about Bill Derrick. You're going to find him all right, he's taking you to where he's hiding right now. All right, get moving. Get up, get up, get up. 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. To continue our story. When he was overtaken on the trail and ordered at the point of a gun in the hands of a tough-looking man to go with him to Derrick's hideout, John Meekly once more experienced a panicky feeling. As they went along the trail, John glanced hurriedly around, hoping to see some sign of the masked man in Indian, but without success. By the time he and his companion reached a deserted cabin in the hills, John was sorry he had listened to the Lone Ranger, but there was nothing he could do but stop and dismount. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Hurry up, Ron, get inside and meet Derrick. Look, I, I really didn't know where this place was at all, honest. I was bluffing back there when I... Inside. This little runt coming to the cafe yapping about recognizing you when you rode from town today. He said he knew where you were hiding out. We'll have to light out then. Maybe he told the sheriff all that too. No, he didn't. Seems like people in town laugh at this little armory because he likes to make out he's tough and he's always getting bounced around by someone. He asked to go with the posse, but the sheriff wouldn't let him. So you knew who I was when you saw me a shorty? You see, I... He tried to get the men at the cafe to come out here and capture you for the reward, but they laughed at him. And the way he talked, though, I knew for once he wasn't putting on an act. He found out somehow. Yeah, I guess it don't matter how I did it. But if he gap long enough, someone might believe him. We'll make sure his mother shut her keeps. I guess it ran out of material when they got around to him. He sure is sorry excuse for a man. There's a little runt with a big mouth. No, you wait a minute. You dirty side-winding coyote. You know what I mean? He tries to act tough and always winds up flat on his back. All right, get in your feet before I kick the stuffing out of you. Oh! I'm getting up. All right, Gregg and Pete, hold his eye. I got him. Let me go. Listen, either talk fast and tell how you found out where I was hiding and who I am. Or I'll plant this big fist of mine across your mouth. Yes. Yes, I'll tell you honestly. Start talking then. It was part of a plan. Me going to the cafe and saying that. What do you mean a plan? Well, I met two hombres. A mask man and an Indian. They said they'd been trailing you and guessed you pulled that robbery. The mask man planned for me to go to the cafe and talk like I did. A mask man and an Indian? Don't make sense. Yes, it does you fool. I'm beginning to see all this straight now. Mask man said you might have someone planted there in town. If I talked and said I knew who those outlaws were, that someone would follow me and bring me right to you. The mask man and Indian were to follow. But they crossed me up. So that's it. They were going to follow I and they used you for the fall guy. Too bad you listened to that mask man, but good for us. What are you going to do, Bill? I asked to get rid of that hombre. They didn't expect this half pint to get scared and squeal like it did. So they won't know we're expecting them. Let's get outside Pronto and bring that wine and little hombre with you. We'll wait in ambush until those two show up and fill them with lead. Then we'll give shorty here what's coming to them. Come on, let's go. A few minutes later after tying John Meekley's hands behind his back the outlaws left the cabin taking John with them. All right, shrimp. Get going out the door. Yes, yes, I'm going. Like I said before, half pint is too bad you let that mask man talk you into this. By sticking your nose into our affairs you signed your own death warrant. Yeah, we'll fill him with lead after we ambush that masked hombre in the Indian. No, no, listen. I'm sure they won't come. They weren't around when you stopped me on the trail. I looked to see if they were. I don't care what you say about that. You don't know that mask man like I do shorty. He's got plenty of smart tricks he uses against hombres like us. Maybe you didn't see him in many ways but I bet he was around some ways and that him and that red skinner following the trail left by you and Pete right now. I'll give the horses. We'll lift shorty on his and I'll leave. All right, hit letter and let's get going. Help shorty in the saddle, Lou. All right shorty, up you go. Yeah, there you are. Get on your own horses. We haven't much time to get to the place where we're waiting to ambush you. Hand me shorty's reins, Lou. Here you are. Let's go. Make it fast. Unknown to John Meekley when he left town the lone ranger and tato had seen him and had also seen the outlaw Lou following. They had ridden along in a royo which paralleled the trail and had witnessed Lou stalk John. Then they followed. The lone ranger and tato stayed some distance behind relying on their ability to follow the hoof marks of the two they were trailing. When they reached the point where Lou and John had turned from the main trail to a branch trail the lone ranger pulled to a halt. Now the branch trail leads into the narrow valley on the right, tato. I suspect the hideout is there. I hope we can get there before Derek breaks down Meekley and makes him talk, tato. Derek will want to know how Meekley got his information. You think little man tell about us? Derek will get the truth from him once he starts. John Meekley isn't a coward but his size has always been against him and he knows it. As we ride the branch trail I'll tell you how we'll approach the hideout so as to take them unawares. Come on, Lou. Meantime Derek and the other two outlaws had hidden in ambush behind some large boulders a short way up the branch trail from the cabin. They had taken John's gun and the little man stood with his hands tied behind his back between Derek and Pete. Finally they heard hoof beats approaching beyond a bend in the trail just a short distance away from the boulders. Here they come. Sight your guns if they bend. The minute they appear we'll all shoot. They won't have a chance. I never know what hit. All right, this is it. They'll come around the bend in a minute. Get set. No, you dirty crook. I won't let you ambush them. Oh, I'll shim you. I'll fix that shred. Hey, look. A white stallion in a paint with an empty saddle. Well, Pete, at least I can put a bullet in the runt. Oh, I'm hit. All of you, you're coming. Hey, you're above us on top of the boulders. Stop your guns. Stop them. They both got the drop on us. I'll get one of them. No, you're not going. No, I stopped the bullet. I give up. I give up. We're coming down. Come on. That sure was done. What work, mister? Little policy to be all right. Are you hurt, John? No. No, I'm all right. I thought you forgot me. I told them about you. They made me do it. Yes, I know. But I saw what you did when you thought they were going to shoot us. You've got what it takes, John. I couldn't let them do it. But then the saddles were empty after all. Yes. We just mounted up trail a bit and sent the horses on. Then we cut across to these boulders and climbed up just in time. I suspected an ambush and this was the logical place. Gosh, that sure was smart figure, mister. We'll get their horses. Then we'll tie these crooks on them and take them to town. Here, I'll cut your cords. This one over here. This one. There you are. Now, get a gun. I think the people in town have a surprise coming. Let's get going. It was just about dusk. The sheriff and the posse had returned to town and had gone to the café. They were inside talking over events of the day. Well, we didn't have any luck. But we'll try again tomorrow. Hey, Sheriff, what do you think about the talk? And they say John Meekley did in here early this afternoon. I think just what the rest of you think. Poor little John was just acting up again. He heard about Derek or read that handbill I got across the street. Just decided to tell that story. That's all. He was sure talking tough, Sheriff. He even hinted that he might go bringing Derek all by himself. That's right, Sheriff. You should have heard him. You ought to make Meekley a deputy. Hey, Sheriff! Sheriff! Better come take a look, Prado. What's up? John Meekley's come up the street with three armories, tied their horses, and holding the gun on him. It can't be. Great day. I gotta see this. Don't lie. Come on. I call it is Meekley. Hi, Sheriff. I got a few outlaws for you to put in jail. What is this, John? That one there is Bill Derek. There's a big reward for him, understand? The money they stole from the bank is in his saddlebags. Holy smokes here for bank money is here in the saddlebags. John, how'd you ever do it? We thought you were just talking loco. Well, a man he turned out to be. Well, he may be a little man, but we gotta admit he must be plenty tough to round up those outlaws. John, I'm sorry I misjudged you. You'll get the reward on Derek all right and a reward from the bank, too. John, speak, Leonary Kyle. I've been hunting for you after the wild tale you told at the cafe today. Now, you get on on you. Just a minute, Maddie. See them three tough-looking armories sitting there in them saddles? It's a sorry like. I see them. And your husband, John, just captured them. What's more, one of them's Derek, one of the toughest outlaws in the territory. You say my husband captured him? You didn't take the sheriff's word for it, that I just brought them in, Maddie. What's more, I ain't going home till I'm good and ready. That's the way to talk, John. Sure, I'll cuff you, John. Maddie'll let you be boss now, I bet. Great job, you got this. And to think I ran him out this morning with a broom. I reckon I just ain't the type to get tough with a female, Maddie. But every man's got limits to his temper. That's the way, John. Of course, John. Tell us, John, just how on earth did you do it all by yourself? Well, as a matter of fact, Sheriff, I guess I better tell you that I... If it wasn't for the lone ranger, we wouldn't be here. The lone ranger? Man alive, John. You turned out to be so tough when you met up with these crooks that Derek thinks you're the lone ranger without his mask on. That's sure a hot one. Put those crooks in jail, man. I've been looking at them. Come on, now. John Meekley getting outlaws to think he's the lone ranger. What do you think of that, boys? Ain't that something? This is a feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated, created and produced by George W. Trendle, directed by Fred Flower Day and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer.