 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty high-o silver, the Lone Ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the masked rider of the planes led the fight for law and order in the early days of the western United States. No outlaw leader could match his strength and courage, and no criminal who worked within the law could match his daring or resourcefulness. He was the greatest champion of justice the frontier ever knew, and the memory of his deeds will survive as long as the memory of the early west itself. 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. We're heading south for the Range Shelfry. Manix, land and cattle owner of the district, was in a hurry to conclude his conference with Philip Taylor, a representative of an eastern syndicate that operated a dozen ranchers. They and a third man, occasionally addressed as Buck, were in Manix's office, a dingy affair of clabbered, bordering wolf prairies, straggling Main Street. Hey, Taylor, you better take a look. A hitch and fresh horses to the stage already. You aim to catch it, you'll have to get a move on. Buck, you run over to Mr. Taylor's room at the hotel and fetch his bags. Oh, I'll see if I can... Never mind, Buck. I can carry my own bags. There's nothing to get excited about, Manix. Sit down and talk about it. If I miss his stage, there'll be another tomorrow. But don't you have to report back to your office? There's no hurry. But I thought that... Manix, if my feelings easily hurt, I'd say that you didn't like my company. Oh, gosh, no, Taylor. It ain't that. I... Well, it's just that I... Well, I'd like to know for sure where we stand. I thought I made it clear that my decision would be final. Oh, sure, sure. But I guess I'm not very bright today. Exist to get your hands on that $30,000, eh? Yeah, yeah, that's it. I need the cash. But at least the 24 hours will make a difference. It might. I see. Well, there's no reason why I shouldn't have blasphemed you. You know the property, the syndicate once, of course. All that land sells the county line. Right. Have the deed prepared and look for me in about two weeks. I'll return with a check for the full amount. Well, that'll be fine. The book, hand Mr. Taylor's hat. Sure. Here you are, Mr. Taylor. Well, I should get your bags now. Oh, I'll take care of them. I still have time. Well, good day. Good day. Boy, you're clean local. Well, I sure would have been if he'd stayed on another 10 minutes. I didn't figure I'd ever get him started. You like the looks of the inside of jail? I heard right, didn't I? If that rains south of the county line, you promise to sell the syndicate, ain't it? Well, sure. But you sold that range already. You sold it just last Monday to that fella from the east. Don't I know it? Why, in blazes, do you think I wanted him out of here? Harris is due here right now. I had to get rid of Taylor to keep him from eating. Well, we'd dog gone to Viking Savvy. Why didn't you tell Taylor that range won't yours no more? And lose the chance to make an extra profit? How come? You heard Taylor say the syndicate would give me 30,000, didn't you? Well, I sold to Harris for 20. That was just your bad luck. Yeah? Well, we'll see about that. What's to be done about it now? Plenty. You ain't gonna fake a deed, are you? Do I look that foolish? After the way you acted today, I wouldn't be surprised, but nothing you done. Well, it don't matter none to me. I just work for you. But I sure hope you know what you're doing. There's Harris now. Just rained up outside. What's he coming back for? I told him I might be able to help him line up a crew. You keep your mouth shut about Taylor, Savvy. I know when to keep still. And here's something else. Whatever I say, you play up to it and don't act surprised. That's all I got time tell you now. Come in. Hello. Howdy. Well, Mannix, were you able to do anything for me? I sure was, Harris. Let's see. What you wanted most was a foreman you could rely on until you got the hang of things, wasn't it? And the capable crew. Well, if you have the right foreman, he could hire your crew. Yes, I suppose he could. And I've got just the man for you. I don't think you've met Buck here, have you? Buck, shake hands with Mr. Harris. Howdy. Glad to know you, Buck. He's the fellow from the east. I told you he was gonna try ranching. Harris, I think Buck will make you as good a foreman as you can find. Oh, he's the man, eh? What he don't know about the cattle business ain't worth knowing. You mean I'm the hireer? You forgot already? Yeah, yeah. When you mentioned it, I was thinking of something else. You better mind yourself. Well, Harris, that suits you. I'll be glad to take anyone you recommend. You think you'd like to work for me, Buck? Oh, sure, Mr. Harris, sure. Good. We'll consider it settled, the unit where I'm staying. I moved into the old grand place, didn't you? Right. Can you start to work today? I don't know why not. That'll be fine. Your first job will be to find four or five good men and let me know when you have them. There's the grand place, fellas. That's Harris standing out in front. Yes, Harris. And if one of you ever lets on, that you're really working for Manick, steady him and make you sorry you ever learned to talk. Oh, well, well, well. Keep your mouth shut, Buck. You'll see that you do. Hi there, Mr. Harris. Hello there. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Well, here's your crew, boys. It didn't take you as long as I expected. I was lucky. And every one of these boys is a top hand. You better meet him. And this fella answers when you call him Jake. The tall hombre next to him is Idaho. That name's Shorty and the other's Whitey. Fellies, this is your new boss. Greetings, sir. Glad to know you, men. I imagine you're anxious to get settled. You will find the bunkhouse is ready, and if you're hungry, yell at the cook. Give me, turn your mounts into the corral. All right. Well, you stay here, Buck. I want to speak to you. Sure. Go ahead, fellas. Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up. Holders, boys? I'll have work for you and the men first thing in the morning. But I wanted to speak about something else. Yeah? After you left us today, Manix mentioned something you probably know already. What's that? Before I bought this land, an Eastern syndicate tried to purchase it, and he refused them. Oh, sure. I wished he'd told me before I bought. But I don't suppose I should blame him. After all, that's just business. What's the matter? He said the syndicate wanted this range badly. He wouldn't sell because he didn't like the men at the head of it. But they still want this land, and they may not be too particular how they get it. I know them, fellas. And I can tell you, Manix didn't like it in them. They don't stop at nothing. That's what I fear. Well, don't let it worry you, boss. They won't put anything over on us. I hope they don't. You see, Buck, I've gone pretty deeply into this venture, and as you know, I'll have to learn the business from the beginning. Every dollar I have to my name has gone into land and cattle. I know. If anything goes wrong, if I'm not successful from the start, I'll have to sell and clear out. I won't have the capital to continue. Didn't you hear me saying not to worry, boss? I'll try not to, Buck. In the morning, you'll take the men and pick up that herd Manix sold me. It's ready and waiting. Drive it onto our range. And take every precaution to see that things go as they should. Mr. Harris, you can trust me and the boys to the limit. I'm sure I can, Buck. And thanks. Is, uh... Is there any of the nails? No, nothing. You can join the men. Oh, oh, there's over. Oh, boy. Oh. Otherwise, oh, Harris, what him say? You wouldn't believe me. Manix is too clever. Prepared, Harris, beforehand. Not bad. And I tried to tell Harris that I'd spoken to Taylor and knew that Manix had promised to sell his land to the syndicate. After it had already been sold to him, he told me I was lying. He claimed I must be working for the syndicate. But the syndicate wanted to make him suspicious of Manix in order to force a quarrel or leave him without friends to back him up. Him think Manix friend? He does. Him eat big fool. No, I wouldn't say that. After all, he's a newcomer here. He hasn't been in the district long enough to know Manix reputation. As long as Manix has been honest with him up to this point, he has no reason to distrust him. I'm sorry we didn't know he'd bought this land when we met Taylor. Where Taylor now? Too far away to get in touch with Kimosabe. And he won't return for two weeks. In the meantime, almost anything may happen. And what we do? The only thing we can do. Harris and his crew to pick up the cat lead bought. They're making the drive now. We'll keep an eye on them. Sad left, Hunter. We ride. Harris joined his crew when the herd they drove reached his range. Hi, boss. Any trouble on the way? Not a bit. Everything went smooth as sail, didn't it, Dave? Sure did, Buck. Heat up, boy. Well, that's a relief. He wasn't expecting any worse. As a matter of fact, I was. Yeah? Why, for? After you left this morning, a mask man called on me. Mask? You was held up? He didn't seem to be after cash. From what he said, I gathered he'd been employed by the syndicate. He tried to tell me that Manix planned to sell my land. Well, don't call him. What did Hunter tell you that for? To make me suspect Manix, I guess. What did he gain by it? I suppose the syndicate thinks if I could be persuaded to suspect Manix, then I'd suspect you. After all, I hired you on his recommendation. Yeah, but you know. If I felt I couldn't trust you, I'd naturally let you go. Then I'd have to hire others to take your place. I'm not acquainted here. If I did that, why couldn't the syndicate plant men of their own at my place? All right, golly, Mr. Harris. That must have been just what they would skim. But you didn't believe that, Masked Hombry, did you, boss? Of course not. Lucky thing for you, you didn't. I'm not exactly a fool. Oh, sure, not sure. I didn't mean that. Where do you expect to release the cattle? Well, you see that pass up ahead? Yes. Well, there's a sizable valley behind it. Plenty of grazing, and once these critters are in it, they can't get out again except by the pass. And we can keep that guarded. What's the advantage in that? Then the syndicate won't be able to have your cars run over. They'd steal them if they could, boss. But with only the pass for us to watch, they'll never get the chance. I see. That's a clever way to handle this buck. Well, I'm only trying to do what's best for you, Mr. Harris. You'll find I appreciate it. Shucks. It's all part of the job. Hi, Shorty. Tell I to hoan whitey to hold back the wings. The trail's narrowing. We'll be at the pass in a minute. Hold back the wings. Yeah, bring them out so they won't get to milling as they go through. They're spooky now. Wouldn't take much to make them hard to handle. Oh, buck, I could put the rain up. Hey, who's that? That's the Masked Man I told you about. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Don't slap, brother. What do you want, Harris? This time, you'll have to listen to me. Take that red-skinned friend of yours and clear out. You don't bring that herd into this valley. Try to stop me. Harris, I'll try a reason for the last time. Tell your men to turn your cattle back. Save yourself trouble. You think I'm lying to you. You believe I sold my guns to your enemies, but you're mistaken. The worst enemy you have at this moment is yourself. But drive the cattle ahead. That's an order. Boss, now you're talking. I'll tell the boys. Get up. Get up there. Come on, get up there. Oh, that's your answer, huh? Right. Very well. It's your decision. Let's go, Tunnel. Come on. Get away from me, Tunnel. Get away. Hey, you're scamping my herd. Stop with your enemy. Get away from there. Stop scamping the cattle. Get away from the cattle. The curtain falls on the first act of our thrilling Lone Ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue our story. Frightened by the gunfire and shouts of the Lone Ranger and Tonto, the herd turned about and stampeded wildly in every direction, but that in which Harris wanted it to go. When the masked man had finished, it was clear that rounding up the herd once more would take days. Buck, on the pretext of appealing to Manix for men to aid them, secured permission to ride to the office of his real employer. Oh, woe, woe, woe, fellow, woe. Manix. Where are we? Somebody's wise to your scheme. Hey. A masked fella. Get your breath and try to make sense. And what's this all about? He stampeded the herd. I thought we could get it through the pass. You didn't get it into the valley? He stampeded it, I tell you. Just one fellow alone? He warned alone. He had a red skin with him. But how in places? He couldn't help it. Things happened to Dorgon fast. Them critters were just taking a bus loose anyhow. Right now, they're scattered all over Creation. You've got to get those cows into that valley. You hear me? You've got to get them in there. We will. Just give us time. Time. Taylor coming back in less than two weeks now. We'll have them there inside of three or four days. Just as soon as we get around them. Then get back there and see that it's done. Hey, wait. Who is this masked comrade? How should I know? I've never seen him before. What's he up to? Been unsprawling your plans, I reckon. How'd he find him out? Who told him? How much does he know? From what Harris said, he must have known the whole thing. But how he knows I can be blasted if I can... He's talked to Harris? Sure, didn't I tell you? You didn't. That's because you never give me a chance yet. Sure he talked to Harris. Harris told us. Only you didn't get excited. He didn't believe anything the masked fellow said. Oh, he didn't, did he? Sure not. You'd fake said. He figured it was just part of the syndicate scheme to get him off that range. You're sure Harris wasn't suspicious? None of you. How do you know? He said so. Who is he suspicious of? Just the masked fellow in the syndicate, like I said. Well? Look here, Buck. Taylor's gone. Nobody will take the word of any fellow that hides his face so he can't be recognized. So if you can get them cows into the valley like I told you, we're still all right. You think so? Don't matter to me. We are. Once those critters get inside the valley, they will never walk out again alive. Harris spent his last cash for that herd. Then Goni's finished. He'll have to sell again. Yeah, I know. He told me just about the same thing. Well, when he does, I'll buy for less than he paid me. That range will be mine again when Taylor gets back. Mine to sell for 30,000. Sure. But it won't be mine if you don't get busy. So on your way. Is it all right to stop by your place on the way back and borrow some help? That's what it told Harris. It was coming for him. Take every man I've got. Right. If you want action, boss, you'll get it. You're going after Taylor, huh? And you're bringing him here. He's in Myles City. It's a long journey, and I'd hope he wouldn't be needed, but he will be. He'll get him. I have a plan in mind, Kimasabe. And I believe I can carry it out alone, at least most of it. But I want you back with Taylor when the payoff comes. You won't need to follow the stage trails and save time by cutting across country. The trip shouldn't take less than a week, if you hurry. Hunter, do you have a plan? I don't have a plan. I don't have a plan. I don't have a plan. I don't have a plan. I don't have a plan. I don't have a plan. Just about in a week, if you hurry. Hunter, do it. See, Tando, it won't be difficult to prevent this syndicate being cheated by Mannix. We could do that by merely telling Taylor the facts. Until Mannix finds out that Taylor knows the truth he will continue his attempts against Harris in order to get back to Landy's Soul. Not right. So our problem is to save Harris. And at the same time show him proof of Mannix's scheme. It is something a lot harder. It can be done, however, and we'll do it. Now you'd better be on your way. Get them up, Scout! Get them up! Buck and the crew set to work to round up the scattered herd. It was not an easy task, however. The country was broken and wild and overgrown with brush. There were a thousand places to hide, and it seemed to the overworked cowboys that Harris's steers had found them all. Even at the end of the fifth day following the stampede, a few remained to be recaptured. Buck, Jake, and Shorty, searching out the least accessible part of the range, had made camp for the night beside an isolated water hole. Oh, gone it feels good to get out of the saddle. I'm telling you, Buck, if I had to put in another week like this, I'd quit you flat. And me with you. Yeah? Well, how'd you like to be me? I've been working just as hard as anybody. And on top of it, I got Harris and Manix both snapping my head off. You've seen Manix lately? I've seen him yesterday. He's worried plenty. No more on Harris's. You're convinced that syndicate's out for his hide? Wouldn't you hate to be such a tender foot, Jake? What Harris don't know about the cattle business is a plenty. Lucky for us it is. You still don't, Savvy, the real reason we want to throw his cows into that valley, huh? If he did, do you think we'd still be working for him? I reckon we wouldn't. Buck, how much longer will it be before we finish? We're most finished now. Yeah? You think so? And I took a rough count when I rode back to where they're holding the main bunch. If we can comb a dozen more steers out of these drawers in the morning, we'll have them all. Boy, that'll shoot me fine. Sounds good, huh? Well, what do you say we turn in now as soon as we get an early start in the morning? Sure, why not? All right with you, Buck? Yeah, I guess so. I've had enough work for this day at any rate. But you're not finished yesterday. I stand up for you. Don't go for that job. No, you don't. Oh, man. Who's next? Don't shoot me, mister. I ain't looking for trouble. Me neither. I'm glad they hear it. Maybe you'll follow orders. Oh, you smashed my hand. You're not hurt. Oh, look, mister. You're saddling up. What's this all? Keep still. When you're to speak, I'll tell you. Now, saddle up and come with me. We're riding to Manick's place. Although the lone ranger and his three unwilling captives rode to Manick's ranch, they did not call upon Manick himself. The first word Manick's received of their visit was in the middle of the next morning when the cowboy known as Shorty burst into his office. Hey. You want to save your cows? You better come running. Now what's the matter? The mask man stole them. What's it? Well, anyhow, he stole a couple of hundred and right now he's heading for the valley. Well, you told us to take the herd you sold to Harris. He's taking cows belonging to me? That's what I said. You've seen him and never done nothing about it? I helped him. Oh, you know... Oh, wait, wait, Manick. Wait till I finish explaining. He made it. He got the drop on us last night and took us along with the pointy with his guns. We'd have had a choice. Us? Who else was with you? Buck and Jake. Where are they now? Still with the mask, brother. Don't get a hustle on them. They'll be to the valley before you can stop them. What are you doing here? I made a break for them, got away. Take a look at my stetson. Do you have bullet holes? That's just how close that mask boundary come to drilling me. We still got time to catch him? If you're hurry. You bet I'll hurry. Come along. I'm with you. You'll get a bonus for this shorty. Mask, will I? Same one we've seen before. Well, he's due to learning metal in my business. Just wants to open to stay healthy. Get up. Kill them. Kill them. Look ahead. There's their dust. You sure that's them? They'll be. They've cut down that arroy over there. You'll get us to the pass and give us cover. Right. Get on board. Get up. That mask just gonna get surprised. Get up there. Get up. Get up. Buck. Well? Keep those stairs moving. That's for you two, Jake. You can't do it. And don't get the idea that either one of you will get the chance to escape as your friend did. If I was you, stranger, I'd be making tracks. Don't you figure shorty went after Manix? What have he did? You think Manix is gonna take this laying down? The time he gets here, these cows will be where you were gonna take those belong to Harris. I don't care what happens after that. You don't care if you're caught? I don't expect to be caught. If you don't, you're local. Manix will get you for this if it's the last thing he does. If he tries it, it will be the last thing. Buck, where's those leaders? Don't let them turn away from the pass. Oh, they're going along all right. See, they continue to. They're into the pass already. So I see. But if you think... All right, Mr. Reach. What? Manix. You got here. Take his guns while I keep him covered. Waiting for me, huh? Sure. Surprised you? Me and shorty have been here for the past five minutes. Buck, take his guns like I said. Yeah, Mr. Knight. One moment. You... Manix has me covered. My guns won't do me any good in my holsters. But I'm not handing them over. Oh, you're not, huh? Why are you... I'll take one of them and I'll let you have it. Manix, tell your man to keep back. You can get in the first shot. But if that shot isn't dead center, I'll take you along with me. Yeah. Leave me alone, Buck. He's safe enough. Mr., you're gonna answer some questions. Yes? Just what's your hand in this game? Who hired you to bring these cows of mine here? No one. Don't lie to me. I'm not. I suppose now you'll claim you don't know what's in that valley. Of course I do. Larkspur. Admit known it, eh? Why not? You savvy what Larkspur does to cattle that eats it? It poisons them. Uh-huh. In other words, you was gonna poison my cows. As you had planned to poison those, you sold Harris. What's that to you? I know why you wanted his cattle poisoned. They make him sell out. They force him to sell his range back to you so that you could sell to the syndicate. Pretty slick, ain't you? You don't deny it? Why should I? Harris don't know it. He won't never find out. No? Because you ain't gonna live the talk. Buck, stay away from this coyote. I'm gonna let him... No! Who did that? Good shot, Tonto. Let me get gun. It's Harris and Tonto with the injured. Harris, I... You rotten skunk. No, you don't savvy it. I understand enough. We kept out of sight as Tonto told us and heard everything. This is Tonto told you. This was arranged beforehand, Manix. Well, couldn't have been. You couldn't have known I'd be here. You've just got shorty got away. Shorty got away because I let him escape. I let him escape to bring you here. What was that trick? I think you can forget about selling to the syndicate. You'll be lucky if you don't go to jail. Well, Harris, it looks as though you're the man I'll have to do business with. We can get together. I won't hold you up. Good. What's your prize? We'll talk about that in a moment. I've got other business here that comes first. Manix. Well? If I chose two, I could turn you over to the law. You and these skunks with you. What? What, you ain't? No. You've already lost what you value most. Money. So you're free on the condition that you never show your face around here again. But listen. On your way before I change my mind. But I can. Get going. Hey, don't shoot! Don't shoot! You can do what you want, Manix, but I'm high-tailing. Get up! Hey, wait for me! Get along, boys! Hey, wait for me! Harris for a tender foot you've done right well. I guess I am still a tender foot, Taylor. I came out on top for just one reason. The mask man. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.