 with the speed of light, the cloud of dust, and a hearty high old silver, the Lone Ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the masked writer of the planes led the fight for law and order in the early west in the United States. The stories of his strength and courage, his daring and resourcefulness have come down to us through the generations, and 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. Come on, Silver. Let's come along the trail ahead. This room was packed with townsmen who came to hear Cyrus Hawkins sentenced. The hum of excited voices rose and fell on the warm air, and the atmosphere was charged with tense expectancy. Movement stirred in the crowded doorway and in the tall open windows where late comers sought entrance into the courtroom. The charge was murder. Witnesses who claimed to have seen the act committed made the verdict of guilty a certainty. But the pros and cons of the case still held the excited interest of the crowd. Then a sudden hush fell over the room as the judge made ready to address the prisoner in a gavel wrapped for silence. The prisoner will stand. Cyrus Hawkins, you have been found guilty of murderous charge in the indictment. Have you anything to say before this court passes sentence? Just this. I'm no more guilty of murder than you are. I tell you, judge this whole thing is a frame up. That's all that you have to say. It's not all I've got to say, not by a jug full. Every dog gone one of those witnesses lied through his teeth. Well, look at me. I never so much as hurt a grasshopper. Seth Halloway is to hang tomorrow. I know he's not guilty of murder any more than I am. The same witnesses that lied. A jury has found you guilty. The time for argument is past. You had your trial and all that remains is for me to pass sentence. But judge, I tell you. It is the sentence of this court that you be taken to the jail and the custody of the sheriff and on the morning of the 14th be hanged by the neck until dead. Well, listen to me. How come the same witnesses testify against everyone? Court is adjourned. Hold it. You all stay right where you are. There he is. There at the window. What's this mean? Come this way. Stop it. You, Indian, take your hands off the prisoner. You stay here. You're out of the way, Sheriff. You might get hurt. Threat gets taken side at the window. Who is he? Who is he? There is them both interfering with justice. All that day, the townsmen discussed the trial and the amazing abduction of the condemned man. Then toward evening, the subject of conversation changed. Attention was focused on Seth Halloway, already tried and convicted of murder, who was sentenced to hang the following morning. Daybreak. Halloway slowly mounted the 13 steps of the scaffold. He had pleaded in vain, protesting his innocence against a string of men who claimed to be eyewitnesses to murder. On top of the platform, he saw a row of men who would officially witness his hanging. The sheriff was on hand with a deputy who would adjust the black hood over Seth's tired face. Innocent. I'm innocent. And they're to hang me. Near the sheriff stood the banker, a man named Steele, who was an official witness. If anything happens like yesterday, Sheriff, you'd better be ready to account for it. It won't. Still no sign of that mask man, eh? Nope. We're still hunting him and the Redskins and Cy Hawkins. He won't interrupt this hanging. And by a darn sight, I've got guards posted all around. Good. Innocent. And they're to hang me. Halloway, this is it. You got any last words before we blindfold you? Sheriff, I know there ain't no use pleading now. But I hope someday, from where I'm going, to see those line witnesses made to pay in full. Fix the blindfold. Not now. The voice. We spoke. I did. Put on on goes up the prisoner's hands. Did you say mad? If you didn't look so closely, banker Steele, my face isn't masked, but it is disguised. Hello, bring up the horses. That same Redskins. If I let Sheriff, you'll pay for this. Jump down and get on that white horse. I'll be right alongside. Now hurry. My chance for life. You get up on Silver. Steady, Silver. We're not going to get away with this. Keep your gun in leather. I'll fix it so you can't use it. Come on, Silver. Get him up. Just count. Someone stop him. He's got another prisoner. Stop them. Call the passing. Today, Sheriff Currier defended himself weakly against the anger of banker Steele, the wealthiest man in Lenape. The huge frame of the banker seemed to tower over the undersized lawman. And in his discomputure, the sheriff seemed to shrink in his chair. The scene is the sheriff's office. I tell you, Steele, I did all I could. It ain't my fault the mask man rescued them too. Shut up, you collaborate weakly fool. I saw you give way to the mask man with my own eyes. You ain't got the spine of a jellyfish. I did my best. Your best ain't good enough. What do you mean? I put you in office, Currie. I can put you out. You wouldn't. Wouldn't I? Currie, I had you elected chair for one reason. To arrest the men I wanted out of the way. That's what I've been doing. I supplied you with the evidence to hang them. Evidence that convicted them. But you let them get away. It's that mask man, Steele. He shows up when you don't expect him. Handles them six guns of his like grease lightning. Who is he? I don't know. Find him. Arrest him. I can't have had men hunting everywhere. Currie, if you don't get that mask man, you're finished. What I... You had me. I don't know who he is. What he wants. But I got a sneaking suspicion. If I don't get him, you'll get me. If you'll just give me time. You had time. Sheriff Currie, you wouldn't be thinking of double cross me, would you? Of course not, Mr. Steele. Any time you get tired of your job, there's jail waiting for you. Mr. Steele. I've got evidence to use against you the same as the others. You don't have to worry about me. No, I reckon not. But if you let that other prisoner escape, you'd better worry about me. Well, Jeff Harris, he's safe in jail. He won't get out. I'm not so sure. What do you mean? With that mask going to be around, like it's not Jeff Harris will be rescued before he's hung. The other two wasn't taken till he was ready for the news. Harris ain't even tried yet. We won't take chances. What do you mean? How would it be if Harris was to commit suicide in his cell? Suicide? Folks would figure he had a guilty conscience. How? It could be made to look like he hanged himself in his cell by his belt. It could be done. Tonight, after he's asleep. Will you be here? Of course not. Well, I'll need help. That's right. And I don't trust them deputies. I'll send over a couple of my old men to help you. This'll be one hanging the mask man won't know about. Late that night, three figures crept stealthily told the cell where Jeff Harris slept. They were the sheriff and two men whom banker Steele had assigned to help him accomplish his murderous errand. Grimm featured shrewd-eyed men who made their living by the knife and the gun and the rope. Slowly, carefully, they crept toward the unsuspecting youth. Did it wake them? Who is your sheriff? Bring Jeff Harris out of that cell and cut off the mask, Brandon. What's going on here? These men came here to hang you, Jeff. I don't understand. You come. Don't let them take the prisoner. Boys rush him. You handle the mask. Don't raise sheriff. We'll jump the engine. As the two Grimm-faced men leaped into Jeff's cell to intercept Tonto and his attempt to free the youth, the sheriff lunged at the Lone Ranger. Quickly, the masked man returned his guns to their holsters and met the sheriff's attack with his fists. No, you don't. I'll get you. Yes. I'll take this, too. Fists flail but briefly as the Lone Ranger countered the sheriff's charge with an expertly timed, excellently aimed blow, then floored him with a smash to the jaw. Meanwhile, in Jeff's cell, Tonto was more than holding his own against the two men who attacked him. Will you take this? No, Henry Rizkin. I'll get you for cracking my part. No, you won't. That second man leaped at the Indian to revenge his partner. He was suddenly intercepted by a tall figure who wore a black mask. Carrying the man's blow, the Lone Ranger put the complete force of his muscular shoulders behind the punch and sent his opponent reeling against the wall, then crashing to the floor. We've finished. Plenty past. Come on, Jeff. Where are you taking me? Well, you'll be safe. But I don't know. Hurry. This way before they recover. Stop on my gun. Here it is. On my horse, here. Up you come. But what's this, sir? Up with you. Come on, sir. Late, the powerful horses carried the Lone Ranger, Jeff and Tonto, to a well-concealed camp in a noroyo not far from town. Who shall we hope to go? Easy. You'll be safe here, Jeff. At my camp. That mask? Your outlaws? Well, your friends, Jeff. Why did you break me out of jail? Those men were going to hang you and make it appear as suicide. But one of them was a sheriff. Yes, and the others were banker Steele's gunman. Banker Steele? Steele planned to convict you from murder. I didn't kill Hank James. The evidence against me was fate. Faked by Steele. He framed you just as he framed the others. You mean the two you saved from hanging? I heard about that. Why does Steele want you out of the way? I don't know. First time I met him was when I made a deposit at his bank. How much did you deposit? $7,000. My uncle back east left it to me in his will. Well, that's reason enough for Steele to want to kill you. Holloway and Hawkins also had large deposits in his bank. I don't savvy this at all. It's simple enough. The bank's big depositors were prevented from claiming their money. Steele could take over their deposits. But there was evidence against the others. Four men saw Holloway and Hawkins do murder. Those four men could have been paid to testify falsely. By Steele? Yes. Then there that have been met at my trial to swear I shot Hank James? Yes, Jeff. But the sheriff, he knows... Sheriff Kerry works hand in glove with Steele. Why the low down coyote? How listen to me, Jeff. You've got to risk your neck to establish your innocence. Huh? As matters stand, you're out of jail. But you'll always be a hunted man. I know. If you risk hanging to help me, we can expose Steele and Sheriff Kerry. And you can return home un molested. I'd be with my wife again. And I can count on you? You bet, Mr. Good. Holloway and Hawkins had the same thing. That makes... Five of us. Yeah, five. Five against Steele in his whole rotten setup. 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. Can you all a story here? A few days later, a stranger entered Steele's bank and walked to the teller's window. He was well but conservatively dressed, suggesting a man of means. And in his hand, he carried a small black bag. Setting the bag on the floor beside him, he withdrew from it a thick package of bank notes. Then presented the bills together with a slip at the teller's window. I want to make a deposit. Surely, surely, stranger. Uh, how am I... $10,000. Here's a slip I filled out. Ten felt. That's a lot of cash. I'm planning to open a business here. I'll have to get this approved by the boss. Be back in a minute. Mr. Steele. What do you want? A man here wants to make a deposit. $10,000. How much? $10,000. 10,000. Who? Here's the slip. Shall I put the deposit through? Certainly put it through. What do I hire you for? Here, let me sign that paper. Uh, yes, sir. Here you are. $10,000. Mr. Steele. Some stranger is making a deposit, carry him. $10,000. Yeah? If I could count on you, I could clean up. Steele, I've done all a man can. You sure missed things up at the jail the other night. You and them dunderheads are told to help. Who's that masked man again? I know that. And this time he turned Jeff Harris loose. That makes three escapes, carry him. You don't have to worry, Steele. They won't show their faces in town again. They know they'd be arrested if they did. And you already took their bank deposits. Even so, if one of your prisoners escapes again... The next one won't get away, I'll promise you that. There won't be a next one, carry him. Unless... Unless what? Unless we can frame the stranger that just came into the bank. $10,000 is a lot of money. Yes, but first, I'll get you. Gunfire. Give him outside. Maybe we can see from this window. It's a stranger. He's been in over an engine. Yes. And the engine's been shot. What? Carry that $10,000 as good as mine. What do you mean? The old rail road, the stranger to a hang new so fast it'll make his head swim. Come on. Hurrying to the street, Sheriff Carry and Steele elbowed their way through the gathering crowd. Angry voices rose as the crowd saw the inert form of the grave-faced Indian dressed in buckskin on the ground and a stranger standing over him. And before their anger could be expressed in action, the Sheriff and banker Steele pushed their way into the center of the crowded circle. Let me through. Make way for the sheriff. Ranger, you're under arrest. What for? Murder. I didn't shoot this engine, Sheriff. He was standing over him. I'll ran to see if I could help him. I mean, nobody else did. Nobody else was around. Sure. Just you and the engine, so you shot him. Let me have your gun. I'll tell you, I found him there on the ground. This engine's the one to help free their murders, Carry. Well, it turned if he ain't. Name's Tano or something. There's two bullet holes in this jacket. That settles this, stranger. What? There's two bullets missing from your gun. Well, that's a lie. I never... Touch him, Steele. Like it's not you find the shells on him. Let do a blitz, Carry. I'll see you here. You better hold your tongue, mister. Anything you say can be used against you. I'll tell you, I'm innocent. And we'll let the court decide that. Find anything, Steele? Just a piece of paper. Hey, get me that. That's my bank receipt. You're mistaken, Mr. Carry. This is nothing but a scrap of paper. It's a receipt for money. I deposit. Shut up. Didn't find any shells, huh, Steele? No, Carry. I guess he's room away. Yeah. Well, that way, there'd be less evidence. We've got enough to hang him already. You'll frame him, may boss off you. Go on, Sylvie. What the... The mask. The mask, man. That's your handle. Carry, if he takes this prisoner from me, you're through. Put on them guns. You're obstructing justice. Structing justice? You should know all about that, Sheriff. You and Steele... Where are you? What? Remember, Carry, if he takes the prisoner, if you let him get away... I didn't come for the prisoner this time. He's a big fella. Aim for my friend. Come on, Tyler. I'll get you out of here. How's your chance, Carry? Jumping quick. Watch yourself, Sheriff. Shoot him. Shoot your foes. Go ahead, Sheriff. Shoot me in the back. Come on, Sylvie. Hey, you slow-moving morsehorn. Confound you, Sheriff. You let him get away. Carrying Tonto astride the great horse, Sylvie, the lone ranger raced back to the camp. When he arrived, the three fugitives he had saved from Sheriff Carry's justice were waiting. Oh, Sylvie. Whoa, whoa, whoa. You did a perfect job, Tonto. Uh-huh. Them plenty fooled. I didn't come out. What happened? Did it work? Everything went as planned. They were so anxious to arrest Brandt, they glanced at the bullet holes in Tonto's jacket and took it for granted that he was shot. Can you beat that? That proves the Sheriff's a crook. I can't wait to get my hands on that coyote. Steal up Brandt of his bank receipt. Sheriff took mine. Mine, too. Oh, his receipts was our only claim to have it cashed in the bank. Now Steel's got him. He won't have them long. Then try to hang Brandt. Brandt won't have a chance at the trial. What'll we do? When the case comes up, we'll give Steel and the Sheriff the biggest surprise of their lives. Brandt's trial was set for the following afternoon at the insistence of Steel, who was anxious to claim Brandt's $10,000 bank account as quickly as possible. Attracted by the unusual circumstances of the trial, a record crowd thronged the courtroom. A jury had been hastily summoned, and the witnesses, as was expected by the Lone Ranger, were picked by Steel. Brandt heard first one man, then another take the stand and swear to lie as against him. And, uh, saw Brandt pull his gun and shoot the red skin. That's all, Your Honor. Judge, judge, that man lies. Brandt? Brandt, sit down. You're out of order. My gun wasn't even fired. Don't believe in Judge. I found two bullets missing. Sure they were missing. You took them from a gun yourself. You know you did, Sheriff. It ain't a lie. As heaven's my witness, it's the truth. Everything those witnesses have said is a lie. A judge have got to believe me. These men are hanging me. With amazing speed, fake evidence was stacked against the man on trial. It was clear that Brandt had no hope of escaping the hangman's rope. Outside watching the trial through a window was a small group of men. All the way. Yeah. Are those witnesses the same men who testified against you? That's right. Me too. Reckon that it testified against me if he hadn't broken me out of jail first. I'd like to go in there and throw them lies right back in their faces. Yeah. When do we start? Not yet. With the juries filing out. When they return with the verdict, Brandt will have his say. But what good will it do? Wait and watch. Inside the courtroom, there was a low hum of excited voices punctuated by moments of tense expectancy as faces looked at the clock on the wall which seemed inexorably to take away Brandt's spotlight. When the judge and the jury returned, the defendant's fate would be officially sealed. But in the minds of the people who sat there, the decision soon to be rendered was all too apparent. Already it called for the death penalty. Suddenly the jury filed back into the room, their foreman holding tightly to the paper those few simple words held Brandt's life in the balance. Gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict? We have, Your Honor. The defendant will stand and face the jury. The foreman will rise and read the verdict. We, the jury, in the case of the state versus Brandt, find the defendant guilty of murder and the first degree is charged in the indictment. Your Honor. There's the defendant, something to say. I want to address the court. Well, make it short. I've been guilty of killing a man who's not even been proved dead. Order! Order in the court! Order! What do you mean by that, Brandt? You heard the testimony of witnesses who examined the man and found him dead. I'll show you what I mean, Judge. My friends are taking over. What's that? All of you, stay seated. Would anybody make a move? Come on, Sprint. Glory be to you. Sheriff Kelly. This is Jeff Harris. What are you, a scapegoat? Order! Order in the court! Order! And you'll see more of the escaped prisoners. All the way, Hawkins. Bring in the Indian. Where come in? Here we come, with the Indian on a stretcher. There's the other two fugitives. Hello, Wayne Hawkins. Arrest those men. They're right where you are. Judge, what sort of a trial is this? Be quiet, Steele. Everyone be quiet. Give me that gavel. Now, Judge, ask the witnesses if this is the Indian brant kill. Step up and answer the question. Is that Indian on the stretcher, the one? Let me have a look. Yep, that's him. Sheriff, do you agree? That's the Indian, all right. Steele, you take a look. Sure, it's him. What about it? Stand up, Tutto. Ah, me not dead. Me not even hurt. We've been framed. Somebody double-crossed. Order! Order in the court! Judge, every one of the witnesses lie. That ain't so! Jeff, where was Collins when he said he saw a brant shoot? In the cafe, playing feral. Holloway, where was Carson? He was at the blacksmith's. Brown was there with him. And Baird was home in bed. Judge, judge, those same witnesses testified against all of these men. They were paid to lie by Steele. He wanted our money. That ain't true. Am I right? Speak up or you'll be jailed for perjury. Maybe one of you can turn the state's evidence. Steele paid us to lie. I'll tell about it. Well, let me tell. I'll go straight to that. I've been framed, Lieutenant. That's a frame-up, Steele, but you framed it. You faked murder evidence against three fugitives for the same reason you did me. To claim their bank deposit. Prove it. Brant, you prove it. You deny a deposit at $10,000 in your bank? I do. All my deposit is to get a receipt for the money. I've got one, too, Steele. You're bluffing, Brant. You know, dog born in a line. The receipt you took from me was a copy, Steele. The real receipt is here. Sign with your name. I've heard enough. Steele, I'm appointing an honest lawman to investigate you and the sheriff right now. You needn't appoint anyone, Judge. The United States Marshal is here to take charge. Well, where is he? His name is Brant. Steele, he's arresting you and the sheriff for murder. Murder? Murder the men you accused Holloway Hawkins and Harris of killing. That's a, that's a hanging charge. Yeah, but he's going to spring the tap on me. Put down that gun. Hey, look at that thing. He can shoot. Good work, Tutto. They won't need us now. Come on. Wait. Hold up there. Who, who are those men? That mask man. Mask man? Judge, he's the Lone Ranger. Glory be. Dory, you have just heard, is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.