 fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hardy high old silver, the Lone Ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the masked writer of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early western 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 hoofbeats of the great horse, Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. Jacob Webster sat at his desk in the office of the Webster Trading Company at Mountain City. Across from him was Walter Driscoll, his local manager. The older, heavier man finished checking the report in front of him and then raised his eyes to Driscoll. Well? It's better than last month, Jake. I'll bet that Great Western bought more forefors than we did. That can't be helped, not yet. This company got a bad name during the spring. We've got to live it down. That takes too long. I've decided to stop wasting time. What more can we do than we're doing? Buy out Great Western. You know that Mark Collins won't sell out to you? He tried to force you to do it once and it didn't work. Yeah, thanks to the Lone Ranger. He's still around here. Don't get rid of him so easily. It isn't necessary to use force when you have money. Jake, your money won't do you any good in this case. Why won't it? Because... Just answer me this. What's the highest valuation you'd put on Great Western? First, trading goods, cash and goodwill. Well, it's only local, of course. I'd say $50,000. Yes, so would I. We'll offer Mark Collins $100,000. $100,000? You going local? Or is there some trick to it? There's no trick. We offer $100,000 in cold cash. That's paying $50,000 for nothing. It eliminates our competition. Can't call that nothing. Might be high price for it. We'll make it back. After Great Western is bought out, then the Webster company is the only place where trappers can sell their furs. We'll pay them just half as much as they're getting now. Yeah. That's possible. Our profits double. We'll make back the extra $50,000 in no time. But the Collins are funny. Money doesn't mean as much to them as just to most people. We'll see. I make my offer tonight. $100,000, huh? What's up your sleeve this time, Webster? Nothing at all. You can't expect more of me to believe that. Hell, this is a confession of defeat. I've tried to get your company at my own price, and, well, I've failed. But I still want it. Great Western ain't worth $100,000. Well, if I only paid you what it was worth, you wouldn't sell. There must be a trick in it. I'll pay you by checker cash, whichever you want. You'll have the money in your hands before you sign the bill of sale. I declare. Don't seem to be any loophole at all. Be careful, ma'am. Oh, don't you worry. I'm not going to say yes or no right all. Think it over as long as you want to. You come back tomorrow morning. I'll have my answer then. That's fine, Mrs. Collins. Until tomorrow morning. Good night. Madge, where's Johnny tonight? At his office by the jail. Well, go and get him. Oh, no, wait. There's no sense in bringing him here. I was just going to say that Johnny can't help you make up your mind. It's the Lone Ranger I want to talk to, Madge, the only one who can find him. Well, Johnny used to know where his camp was, but maybe it's Mo. Well, tell him to keep looking. I'm not going to have any dealin' with Webster until I talk to the Lone Ranger first. Is that all, Mrs. Collins? That's all. Simple as A-B-C. He'll pay me the money in cold cash before I sign a bill of sale. Is Marshall a mountain city? I advise you against doing business with Webster. Well, you keep quiet, Johnny. I'm much obliged to you for bringing the mask man here, but it's his advice I want, not yours. You'd be foolish not to accept the offer, Mrs. Collins. Well, that's the way it looks to me, on the surface. But what's behind it? Nothing that can hurt you. The trappers won't like it very much. That's all. Why not? Well, you can't blame them. With no competition, Webster can pay them what he feels like for their furs. Hey, that's right. There'll be a lot of men coming in during the next few weeks, too. Well, the trappers are my friends. I'm not going to let anybody take advantage of them. My advice is to accept the offer. What? Well, they don't sound like you, mask man. It'd be more than selling out the business. It'd be selling out our friends. It depends on how the bill of sale is worded. Now, let me explain. You'll finish reading the bill of sale, Mrs. Collins? I guess so. Everything's in order, isn't it? Well, there's just one thing I don't like. What's that? This here. The party at the second party agrees to Oh, but I'm buying the Great Western name as well as the business. Well, I don't care anything about the name. It's the rest of it. According to what it says there, I promise I won't ever start another fur trading post. Yes, you do. Well, I won't promise that. It's the only business I know. I'm not just going to sit in a rocking chair for the rest of my days and saw a fine seam. Well, if that clause wasn't in there, you could start a new business in Mountain City tomorrow. And the goodwill of the Great Western company wouldn't mean a thing. Well, you've got to change it. I won't go into business here. I won't go into business anywhere within a hundred miles of here. But nothing's going to stop me from trading in fur someplace. You change it to read like that and I'll sign. A hundred miles, you said? That's right. Fair enough. That won't affect this market. We'll just add in Mountain City or within a radius of a hundred miles. Hand me those other copies, Walt, and we'll write it in. There you are. There's the full amount. Take care of it, Johnny. Yes, and I'll sign right here. Mm-hmm. Move the lamp over a little mage. There. There. Your turn, Webster. You can witness this, Walt. You too, Johnny. Sure. Just pass it over when you're ready. Oh, by the way, now that the Great Western company belongs to me, I've got a little announcement that you can pass along to the trappers as they come into town. What's that? I'll wait until you finish. I have. Well, then here's the announcement. Starting from this minute, the prices that we pay for furs are cut in half. In half. Now, what do you think of that? The trappers will be plenty made. They'll get over. Not if there's someplace else where they can take their furs. But there won't be. Don't be too sure. Well, Fort Hall's a long way. Over a hundred miles. They might not want to go that far. What's this about Fort Hall? That's where I'm going to start my new post. Yes, and unless I miss my guests, there'll be a big caravan starting from here as soon as you're open for business. The deal is off. Oh, you can't be talking about the sale. I got my money. You got the papers. Well, she's been too smart for you, Jake. If Jake does too smart for himself, pay a decent price for furs and he'll keep his business. Try to cheat the trappers and he'll lose it. It's up to you, Mr. I'm starting that new post so you can't take advantage of my friends. Come on, Driscoll, let's get out of here. Why, just as well close up the store, Jake. There hasn't been a trapper come in since you cut the prices. It's three days now. Well, they haven't left town. Well, they're all camped out on the metters. About a hundred of them. But Mrs. Collins and her daughter are leaving for Fort Hall tomorrow morning. The trappers may follow them. We're going through with this, Walt. When they start leaving, you'll have to admit your beat. If I had to depend on you, I might be. What's that? Kurt Morgan's camped out near Circle Lake with all these men. I thought you were going to stay inside the lodge. I will. But Kurt doesn't mind breaking it. What are you going to have him do? Just get him to start operating between Mountain City and Fort Hall. Morgan can make that trail so unsafe the trappers won't dare take it. Yeah, he could at that. And he can start with the Collins stage. What's the old lady done with the cash I gave her? She put most of it in the bank. If she's starting a business, she'll have to take plenty of it with her. That ought to be enough inducement for Kurt. But say, if she never got to Fort Hall, we'd have nothing to worry about. You can pass that word along, too. If she doesn't get there, I'll pay a bonus of $5,000. Did you say me passed the word along? Do you think I'd trust anyone else? Yes, Walt. You're riding the Circle Lake tonight. Eddie Silver. How do you keep us happy? It's Tonneau. Nearly done, Tonneau. You've been gone a long time. Ah, me watch Driscoll, like you say. Him ride out of town when it get dark last night. Where'd he go? All the way to Circle Lake. Circle Lake? Ah, there are many men there. Hot laws? That's right. Come to see face of leader, him Kurt Morgan. Kurt Morgan? Ah. Morgan and Webster. That's a bad combination. Ah, plenty bad. What are they planning? Ah, mean not hear that. Webster may be trying to stop Mrs. Collins from getting to Fort Hall. Maybe so. We'll have to make sure that nothing happens to her. Yes, Silver. Are you sure we're on the trail of the outlaw's tunnel? Ah, and better we rain up now. Set it, Silver. Set it, boy. What's the matter? Uh, outlaw, right down slope here. Maybe we see him below. Pretty big boy. We certainly don't want to ride into them. Oh. Better you keep close to trees. Ah, this is far enough. What's your fee? Down there in the pass, all right. The stagecoach has to go through there to get to Fort Hall. Ah. We've got to hit the back trail and stop it. Ah, right. It'll be cool. Come on, Silver. Come on, Silver. Easy boy, easy. Come on, come on, come on. There she comes. Ah. We're glad we couldn't have stopped it before it left Mountain City. And this is not far from town. They'll have to turn around and go back. Hold on. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh. What is it? Road agents? No, ma'am. It's a lone ranger. There he is, Ma. There are loads waiting in the pass, Mrs. Collins. You'll have to turn back. Well, I've got to get to Fort Hall. But it won't be safe in the stage. Do you think you and your daughter could ride a horse back all the way? I can. I don't know about Ma. Well, don't you worry about me. Of course I can. And we'll get some horses in town and Paula will show you a safe trail through the mountains. Turn around, driver. You know. Get out of there. More of these outlaws. Kurt Morgan's gang. And there's a chance of catching them. Oh. Now, there's many men as you can into the stage. Then follow it with the rest of your deputies. Not too close, you understand? Hi, Sammy. Morgan and these men will close in on the stage. And you can close in on them. Sounds like it might work. Gather around, boys. They've got orders from the lone ranger. All right. Blow down, Johnny. Put your horse in. Loose inside of the stage. We're getting close to the pass. Blow them. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy, everybody. Easy. The gang is up on the slope. See, it's behind the stage. They'll make a break forth. They won't have any chance of catching them. We'd be hit by the dust from the stage. Up from up above. But look, the stage is almost around the bend. The pass is just beyond. And it does round the bend. And we can start riding again. All ready to go, boys. When the stage rounds the bend, lift those coyoses out of their tracks. I don't like to leave those boys on the stage alone too long. They won't be. They'll have plenty of cover. The driver is running up and getting under the boot at the first side of the gang. There she goes. I'm sure you're all ready. We're on silver. Come on there, boys. Come on. 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. As the lone ranger, the marshal and his men raced around the bend, they saw the stage coach pulled up just ahead of them. The firing had stopped. There was no sign of the outlaw. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. I just got excited. I'm sorry. Well, this means our chance is gone. I'm afraid so because they're well-mounted. You wouldn't be able to catch them. What do we do then? There's nothing for you and your men to do, but ride back to town. I'm going to follow their trail and find out where they make camp. Come on, silver. It was late that evening before the lone ranger returned to Mountain City. He ran up in the back of the marshal's office, slipped from the sattlet and off to the back door. I wonder what's going on. Oh, dear, you got back all right. Yes, Johnny. Are you able to follow the trail? It wasn't hard. They still camped out at Circle Lake. Can't we ride out there and clean them out? I don't think so. Morgan only sent a few of his men to hold up the stage. A lot of them at the lake and they have a strong position. That's Driscoll out in front. What's he yelling about? Let's find out. We don't have to go outside. Just open the window. Keenum. You're first piled up in your tents out in the meadow. You know that Kurt Morgan's up in the mountains? What's to stop him from staging a raid and robbing of everything you've got? Just let him try. We'll sell him off. He's got too many men and he wouldn't give you any warning. If you want to save your first, you better sell him to us right now. No, that's your price. You're a cheap cook. Well, it's the only price you'll get. Make up your minds. They're going after him, Donnie. Men! Let him alone! In the name of the law! Go on home, Driscoll. I have to lock you up to save your neck. The only trouble is it's true. Morgan could raid the town. I don't think you will. It's a different thing, Marshall, attacking the town and defending his camp. Besides, you've taken my advice, haven't you? You have guards posted. Yeah, but the attack wouldn't come without warning. Maybe the furs are safe, but what good are they if they can't sell them? They can. They won't get Webster's price. Mrs. Cullings will reach Fort Hall tomorrow. She'll buy them. You don't expect the men to take a chance on the trail, do you? They'll have to sooner or later. Mr. What chance would two or three trappers have against Morgan's men? It can't be two or three. All of them must leave at once. And they'll have a hundred rifles to protect their furs. Sure, a hundred rifles. The only way to manage it. But even so, it's going to take at least three days with pack horses and mules. That means two camps in the mountains. I'm not saying there's no danger for Morgan. There is. Those men out there face danger every day of their lives. Well, they needed someone to organize them. You can leave it to me. I'll tell them just what you've said. The trappers welcomed the Lone Rangers' plan. They spent the next day in getting ready for the trail. And Johnny set the start for the following morning. But at midnight, three men met on the ridge above the Circle Lake. Webster, Driscoll, and Kurt Morgan. So you came yourself, Webster. You told Walt that I had to, didn't you? Yeah. I was so careful I didn't think you'd take a chance on talking with me. I need your help. Yeah, maybe you'll get it. Maybe you won't. I still haven't got over that stagecoach business, an old lady and her daughter. But what do we find instead? A wagon load of rifles and a posse riding behind. Surely you don't think I tipped off the Marshal? Well, you might have. I know a lot about you. Maybe it's too much. I know just as much about you. We have to trust each other. Yeah. With one eye watching out for a double cross. There's no chance of a double cross on this deal. I'll decide that. I just want to make sure you don't let those furs get through the Fort Hall. What if I do? What if the furs don't interest me? They're worth a fortune. At the price is your pain. Now look, Kurt. You look. I don't want to be bothered with a lot of furs. You can't move fast when you got pack horses and mules trailing after you. Kurt, raid the party. Drive off the men and burn the furs. Nothing could be safer than that. 10,000 for the job. 10,000? You sure don't want Mrs. Collins to do any business? I sure don't. Just burn them up, huh? And that won't be much trouble. You know, Jake, I think you bought something. Hold on, hold on, hold on. Sorry you came with heavy. Welcome back, Tutto. Are Mrs. Collins and her daughter safe? You made good time from the Fort. Who's that by fire? That's Driscoll. You are above the law, mask man. I'll have you thrown in jail for this. You'll take him prisoner? Yes. I persuaded him to pay our camp a little visit. He's writing letters to Colonel Graham. Oh, count on that's heavy. Why you make him write to Colonel? It's a little complicated, Tutto. A lot's happened since you left. But the explanations will have to wait. Sign the letter, Driscoll. What if I refuse? You won't. Well, this can't hurt me. Now, hand it over. Can I go back to town now? Not just yet. I'm going to borrow your horse for an hour or two. But four, what's the matter with your own? Might be recognized, steady boy. Now, where you go, Kim, if I be your big fella? I'm going to deliver this letter. Colonel at Port, a hundred miles away. The rest of the Colonel, but it wasn't meant for him. Make sure that Driscoll doesn't get away. Come on, boy. Kurt makes us stand guard all night. Those fool trappers aren't going to come up here. Now, if they know what's good for them, who's that? Can't be any of the boys. They're all in camp. They're in a sorrow. It must be. They better not take any chances. Stop or I shoot! All right. Take it on our own trail. This one will be Morgan's camp. Right up here, we're going to take it. Right up here with your hands above your head. Stop! Some hombre took the wrong trail. Where is he? He wheeled his horse around there by the big tree in head of south. Didn't recognize him, huh? Guess not. He was riding the soil. I thought it was Driscoll's at first, but the man was bigger. Hey, look there. Didn't he drop something? Not that I noticed. There's something white on the ground by the tree. Just a piece of paper. Yeah, we'll take a look at it. That's all it is. What's a letter? Write a match. Sure. Colonel Graham Fort Hall. I am writing this letter from Mr. Webster. He's obtained definite information that Kurt Morgan and his gang intended. With a dirty double crosser. Let's see who wrote this. Who? I thought so. I thought I recognized the handwriting. What's up, boss? You were right. It was Driscoll's quarrel. Driscoll wasn't riding it? I know that. He'd take a chance on his horse, but he wouldn't take a chance on himself. He hired somebody to deliver this. You didn't read it all, boss. What's the rest of it say? Never mind. The plans are changed. You mean no raid tomorrow night? No raid. But there won't be many people in town after the trappers leave. The Marshal and all his deputies are going with him. I know. That's what you said. You and I are paying a call on Jake Webster. The following night, Jacob Webster sat alone in his office. He was worried by the unexplainable absence of his manager. And when at last he heard someone rain up outside, he sprang to his feet. It's about time. Where's he been? Driscoll wasn't it? Oh, it's you. Yeah, Kurt Morgan. What are you doing here? There's nobody around. I want to talk with you. Come on in, Joe. But you're supposed to be at Rocky Hollow. What about the raid? There's plenty of time for that. We got a morning to get there. Where are your men? Waiting. I just got thinking things over, Webster. You'd better pay me ahead of time. Right now. I'll pay you when the job is finished. You wouldn't argue with a six-gun, would you? Oh. So this is a holdup? Don't matter what you call it. Just pick up all the money you find in that safe, Joe. Kino. It's all there, $10,000. It was waiting for you. That surprises me. Count it, Joe. It's all there. Now go on. You've got a long hard ride if you're going to make it to Rocky Hollow before dawn. Joe and I got just one more piece of business to take care of before we leave. What's that? We're going to fix it so you don't double-cross anybody again. What are you talking about? You picked the wrong man, Jake. Now wait a minute, Kurt. Put down that gun. You've got the wrong idea about something. Not about you. Let him have it. Let's get out of here, boss. You're making a mistake. You've got to listen to me. Goodbye, Webster. What the... Oh, a match, man. There's not the gun right out of his hand. The low-range shot. Up with your hand. Yeah, don't shoot. Get his gun, Marshal. Right. Everything's worked out fine, Mr. Webster. What are you talking about? We watched the boys close in on Kurt's camp before we started back here to make sure you were all right. You mean my men have been captured? I'm sure you didn't think the trappers were really heading south this morning, did you? Huh? They made camp less than five miles out of town. Then they headed back to surround your men. And you planned this, Webster? No, of course not. It wouldn't have worked out without your help. Look, this is all a trick, Kurt. That masked man is a lone ranger. He must have planned everything. I can't take the credit. I couldn't have done anything without your information. I never gave you information. You don't have to be afraid of Morgan now. He's under arrest and so are all his men. Hey, listen to that. They're bringing them into town. I'm certainly glad that we got here in time to save your life, Webster. Don't pay the attention to them, Kurt. First, you were going to have the soldiers capture us, but you were afraid that letter got into our hands when it was lost. I don't know what you're talking about. So you cooked up this game? No, Kurt. Why, sending me to the gallows won't send you to save you? You're under arrest. Anything you say will be used against you. It'll be used against him. Twenty years ago, his name was Ed Randall. Shut up, you fool. He's wanted for murder in New Orleans. What? That does it. Well, your hunch was right, masked man. I heard them talking up on the ridge. I knew that Kurt had something on him. You're heading for the gallows with Morgan, Webster. It's good riddance for the West. Another double crossing. I didn't do anything. What about that letter? I didn't want to write it. That don't cut any ice with me. You did. Arrest him, too, Marshal. He hired me to hold up the stage. And last year, he was mixed up in a bank robbery in Kansas City. That ought to be enough, Marshal. It sure is. The roundup's all finished. Come on, boys. Move along. Feet, Bill. Arrest him out there. Grab all of these hombres and march him along to jail. Hello. I'll be saying goodbye, Johnny. Will you leave him? You won't have any more trouble in Mountain City. I'm sure of it. Now that we're rid of these coyotes, that's it, boys. Move them along. So long, mister. Goodbye, and good luck. Thanks. Really big fella. Come on, Sylvie. Get him up. Get him up. Well, no way! You have just heard, as a copyrighted feature, the Lone Ranger Incorporated.