 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a clot of dust and a hearty high of silver, the Lone Ranger. This faithful Indian companion, Toto, the daring and resourceful mask 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. The Lone Ranger and Toto rode a trail that followed the crest of a hill outside the town of Red Bank. The early afternoon sun was hot, and the two men moved at a leisurely pace. Do you think we'd get close to Red Bank, Kimusabi? Yes, I know. Keep your eyes open for a good camp site, Toto. We'll pitch camp and get a few supplies from town. You not say why we come to this territory. I was waiting to see how long it would be before you became curious, Toto. Well, me curious now. A notorious gang of outlawers operating near here. The sheriff of Red Bank and his men can't seem to cope with him. Oh, no, that's not good. The gang seems to know every move that's made by the sheriff, as well as the time and route of money shipments by coach or rail. It seems to me they'll closer or closer. A shooting came from the valley. Look, Kimusabi, down there. Stagecoach, hold it. Come on, Toto. Racing at top speed, the lone ranger and Toto headed down the side of the hill toward the trail below, where they could see a stagecoach stopping. There are three outlaws, Toto. Use your guns. Outlaw steers, then leave and pass. Yes, they're separating. I'll follow the one who's going out to the right. You go on to the stage. Come on, Toto. Leading Toto to go to the stagecoach, the great stallion forward in the direction taken by one of the outlaws. For a few moments, the fleeing man didn't realize he was being followed. Then turning in the saddle, he saw the pursuing masked man and immediately raised his gun and fired. Without wasting time to return the fire, the lone ranger bending low in the saddle encouraged Silver to even greater speed. Come on, Toto. Silver sensed the urgency in the ringing cry and exerted his strength to lessen the distance between his master and the rider ahead in spite of the bullets which once more came whining back toward them. Gradually, the space between the riders grew smaller until the lone ranger was close enough to see the expression of fear on the outlaw's face. The outlaw had emptied his gun and was now intent upon getting away from the relentless masked figure that closed up behind him. The next instant the lone ranger was alongside and with a mighty leap knocked the outlaw from his saddle. I want you. I'll get to your feet. I'll show you your dirty clown. I'll fix you for that. It's more than that to do it. Wait. Wait up. Get up and get on your horse. What are you going to do? We were cutting in on the job that you planned. Oh, look, a mask for you. Here's the lure. Easy, big fella. All right, come on, get to your horse. I'm taking you in the red bang to the sheriff. All right, get going. Get out there. Come on. The lone ranger rejoined Tato and the two men took the outlaw into red bank to the sheriff. After putting the prisoner in a cell, the sheriff returned to his office where the lone ranger and his Indian friend waited. By thunder, Marshall Overtpeak us wrote me that we'd get action when you arrived to help us round up that outlaw gang. But I didn't expect you to bring one of them into town when you came. We don't know yet that he's one of the gang you've been after, sheriff. That's right. When the two of you came in a while ago without outlaw, I thought the gang was about to take over my office until you gave me the note from the Marshall and that silver bullet. Did you get any information from him? No. Found out his name is Spike Malloy, but that don't mean anything. He just won't talk, that's all. I think he will later, so don't worry. Oh, have you found out any more about the gang since you got in touch with the Marshall? Not a thing. They just go on having their own way, it seems like. But me and my deputies have figured out one thing, though. What's that? Well, we figure either the leader of that gang is someone from hereabouts or he has someone in that gang who's in a position to find out things. I see. I was just thinking, Sheriff. What you thinking of? That prisoner, Spike, were to escape tonight. He might lead us to the leader of that gang. Well, say, you got something there, mister. I'll fix it with the deputy I leave on guard tonight to give that outlaw a chance to get away between eight and nine o'clock. Good enough. Make sure there's a bronc out back. He can get too easily. Sure, I'll see to that. I'll meet you at the edge of town at eight o'clock. You and Todd and I will follow Spike when he leaves. See you then, Sheriff. Adios. Adios, mister. A short time later, two riders rained up before a small, rather prosperous-looking farmhouse a few miles outside of town. Sure, we're back quick, Marie. Where's Frenchy? He's in his cellar right out with the others, playing cards as usual. Only the kitchen rust and yell down at Frenchy to come up a minute. All right. But you have not brought back Spike. Why has he not come back with you any? Hey, Frenchy! I have asked about Spike. You'll hear about him when Frenchy gets up here. Frenchy's coming right up. It is about time. Always it is I, Marie Laroux, who must keep up and showing as a respectable farmwife while my husband is playing the cards most all the day. Oh, stop complaining, Marie. You're lucky to be married to a smug army like Frenchy. Well, so you have come back. But where's Spike? Hey, look, Frenchy. At that stage, hold up. You thought it'd be so easy, fizzled out. Fizzled out? I do not comprehend what you are saying. Rusty means we didn't get away with it. So... And Spike, what of him? Listen, Frenchy. A couple of owl hoots. A masked man and a big white stallion and an Indian come riding out of the hills and drove us off. Not only that, Frenchy. That masked comrade took out after Spike and captured one. No. Capture him. But why did you let him? How is it that both of you could not do anything to... Don't fly off the handle, Frenchy. I'm telling you that masked comrade was big and tough and fast as lightning. So was the Indian for that matter. Frenchy, c'est l'homme de la masque. Hey, what's that mean? Pardon-moi. What I mean to say is, it is the man of the mask, the long one. Ah, we must really... It is possible. We have heard of this masked one. He was called the Lone Ranger. It could have been him at that. It is not good, mon ami. Where did he take Spike? In the town, but a back way. The distance, and so I'm going to the sheriff's office by the back door. We thought we'd better get right out here and tell you because Spike might get to talking. No. I do not believe Spike will talk while he's in jail. And when he gets out, well, we shall see. What do you mean when he gets out? I will tell you these much first. That masked man, he is one very smart fellow. No, we... He is working on the side of the law that I know. So? Frenchy? He is smart, too. Sure. Sure. Go on. I say to myself, what would I do if I have one outlaw and it is my wish to get to the others? Well, what would you do? He's very simple, mon ami. I would let the one escape and I would follow him to the others, sweet. You mean you think that they will... No, no. That is what I believe. But what are we going to do if they should let Spike escape and he came here? Do not be concerned, mon ami. Remember, Frenchy Laro is known as a respectable farmer around Red Bank. Who is it that you saw? I shall ride there and watch. If Spike is allowed to escape, well, you need not worry, mes amis. Frenchy Laro will take care of everything. Late that afternoon, Tonto, who had gone into town, returned to the temporary camp on the outskirts of Red Bank, and the lone ranger was waiting. Oh, Scott, oh, fella, oh, fella. Mr. Scott. Well, Tonto, did you see any suspicious strangers around town? No. No, Kimusabi. Me going to cafe, wait a while. One fella come in. Him seem plenty friendly with others. Oh, tell me about him. Well, me standing near Bank of Cafe, a big fella come in, him dressed like clowns. How's the farming business? Have a drink, Frenchy. No, mes amis. You must have the drinks with Frenchy Laro. Yes, the farm must be doing all right the way you spend your money, Frenchy. It is good to be a farmer. Plenty to sell, plenty to eat, no? The other small farmers around here complainin'. I guess you French have a way of cutting corners to make ends meet. Oh, that is possible, mon ami. My beautiful memory and I, we are most happy. Will you fill the glasses, Monsieur Sylvain Platt? Sure, Frenchy. Come right up. Step up, man. If you're a Mariek and see you spendin' your hard-earned money on us, homebrees, you'd skin you alive, Frenchy. Perhaps she do not know, Monsieur. Perhaps Frenchy gets more for what he sells than she think, eh? Here's your drinks, mon. Oh, so that's it. You hold out on her when you sell your stuff. Well, here's to you, Frenchy. All right, Frenchy. Ah, Massey Bocoumi's here. Now I must go on home. Never must I be late for supper. That is one thing that brings the temper into the eyes of my Mariek. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. That you may have me. Input money on bar and leave right away. I see. Did you hear anyone mention the holdup while you were there, Toddau? No. No one say anything about holdups. Oh. Well, I guess we'll eat supper and wait for the sheriff to join us. The little spike is allowed to escape. We'll see where he goes. A little before eight o'clock that night, the sheriff joined Toddau and the lone ranger on the edge of town. They rode to a clump of trees from which they could watch the back of the jail without being seen. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. We can see if he comes out from here. Hope he doesn't realize his escape is planned. The deputy's going to take his supper in late. And one of the other boys is going to call for the deputy to hurry into the front office. You put down the tray, hurry out without stopping to lock the cell door. I see. And that good. Spike's sure to notice it. He can unbolt the back door, and there's a bronc hitched out back. Yes. He'll make out the horse from here. He should be leaving any minute now. Deputy was just going in, wasn't he? Look. Somebody coming out. That's right. Must be Spike all right. You can get on horse. Get on horse. All right. Let's go after him. Come on. Get him up. Get out there. For a short distance, the three men followed Spike. He went around a bend in the trail ahead. A minute later, two shots rang out. Those shots are up ahead around the bend. Come on. Come on. I can see a figure line on the trail. The moon's bright enough to see by. The horse came in here. Why? Who's over there? Who's over there? Oh, God. Sheriff, look here. It's Spike. Yes. It's Spike all right. But what's more, he's dead. 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. Here's our story. The Lone Ranger, Tonto and the sheriff stood looking down at the body of Spike for a moment. Then the Lone Ranger spoke. Sheriff, someone either found out or had a hunch. Spike would be allowed to escape tonight. He sure looks like it, mister. And that means whoever shot him figured out he'd be followed. That right? If I'd had any idea, Spike was writing to his death. I wouldn't have done... I know what you're going to see, but him and the rest of them are gang or killers. They all hang when they're caught. Well, now what? We take this body back to town, not letting anyone know what happened. Then we'll make further plans. The Lone Ranger with Tonto and the sheriff took the outlaw's body to town, in which they entered by the back way. They carried Spike into the back room of the jail. Then, while the sheriff went to notify the coroner, the Lone Ranger gave certain instructions to Tonto, after which he went to the edge of town again to wait. About an hour later, Tonto rained up at the temporary camp. Oh, Scott, oh, Father, oh, Father, why not anything, Tonto? Ah, me go to Capay, stand in shadows near back, me wait, then rough-looking man come in. Well, give him two or three drinks at bar. Then him start talking to Barkey. Him say something you tell me to listen for. Ah, sure looks like you got quite a crowd here tonight, Joe. No more than usual, as far as I can make out. Now, what I mean is I expected some of these arbories to be out with a sheriff and a posse. Posse? What for? Didn't an arborie escape from the jailhouse earlier tonight? Well, not that I heard of. Well, give you that idea. I guess I heard somebody saying something about an escaped prisoner and got the idea, and then someone broke out here in Red Bank. Well, just forget it, Joe, and give me another drink. Same thing, coming right up. Last time anyone busted out our jail, as I remember, was about two months ago. I guess you heard wrong. Then tell her, look like him ready to leave. We come to tell you what we hear. Good. If him outlawed, then him come this way on same trail as other outlaws who escape from jail and get shot. Yes, that's right. No one knew about that escape with the deputy to jail on us, Tutto. The man you heard mentioned at the cafe, he must have shot Spike, or heard about it from the one who did. That's right. Me sure him one of outlaws. So am I. When he... Nobody's riding out of town now. Ah, me hear hoof beats. Moon bright enough to see if him right fellow. Kill all there. Ah, that same fellow came us up here. All right, go tell the sheriff to bring his deputy, Tutto. I'll follow that man right now. Here, sir. Easy, big fellow. Hurry, Tutto. Ah, he'll go right now. Adios. Adios. Get him up, scoundrel. Following the lone ranger's instructions, Tutto rode back into town and rained up in front of the sheriff's office. Oh, scoundrel. Open up. Open up. Easy scoundrel. Ah. What do you hear? Can that man find out something? Not right. A fellow come to a cafe, ask questions about prisoner. Maybe he escaped from town jail. Why can't him see, say, him not hear of any escaped prisoner? Then man say, forget about it. Yeah, but maybe that hombre just happened to ask that question. Maybe... My son... Maybe you think same thing lone ranger think of. What I'm thinking of is that no one around here except in us knew about that escape. That's right. Only wants to know. Maybe one who shoots spike-fellar. Where's the masked man now, Tutto? A fellow who asks questions in cafe ride out of town long same trail spike-ride on. Me watch him. Then lone ranger say, get sheriff and posse. Come out same trail. Yeah, but where's he at? Lone ranger follow fellow from cafe. Him say fellow outlaw. You come with posse fast. Great day. If the masked man's gone after that outlaw, he might run into some kind of a trap. They might even have fixed it so that that hombre'd be followed. They knew about spike, you know. Then you get posse and come quick. Sure. Come on. We'll round up a posse and a jiffy. Pytail it out of that trail. Let's hope we catch up with the masked man before he rides into a hornet's nest. Let's get going. Meantime, the lone ranger followed the outlaw rusty until he saw him turn into the entrance to the farmhouse. Making sure he was not seen by the man he had trailed, the masked man turned off and circling around came up behind the farmhouse where he found a clump of trees. Leaving silver concealed there, the lone ranger cautiously approached the lighted window of the sitting room. Through the partly open window, he saw and heard Rusty talking to the others. That didn't come to jail. No, that is more strange. Usually when there is a jailbreak, it is news for the whole town. You'll meet for one thing when I meet. What's it mean, Frenchy? But of course, that he has been purposely kept quiet for a reason. That man with the mask is damn smart, Frenchy. I hope you didn't go blabbering off your big mouth around the cafe, Rusty. I'm no fool. I didn't say anything. Anybody would know this. All right, Mr. Hoisterman, quick. Reach our center. I'll put a bullet in your back. All right. You caught me napping. I sure did. Hey, Rusty! Yeah? I'm bringing in someone to follow you here. Get going to the front door, mister. Move! You should have known we'd have a guard posted outside. Yes, I should have known. Bring him in, Bill. He was listening at the window. Oh, c'est macho. C'est macho. C'est macho. C'est macho. C'est macho. What do you think about that? You sure he wasn't alone, Bill? Yep, I made sure. Get over and stand up against that wall there, you. Go on. All right. Take his guns and rip off his mask, Frenchy. Won't be easy. We all got him covered. Go ahead, Rusty. Go ahead, Frenchy. Wait. One thing I have heard is the masked man is most gallant with women. I shall take the mask and guns. I am most interested to see his face. He will not harm me, I am sure. Is it not so, monsieur? Now, monsieur, masked man, are we... Oh, no, you won't. As for he reached out to take his guns, the lone ranger suddenly dropped his hands, grabbing her arms and swinging her around in front of him. Let me go, monsieur. Hey, he's using Marie as a shield here. Marie is a lady, monsieur. He said you never are rough with him. I'm not with a lady. You would hide behind a woman's skirts to save your neck, monsieur. The skirts won't save your neck when you hang with the rest of these killers. If I get the chance, I'll kill you with my own hands. Yes, I believe you would. I'm holding you with one hand now, Marie. This gun in my other hand says the rest of these dirty killers will drop their guns. We gotta do something, Frenchy. I mean just one thing. We'll have to plug them both. No. No, you would not. Frenchy, I'm your wife. Do not let them shoot. I said drop your gun. No. Marie is a good wife. You must make the great sacrifice so that we may get away. No, no. Frenchy, you cannot. No. It is you or us, Monsieur Ray. This is at you. No, you don't. No. You'll shoot my wife. Let them have it, everybody. Grab those guys. What's your problem? The sheriff will pass it. I'm getting out the back way. Do not leave. You all right, Kimosami? All right, Marie. I'll have for the others. Please, Monsieur. I am only a woman. Sure, but might be tricky with a gun on one. Gather up the shooting iron, man. But for all we might have overcome this mask. Go. To think I should be your wife as such a treacherous one. You would have killed me with your own bullets. No. Be quiet, Marie. No, no. You cannot make me be quiet. You and these others. You have to hang, and I will be glad. You have killed Spike tonight to save your name. So he's the one who did that, huh? Keep talking, man. Talk? We, I shall tell much. Everything. Sheriff Francesca. She's a female friend. He needs to let us much stone and gold, Monsieur Sierra. Each of these men have killed others in whole jobs. I think you'll have enough evidence against these killers, Sheriff. That's right. I've heard tell there's nothing worse than a woman scorned. I guess if she testifies against them, she'll get prism instead of the rope like they'll get. Well, Gracie, you see, you, my owner's bound that I love, would not have treated me as well as the law which you taught me to aim. Listen, Marie, perhaps I have made the mistake. You are still my wife. You do not want to see me hang, shall we? Ha! Now you'll change your tune, huh? Now, with your head about to go into the noose, you are saying I am still your wife. But if this mass man did not stop you, I would be your dead wife. That's too bad he didn't get a chance to put a bullet in you. Then you couldn't make up to the law like you're doing. That's right. The mass won't save my life. And he is on his side of the law. Because of that, I shall tell them everything. Everything to you here. Let's go, Tatto. Sheriff LaPase can take these cooks in. Wait. Wait, Monsieur, please. Yes? There is something I must say to thee. Well? I am most sorry for what I said to you before. About hiding behind a woman's skirt and that I would kill you if I had a chance. You have saved me from the bullet print she would have shot into my heart. Forget it. No, no, never shall I forget it. I want you to know, I think you are most brave, Monsieur. Thanks. I hope you learned one lesson, Marie. And what is that, Monsieur? That there is no honor among thieves. Come on, Tatto, please. Such a man as that is a man among men. And to think I should have choose such a one as franchise. You sure had bad luck in your choice, all right? And believe me, what the mass man said about a lesson is true, too. Any one of these outlaws would cut the other's throat including yours, ma'am, the drop of a hat. All right, man, get him out of here. Oh! Well, she thought he was so clever. More clever even than the Monsieur, the mass. Friends, you'd sure have to go some to be that clever, ma'am. That massed hombre can outsmart them all. Yes, even in my country he is known l'onde à la masque. What's that you say? It is to say, the mass man. But out here in the west everybody knows him as the l'onde ranger and you can't beat that in any language. This is a feature of the l'onde ranger incorporated, created and produced by George W. Trandall, directed by Charles D. Livingston and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the l'onde ranger is played by Brace Beamer.