 with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hail silver, the lone ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the mask rider 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, and the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver, the lone ranger rides again. It was evening. Old Jim Farrell, owner of the Circle B, sat in the ranch house talking to Bert Harkness, lawyer and hotel owner in the nearby town of Red Rock. So you want to make a will at last, huh, Jim? Why the sudden desire for a will? I've never heard you mention any near relatives. I want to leave everything to my son Ted. Your son? Well, I've known you a long time, but I've never heard of you having a son. Surprise, huh? So lots of others be. Where is this boy you speak of? Back east. He said I was on him since he was a baby. Well, I'll be. Yep, surprise name to you. To his nigh, under 22 years ago, I bid Lucy and our newborn son goodbye and come out here to lay mistakes. Lucy died, and the boy was raised by Lucy's mom. Must be quite a man by now, Reagan. Have you kept in touch with him? Oh, off at all. We'd been writing back and forth. Most letters have been coming from his grandma, though. Lucy's mom, you know. Well, it seems like she ups and died, and Ted, he's coming out here. Just got word yesterday that note on the table will come by Pony Express. Read it if you have a mind, eh? I'm alone now, Dad, and I thought we should be together. Of course, up to now, I couldn't leave for Grandma, and she wouldn't go west. I'm coming out now to be with you and to learn to be a good rancher. I expect to arrive in Red Rock about the second of May. Well, you say, Jim, let's stay after tomorrow. And there's a stage doing that morning. Well, that's what I figured. I would have to have this blame of rheumatics in my legs so I can't meet him. Well, one of the ranch hands will have to go for him. Would your son know you if you did meet him? Did he ever get a picture of you? Well, Harkness, you know, blame well nobody, get me in front of one of them dog-going tin-tack gadgets. Nope, we never got around to seeing pictures of each other. Oh, why couldn't I meet him at the stage and bring him out here for you? I'll take no need for you to go putting yourself out. No trouble at all, glad to do it. Well, it's might be nice of you to do that. I'll think nothing of it. Well, I'll be getting back to town. Well, I'll be looking for you with my son day after tomorrow, then. I'll get him here safe and sound, don't worry about that. Howdy-o, Jim. Well, I'm Harkness, and thank you. The next afternoon, Harkness, accompanied by one of his friends, journeyed from Red Rock to Carl O'Gulch on business. They were standing in the cafe when a strange young man of nice appearance entered. Hey, Chuck, I wonder who that fellow is. I don't know. Why? I have a reason for asking. I've been doing some thinking about a certain matter. I could use a young fellow like him if he were willing to play along. No harm in asking, but join us in a drink. He looks like a stranger around here. That would just suit my purpose. Call him over. All right. Do you say so? Hey, young fellow. Come here a minute. Well, you speaking to me, mister? Yeah. My friend here wants to have a word with you. Here I am. What's this all about? You're a stranger around here, aren't you? Yes, I am. Well, what about it? You don't look like the usual type who come to settle in the West. Oh, I'm from St. Louis. Came out here for reasons of my own. I thought you were a city chap. I could offer a young fellow like you a good proposition if I knew you'd play along with me. Is anything worthwhile in it for me? Maybe I might. Any folks around here know you? No. Got in only yesterday. I'm sort of handy with cards, if you know what I mean, so I came out here to try my luck. I see. Well, if the plan I have in mind can be put over, you'd make yourself a nice little pile without having to count on luck. Count me in then. My name's Nelson. Good. I'm Bert Harkness from Mobile Red Rock. This is Chuck, friend of mine. Glad to meet up with you, Nelson. Howdy, Chuck. Mr. Harkness, what's the proposition you say you have? We can't talk about it in here. But go somewhere as soon as we can talk in private. But I can tell you this much. If you accept my proposition, then from now on you'll be changing your name. Changing my name? Yes. Instead of Nelson, your name will be Ted Ferrell. Son and heir of old Jim Ferrell. Only the circle'd be ranch. The biggest spread in this section of the country. On the morning of May 2nd, Dan Reed and Tonto rode into Red Rock to get supplies. After making their purchases, they returned to the hitch rack where Victor and Scott were waiting. And I hope we didn't forget anything, Tattle. Let me think we not forget anything, Dan. Victor sees us coming. He doesn't like it when I tie him to a hitch rack. And Scout anxious to get going, too. Easy, Victor. We'll get away from here as soon as we can. Stage for me's coming in now. It's a stage, you all right? I always like to watch a stage coach come in. Stage always bring new people and news from outside. Oh, Harkness and her come from hotel. Meet someone, Teddy. Hold up there! Hey, young fellow, are you Ted Ferrell? Well, yes. Yes, I am. Are you my... No, I'm not your father. Just a friend. I'm here to take you out to the circle to be ranch. Your father couldn't come in this morning. Is there anything wrong? Oh, no, no, no. Touch of rheumatism, that's all. So my buckboards cross the street. Shall we get going? Your father'll be waiting. Just as you say. Here's my bag. Oh, good. Follow me. The buckboard will be out there in no time. A nice looking young fellow. Yeah. I heard him say his name is Ted Ferrell. Me not know all ranch or a circle D have some. Now come down, we go back to camp now. All right. Steady, Victor. Get him up scout. Come on, Victor. As Dan and Tonto rode away from the town of Red Rock, Harkness hurried Ted Ferrell over to the buckboard and urging the horses into a gallop. They set out in the same direction, on the way to the circle D ranch. A short time later, the buckboard swayed along the trail, some distance behind Dan and Tonto. I guess that's about all there is to tell about my life in the East, Mr. Harkness. I hope you don't think me too inquisitive for asking about yourself, Ted. Not at all. As an old friend of your father's, I was interested to know. Well, before you know it, you'll be home. Home. I'll have to get used to calling the ranch my home. And I'll have to get used to having a father around, too. Yes, I guess you will. Hey, sounds like somebody coming behind us. Why, it's two masked men. What, maybe they're going to... Pull up there. Pull up there. The next south room, pull over your head. Pull, pull there. Pull, pull, pull. Pull, pull, pull. Pull, pull, pull. Pull, pull, pull. Hey, what's the meaning of this? Never mind the questions. We got you covered and if you don't want to taste, led you better do what we say. If this is a holdup, we really don't have anything worth taking, so I don't... Shut up, you and get out. Get out? Well, what for? Get out or we'll pull you out. Now, make it fast. What? Guess we'd better do as he says, Ted. They look like they mean business with those guns. That's right, we mean business. You're staying where you are. We just want the young fella. Come on, get moving. All right, I'll get down. Now, what do you want? Come here, Nelson. Get off your bronc and climb into the buckboard. See here, you can't get away with this. Don't talk so much, mister. Sit right there beside that hombre and keep him covered, Nelson. Now, drive on with that buckboard. Get up there. Get up there. A short time later, Dan and Tonto reached the point where they turned off to go to the Lowrangers' camp. As they were about to leave the trail, they heard the distant noise of the buckboard approaching. Sound like Harkness' buckboard that young fella on way to Feral Ranch. Yeah, I guess it is, Tonto. Let's pull up off the trail till they go by. Ah, almost got pulled. Pull ahead. Pull ahead. You made it look like the real thing, all right. That not same young fella we see get off stage? You're right, Tonto. Harkness was in that buckboard, but that fella beside him wasn't the one who said he was Ted Ferrell. They're heading for the Circle B Ranch. Me think something bloody wrong, Dan. Me not tell you, but me hear distant shots while go. Then you think something might have happened to Ted Ferrell back in the trail? Yes, Dan. You write the camp. Tell Lowranger to come here. Me write back now and have a look along trail. All right, Tonto. Come on, Victor. Get him up the scout. While Tonto rode back along the trail, Dan went on to the camp where he told Lowranger what they had seen. Leaving Dan at the camp, Lowranger mounted his great white stallion, Silver, and set out to meet Tonto. Before long, he came upon Tonto, studying the marks on the trail where the holdup had been taken place. Oh, Silver, oh, boy, oh, easy now. Well, Tonto, look as though you found something there. Ah, buckboard tracks pull off beside a trail here. And the first tracks of two horses go that way to right Kimosabe. And told me about seeing Ted Ferrell in town getting off the stage, that the young man was not in the buckboard when it passed you. That true, Kimosabe. Young fellow who pass in buckboard with Harkness, not same young fellow who call himself Ted Ferrell. I think we'll follow those tracks to the right there and see where they lead us, Tonto. Me think young Ferrell, fellow, in plenty trouble. Any big fellow? We'll soon find out. Come on, Silver. Get him up the scout. Meantime, Harkness and his companion in the buckboard followed the trail toward the Ferrell Ranch. As they approached the road leading into the ranch house, Harkness pulled the horses to a halt. Oh, there, oh, boy, oh, there, oh. What are you stopping for? That's the place over there, Nelson. Looks like a very prosperous ranch. Circle B is one of the finest spreads around here. I want to make sure you have everything straight before we arrive there. I think I've got everything straight. Good. Do you memorize that note I sneak from the old man? Yeah. I know it word for word. And keep in mind the things I told you that I found out from young Ferrell about his past life. Oh, I'll remember. In fact, I know so much I'm beginning to feel I am, Ted Ferrell. Once that will is signed, when I have a feeling old Jim Ferrell will have an accident of some kind. Chuck will take care of the real Ted Ferrell, and you, as the aired old Ferrell, will own the Circle B which you'll sell to me at my price. And you can leave this territory for good. It's rather risky, Harkness, but maybe it'll work out. If we play it right, it's bound to work out. I've always wanted to own that spread and I'm willing to take chances to get it. Yeah, I didn't figure on tying in with any killings, Harkness. You're in this too deep to back out now, so don't go getting cold feet. Chuck and I'll take care of the two Ferrells. All you have to do is to play your part well. And if you don't, well, maybe there'll be one more killing than we counted on, if you get what I mean. Now we'll go in so you can meet your long lost father. 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. The Lone Ranger and Tonto followed the tracks of the two horses far into the hills. As they rounded a large rock near the narrow trail, the Lone Ranger suddenly brought the silver to a halt. Hold, son of a whore, hold, hold, hold, hold. Easy big son of a whore, look there, Tonto. Look there, Tonto. Ah, old cabin. Two horses near. We'll ride over to that cabin and see who's there. We think we'll ride into trouble there, Kimosabe. If there's trouble ahead, we'll be ready for it. Come on, silver. Get him up to the count. Somebody open the door, Kimosabe. Watch out, Tonto. The man in the doorway has a rifle. Pull up. We'll talk to him from here. Whoa, whoa, silver, whoa. Oh, Tonto, whoa, whoa, Tonto. We want to see who's in that cabin with you before we leave. Where's the rider of that other horse? Convince he's not telling the truth, Tonto. We're going to close in. You circle to the left, I'll go to the right. Tonto, ready when you give word. All right, just sneak in coyote, yes, for it. Now, Tonto, boy, silver. Come on, scout. Oh, silver, whoa, whoa. You all right, Tonto? It's any big fella. Oh, scout, open a hole. Oh, open a... Me all right, Kimosabe. Well, get shot in the eye and hold my arm. Take care of his arm, Tonto. And don't let him play any tricks. I'll take a look in the cabin. But he's in that bunk over there. Just a moment, now loosen that gag. There. It's better. Now to cut these cords on your ankles and wrists. Say, you must be that other man who held up the buck. The buck board. What'd you do with Mr. Harkness? They're mistaken. I'm not the man you think. If you're Ted Farrell, I'm your friend. Which is more than can be said for Mr. Harkness from the way things are turning out. I am Ted Farrell. But who are you? And why have you come to help me? Oh, wait, wait, Ted. I want you to trust me and don't ask any questions just yet. That wasn't an ordinary hold-up back there a while ago. I have reason to believe your father's going to have trouble too. And we've got to work fast if we're going to help him. All right. I believe you're my friend. I'll do whatever you say. Good. Come with me. That's how Ted Farrell will get off stage. Bad man able to go when ready. Me fix his arm. Me got his gun. Help him on his horse, Toto. You ride the other one, Ted. You ain't taking me no place. Get on horse quick. All right, all right. Where we go now, Kimus? All right, now we're going back to our camp, Toto. I want to have a good talk with this outlaw. Also, Ted and I have some things to discuss. After we get there, I'll tell you what I want you to do. Come along with me, outlaw. Get him up scout. After carefully going over their plans, Harkness and Nelson drove to the ranch house of the Circle B. Harkness took young Nelson in to Mr. Farrell. The old man accepted the imposter as his son without question. Harkness left, saying that he would return that night with the will, which had been drawn at Mr. Farrell's request. That evening, Toto, who had been following instructions, given him by the Lone Ranger, rapidly approached the camp. Hello. Easy silver, silly now, silly big fella. Toto, I rode out here to wait for you so we can talk freely. And at the camp with young Farrell and the outlaw. Let me find out plenty, Kimus Abbey. Did you get a chance to spy around the Circle B? Me talk to Ranch Cook. Him say Harkness bring home Ranch's son Ted. I see. What else? Harkness come back tonight to bring will for old man to science. So that's it, huh? And they're really putting it over. Now what about Harkness after he left the ranch today? Me follow him on trail. Him go straight to Red Rock, not go near Cabin. Good. Then he doesn't know what's happened. Now we'll go to the camp, Toto. A little later tonight, the folks at the Circle B Ranch will have some uninvited guests. Come on, big fella. Get him up to the couch. Later that night, Harkness returned to the Circle B Ranch house. He was seated in the living room talking to Mr. Farrell and Nelson. You're fortunate to have such a nice young fellow for a son, Jim. Yep, I guess I am with that. Did you bring over that paper you were going to fix up with me? Sure did. Can't get it right here in my pocket. You know, Harkness, there's one thing I forgot to have you put in this way. Oh, what did you forget, father? Yes, Jim. What do you mean? I drew that up, leaving everything to your son here. Oh, I want to leave everything to Ted, all right. But I want you to write any condition to that will. A condition? What sort of a condition, Jim? Well, I spent 20 years making this ranch the finest one here, but needs a great deal to me. And it will to Ted, too, if he takes proper care of it. That's what I came out here for, father, to help you run the place and to learn to be a good rancher. Well, I'm glad to know you want to be a rancher like your dad, Ted. I'd like the Circle of B to be a sort of a monument to my name, a legacy to be handed down from one generation to another. Just what are you getting at, Jim? How do you want me to change the will? I hope for Ted to get married and have a son of his own someday, a son who can take over the Circle of B and keep it going. That's why I want you to share that will that Ted must never sell or trade off any part of this bread. You'll always make a good living and be respected as the owner of the Circle of B. You mean your son won't get the ranch unless he lives up to that condition? That's right. But I know Ted won't have no objections with you, sir. Well, I... Hey, wait a minute. I'll bet he put that idea in your head. After making a deal with me, he's planning to double-stop us. I knew nothing about that condition, and it'll just now... What's that you say, Harkness, about my son making a deal with it? You mean to say that Ted... He doesn't know what he's talking about, father. Oh, don't I. You'll listen to me, Nelson, before I ask you... Now, hold on a minute. Maybe you'll take me for an old fool, but I'm beginning to see things right. You've just made a slip, Harkness, and calling them Nelson. I'm beginning to think that fella ain't my boy at all. Why do you say that, father? Haven't I done... Why do you shag tonight longer, Nelson? You old man's suspicious, and you might as well own up to the truth. Tell him you aren't his son. Well, I... Put up that gun, Nelson. Now, you're supposed to jump into each other's throats. We can still make things go our way if we work together. Not after you gave me the gun, Nelson. He was planning to trick me out of the ranch by having this sneak and vomit poses my boy, huh? You'll sign that will as it is, Jim Ferrell, right now. That wouldn't do you any good now that I know he ain't Ted. When Ted does get here, he'll see to it that you're too low, don't you? That son of yours will never get here, Ferrell. I've already seen to that. You'll sign that will, and then... Well, you won't be around to tell anybody that Nelson here isn't your real son. No, sir. I ain't signin' that will. I thought that ordinary critter was too slick like Ferrell. You'll sign it all right. Try and just scare me with that gun, man. I don't intend to argue with you. I mean what I say. If I do sign that will, you'll suit me anyway, is that it? Your mother and coyote? Don't take time to argue with him, Harkness. Go ahead and suit. I ain't going to sign. Go ahead, like he says, Harkness. I didn't tell you before, but I'm as good at faking names as I am at playing cards. I'll sign it so it'll look like he signed it himself. Forge, you won't get away with it. I'll take that paper. No, you won't. If I didn't have this rheumatism my leg, Harkness, you wouldn't have dared to hit me all this time. Get it over with, Harkness. Shut him up and let's get that will signed before anybody comes. You get out of here and I'll tell the ranchhands I've found my father murdered. All right, Jim Ferrell, you ask for it. Hold it. I have you both covered. Drop that gun, Harkness, quick. All right, all right. Well, I'll get you without it. Else I'll get the old man. Shoot him or you don't kill her. You're a mess. And now I'll give you a chance to use your fist just to sneak. Oh, that's your good-hitting young fella. You're a mess, Caprice. Oh, you're wrong. Good fighting strangers. Oh, you got here just in time. They were seeming to kill me off. I reckon they already did away with my boy, am I? My Ted, who is coming out here to be with his old dad. Maybe your hopes can still be fulfilled, Mr. Ferrell. Take a good look at this young fellow here. Huh? I... Do you mean his... Dad. Yes, Mr. Ferrell. This is your real son, Ted. My boy. Yeah. Now that I look at you, I can see that you're the spittin' image of your dad when he was young and... and your fight is just as good, too. He almost kept you from me, son. Yes. These two men had it well planned, Mr. Ferrell. Harkness there, whom you trusted as a friend, planned to do away with you and your son. Take over your ranch. Gee, Ted, if it hadn't been for the masked man, we'd never been together. One of Harkness's men almost finished me off. I suspected all the time that young nink and poop was my flesh and blood. That's why I thought about putting the condition of my will. Just to see what he'd say about it. There comes the man's hands. Must've heard that shooting. Good. They can take care of these two outlaws. I see that they're taken to the sheriff at Red Rock. Well, the boys might get over excited on the way, so Ted and me will ride along with him. Even if my roommate Ted's kills me, I wouldn't miss taking him in this danger. Fine. It's best to let the law take its own course. What's going on in here? We heard shooting. No, boys. Boys. This here's my son, Ted. Those two critters resting easy like on the floor tried to kill him and me to get the circle B ranch. Who's the masked man? He must be with those killers. Not string them all up. Yeah, hold on, hold on. Take it easy. That masked man saved our lives. That is with the help of my son here. And there ain't gonna be any stringing up either. We're all riding into Red Rock to hand these coyotes over to the sheriff. Come here, son. Come here, son. That's your good to have somebody around to call me dad. Boys. Now on, Ted here is boss man of the circle B. I've seen him fight so I know he can handle the job. He's a chipper off the old block. Thanks, Dad. We both are thanks to the masked man. I want to shake his hand and tell him how much it means to both of us. Yes, who do I send? Where is he? Why, he isn't here. He's gone. He who I've just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporate.