 horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty high old silver, the Lone Ranger. Faithful Indian companion Tato, the mass rider of the planes 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, from the thundering hoof beats of the great horse Silver, the Lone Ranger rides again. Come on Silver, run the trail of the killer, I'll Silver. Dust plume from beneath their horses hooves as the Lone Ranger, Tato and Dan rode slowly along a sun-baked rock-studded trail. Suddenly, Silver whinnied and broke into a trot with his scout and victor following suit. As the horses spit at a bend in the woodland trail, the masked man and his companion saw the reason. A creek winding through the trees, the water as they hauled upon the creek bank looked cool and inviting. Easy Silver, we've got food. Golly, that water looks good. No wonder Silver made a beeline for it. It's plenty hot day. Horses need long, cool drink. Yeah, I guess we could all use a drink. Is that it, big fella? Take it easy, Dan. Too much water isn't good for you when you've been a long time in the sun. Yes, sir. Horses have good time in water. Don't blame them. Gosh, I wish we had time for a swim. I do too, Dan, but we've got to push on if we want to make Sutter's ghost by nightfall. Now, we cook dinner on trail. No, Tato. Wendy Smith, the old prospect we met about a year ago, lived just beyond that bend. I think we can arrange to have dinner there. Isn't that right? You make us plenty good meal last time we see him. Golly, I hope he's home. I'm hungry. Oh, you'll soon know. Yes, Silver. What is it, big fella? What's the matter? He acts like he's listening for something. Behind that tree, Dan. What? Hurry. Yes, sir. What do you think, Cum? I don't know, Kim or Subby. The outlaw known as a masked killer is supposed to hide out somewhere in these woods. I don't want to risk Dan unnecessarily. A masked killer, plenty bad menacing. Yes, he's murdered two people in Sutter's ghost in the last six months. Robbed several more. Sheriff, not able to catch him. No, he's been too clever concealing his trail. Oh, wait. Silver-winning. Oh, it's a horse. Gaby's bridal, hello. Huh? Me get him. What do you suppose became of his rider? You look here. Fuller. Gray saddle horn. Mixed car. Yes, you're right. Whoever rode this horse was a target. Golly, you don't think that initials on the saddle say TB? A horse canner straight far from his owner in that brush tunnel. We'll see if we can trace his trail. Ah, you think owner victim a masked killer? I don't know, Kim or Subby. We're going to make it our business to find out. Come on. Meanwhile, in Sutter's Gulch, Wendy Smith, the grizzled old prospector who lived in a cabin on the trail some miles from town, sat in the office of the sheriff. I swear, Sheriff, I'd rather been spread eagle and hog tight than have such a thing happen. I ought to be shot for allowing him to go into Rex's pen the first place. Hey, Thunder Windy, you can waste more words than anyone I know. Quit beating around the bush and say what you came for. I reckon I've got to sooner or later. It's your deputy, Todd Baker. Well, what about him? Hey, Todd went out looking for the masked killer. You don't mean he... There's no more outlaw, Sheriff. He's dead. Dead? That masked coyote killed him. I wish the heaven he had, as long as poor Todd had to die. What do you mean? It wasn't the masked critter who'd done him in, Sheriff. It was my dog, Rex. That masked if you keep penned up out at your cabin? I don't savvy this at all. It wasn't no fault of mine. I told Todd the dog was dangerous, but he wouldn't pay no attention. He went straight to the pen and walked right in. What did Thunder do that for? Said he wanted to feed Rex some of the vitals that cooked him for lunch. It was hardly more than a minute before it was all over. Leaping catfish. I didn't know that hound was a killer. What are you keeping for? For protection, Sheriff. I ain't as spry as he used to be. Kind of dangerous living way out in the trail like I do, with a masked killer hiding out in that neck of the woods. Yeah, I reckon you're right, Windy. You're as strange as at all. I reckon I'm the only person who can enter and leave that pen alive. Still, ain't no denying it's murder. And if you order me to have Rex shot, I'd be willing to do it. Well, I don't see how that helped matters, Windy. The hound might come in handy if the masked killer took a notion to rob your place. Thank you, Sheriff. I reckon I'll leave it to you to notify Todd's folks, seen as you or his boss. Well, I guess I'd better be getting along. Got a ways to travel before I get home. Even, Sheriff, I brought you a jar of my new peach preserves. Why, Windy Smith, when did you come to town? Howdy, Betty. I just came in to see the sheriff. You must have got some of them their peaches in your cheeks, Betty. They're blooming prettier in a picture. Maybe I did. Ben says I got my preserves all over everything else in the pantry. How's Ben making out with a livery stable? A livery stable? Haven't you heard? Ben sold that two weeks ago. He's going to buy a freight line. Sure, Betty and Ben have struck it rich. An uncle niece that clean forgot about died and left him a heap of money. Ben says it was you who brought us good luck, Wendy. He says just before he picked up the letter from the lawyer with the news, you happened by and gave him a rabbit's foot for his watch term. Say, if you got any more of them rabbit feet, Wendy, I wouldn't mind having one myself. Well, Plum, happy to hear about it, Betty. You two ain't spent all of your inheritance already, have you? Oh, Evans, no. We haven't even begun. Ben's saving it to buy the freight line. But we took the money we got for the livery stable and refurnished the whole house. A mighty, handsome-looking house it is now. You ought to see it, Wendy. Oh, yes, you must. Watch, mindy, nice of you, Betty, and I'd like nothing better than to oblige, but I've got to be starting for home. It's kind of late to be starting back now. Much too late. Well, something might happen until you're riding that trail alone at night. Well, you might even run into the mass killer. It appears to me you've got more to fear from that critter, Betty, than a poor old codger like me, but with all that money you've got in your house. Yes. Ben and I have thought of that. But it's in a safe place. The coffee jar and the pantry. He'd never think to look there. Yeah, only a woman to think of hiding money in a place like that. It is awful dark outside for riding the trail home. Reckon, you've got no choice, though. Yes, you have. You're spending the night in town. Ben and I can put you up in our new guest room. You'll be the first to use it. Oh, shucks, Betty. I don't want nobody going to all that bother for an old coot like me. Oh, it's no bother at all. Ben would never forgive me if I didn't bring you to see him after the good luck he brought us. Golly, if he put it that way, Reckon, I can't refuse. Of course you can. Come along now. I've got to get dinner. We'll make it an evening to remember. Keep a tight grip on that horse's reign, Dan. I want to lose him in the dark. Ah, him may be murder clue. We're not fine rider anywhere. Golly, this horse could only talk. I'll bet the mass killer knows where his rider is. There, cabin ahead. Windy Smith's place. Doesn't look as if there's anyone home. There isn't a light. He may be asleep. Perhaps, although it's still early. Oh, she'll be cool, boy. I'll take charge of that horse now, Dan. Here's the range. Thanks. Oh, gosh. Look at the size of that dog. He's half as big as a horse. Easy, boy. Hello, boy. Come to welcome us, huh? Don't go in that pit. Oh, he isn't dangerous. He's just trying to be friendly. All right, you boy. I don't think I can kill him. This way, Dan. I'll handle the dog. See? He just wants to be friends. What's your name, boy, huh? What's your name? That's strange. Signs say him plenty dangerous. Let's take a look at that sign, Tutto. You read it. Beware of the dog. He is a man-killer. Tutto, look. Paint's too wet. Ah. Well, he must paint sign today. Yes, but why? That dog is perfectly tame. You may not know. All right. Let's go onto the house. Maybe Wendy can tell us. Put down that towel, Wendy. Ben'll give me all the help with the dishes I need. Sure. You just pick out a chair and make yourself comfortable, Wendy. When you get sleepy, just say the word and I'll show you to your room. Well, if you're in too much trouble, Betty, I feel kind of tuckered out right now. Reckon I can't stand them trips to town like I used to. I thought you looked a bit peaked. You look different somehow from the last time we saw you. Doesn't he, Ben? Yes, sort of younger. Don't seem to be as much gray in your beard as they used to be. And your hands... I guess that's what comes from living in the woods, Ben. Plenty of fresh air and sun. Makes a man look younger. I'll bring the lamp. Come along, Wendy. You've got the best room in the house. Sure does a man a powerful lot of good to see you youngsters looking so happy. You're the cause of it, Wendy. You and your rabbit's foot. It hadn't been for that. We might not have received the inheritance. There isn't a thing in the world, Ben, and I want for now. We have each other and money to buy just the business Ben has always envied. Must take a heap of money to buy a freight land. Twenty-five thousand dollars. Come on, Wendy. Shopping, gee, horse affair. Don't see how you can sleep a wink with all that money in the house. If I was you, Ben, I'd put it in the bank for safekeeping. After tonight, I won't need to be concerned about it, Wendy. I'm exchanging it for the freight line tomorrow. Here's your room, Wendy. Oh, my dear Betty, too. See, don't mind if I sleep with my gun under my pillow, do you, Betty? Why, no, but what for? Well, I just got a peculiar feeling something's going to happen tonight. Happen here? Wendy, what do you mean? Now, there's no reason for you to get upset. It's just a feeling I got in my bones. Get the itch in when there's trouble brewing. Same as when there's rain in the air. What kind of trouble could happen to us? Well, that mass critter's been mighty active around town lately. And that money you got hid here is mighty tempting. Ben, you don't think the mass killer will come here? Of course not, honey. But if he heard that we have money in the house... Oh, could he? Nobody in town knows where we keep it except the sheriff. Well, maybe so. But if I was you, Ben, I'd sleep with my shooting iron in the mappillar. Same as me. That mass coyote has a way of finding things out. Well, go on with you, you old windbag. You're worse than an old woman with your rich in bones. Have a good night's sleep, Wendy. I'll try to, Betty, but I don't know. Considering the feeling I got... There's a little codger. I'll bet if he saw a mouse, he'd leap clear out of bed. Ben, I'm worried. Oh, now, honey, don't let your imagination get the best of you. We bought locks for all the doors. But the mass killer might be in town right this minute. He might be anybody. Maybe even the sheriff for all we know. You have got it, Ben. I'm serious, Ben. I wish we'd listened to Wendy sooner and put the money in the bank. At least promise me this. Sleep with your pistol under your pillow. All right, honey. And if that mass killer so much as puts his foot in his house, I'll pepper him full of holes. Lift your hands, or I'll... The first act of our Lone Ranger story. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. As the shot echoed in the dark, Ben staggered and crumpled to the floor. Buddy quickly knelt beside him, sobbing and cradling his head in her lap. Then she heard footsteps approaching. Who? Who is it? I heard the shot. What on earth happened, Betty? What are you sitting here in the dark for? Oh, Ben, Ben's been shot. It was a mass killer. Well, low down skunk. I wish I'd been here. I'd have drilled him to kingdom come. He'll be like this lamp. You'll see how bad Ben's been hurt. Let me look at that wound. Well, it ain't nothing but a scratch. But it just grazed his forehead. Oh, thank heaven. I'll get some water. Sounds like the sheriff, Betty. Reckon half the town must have heard that shot. I'll let him in. Let go. The sheriff, I'm so glad you're here. It was the mass killer. He tried to kill Ben. Hey, the snake. Did he steal your money? The money? I've been so worried about Ben. I haven't looked. Seth, you take a look around outside. Might be some footprint swing trails. How is he, Wendy? Did he get it bad? Just a scratch, Sheriff. Won't take a minute to bring Ben around. Oh, I'm all right. What happened? Sheriff, Sheriff, the money. It's gone. What? You couldn't catch fish. You don't mean to say that mass coyote stole your whole inheritance? Betty, you don't mean it. Oh, Beth, it's all gone. $25,000. He took it from the coffee jar. Great day. How intonation did he know what to look for the cash? Just like I was telling Betty and Ben after dinner. Ain't no way of figuring out how the mass killer knows things. He just knows. Oh, Wendy, if we'd only listened to you before. Oh, it's my fault. Wendy warned us this might happen, and I left it. Oh, no, Ben, you mustn't reproach yourself. I guess it just wasn't meant to be for us to spend all that money. Which way did that arm break go, Betty? Oh, Sheriff, I don't know. All I can remember is seeing him with that gun and the flame and Ben falling to the floor. Either of you see what he looked like? I was too dark to see much of anything. The boys may have been searching for that footprint, Sheriff. A new sign of them. Ground's too hard-packed. Oh, if they just don't beat everything, ain't a single clue to the mass killer anywhere. Reckon, you'll just have to scour them woods near my cabin where he's supposed to hide out, Sheriff. I'll scour them all right. If need be, I'll burn them down and smoke the killer out. And don't you give up, oh, Betty. I'll track down that critter and turn in my star. First thing tomorrow, I'm taking a posse near Wendy's place. I aim to catch the mass killer and make him swing. Early the next day, the Lone Ranger and Tonto saddle their horses in front of Wendy Smith's cabin where they'd spent the night. Dan was taking leave of the master he'd become friendly with. There, that does it, Tonto. We ready to ride now. Come on, Dan. We're leaving for Sutter's gauche. Yes, sir. Goodbye, boy. Maybe you and I will meet again sometime, huh? He sure is a fine dog. Wish we could take him with us. Very big for life. You'll have enough to handle keeping a tight rain on this stray horse. Easy, boy. We're going to turn him over to the sheriff. Yes, Dan. You'll know whose initials are on the horse's saddle if anyone does. You'll also be interested in learning the identity of the mass killer. Ah. Golly, you don't mean... Come on, Silver. Get him up. Come on. Get together, boys. It'll be time to spread out and we get to the woods near Wendy's place. All right, Sheriff. You ain't serious about smoking the mass killer out of them woods, are you, Sheriff? That's a powerful lot of brush. I promise the town's folk will bring back that murder in coyote Wendy by thunder I will. He'll but takes me... Yeah, look. Horseman hid in this way. Hey, the tall ombre in the white horse, he's mass killer. The mass killer. Rain up. Rain up a little bit, will you? Hold still, boy. Hold still, boy. Hold still. That's Todd Baker's horse. He'd get with him. There's his initials on the saddle, TB. We're adjourned if it ain't. How'd you come by that horse, stranger? My friends and I have found it wandering in the woods. He's the mass killer, Sheriff, and my name ain't Wendy Smith. Is your name Wendy Smith? You heard me say it, didn't you? And you don't recognize me or Todd O? Your dog, Gordon Tutin, I recognize you. Same as any man would who ain't blind in one eye and can't see out the other. You're the mass killer. Sure. The same old rob, bent at $25,000 in cash last night. Looks likely he's got the money on him, Sheriff. If he ain't, he knows where it's hidden. Yes, I think I do know where it's hidden. That's all the proof I need. Take off that mask. Don't touch that mask. I'll get it shut. Oh! Dog, Gordon, you like to have broke my hand. I'll teach you not to carry a gun in it. Listen to me, all of you. I'm not the mass killer, but I do know who he is. Follow me and I'll prove it. No, no, don't listen to him, Sheriff. It's a trick. A trick so he can turn himself and his parts loose. You're my gun, Sheriff. This should convince you I'm not to know trick. I ain't saying, but I'll take him. All right, mister. Wheel your horse around and take us to that proof you spoke of. Of all the darn fools! Shut up, Wendy. This ombre is the mass killer. We've got him hog-tied. If he ain't, we'll know when we get to the money who is. He's got into that mask, Critter Sheriff. That's my place he's heading for. Yeah, there's that man killin' mastiff of yours. Maybe he's takin' us to the woods and the other side of your cabin. Most silver, most silver. Who are the tarnation we stopin' here for, stranger? This is Wendy Smith's place. Yes, I know. Down, Rex, down! Told you Rex don't cotton a stranger, Sheriff. He's in a mean mood. We better be movin' on. Blast his insides. I'd like to drill him for killin' poor Todd Baker. What do you mean, Sheriff? I mean that hound's a man-killer. He done in one of the best deputies the Sheriff ever had. Is that what Wendy told you? Sure, shootin' there, stranger. You wanna make something of it? Yes, a lie. Dan. Yes, sir? Does that look like a mean and vicious dog to you? Mean and vicious. But golly no, he just wants to be friendly. Here, I'll show ya. What do you think you're doing? He's going to prove that the dog isn't a killer, Sheriff. Don't let him go in that pen. He'll be mangled. Come back here, boy. That hound'll murder ya. The dog's jumpin' at him. He's lickin' the boy's hand. Well, I'll be done goin'. Wendy, are you interested? Sure, it's likely the kid stopped here before and made friends with Rex. He ain't never acted that way before. He's always acted that way to people who treated him with kindness. Would you like to prove it, Sheriff? A year? No, no, I'll take your word for it. Well, steady. I'll go into the house. No, you don't. That's my house. I ain't admitting the likes of you. I don't say what we're stoppin' here for anyway. Prove the identity of the masked killer. It's a trap, Sheriff. Don't go with him. You keep quiet. A gun? The engine's got the drop on us. And you, Sheriff, get off horse. Go in house like Masked Man's saying. This is a trick, stranger. You'd better start saying your prayers. The boys'll riddle you when you try to come out of that house. They'll have no occasion to fire. My friends and I spent the night in this cabin, Sheriff. I think it'll prove as interesting to you as it did to us. Provers, Sheriff, I... You'll not go in house. You wait here. When you come with me. Right, Sheriff. Don't, Sheriff. It's unlocked. Go ahead, look around. You may find some of the things I found after I learned the dog wasn't a man killer when he tried to make him appear. I don't say a thing. Suppose you start with a mantle over the fireplace. Baker's watch. Where it is, here it is. Got his wife's and baby's picture in the back. Then take a look at that table drawer. Well, that's a money pouch from the city bank. Didn't the mass killer rob the bank and kill one of the guards some time ago? He sure did. I see it now. The mass killer came here to rob Wendy while he was visiting Betty and me in town. Isn't it more likely that the mass killer lives here? You mean Wendy knows who that murder in coyote is? I'm sure he does. Let me show you something. Now, this frame used to hold two tin types. One of Wendy and one of his son. Now, there's only one picture in it. The one of the son. Thunderation. I clean forgot about old Wendy having a son. It didn't turn out so well as I remember. Got mixed up with the Crowder gang across the county line, rustling steers and way-laying stagecoaches. He sure is a spitting image of his old man. There have been other changes made, too. Wendy Smith never touched a drink in his life. Well, there's a bottle of whiskey on the table. Say, that's funny. Yeah. And Wendy used to be a good cook. But that stove hadn't been used for some time. Don't go to that ain't right. I don't understand. I do. The reason things ain't the same here as they used to be is because the mass killer is living here and forced Wendy to change his habits. Now, all we have to do is ask... Now, the last time I saw Wendy Smith was a year ago. Todd and I had dinner with him. That day, he didn't even recognize us. Hey, we're in Sam Hill. Do you think you're going? I'm glad. Are you coming? You're a darn toot, and I'm coming. You ain't getting away that easy. Keep those guns out. You'll need them. Just try to make your getaway, Mr. Al Ridley. Look! Sheriff's calling his man. Yeah. Sheriff's got the drop on him. Well, time you followed my advice, Sheriff. It was plain as day this homie was the mass killer when we firstly dized on him. Hey, take your hands off me. Let's have a real look at you. Sheriff, stop him. He's aiming to kill me. Let Wendy go. Stranger, I'll shoot. Do not shoot. I'm showing you up for what you really are. The masquerade is over. A false beard. This man is not Windy Smith, Sheriff. He's his outlaw's son. Great day. You're on the old coot, son. When I came home, I found him dying. I knew he was popular around town, so I thought I'd pass myself off as him. So nobody'd suspect who I really was. You know me better as the mass killer. And I'm living up to my reputation right now. I got it from the gun. Not very far. And this. If you look through his pockets, Ben, I think you'll find the money he stole from you. Well, you're right. Well, it's all here. The whole 25,000. And a mask. The disguise of the mass killer. Sunderation. To think that murder in coyote was right where we could get him all the time. We didn't know it. Here, mask man. Take back your guns. Thanks, Sheriff. I'm glad to admit I was wrong. That fellow on the ground there murdered Todd Baker. Probably because Todd came too close to the truth. Well, he won't kill anyone else in Sutter's Gulch. Thanks to this mask, man. Who is he? Well, Dad read it. If he didn't slip away right out from under our noses. I'll seal the way away!