 With his faithful Indian companion, Toto, the daring and resourceful mask rider of the planes has 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! Come on, Silver! Let's go, big fella! I am Silver! The American beef cattle had reached an all time low, causing a business depression in the southwest, where all commerce centered around the raising and selling of cattle. Edward Grady, United States Territorial Commissioner in the southwest, and the Lone Ranger, whose opinion he greatly respected, met in private to discuss the plight of the ranchers. Commissioner Grady said, Beef prices are so low that ranchers can't afford to ship their cattle to northern and eastern markets. They did, they'd go broke. Well, if they don't sell their animals, they'll go broke anyway. Yeah, that's true. Commissioner, there was a drought in Mexico this past summer. Ranchers there lost steers by the thousand. Yes, they're clamoring for cattle down there. Our ranchers have cattle, they could sell them. Yes, but there's a law prohibiting the sale or transfer of cattle across the border. Well, if the people in this territory are to survive, that law must be repealed, and you have the influence to do it. You mean that? Yes, people here must sell cattle in order to live. People in Mexico need to buy cattle for the same reason. Converted to the mask man's point of view, the commissioner acting quickly talked to high government officials, and as a result was able to announce to the cattlemen of the southwest, The government has lowered the trade barriers between this country and Mexico. Effective 30 days from the day, cattle may be sold and transferred across the borderline that separates our two countries. There are certain specific requirements for trade, however, buyer and seller will each need a special license for each transaction. This will ensure legal and orderly procedure. Ranchers were jubilant as their hopes and business revived, but rancher Jack Morrow and cafe owner Pete Randall were happy for another reason. Partners in crime before coming to Hastings, they sat in Randall's cafe and discussed a plan. Back we'll make a fortune, Ruslan cows and seven of those Mexicans. Hey, it's a good thing I bought that ranch on the came here, huh? Yeah, we wanted it as a cover up for the boys and the gang. Now it'll be a cover up for Ruslan. I'm not gonna put any of the cattle we steal in the ranch, Pete. We'll hide them in the box canyon where we used to hide in first came here. It has high cliffs and three sides. Yeah, that's a good place. We'll put a barricade with a gate across the only entrance. The high walls will keep the quitters in. James, will you have Raleigh Meadows lead the gang on the ranch? Sure. I'm certainly not gonna lead them myself. Raleigh's the only one to take charge. During the next two weeks, murdering outlaws raided cattle herds on the ranches and on the range near Hastings. The rustlers, all from the Circle M ranch, were led by foreman Raleigh Meadows. They shot down everyone who tried to resist their attacks, and in less than two weeks succeeded in stealing a thousand head of cattle, which were moved to the box canyon over hard ground and through streams so no tracks could be followed. At the end of two weeks, Pete Randall said to Jack Morrow. You know, Jack, I think it's time to forget about any more raids. They're getting too dangerous. Yeah, Chef, Niles has new deputies, and some of the ranchers are talking about starting a vigilante committee. If they start one, we'll be among the first to join. Why are you frowning? Pete, I'm getting worried about something we didn't pay too much attention to at first. What's that? Well, there's a license thing here. That's becoming a big item. Do you know that any time I sell cattle, whether it's one head or a hundred, I'll have to record my license number on the deal. The Mexican will have to do the same thing. Hey, that could be bad, couldn't it? It is bad. Commissioner's office has a rough idea of how many cattle we own and circle them. If later on the record shall we've sold a thousand more than we're supposed to own. Well, the answer to those rustling would be easy. Well, don't worry, Jack. We'll find a way to get around that. Right now, let's get a line on prices. The Mexican buyers are starting to come to town. And if we're going to do it wrong... Late that evening in the town of Hastings, Commissioner Grady sat in his office with Sheriff Tom Niles. They were checking names and figures on sheets of paper which covered the table. When an Indian entered, Commissioner Grady leaped to his feet and welcomed the Indian. Tato, how good to see you again so soon. I thought you'd be heading north. That's right, but we come back. Tato explained that he and the Lone Ranger had heard stories of the rustling and had returned to offer their help. Then at Commissioner Grady's request, Tato brought the mask man to a secret meeting with Sheriff Niles and the Commissioner. After discussing the rustling, the lawman said, I'm sure the rustlers live near here. All the rustling has taken place around Hastings. Are there many strangers in town? No. And none of the cowpokes around town have been acting the least bit suspicious. Nearly all of them have jobs on ranches now. Well, what about the ranches themselves? We're not sure about them. They all know the Mexicans are prepared to buy all the cattle they can get. But one of the ranch owners may have decided to get rich quick by rustling. The question is, which rancher? What about the trading licenses, Commissioner? Can't they help you keep track of how many cattle are bought and sold? That was one of the ideas behind issuing them. The government wants statistics as well as fees. We were doing some checking along those lines this evening. See these papers here in the table? Yes. Well, they list every outfit in this section and the approximate number of cattle each has. I see. I had my deputies check on this list. They went out on the range into the ranches. Their check showed that no ranch has more beef than is listed. Well, if a thousand head of cattle has been stolen, someone must have a thousand head of cattle hidden somewhere. That's logical. We have a border covered and no cattle have been taken across it. Commissioner, is it true that cattle buyers are coming into Hastings daily? Yes, every day. When they cross the border, this is one of the first towns they come to. Some of them make immediate arrangements to have cattle shipped south when the trading starts two weeks from now. But there are others who just get price quotations and then go on to other towns. The rustlers must know that if they try to pass off a stolen cattle as their own, they're liable to be exposed. Ah, you mean having to give their trading license number and all that, huh? It would be hard for them to get away with selling a thousand more head than they're supposed to own. Well, that's my thought, exactly. So if another crook came into the picture, a Mexican crook say... A Mexican crook? Yes, one like Pedro Almanaz. Pedro Almanaz. Never heard of him. Neither did I. Who is he? If you give me the word to go ahead, I'll be Pedro Almanaz. Cattle thief, rustler, international swim learn, smuggler, border runner, anything you say. You mean you played a part of a Mexican crook? Yes, and hope that American rustlers will be drawn to Almanaz by his reputation. It could happen, you know. Let's make it happen, by all means. What do you want me to do? First, of course, I want clothes that'll make me look like a Mexican cattleman. That part's easy. I'll get you those. Will he need money? I'll keep a record of expenses. Very well, you'll be reimbursed. Now, anything else? Commissioner, I'd like you to make a public announcement. If you will say that you have word that a man who calls himself Pedro Almanaz has slipped across... The next morning, hastily printed bulletins appeared on the buildings in the town of Hastings. They were signed by Territorial Commissioner Grady, and they warned ranchers in the territory to transact no business with a man who called himself Pedro Almanaz. By mid-afternoon, the name of the fictitious Mexican was on the lips of everyone in town. I was talking to the sheriff. He says Almanaz sneaked across the border, wants to buy cattle even though he can't get a license to trade. I see he's been smuggling beef across the border for years and that no patrol's ever been able to catch him. Well, definitely told me he carries $50,000 in cash on him at all times. Smart they say, years and tough. Well, you better not try to do business with me. I'll hand him over to the law. I don't think you'll try to do business around here. He'd be foolish if he did see now the law was after it. Jack Morro, Pete Randall and Rolly Meadows sat in Randall's office at the rear of his café. Randall was talking. I never heard tell Almanaz, but then there's lots of Mexicans that never heard tell of him. He must be a dangerous hombre when they put up signs like that about him. Don't you think so, Pete? Yep. You know it's too bad he didn't sneak into town without the law knowing anything. If he's as clever as everyone says, and if he does business in cash, well, I'd just like to have done business with him, that's all. Yeah, especially if he does business for cash. Well, let's forget about the Mexican. We have problems of our own. Rolly, are your boys going to the canyon and change the brands on the cattle? Yeah, they'll take care of it tonight. Good. Now, Jack, what we have to figure out is a way to start selling those beef without getting caught. We can make a few legitimate sales to start off, and nobody'll be the wiser. But... A short distance up the street in the sheriff's office, the lone ranger disguised as a dashing Mexican cattleman, prepared to leave Tonto, the sheriff, and Commissioner Grady. Well, perhaps nothing will happen, but I think this plan's worth trying. You're right. Because, as you said before, crooks have a habit of getting around to the cafes. If any of the rustling crowds around they may become interested in you. But some of the righteous citizens, if they believe the Boltons about Almeners, may want the sheriff to arrest me. Yeah, don't worry about that. I'll explain. It isn't a wanted poster that's hanging on the buildings. Now, tell him it's just a warning. Uh, do you think it advisable for us to remain here? Yes, please. Tonto, you follow me and watch what happens. Uh, that's probably the best. They might be scared off if they saw me or one of my deputies shouting here around. I'll go out this rear door then, and start making around the cafes. Adios. Bye, guys. Within a short time, the nightlife in the cafes of Hastings had become electric. A Mexican talkative and seemingly under the influence of Tequila, was making a round of the places and making his presence known. Then, guys, those posters had warned you about Pedro Almeners. They're all lies. Lies, I say. Poof. I'll show you what I think of those posters. See, I tear this poster off the wall, and I tear it in little pieces like these, see? What about the sheriff, Almeners? Aren't you afraid the sheriff may see you doing that? Yeah. Ho, ho, ho. Amigo, I did not give two centavos for your sheriff, or for any lawman. Then you're as if lawman could prove anything against me. I will not be here. But I am here. Though it stands the reason I am smarter than they are, huh? Ah, for sure. So, who needs to buy cows? Not me. I have plenty to narrow. Instead of cows, I buy drinks for my Americano friend. I'm Amigo's drink. Hey, you see, for everybody I buy drinks, come to the bar and be the guest of these bar cows. The curtain falls on the first act of our lone ranger adventure. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue. Word of Almeners and his lavish spending had preceded him to Pete Randall's café. By the time he arrived there, once more making a flamboyant entrance, Pete Randall was ready for him. The café owner opened his office door and peered into the well-filled room where men crowded around the bar where the Mexican held sway. Randall turned to Jack Morrow and Raleigh Meadows who were glancing over his shoulder. Well, there he is, boys. The hombre we were talking about, we wish we could do business with. He sure doesn't act like a smart one. He's smart, all right, or the law wouldn't be so worried about him. Yeah, what do you say? You want to talk with him and feel him out about things? Yeah, what can we lose? Yeah, that's right. Raleigh, get out there and warm your way up to the bar beside him. Get his ear and try to work him away from the crowd. We'll watch from here and see how things work out. If you can get him interested, tell him the meters at the end of front street, behind the blacksmith's shop. All right, I'll try. See you in a little while. Just be careful now. And smart. Yeah? Pete, I got it. Whispered a few words to him. All right, Raleigh, we saw. Is he going to be just like we suggested? Yeah, but he's smart, Pete, just like you said. He's going to stall a long while, so nobody to get wise when he sneaks out. He said he'd meet us in an hour, behind the blacksmith's shop. Good. I'll reproposition him, Pete. Please leave that to me. We'll play it smart and be ready for any move he makes. Outside, the man called Pedro Almenes suddenly grew back from the bar in Pete Randall's cafe and started toward the door. Because, Seniors, I've had enough. I go. Adios, amigos. We meet again some other time. Hey, wait, you're running off. Because, Seniors, I've had enough here. Here is money, buy drinks for everyone. Tossing gold coins to the floor, the disguised lone ranger headed for the door. As he expected, some of the hangers on in the cafe dived for the coins, while others waited for drinks. Alone, he hurried from the cafe down the stairs and along the boardwalk. He saw Tata waiting in the shadows and stopped, while pretending to brush his sombrero, he said. Tata tells Sheriff Niles and Commissioner Grady to find some way to hide in the blacksmith's shop on the corner and to meet someone there in an hour. Me tell him, Kimasaki. The lone ranger continued on his way. 50 minutes later, as he walked to the rear of the building that housed the blacksmith's shop, he heard a voice speak from the half-open window. This is Commissioner Grady. We're in here. We'll be listening. 10 minutes after his arrival, three figures appeared from the underbrush nearby. Jack Maro, Raleigh Meadows, and Pete Randall walked up to the man in Mexican dress. You got here early, you know, Almenes? The early bird, they say, catches the worm, senor. Except that I'm no worm. Almenes, let me introduce my friends Jack and Pete. Without using last names, Raleigh Meadows introduced the leaders of the rustlers gang. Senor, we've heard a lot about you. I assure you, Senor Jack, what you heard was not true. I bet it isn't. Why are you in hastiness? You do not know, Senor. Everybody else seems to know. It tells only bulletins everywhere why I'm here. I won't. Well, you guess what I want. You don't have a license to trade, do you? If I did, I would not be sneaking behind blacksmith shops. Senors, that is not waste time. You either have what I want or you have not. What is the answer? Well, let's put it right on the line. Almenes, how many head can you use? Well, how many can you show me? 100, 200, 1,000, 2,000, right? He wants a lot of them. Will you pay cash for them? When I buy, I always pay cash. If I do not have the necessary sum on hand, I get the rest in a very short time. One thing more. If you were to buy a thousand or more steers, how would you get them over the border? Do not worry about that part. If I see they are the cattle I want, you deliver them to me at the river bank. That seems fair enough. Keep out of this, will you, rally? Almenes, we do have some cattle selling. We're willing to sell them off the record. Know what I mean? Senor, I know perfectly what you mean. But before I make an offer, I must see the animal. We'll show them to you. Yeah, but we are blindfolded once we get you up on the hill. Blindfold me? Yes. You're not going to know where the place is while we have the beef, not until you pay for the credits. Oh, that's fair enough, Senors. You may blindfold me. In your place, I would take the same precaution. He's an all-right hombre, huh? Never mind, rally. Just get the horses. Almenes, you get modded, and we'll take off for the hill. Soon after the three wrestlers and the disguised Lone Ranger left, the door of the blacksmith shop opened, and Sheriff Niles emerged with Commissioner Grady and Toto. The sheriff said, Jack Morrow and Pete Randall. So they're the wrestlers. Who's Rally Morrow's foreman at the Circle M? We better hurry, or maybe we're not able to follow him. You and Commissioner Grady go after them, Toto. I'll swear in a posse. Leave a trail that we can follow. We take paper from shop. Tear it in pieces. Leave trail for you to follow. Get out. Get him up and scout. Remaining unseen, Toto and Commissioner Grady followed the Lone Ranger and the rustlers through the moonlight. As they rode, the Indian dropped torn bits of paper on the ground behind him. After several hours of riding through hills over rough country and off all beaten paths, Toto and his companions saw the men stop and dismount at a narrow gap in an almost perpendicular wall. We stop here. Oh, stop. Oh, stop. Oh, that seems to be some kind of a canyon. Ah, maybe it widened out another side entrance. Maybe big space on the other side. Wait, I hear stairs. Sound comes from beyond the gap. Ah. Sound like the men pain. We dismount. Going for it. Right. At the narrow gap, which was less than 30 feet wide, Jack Morrow and Pete Randall talked with the disguised Lone Ranger. We'll take the blindfold off in a minute. I'd like to land her, Jaggie. Yeah, that's just what I'm doing. Raleigh. Open the gate and go through the gap to the box canyon and tell the boys to stop branding those cars for a while. We're going to inspect them. All right, Pete. Hey, boys! It's me, Raleigh. Here's a light, Pete. Raleigh went through the narrow gap to a vast area that was surrounded by high cliffs. It was here that the wrestlers were branding the stolen cattle. At the narrow gap, Jack Morrow lifted the lantern. Here, Pete, you'll see better with this. Untie that knot on Almanaz's blindfold. Yes, sure. Let me take it off Almanaz. Very well. There you are. Now we'll take you to the cattle. We'll have to go through this narrow gap and single fire. Pete, that hangar chief, the blindfold. What about it? Look at it. Speak with Brown, huh? Look at his face. It's white what the blindfold was. He has Brown stuff on his face. He's not a Mexican. Watch out! Grab him! Give me that gun! My youth, dirty old Pete! Grab that lantern! That fell, but it's still lit. Jack, turn him around. Let me get a good shot at him. I'm trying to do it. There you are. Oh, my arm! I'm shot at! Here you are, Jack! Me fired just when I'm going to shoot. Nice shot, Otto. Let me take that gun. I'll take the lamp. Let me have gun. The Russers heard the shots. They're heading this way. Now I have no gun. Can't be helped, Commissioner. Tie him up tomorrow. We'll hold him off. That gap's narrow. They'll have to come out through the gate. Hey, Pete! Jack! What's the matter? Who's shooting? Pete, tell him everything's all right. Or you'll get another bullet. Don't shoot again. Raleigh! It's all right. Nothing's wrong. Pete, what happened? Otto stood ready and as Raleigh came through the gate and saw Pete, he Indian used his gun as a club. Hey, Pete, you're bleeding your gun. Oh! Gun hit him right in the head. I'm going to have to use it for shooting again. Get ready, Tutto. All right, Tutto. Open fire. Taste them back into the gulch. Tell them, Commissioner. Sure. This is Commissioner Grady. And the idea is that you're all under arrest. If you try to resist, we'll kill you. That's it. You don't have a chance. We know who you are and what you've done. Listen, Kimitabi, riders come. It's the sheriff and his men. This way, Sheriff. Fire a gun. Let them know where we are. This way, Sheriff. You hear that, you wrestlers? The sheriff's posse is here. We have your leaders arrested. You can't get out of there. You don't want to be shot. Sir, don't we give up. We followed your trail. Are we in time? Yes. Just keep riding and make prisoners of the men beyond the gap. This is a big night, Sheriff. The next morning with Jack Marl, Pete Randall, Raleigh Meadows and their gang under arrest, ranchers rode into the town of Hastings, reclaiming cattle which had been stolen from their ranches a week or two earlier. Sheriff Niles and Commissioner Grady watched them. The sheriff said... I wish the mask man was here to see how happy he's made all those ranches. He wouldn't stay around when his job was done. Well, he should have been rewarded for what he did. That's what I thought. But he wouldn't take a cent over what he spent in the cafe. Hey, boys, are you sure now that all of you have your own cattle again? Yeah, he sure has. Thanks for bringing him into town. He had the rustlers do that. He did? Who's he? The man who pretended to be Pedro Almenaz. Well, there wasn't any person named Almenaz. It was a character he made up to catch the rustlers. And he caught them. Well, yeah, but who's he? Well, he's also the one responsible for the repeal of the old law to make it possible for you to trade with Mexico again and become prosperous. But you still haven't told us who he is. He's the reason you and everyone else in this territory have a future to look to. You're to guess by now that he's the Lone Ranger. This is a feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated, created by George W. Trendle, produced by Trendle Campbell Mure Incorporated, directed by Charles D. Livingston, and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer.