 A horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust in the heart of Hyosilver, the lone ranger. When gold was discovered in the western United States, men of every type and from every part of the country joined the rush. Most of them were honest, industrious and law abiding, but inevitably criminals were attracted by the promise of easy wealth, and it was not until the masked rider of the plane started his great fight for justice, that the gold country became safe for honest men and women. 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. It was late at night. The moon had gone down behind the distant peaks, and the town of Prospect was shrouded in darkness. A stealthy figure, Bandana, drawn over his face, fumbled at the door of Maharvi's small cottage. Just a little more now. Let me get a hold on that ledge, and I'll have it. This little, I think, don't hear nothing. Now for the door, on door, worse than a door and a barn. Can't see very good. Gotta get across the floor without bumping into nothing. She wakes up, draws, she put it in. Does everything in here have to make a noise? How to get out of here? Who's that? Who is it? It's someone. I'm getting out of here. Don't yell, he no longer heard. The following morning, Bart Salem's general store was visited by a cheerful young stranger. He spent freely, and although the store was crowded, Bart waited on him himself. Well, let's see. What else should you all to have? There's some new stetsons. Any one of them would do you fine. I'd take them for myself, I'm buying. But them stockings there, them fancy ones with the clocks and everything. How many of them you got to stock? Just two dozen pairs. Wrap them up, I'll take them. Huh? The whole two dozen? Yep, they'll do just fine for my sister to home. Maybe Ma would like to wear a pair if Pa didn't catch her at it. Well, they'd look fine for anyone, you must have done right well for yourself. Been prospecting up in the hill? Sure have, and I don't mind telling you my luck was in. Made a right good strike. Now I'll be heading home for the first time in two years. Always did tell the folks I wouldn't be back without cash to rattle in my pockets. Glad to hear it, friend, glad to hear it. Thank you. Guys, won't they be pleased though to see me come busting in the front door with all these presents loaded me down? It'll be just like Christmas coming in the middle of summer. They should like it fine, won't they? I'd like some supplies. Can't you see I'm busy with the customer, stranger? I'm sorry, I thought it was true. I am almost, mister, he much left for me to buy. How about some nice gingham aprons for that sister yours, mister? Now what did you say your name was? I didn't say, but it's Thornton, Buck Thornton. My home's over in Warbash County. Where is this from the folks, Lill? Warbash County? Well, they're just neighbouring to us. Now, what was it I heard about your county just recent? Did it have anything to do with Whitey Conklin? That's it, Whitey Conklin. That's Thieve and Crook. He comes from Warbash County, don't he? He can't judge us all by the likes of him. Oh, now, I didn't mean nothing like that. Well, Sheriff hasn't any idea where Whitey is, has he? Don't know as he has, but he'd sure like to. Ever hear about our sheriff, Sheriff Pearson, and the sheriff from Warbash County, Sheriff Stevens? Some kind of a feud between them, isn't there? Yeah, feud. Stranger, that's putting it mild. Well, both of them are two of the finest lawmen in the state, and each one of them is doing his best to get something on Crooks from each other's county. They figured it'd make their own county look better. Dog on digits. I think both of them would like to get their hands on Whitey. No doubt of that. Well, I can't think of nothing else needed to buy. How much to owe you? I've been had enough while we was going along. The stockings, fancy chocolates, that can stuff, the bolt of cloth. Well, then, with the other things comes to $63 all total. Can I pay you in dust? True thing. Hand me that poke, and I'll wear it out on these scales right here. Sure. You carry a lot of dust with you. Mm-hmm. There's plenty more where that came from. And I got at least $2,000 worth of this poke. I guess it was about that. Gosh, Buck, you better be careful carrying so much. Let a fellow like Whitey know about it, and he'd try to get it off of you sure as you can. No, I ain't afraid. Here's your poke. We're all square. Well, it's fine. What did you say your name was again? I know a number of people in Warbash County. Well, it's Jim Thornton for real, but I always answer to the name of Buck. I see. Don't know that I heard your handle. Did I? Can you wait on me now, storekeeper? Buck, just asked you your handle. I'll need some flour and bacon. Bart! Bart! You seen any strangers around here? Huh? What's the matter with you, Sheriff? What's wrong? It's more Harvey. Some ornary sneak and critter went to her place last night and stole all the dust that she'd saved and cleared out. I'm round and up every stranger I can find. Leap and leap, frogs. My Harvey robbed. Have you any clue, Sheriff? Huh? See, you're a stranger here, ain't you? Who? Hey, who are you? Me? Yeah, I said you. Come on, speak up. What's your handle? Where'd you come from? What are you doing here? Well, hold on, hold on now. Watch him, you fellas. I'm gonna have a look at this hand, Bill, and I don't want him to get away. Shut up! Well, who got talking here? Let me see. Wait about 180. Yeah, that'd be your weight all right. Light, toe-colored hair. Just like yours. Solid build, blue eyes, clean shaven. By thunder, that fits you to a teeny. What wand had noticed his abs? This here's a description of Whitey Conklin, and this fella here is him. Me? Well, you're crazy. I ain't Whitey Conklin. My name's Jim Thornton. Don't doubt it. Whitey's got a parcel of names. Hmm, what's all this stuff? Was you buying it? What if I was? Got cash to spend, huh? Where was your last night? Riding down from the hills. A likely yarn. Now, I suppose you're gonna say he was all alone, and I'll have to take your word for it. I was alone, but that don't mean I'm lying. Sheriff, are you sure this is Whitey? Can't be no doubt about it. Why the crook coming in here and giving me that yarn about buying stuff for his sister? You fellas got me wrong. I ain't... Where are you from? Wabash County, but... Wabash County? That clinches it. Another one of them crooks that Sheriff Stevens let run loose from there. Well, you crooks can't come to my county and get away with Theven. Come on with me. We're going to Maul Harvey's house right now, and she can have a look at you. The Lone Ranger rode no farther than the edge of town, where he headed silver down a shallow arroyo toward the wedding figure of Taunto. You're right past. What matter? Taunto, I want you to go to town at once. Here's count. There's been a robbery in town. I got out because the Sheriff's suspicious of all strangers, and you won't be suspected, though. A woman called Maul Harvey had gold stolen from her last night. When I was in the general store, the Sheriff picked up a young fellow and claimed he was Whitey Conklin. If I'm any judge of character, the Sheriff made a mistake. And what me do? They were leaving for Mrs. Harvey's when I rode away. You get there as soon as you can. Learn what happens to the young fellow the Sheriff took with him. His name is Buck Thornton. And see for yourself whether or not you think him a crook. Taunto do it. And meet me at camp. I won't be here because it's too open, and I want to get rid of this disguise and put on my mask. Now hurry, Kimosavi, and report to me as soon as you can. It not take Taunto long. Get him out of the scouts. Remember, I'll meet you at camp. Come on, Silver. Sheriff Pearson marched Jim into Maul Harvey's tiny living room. A crowd of townspeople followed the men. Maul, how are you feeling now? Oh, terrible, just terrible, Sheriff. I was dug on your scare to death. We're going to would have been too, if I weren't such a tug old buzzard. Now I'm going to ask you something, Maul. And I want you to be real careful the way you answer it. Oh, landscape, what is it, Sheriff? Take a good squint at this year, toe-headed fella. Ever seen him before? Oh, can't say it again. Can't say it again. Ma'am, I never... Don't go and keep your trap shut. Why'd you ask me? Of course, he's the fella I'm putting under arrest for breaking in here last night and stealing from you. Oh, my, Sheriff, you do get results fast. That's my aim. It weren't me. You can't keep me from denying what ain't so. You can't just jail me without giving me a chance to defend myself. You can do that in court. Maul, I do wish you could identify him. It sure would help a lot. Well, he's the same size, more or less, if from what I can see. And he's wearing the same kind of hat, wide-brimmed with a flat crown. Most everybody around here wears this kind of hat. That don't prove you're innocent. Oh, jeez. Shut up. Maul, how much gold was it you said was stolen? All the $2,000 worth. And you kept it in a leather poke? Oh, no, because I was in an old salt bag ahead. There you see. If you don't shut up, I'll gag you. Here, Maul, take a look at this poke. Is that about the amount of dust you had? Sure is, Sheriff. But like I said, mine was in a salt bag. Nothing to keep him from putting the dust in this poke and throwing the bag away is there. Fact is, he'd be bound to do that. He'd no dog gone well, that other bag could be identified. That sounds sensible. Wait a second. You shut up. Look, Mrs. Harvey, you wouldn't want a fella that was innocent to be jailed, would you? Why, of course not, young fella. And he won't be. The fella that was here last night, didn't he say nothing? Didn't he speak so you could hear him? Yep. Well, then you ought to know his voice weren't the same as mine. I wouldn't be able to say about that. You wouldn't? No. You see, he just spoke in a kind of real horse whisper, towards his natural way of talking. At all, you could tell that. So whether your voice is the same as his or not, I'd never be able to say. Oh, golly. And his face was covered with a bandana, so I wouldn't know about that either. That proves it. This fella's got a bandana. And so have you, Sheriff. And so is nearly any other fella you can name. It's a frame of. You crook. Ain't nobody ever accused me of framing him since I held office. Well, then get in touch with my folks. They'll tell you who I am. Of course they would. And how would that go to prove that you wasn't all so mighty confident? You're going to jail. No, they ain't no use arguing with you. Sure ain't. Hear them all. What? All of the poke. It's your dust, no question about it. Now put it somewhere where it won't be found next time some crook from Warbass County hits town. All my savings back already. Mr. Pearson, I always did say you was the best sheriff in the territory. Just think of getting actions a quick. And after court sets, this fella's going to get some real quick action at the end of a rope. Now get moving, Whitey. We're heading for the jailhouse. Don't call me Whitey. Whitey, Jim, Buck. It's all one and the same. Get moving. I'm going. One side, folks. One side. Make room for the law and a crook. That means you too, Injun. What are you cluttering up the place for? Well, Tonto go now. All right, Whitey. That's the way to the jailhouse, Get him on, scoundrel. Get him 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. With Jim Thornton on his way to the jail in the custody of Sheriff Pearson, Tonto raced out of town and headed his great paint horse toward the camp where the Lone Ranger was waiting. But he reached it. Oh, oh, Scoundrel. What did you find out, Tonto? A hymn. A hymn, not Whitey. I didn't think so, but can you be sure? Oh, Whitey got small scar under chin. Fuller in town, not gutted. That's strange. Why didn't the Sheriff notice that? The Sheriff not know about scar. It not on reward notice. No? Then you must have seen Whitey at one time or another. Tonto not see him. Fuller tell Tonto. You're positive he told you the truth? Ah, Tonto here, Whitey near here. I heard that too. We weren't able to trace him, though. Might have been a false report. Tonto, I'm going to make a trip. And where you go? The county seat of Wabash County is Fremont. That's about a three-day round trip with hard riding. And you'll ride heat past a bacon three-day. Silver can do it, though. Ah, and why you go there? I have several reasons, Tonto. For one, we still can't be positive that Buck Thornton isn't Whitey, even though neither of us believes he is. As far as the scar is concerned, the man who told you of it might have been mistaken. Or it could have been disguised. The Sheriff Stevens could settle that point. For another, if Buck isn't Whitey, but Whitey stole the gold, he'd be likely the head for Wabash County. That's where he was raised and where he hangs out. I could warn Stevens to watch out for him. Not right. Moreover, I happen to know that Whitey is wanted for murder in Wabash County. While here, he is wanted only for theft. If Buck and Whitey are one and the same, Buck should be taken there for punishment. Me not think Buck's same as Whitey. No, do I, but I'm certainly going to find out. There's just one thing worries me. What that? Buck's trial will be held the day after tomorrow. If he gets a jail sentence, the townsmen may think they should take the law into their own hands to punish Whitey Conklin. Ah. The same thing might happen if he was released, unless evidence was shown that the trial-proving Buck couldn't have committed the crime. Maybe Tonto take hand. And that's what I was going to suggest. If an effort is made to start a lynching party before I return, do everything you can to delay it. Ah, Tonto do it. And in the meantime, I'll return just as soon as I possibly can. Here, Silver, you hurry. I'll have to. Tell them let's hope this trip does something to solve this problem. Ah. Come on, Silver. Jim Thornton's trial was held two days later. There was no real evidence against him. But in that time and in that district, evidence was not always needed for a conviction. He was sentenced to 15 years in a state penitentiary. And yet the men who gathered in the cafe afterwards felt the penalty was too light. Just think of it, fellas. Only 15 years and him stealing an old lady's savings. Not only stealing her savings, but half scaring her to death. Yeah, why should a fellow like Whitey Conklin get off with just a jail sentence? Well, we hang horse thieves. Hangings what he needs. I'm for it. Oh, my. Yeah, I see it is. The watch is to prevent him from being hung. The sheriff's watching things pretty careful. You know how he feels about lynchings. It'll be a week before the varmints took from the jailhouse here and sent to the penitentiary, won't it? Yeah, about that. And the sheriff's going to quit watching us so close if we sort of lay low for a day or so, ain't he? That's right, that's right. And why don't we lay low? And when it ain't expected, bust the jail in, drag the polecat out, and give him a rope necktie. I'm for it. That's a dog on good hiding. And what do the rest of you fellas say? All right, fellas. Keep it in mind. Just as soon as the sheriff gets careless, we act. Sammy. All right, fellas. That night in the following day, an undercurrent of lynch talk ran through the town and rapidly gained popular support, though the sheriff had no idea of what was being planned. Meanwhile, the Lone Ranger had ridden to Fremont and back, and as he rained up in the camp outside Prospect. He's pretty glad you get back. All right, fellow. Is there trouble? Fellers in town, plan lynching. Which was just as I feared. Ah, you stopping? Tell her we'll do nothing until they break Buck loose from the jail. And then we'll go into Waxhaw. And tell her I've got news for you. Great news. The masked man allowed the silver to rest while he told Tonto the news he'd brought with him from Fremont. Then the two men mounted and rode swiftly into town. It was dark when they arrived there. They took cover close to the jail, and were watching when a small band of determined men broke inside. Overpowered the jailer and carried Buck Thornton out. Buck was forced to mount a horse, and the group joined by others, raced out of town. Let me go. You're lynching the wrong fellow. Can't you give me a chance? Let me go. Let me go, I tell you. All I want are you, Kyle. They won't do you no good. Wait, please. We ain't waiting, and we ain't aiming to please you. You see them trees up ahead? Yeah. Well, there's one of that bus that's just made for what we got in mind. It's got a good start on him, just the right height from the ground. And you can swing from it as hard as you want, do it without breaking it. No, no. Oh, I know you should break it. Here, numbers up, mister. Hanging a wide incontrol will be the best thing that ever happened to this territory. It's there for fiction. You'll teach a lesson for this. Maybe, but it'll be too late to do you any good. There are the three boys. They can pull up right under it. Here we are. I never done nothing. You should be doing this to me. Wait, there's a critter saying who, man, he never thought what happened to him when he was stealing that gold. No, please. Hand me that rope. There you are. And there's a sliding noose already fixed on it. Come on, Silver. Who's this guy? A white horse. The fellow's masked. Oh, I've been intentionally here. Outta my way, you. The rope. He shot the rope. Stop him. Grab him. Come on, buck. We're on our way. Get up. Get up there. Come on, Silver, come on. Shoot him. Shoot him. It's too dark to aim good. Look at them horses' travels. Let's take after them. What are you, fellas? The sheriff. Oh, boy, boy, boy. You waddleheaded inches. You mangy fools. Tryin' a lynch party in my county. What did I tell you, fellas, about a stunt like that? I told you what had happened to you, didn't I? I'll see every one of you jailed. But the vomit had a lynch in common, Sheriff. Then where's he at now? You broke him from jail and let him get loose. I'd like to knock your fool heads together. We never figured this would happen, Sheriff. Because you ain't got the brains to figure. Now let me tell you something. I don't care what business you got to take care of or what. First thing in the morning, you're making up a posse and helping me trail them, fellas. If you don't, you'll go to jail. This is all your fault, and you're gonna fix it up again. Well, the trailers likely to be stored at cold by morning, ain't it, Sheriff? Can't be helped, none. The colder the trail is, the longer you gonna be hunting them. Well, Sheriff... Don't try to argue with me. I just wish we could trail them, fellas, tonight. If we could, I'd make you fellas start right out. Oh, me? Me trail them? Oh, what's that, Injun? A tanto trail, easy. Me follow punner, you follow tanto. Oh, good. You mean that red skin? Can you really follow a trail at night? Ah, tanto do it. Then we won't wait. Injun, where's your horse? It's called... You hear that, man? We're setting out on the trail tonight. And it just serves you right. Lead the way, Injun. Get on, scoundrel, get back! The angry sheriff gave his posse no rest, and all that night, follow tanto. They stopped to water their horses in the morning, then pushed on again. The night they made camp but hit the trail at dawn. The lone ranger had guided Silver toward Wabash County. He'd kept his pace suited to the posse, but once over the county line, he rained up. Steady, Silver. Steady there. Why don't we stop and hear for a friend? We can't be more than a couple hours ahead of that posse. Sheriff Pearson can do nothing here, unless you're Sheriff Stevens, county. Oh, Sheriff Pearson won't give a hoot about that. Once he gets his hands on me, he'll take me back to jail and no question about it. I think you misunderstand him. I like fun, I do. He's a good sheriff, Buck. Even though he's too inclined to jump to conclusions. And maybe so, but I... And he won't act outside the law. He won't depend on it. Anything he does will be done legally. You don't have him, Mr. Massman. He grabbed me just to spite Sheriff Stevens, if for no other reason. Do you really believe that? Well, wouldn't he? You don't understand either one of those sheriffs. They're bitter rivals, yes. They call each other all kinds of names. They'll even put obstacles in each other's way, if it can be done without interfering with justice. What are you getting at? Simply the fact that underneath all that, those two men respect each other. Their rivalry wouldn't be so intense if that weren't so. Just the same, I'd feel a lot safer if we was to keep on going for freema. You are. Huh? I had no intention of keeping you here. I'm staying to wait for the posse. Oh, then they'll grab you. I doubt it. Besides, if you hurry, you should get back here just about the same time they arrive. Get back here? Yes, with Sheriff Stevens. I think when you see him, you'll learn some things to surprise you. What things? And don't ask me those questions. Ask him. Now, ride. Mr. I'm on my way. Get up. Get along there. The posse saw the mask man waiting for them in the distance and spurred their mouths forward. Their guns were drawn as they surrounded them. Hello, tender. Uh, let me bring them. Put up your hands, stranger. You're caught. You can't get away. If we make some move, we'll plug him, Sheriff. If I wanted to get away, I wouldn't have waited here for you. Don't try no smooth talk. And besides, Sheriff, you're out of your jurisdiction. Huh? Out of my... You left your county and entered Warbash County back at that creek you just forwarded. What's that got to do with it? You have no authority to make an arrest in this county. Uh, he sure got his nerve. Show him, chow. In a way, he's got the right of it, fellas. Sheriff, do you mean to say you're going to let him run a ranny on you when we're a dozen to his one? Wait. Look over there. What? Two horsemen. Leap and catfish. One of them's that maverick, Sheriff Stevens. Yes, and the other's Buck Thornton. Well, dog gone if it ain't. Hurry, Buck. We're coming. I don't serve you this. You will. Oh, oh, I will there. Oh, there, oh, oh. Stevens, you old figure. I want Whitey Compton, Mary's my prisoner. I came all the way here to get him. Yes, the masked man said he'd bring you. What? Yes, Sheriff Pearson. Stevens here will tell you this isn't Whitey. It is, too. And then, if it is you old fossil, I've made an awful bad mistake. It wouldn't be the first one, you big bluff. Because I've already hung Whitey. No, that case he doubted, Stevens. Show him what we found on Whitey. Oh, sure, you old goat. Take a look at this. A soul sack. Just like the one Mahave said she had. And there's dust in it. Exactly $2,000 worth of dust. This is getting too sick for me. Sheriff Pearson, I had no idea you'd cut the wrong man. So I headed for Fremont to check up with Stevens here. Yeah? Whitey had robbed Mrs. Harvey. He was making tracks for Wabash County. I found the trail of a man evidently in a big hurry. Coat up to him and discovered it was Whitey. I turned Whitey over to Sheriff Stevens. And he got real justice here. Not the make-believe kind you have in your county, Pearson. I overlooked that for a second, Stevens. Seeing as how maybe you got a little to go on. But masked man, what I want to know is why, if you knew so much, you didn't just tell me. Instead of running away with Jim or Buck or whatever his name is. Would you have taken the word of a masked man? Maybe not. But I'd have believed Stevens if he'd have brought him back with you. There wasn't time to wait for that. If I'd waited, Buck would have been lynched. Well, Stevens had no horse that could have traveled as fast as Silver. So what the masked man did, Pearson, was act on that fool's stubbornness of yours and bring you trail in here right after him? I ought to be mad. Somehow, he did. Buck tells me you took his gold and gave it to Mrs. Harvey. Only because I thought it belonged to her. Well, then if this gold is given to Buck, everybody will be square. Shoot me. But one thing more, masked man. Come on, Silver. Now look at that. Headin' away without waitin' to be thanked or nothin'. Why, that's just the same as they say the Lone Ranger does. Just heard of the copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.