 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty high old silver, the Lone Ranger. The wagon trains which brought the pioneers into the western United States faced many dangers. The country was rough, the trails were poorly marked and the Indians were hostile. But worst of all, outlaws found it easy to join the emigrants and, when the right moment presented itself, to rob the honest settlers of their money and property. The wagon train which started out from Pine City under the leadership of Aza Johnson faced this danger and might never have reached its destination if it had not been for the masked rider of the planes. Return with us now to those thrilling days when the west was young. Come out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the Great Horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. The sheriff's office in Pine City was in the front of the building which also housed the county jail. As our story opens, Duke Austin and his partner, Shorty Fowler, walk up the steps and... That's the sheriff's horse, sir Shorty. I reckon he's in all right. If he ain't with one side engine... Me not in way. Why, you know I can't... Come on, Duke, we ain't here to start no fight with a red skin. We're here to talk to Billings. Make trouble, maybe the sheriff will change his mind. Well, remember this, engine. Next time you see me, come and stay clear. Until not afraid. Come on. Howdy, sheriff. I knew the power was Billings then first. That's us. Now come on in and shut the door. Can we see him? Not with guns on you, man. I don't know, I see if you're carrying any spare shooting irons or knives or such. Sure. Go ahead, searchers. I don't find anything. We can talk to Billings alone, can't we? Why should you? It's this way, sheriff. That skunk held us up once back in the Dakotas. We'd like to find out what he done with the stuff he stole. Maybe he won't be so anxious to talk with the law around. All right, go ahead. Through that door there, down the hall. You'll find Billings in the third cell you come to. Thanks, sheriff. Mind you, he ain't in there too long. Just a few minutes is all. Put a closed door behind you, dude. Yeah. That must be where he is. Hey, Billings, you there? I sure am. Very shorty. Oh, there, dude. Yes, I'm glad to see you, fellas. You sure got yourself in a mess, didn't you? Anybody around to hear what we say? I'm the only border the county's got. How in blaze did they get you, Billings? It's the first time I've ever heard the law tripping you up. It wasn't the law blasting. No? It was a mask, fella. If I ever get my hands up. A mask, fella. How'd it happen? You heard about me holding up the cafe last night, didn't you? We heard little. Well, everything was going fine. I'd made the bar keep hand over the cash. And I threw some shots of the lamps to cover my getaway. He's out of the way. Stand where you are. I'm cleared out. And the first one of you to stick your nose through this here door will get a taste of lead. Hold still there, fella. Boy, make it crack. Get up there. Get up there. What the? Get up. Get up there. I'll show you. Take this back. Pull up. Pull there. You're choking me. Let me loose. Let me loose, Black Sheep. Pull up. Pull up. Pull up. I've been on your trail, Billings. I got here too late to prevent that holdup and not too late to see that you're turned over to the law. Masked. Who are you? Get off that horse. Let me loose. Let me go. They're after me. Can't you hear them coming? Let me get out of here. All right, Heather. And I'm leaving you for them to get out of that saddle. You won't escape them on foot. But I can... Quick before I drag you out. Now, will that rope... We'll stay around you here. I'll take your horse. Hold that, man. Don't leave me here. Come on, Silverie. Come on, boy. Wait. Come back. My horse. I give up. I give up. Don't shoot. Who's that? I'll break the throat away. I don't know, sir. But by heavens, I'll give ten years of my life to find out. You already have. All right. Head for the jailhouse. I'll get the horse. Come on. Come on. So the mask fella tripped your villains without you even knowing who he is, huh? No. Blast him. Well, what you want to see is for... And how'd you find out where we was? You fellas got to get me out of here. And know you don't, villains. None of that for us. We joined up with a wagon train, and we're heading west, and we aim to steer clear of trouble. At least ways for a spell. But villains, you ain't said how you found her. I've seen you when I was looking over the ground yesterday. Seen your wagon, too. What made you fellas throw in with a bunch of greenhorn emigrants? Oldest figure to change his scenery might be healthy. We're hidden in the new country, villains, and growing up with it more likely. It got some scheme to get them emigrants' care. Well, that's our business, and we're tending to it. Sorry we can't mix in with yours. Well, hold on, fellas. I'd help you out if you was up against it. Yeah? I can just see you do it. I hope you called in the wrong customers, Billings. Like Duke said, we're sorry, but it's just no dice. Come on, Shorty. We're wasting our time. Wait. I'll pay your cash. Huh? Yes. Well, now that's more like it. Thought you might mention something like that before you was through. How much cash? $100. Shucks. Now I know we're wasting our time. Well, how long, villains? We're lucky up when you get out. $200. Why don't you come right out with your top price without all this fooling around? You give us $500 apiece that's a bargain, but we ain't taking a dollar less. Just ain't worth it to us. There'd be $1,000. Uh-huh. What if I ain't got that much? Yeah, most likely you ain't, but that's nothing to us, except it means you will be staying here. All right, I'll give you $1,500 apiece. Don't tell us you didn't have to give back what you stole from the cafe last night. I got the $1,000. I hid away where I made camp, and left it behind just in case I ran into trouble. Good enough. Now all you've got to do is tell us where the cash is hid. We'll go after it, and if we find it, then you're as good as out right now. Get me out first, and then I'll take you there. No, you heard our terms. You blasted crooks. Ain't you a little mixed up? You're the crook. We're honest, fellas. You being behind bars in us outside proves it. You won't double-cross me if I tell you how to find the cash. Never heard of us double-crossing anybody yet, have you? All right. I'll tell you. But if you don't play square, I'll get even somehow, and you'll see if I don't. That evening, two stealthy figures have wanted the light thrown from the windows of the sheriff's office and stole toward the rear of the jail. When they reached the barred window that marked Billing's cell, one of them quietly called out, Billings. Who's there? Keep your voice down, blasted. It's us. Luke and Shorty. No, you didn't double-cross me. Course we didn't. The sheriff's out front. Go around, pull a gun on him, and make him let me out. And we'll hightail. Nothing doing. You'll get yourself out. But what do you... Here, take this gun. Got it? Yeah. A holler for the sheriff. When he gets her, throw down on him. You make him let you out. But why not you, fellas? We're doing enough as it is. We got to get you out of town, don't we? Yeah, promised you would. Well, what chance are doing that, will we have? There was no one we helped you. We ain't going to have the law after us. You can bet on that. No, I won as a horse. The mass fella took mine. You won't need no horse. We got a better scheme. Yeah? You're going along with a wagon train when it pulls out in the morning. Now, look here. You do like we say, Billings. We give you a horse and turn you loose, and the first thing we know, the law will have your back. You'll be telling who gave you that gun. What you're going to do is travel with us, so we know you won't talk. Then how about them immigrants? How am I going to hide from them? Don't you worry your head about that. We'll hide you safe enough, right in our own wagon. Now, go ahead and do like we told you. Call the sheriff. We can let you out and then throw them in your cell and leave them there. Then join us back here and we'll run for the wagons. Didn't you bring no horses with you at all? They'd leave a trail and make too much noise. Now, get going. All right. Wait out there for me. We'll be right out here, Billings. Sheriff! Hey, Sheriff! Come here! Hurry up, Sheriff! Hey, Sheriff! What's all the noise for? Come here. I want to show you something. Call me something? What's wrong? Just take a look at this, mister. I'm gone. You're right. You unlock this here door pronto or I'm using that same. Where'd you get that? Shut up and do it like I told you. I ain't bluffing. If you think I am, just call my bluff. You won't get away with it. I'll worry about that. What you've got to worry about is whether you can unlock this door before I pull the trigger. You've got the drop on me. But by the standard, I'll find out who gave you that gun and when I do, he'll set him jail alone with you. You'll have to catch us first. Now, get in there. Come on. Get in where I was. It's my turn. Now, I'm locking you up. Why? You've got the time to argue with your... When I get out again, I'll have every man in town looking for you. When you get out, sheriff. When you get out. Help! The sheriff's deputy heard the lawman shouts and released him. Posses were formed at once in every trail watch while the town itself was searched thoroughly for the escaped outlaw. Even the wagon train camp just outside was investigated but with no result. Ponto aided in the search and then when morning came and still no trace of buildings was found, the faithful Indian returned to the camp he shared with a lone ranger. Whoa, Scott! Whoa! I expected you back last night, Kimosami. What kept you? Outlaw, fella. Get away. You broke jail? But how did it happen? Where'd he get to? Who helped him? Him pull gun on lawman. Make lawman let him out. Yes. Who gave him the gun? Me not know that. Them not find out, law. Whoever gave Billings a gun must have given him a horse, too. He's likely a long way from fine city by now. That's not right. Him hide some place. Him not right way. Me look all round town. Not fine trail. That doesn't mean he didn't ride out of town. He could easily have followed one of the well-traveled trails. And the Prince of his horse would have been covered. Him not do that. How do you know? Lawman ask fella ride to town on trail. Them not see him. Oh. Posse follow trail, too. Them not see him. Then he must be hidden in town. Perhaps with a man who gave him the gun. Look everywhere. Him not in town. The wagon train? Search wagon train, too. Wagon train leave now, though. I don't understand that. He couldn't disappear into thin air. If Billings isn't in town, then he must have either found a horse somewhere and made his escape with it, or gone with a wagon train. Hunter know him not take horse. But you said the wagon train was searched. That's right. This is bad. I was afraid Billings might do something like this. That's why I asked you to stay in town for the day and keep an eye on things. Hunter see two fella talked out law. He did? When was that? Four, five hour, four sun go down. Them talked out law in jail. What did they have to say? Me not here. May try, but not get close. Wonder who they were. Them from wagon train. Looked like bad fella. You sure they were from the wagon train? No. Did the sheriff investigate? Did he question them? No. But him not find out law. Did you see anyone else call on Billings before his escape? No. At all. Billings was helped by someone. Is the sheriff still watching all the trails? Huh? Him do that. I don't know on what way. But, Hunter, I've got an idea. That wagon train and the two men who called on Billings in jail had something to do with his disappearance. Here, Silver. We'll soon catch up with the immigrants. When we do, we'll stay out of sight until tonight. And I want you to point out the two men who talked to Billings when he was in jail. Did he, Silver? Huh? Don't go do that. Come on, Hunter. Get him up the ground. Silver. How are you? The curtain falls on the first act of our thrilling Lone Ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue our story. In an effort to find and recapture the outlaw of Billings, the Lone Ranger and Tonto followed the wagon train. That night, the immigrants made camp out on the prairie. Duke and Shorty walked from wagon to wagon, talking to various members of the party. Among them, Aza Johnson's leader. Finally, they returned to their own wagon, which had been placed at some distance from the others. Listen to them, galutes. Sing them. We'll take care of them later on. We're safe enough so far. Ain't no fellow we talked to that suspicions we had anything to do with Billings getting clear. Yeah. All that good did the sheriff the search of wagons right before we pulled out this morning was to make old Aza up and mad at the law. Here we are. We're gonna sleep inside the wagon, ain't we? That way we... Come with your hands. What's that? Hold up. Tonto. Me here. A red skin. Keep still. Tonto, I want you to search the wagon yourself. Well, I have a talk with these fellows. Tonto, do that. Hey, look here. Stay away from that wagon. What do you think you're doing? You know who we're after. But what are you doing? You know you're Billings' friends. You've had something to do with his disappearance. That ain't so. No. It ain't, I tell you. The sheriff knows why we went to the jail. You see that fella? He robbed us one time. We were just trying to see if he'd tell us what he'd done with the stuff he stole from us. Now tell that red skinner to stay clear of our wagon. He ain't got no right to interfere with us. He'll do as he's been told. But he ain't got no... The sheriff made a search, but he may have overlooked something. He didn't pass out nothing. Well, you'll find out. Billings isn't here. We'll leave you alone. We're going to make certain, however. We'll show you. You can't do it. Keep your hands up. Don't make another move like that. You break this. Better take it easy, Duke. Take your friend's advice. But what if the red skin's trying to steal something? What if he's trying to kill us? We're not outlaws. Then what are you wearing that mask for? That's my business. There's the engine coming back. Find any trace of him, Tadda? No. We need not find him. He looked everywhere. Yeah, you see, we told you. Now clear up and leave us alone. Very well. Come, Tadda. The next time you show up here, mister, and you and that engine part of yours, we'll be ready for you. That's a warning. You better mind it. We probably won't be back. If Billings isn't with you, that's all we're interested in. Good riddance. We ride to town now. Tadda, we're staying on the trail of this wagon train. Why we do that? I'm more convinced than ever that Billings is here somewhere. Each day, saw the wagon train farther along the westward trail. Twice, the emigrants stopped at waterholes and replenished their water supply. But after the second time, the masked man raced back to his camp. Holds over! Holds over! Tadda! What's the matter? I think I've discovered where Billings is. I'm not mistaken. They chose not only the most natural hiding place, but the one place no one would think to look. Where's that? I'll show you tonight. It'll get dark soon. Yes, the wagon train is making camp now. They'll have their evening meal and then turn in early. Tadda, as soon as the camp is quiet, we'll act. But the lone ranger did not know that at the same time he made his discovery, he himself had been seen by Duke. The outlaw rode back to his wagon and... Hold there! Hold! Hold there! Can't find no game. I've seen plenty. Why did you shoot something then? We need fresh meat and here you come back without... Shut up and listen to me. A lot of blazes is ailing you. Where's Billings? In front of the wagon under some blankets. I don't go to worrying about him. There ain't going to be nobody nosing around here now. No? Well, that's just where you're wrong. Huh? Guess who I've seen snooping around today. Snooping around? What are you talking about? The mask fella. You're a loco. A loco, am I? You think I didn't and you're the one that's loco? I was just drawing a beat on some buffalo when I'd seen that big white horse of his cut out from a gully and head north. He said he was clearing out. Uh-huh. But he didn't. So you see what that means? Uh, he still suspicions us. Right. As long as he keeps hanging around, we're likely to be caught. I'd give a heap and know who that fella is. Do you see you? I doubt it. I was laying down using a rock for a rifle rest. He wouldn't have seen me unless he'd know where to look. And maybe... Yeah? Maybe we could find where he's made camp and get rid of him. I got a better skin. What's the matter with getting rid of him? There's plenty to matter with it. What about the red skin? How do we know we can handle the two of them fellas together? What's more, we don't even know if we can find their camp. And if we didn't get rid of both of them without no trouble, how do we know the law back in Pine City didn't put the mask fella up to follow us? Then we'd be blamed for the killing. If you got a better idea, let's hear it. We won't get rid of the mask fella. We'll get rid of Billing. What? Keep your voice down, Egypt. Sure. Why not? What's the matter with that? Well, he paid us to get him cleared. Uh-huh. And we got the cash, ain't we? He can't take away from us. Yeah, but look here. No matter what the mask fella's suspicions, nobody knows for sure that Billing's is with us. Ain't that right? I reckon... Get rid of him and nobody will ask questions. Because nobody can prove he was with us. Duke, maybe you're right. You bet I am. We've got Billing's cash. So there's nothing to be gained by keeping him alive. And with him out of the way, we're in the clear. But how... How will we do it? Yeah. You leave that to me. I'll think of a way. I'll... See? Now what? Tamara. Tamara's, when the wagon train has to follow that mountain trail. Yeah? What of it? I'll tell you what of it. I got a scheme all ready. Shorty, you just listen to this. Shorty, Duke and Billing slept inside the wagon. The following morning, Shorty woke up just before sunrise and wakened Duke. Duke. Hey, Duke. Ah, it doesn't matter. Duke, wake up. What? Oh, morning. We'd better get Billing's fixed, Duke. Cap will be a stern another half hour. Yeah, with... Hey, what are you doing? I'm gonna wake Billing's up so we can say goodbye. That's all. But, Duke... Don't you worry. Hey there, wake up part. Come on, get the sleep out of your ride. Oh... Oh, golly, is it morning already? The sun will be up before long. We're getting ready to leave? We ain't, Billing. But you are. All right. Say, what do you mean? I just waked you up so me and Shorty here could sort of say goodbye to you. Say goodbye? You and Shorty? I don't get this. You will, Billings. You will. You ain't planning on double-crossing me, are you? Now, whatever put a thing like that in your head, Billings? You are. You're up to something. Don't lie to me. Now, now, I'm... I'll teach you to help me escape. And I'll give you a cage. You can't do... Now, don't take it so hard, Billing. Don't, Duke. Don't double-cross me. I'm your part. Don't go to yelling. Shorty, you ain't turned on me. Why should you finish it up? Wait. No, please, stay back, Duke. No! There. Is he out? He's out cold. Now, get me them ropes and a gag. Hurry up before he comes to again. And Shorty. By the time we've got across the hills today, we'll be in the clear. In the clear, Shorty. Gagged and bound, Billings was hastily concealed in the hiding place that had served him before. Not long after the camp awakened, the wagons were lined up, and once more they were on their way. A trail that across a barrier of hills, on one side of the wagons, almost scraping the hubs of their wheels, rose a sheer cliff. On the other side, a canyon fell away for a thousand feet. We see Duke now as he climbs from the rear of the wagon to join Shorty on the seat. You long there, you critters. You long. Move over, Shorty. Yeah. You got it all fixed? It'll break up and fall into the canyon any minute now. I seem to that. What you do? Hold out a couple of the nails, holding the platform to the wagon. Just enough so as to the weight of the barrel, a little let go. And fall right into the canyon, with Billings inside the barrel. Now you see why I told you to make sure our wagon was the last one in line today. You mean in case the barrel breaks when it hits the edge? Sure. This way there's no one behind us to see it. Slick enough. And when folks notice the water barrel's gone, we just tell them the platform was too weak to hold it. Nobody's going to think anything about a barrel being missing. It ought to be dropping right quick now. Get up there. Get up. We ought to go back there and take out a couple more nails. I thought it broke. There she goes. Take a look. The barrel never even hit the side of the trail. That's the last we'll see of Billings. Let's stop and see. Nothing doing. We'll keep right in line. Just as though we didn't figure it was anything important. Hey, pull up. You got to stop. The wagons ahead. They're stopping. Pull up before we run into them. Oh, there. Oh! Oh! Oh! There's Aether walking this way. Howdy, Aether. What are we stopping for? Howdy, Duke. Hello there, Shorty. What's the matter? I thought I'd come to ask you. I've been riding with Dave just ahead of you there, and I thought I heard... Oh! I see what happened. Your water barrel broke away, huh? Yep. Took a tumble into the canyon. But that ain't nothing to trouble about. I think it is. What that blasted mask fella? Where'd you come from? I've been following behind you. Aether, I think it'd be worth your while to stop here until you set a couple of men down into that canyon. What first, Ranger? The water barrel that fell down there didn't contain water. Look here. You're crazy. Come on, Aether. I'm sorely interested in what the mask ombry's got to say, Duke. Go on, stranger. I think you'd be interested to find out just what was in that barrel. Do as I say. Send someone down there to investigate. Won't hurt nothing, I reckon. I'll get going. Oh, there ain't no use in doing that. It's only an old gun. Get this a head up about, Shorty. You ain't done something wrong, have you? Of course not. But you ain't got nothing to fear if Dave goes down to have a look like the mask ombry says. So I just... But listen, wait. Yeah? You ain't really gonna waste our time like this, are you? You ain't gonna be foolin' up to stop here just on a mask, man. Say so, are you? Look, and I am. Oh, no, you wait. What are you... Oh, my hand! Well, brother Shorty, and you'll get the same... It's my hands, Aether. Now, then, Aether, you believe what I told you? Is that a do, stranger? And I'm sorry I didn't take your word for it before. Sado! No. Me bring the word. Well, I'll be. It's Billings. The man you thought you'd sent to his death in the canyon. But how'd he get free? How'd he get here? I was looking at you this morning and put him in that water barrel. The same hiding place you used to get him out of Pine City. But I didn't... The best hiding place you could've used. Nothing's more valuable to a wagon train than water. I was looking at you... Quiet. It never occurred to anyone that that barrel didn't contain water. And I didn't guess it myself until I noticed that twice you passed up waterholes without filling it. Blast ya so that's how you guessed it. Right after you put Billings into the barrel this morning, Tado and I took him out again and put in stones instead. But when I told Aether where Billings had been, he wouldn't believe it. That's why we had to make you think we were going to search for the barrel in the canyon. Your own fear confessed the truth. Ah, I tricked. Not only that. But since your attempt on his life, Billings has told what he knows of your plans. That you were staying with a wagon train only long enough to locate the money and valuables these people have. That's a lie. We never scheme no such thing. You can't take Billings' word for that. He's double-pointed to kill me, would ya? Well, maybe I've got to go back to jail. But I'll see that you fellas go right along with me. I'm testifying to everything again you that I know. I'll see you over. How are you? I'll see you, bro, boy. This adventure on the train ahead. I'll see you over. How are you? The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.