 By special recording, General Mills, makers of Wheaties, breakfast of champions, and Cheerios, the Oats cereal ready to eat, presents, The Lone Ranger! A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a ha-ha-ha-yo silver! The Lone Ranger! With his faithful Indian companion, Toto, the daring and resourceful mask rider of the plains 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! If you want to be a champion at anything, remember, others have done it in spite of obstacles. Take rodeo champion Bob Maynard. He did it the hard way. He proved champions are made, not born. Bob didn't even have the advantage of growing up on a western ranch. As a boy, he lived in Chicago. But Bob started riding when he was 8 years old. At 14 in California, he became a stable hand. Today, Bob Maynard is one of the top money winners in rodeo competition. He surely is Lone Ranger, and like many champions in all sports, Bob still chooses Wheaties for his favorite training dish. There's no question about it. Champions are made, not born. And there's no question why champions choose Wheaties for their training diet. They want that famous wheat energy. They get it with Wheaties, because there's a whole kernel of wheat in every Wheaties' flake. Champions are made, not born. Get on your way with Wheaties, breakfast of champions. His faces were partly covered by bandanas. Entered the Grantville Bank in broad daylight. One shot at... All right, it's a stick up. All you get your hands up. That's it. Keep them high and stand over there against the wall. We'll shoot the kill if anyone goes for a gun. The thieves worked quickly and efficiently. Two held guns threatening the people in the bank, while the third filled a sack with paper money. In a couple of minutes, he was ready to leave. Now listen all of you. We're going out the back door. We'll shoot anyone who comes after us. Get on your horse and ride. You got a gun. No one else will dare come out of the bank. Let's split the cash. You can't take the time now. We gotta travel. Laughman might have heard that shot and come to investigate. All right, keep a watch out. Now listen, we split in rides in different directions just as we planned, right? Two weeks from the day we'll meet in the shack near the town of Red Rock where we plan this job. That's when we'll give you the cash. If one of us thinks he's being trailed, you'll write an old state in the situation and send it to the Red Rock Post Office. Check there for me, right? Someone's at the front door. Alright, he's set it for you. Let's go! Two weeks after the robbery in Brentville, Toad and Snake met in the town of Red Rock many miles away. Snake found a letter waiting in the Red Rock Post Office. He read it. Then went outside where Toad was waiting near the hit trail. You got words from Trigger? You read it? Yeah, and he's in trouble. How's that? The unfounded horse he is was wearing new shoes and left clear trails. Yeah? Trigger rode through a valley, then doubled back along a ridge that overlooked the valley and saw two men following his tracks. Lawman? Worse. What's worse? A lone ranger earned his Indian pal. A lone ranger? You gotta help Trigger get rid of him. We're to ride to the lone pine tree in Ambusham. That's about five miles from here on the side of the mountain. Alright, then. Get out of there! Meanwhile, the lone ranger and Tutto following the familiar trail of the outlaw had halted to study the ground near a running stream. Grass bent, Timus Abbey. Outlaw here. Only short time go. Yes, that's right, Tutto. I'm going to get ready for the showdown. What do you mean, Timus Abbey? I may have to chase the outlaws. I'm going to relieve silver of all excess weight. I'll go on ahead. You follow the slower pace and bring my blanket roll and camp gear. Scott Carrion, we follow you. With silver stripped for speed, the masked man left Tutto to follow with his gear and continued on the trail alone. Presently, the underbrush became less dense and the trees more widely spaced. Then he saw the man ahead. There he is at last. Come to the left! The white horse and the masked rider gaining rapidly and knew he could not hope to reach the distant modern. Heired repeatedly in the faint hope that a lucky shot would stop the lone ranger. Then the outlaw's gun was emptied. Get up! Come on, you pillar! Get up! I want you! The powerful white stallion grew nearer and nearer. Trigger glanced back and saw the masked man loosening his lariat. Later a nooth blew through the air and dropped around the outlaw. He pulled the outlaw off his horse. He hit the ground and rolled. Then he saw the masked man standing at his side with a drawn gun. Trigger Egan, so you're one of the three who robbed the Grandville Bank. Now wait. Let me talk. Marshal of Red Rock, I'll turn you over to him. He wanted for a lot of crimes in addition to the Grandville robbery. While being tied and searched, Trigger Egan looked toward the mountainside and wondered if his friends were hidden behind the boulders beneath the tall pine. If so, they knew of his capture. And though they were too far away to use their six guns effectively, they would surely find a way to rescue him. If we reach Red Rock, we'll have to go over that mountain. The lone ranger ignored the comment. He was opening the outlaw's saddlebags. He found them filled with money. Much of it in wrappers stamped with the name of the Grandville Bank. This does it, Trigger. This is all the evidence that's necessary to convict you of robbing the bank and shooting the clerk. Come on, I'll help you to the saddle. That mountain trail is mighty rough. Expect me to ride over it with my hands tied behind my back. No. And you will untie my hands? No. We'll take the long way to Red Rock. We'll ride around the mountain. Snake and Toad watching from behind the boulders on the mountain saw Trigger captured by the masked man. I know you shooting from here. That distance, we couldn't hit anything with our six guns. Snake, we could mount our horses right closer. Plain view of the lone ranger? What do you think he'd be doing in the meantime? He's a crack shot. That's so. He'd drill us long before we could hit him. If he comes this way with Trigger, he might get close enough so as we could shoot him from behind these rocks. Now, he's starting out with Trigger, and they're not coming this way. They're heading south. Hey, Snake, Trigger's got all the money. What are we going to do? I'm trying to think. What's more, he'll squeal on us if the masked man turns him over to the law? He'll be turned over to the law, no doubt of that. It looks to me like the lone ranger aims to take him to Red Rock. Then why didn't he come this way and ride over the mountain? How do I know? Maybe he figured the other route would be safe. Snake, we've got to do something. I told you I'm trying to think. He told, look over yonder. There's someone else riding this way from the woods. It's a ninja. Maybe he's Tondo. Tondo. The lone ranger's partner. Trigger mentioned him in the letter. Hey, if that critter is Tondo, I have an idea. Come on, Toad. We'll ride to meeting. It was Tondo who appeared from the woods. After delaying to tie the lone ranger's gear behind his saddle, he followed the tracks of the masked man through the woods and across the plain. Presently, he drew rain and studied the ground. The signs told him that Trigger Regan had been captured. He grinned and was about to continue riding when he saw two horsemen approaching. He waited until they came near and drew rain. Hi there, ranger. By any chance is your name Tondo? Me, Tondo. Then hight's your head. You're covered. What does this mean? Right. Still, ranger, we'll blow your head off. Why you do this? Your masked pal captured our friends, so we're capturing you. You savvy? If Trigger don't go free, you're gonna die. It was after dark when the lone ranger turned Trigger Regan and the stolen money over to the Red Rock Marshal whom he knew. Then he left the jail, silver-weighted near the saddle shed, and next to the hight stallions stood Tondo's paint horse. No, I wonder where Tondo is. I'll answer that. Don't reach for the gun, mister, you're covered. I've been waiting behind the shed for you. I know when someone was waiting. I might have been here sooner. Who are you? Name zones matter. The important thing is I'm one of the men who captured your Indian friend. Did you bring Tondo's horse here? Yeah. I did that to prove I've got the Indian. I just wanna tell you where things stand. You captured my pal Trigger Regan. Unless Trigger is out of jail and free. At 5.15 in the morning, your Indian friend will die. You'll continue our lone ranger adventure in just a moment. It's good to know you can make something out of yourself, and you can because champions are made, not born. Take the story of Jack Kramer, tennis star. When Jack was just 11 years, his tennis didn't win him cheers, but practice built his power game, and he got on his way to fame with Wheaties, the food the champs acclaim. Today Jack tops the tennis clan for 22 years of Wheaties man. Jack Kramer going steady on Wheaties since he was 11 years old. Mighty good for you. There's a whole kernel of wheat in every Wheaties' flake. Okay Jack, serve that ball. He's on his way, on his way, he's on his way, on his way. Get on your way, get on your way, get on your way. Get on your way, get on your way with Wheaties, breakfast of champions. Outside the jail where the lone ranger had left Trigger Regan, the outlaw's pal Snake held a gun on the mask man, and told him that unless Regan were freed, the lone ranger's friend Toto would die. You buy Tondo's life by freeing Trigger. I've already turned him over to the martian. I know that. It's up to you to figure out how to get him out of jail. Bust him out if you have to. Where are you holding Toto? I've said all I'm gonna say. We've talked long enough. The next move is yours. Oh well, I'll make the next move. The next move was lightning fast. His left hand slapped aside Snake's gun, but his right fist crashed to the outlaw's jaw. Snake fired involuntarily, the bullet going harmlessly into the ground. He dropped his gun when the lone ranger's fist rammed him in the stomach, then went down from a blow to the chin. I'm not going to hit you. I'll just make sure you have no other weapons. The gun plays over, Marshal. This man's gun is there on the ground. On your feet. Oh my God. This is great. Pal of Trigger, Regan. Yes. I think he's one of the bank robbers. Even another man, probably the third bank robber, captured Tondo. He told me Tondo would die unless Regan went free. And so he will. Tondo will die at 5.15 in the morning and nothing can save him. Why did you decide on 5.15? I'm not answering questions, but I'll tell you this. Shailen Trigger and me is the same as a deathmorn for Tondo. He means it. Yes, sir, I know he does. I'll try to find Tondo before the deadline. You needn't count on following my back trail. There's no moon tonight and you can't see in the dark. Not well enough to follow a trail. Mr. The Law is mighty deep in debt to you. You say the word now released the prisoners. I'd be justified in doing that to save the life of Tondo. More than Tondo's life is involved, Marshal. It's a matter of principle. The law must never be compromised because crooks threaten violence. You're right, of course, but Tondo's life... He risked his life many times to put out laws in jail. And so have you. It follows that we'd risk our lives to keep him there. And you want me to... Jail, that's crook. Tondo will die. Do you hear that? Come on, you polkelecin! You'll die at 5.15! Scout, Tondo's in danger. Right when he said we couldn't follow his trail by starlight. You know where Tondo is. You know where that crook came from, Scout? Lead the way and I'll follow you. Find Tondo. Do you understand? Go on Scout, find Tondo easy. Let it be caught. Find the jail he raced across Black Country to a canyon that divided the area between the mountain and the town. He crossed one of several bridges that spanned the canyon, then turned sharply to the side and led the Masked Man and Silver along the canyon's rim until he reached a stand of timber. There he hauled it. The Masked Man saw a square patch of light. It was the window of a cabin. He dismounted, drew one gun and advanced on foot. Two horses were tied to a tree near the cabin. The lone ranger looked through the window and saw a room crudely furnished with a table and chairs and a door that seemed to lead to a bedroom. No one was in the room. The Masked Man entered the shack through a door that creaked noisily. I'm there, Snake. I'll be right with you. The voice came from the bedroom. It's not the lone ranger that's meant to break your brain. Hey, I asked him. Don't shoot, don't shoot, mister. You thought I was a man who tried to make a deal for Tonto's life. No, no. I'll take your gun. Now listen, mister. Snake's in jail with Trigger Regan. You're going to join him after I release Tonto. He was here, I admit that, but he's gone. Snake took him somewhere on foot. Where? I don't know. Snake didn't tell me. You've got to believe me. Don't believe you? Come into the other room. What are you going to do? First of all, I'm going to tie you to the chair. But, mister, I told you... That rope should do. You've got no right to bust in on a man like this. Make your complaint to the marshals. No, that rope's tight. Your friend Snake told me that Tonto would die at 5.15 in the morning. I don't know anything about that. That's too bad. Because your life may depend on the survival of my friends. What do you mean? Just watch what I do and maybe you'll figure it out. Snake took two new candles from a box and stood them side-by-side on the floor between the wood box and the wall. He lighted one and glanced at his watch. Then he drew the cartridges from Toad's gun belt and sat down at the table. Using his knife, he pried out the bullets and emptied the gunpowder from the cartridges into a small bowl. At the end of half an hour, he blew out the lighted candle, measured the amount that had burned, then turned to Toad who had been watching every move. Now, do you understand? No. These candles burn about one inch in half an hour. I'm lighting a new candle. It should burn to the floor at about 6 o'clock in the morning. It still don't, Savvy. I can't see what you're doing. The wood box is in the way. I'm putting gunpowder around the base of the candle. It will be ignited when the candle burns down and set fire to the kindling wood. What? This cabin will burn fast. With me tied to this chair? Toad will untie you if he's alive. Out! I'll find Toad, I'll send him here to blow out the candle. But I'll have to wait for daylight to follow his tracks. Daylight! That's a little after five at this time of year. I may be too late for saving. It's down his legs. Toad's flabby face was beaded with a sweat of beer. And his eyes stared at the wall, where the light of the burning candle behind the wood box seemed to measure his life expectancy in minutes. A long silence was broken by the lone ranger. Two o'clock. You have four hours. Man seemed to doze. Toad struggled against the loose that held him. They were strong, the knots were tight. He finally gave up. Four o'clock. Just being stubborn you're a fool. You wouldn't let me die. You think I'm bluffing? I don't know. It was a battle of nerves. The lone ranger realizing the hopelessness of searching in the darkness for his friend was taking everything on his conviction that the outlaw knew where Toad had been taken. And would tell. Four thirty. The mask man's cool manner concealed an inward turmoil of worry, apprehension and questions. Day in five fifteen. Time to run to the canyon. Yeah. Snake and I took Toad down a steep path to the floor of the canyon. There's a train doing Red Rock at five thirty. It'll pass here on five fifteen. Where's that pass? A straight line from this cabin to the canyon. Toad was right near the bottom of the path. The lone ranger ran through the woods. He heard a whistle and knew the train was on schedule. His was a desperate race against time with Toad's life depending on the outcome. He reached the canyon rim and found the narrow path. A dangerous one in the dim light of dawn. But this was no time to think of personal peril. Toad's life was at stake. It's the canyon floor. The mask man saw the headlight of the locomotive and in its beam saw Toad. Gagged and lashed to the rails. I'll show you Toad. A quick slash with his knife and Toad's feet were free. Out for the rope around your wrist. His friend up bodily and took three quick steps to safety. Stand yards before the rushing train went past. Time by the increasing day life that came through the window. With each passing moment his nervousness and fear increased until he could wait in silence no longer. Help! No, no, blow the candle out first. The candle behind the wood bot. Blow it out before it sets a place on fire. Now you don't understand. When the candle burns down, it'll start a fire. Now you stand up. Now pull the pants tied. Now pull the candle out by itself. What matter? There never was any danger of fire. The gunpowder's nowhere near the candle. That mask man... Then go to Red Rock. Tell Marshmallow to come there. With you his person... He tricked me. He made me think I'd die when the candle burned down. Now, mask man never killed. Him... return in just a moment for a word about our next exciting Lone Ranger adventure... throughout. Sam is a boy of ten. He busts right in the robbers den and gets his man because he nouged. And how this wonderful toasted old cereal that's shaped like a little letter O is so good for you. A Cheerios and milk breakfast really starts the day right. It's real muscle building food. Spoonful contains vitamins, minerals and proteins your body needs. They help to give you healthy nerves and muscles. So have Cheerios every morning. Then you'll hear people say... When two killers when a violent storm ended the chase unaware of the fact that the killers were there waiting for them with drawn guns. Be sure to listen to this next thrill-packed Lone Ranger adventure. Cheer of the Lone Ranger Incorporated is created by George W. Frendle. Produced by Frendle Campbell Mure Incorporated and directed by Charles D. Livingston. Tonight's drama was written by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beemer, your announcer Fred Forley. General Mills every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this same time. Be sure to listen. This recorded program has come to you from Detroit. This is ABC Radio Network.