 for the speed of light, the cloud of dust, and the hearty high, oh, silver, the lone ranger. The girls who traveled to the west of the United States with their mothers and fathers and grew up in the great new territory heard many stories of the phantom figure of the plains. No one was ever known to beat him to the draw, and his courage was only matched by his sense of fair play. The man who deserved a second chance always received one from the masked writer of justice. Return with us now to those thrilling days when the west was young. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver, the lone ranger rides again. Our story opens in the cafe at Booneville where Link Hamlin and Rusty Brennan are seated at a table. With them is young Neil Clark, who pushes back his chair and... Well, I'll be seeing you fellas again, I reckon. Sure, Neil, stay on. Have another drink. No thanks, Link. I'd better be getting on hold. Still tied to your marzipan strings, huh? That ain't so. Or leave him be, Rusty. Neil's all right. He just ain't used to being grown up, that's all. And he's still got a notion everything his folks tell him is gospel truth. That is Neil. I'm old enough to think things out for myself. And I do too. You just wait. You've both got the idea. I'm scared to tell my folks I'm going my own way, ain't ya? Well, I ain't scared and I'll show ya. Now, young fella, that's the way to talk. Maybe he's got some gumption after all. I'm going on 18. I ain't a kid no more. Of course he ain't. Neil of course he ain't. And when you get around to proving that to your old man in your mall, I drop around and look me in Rusty up. Maybe we'll be able to use ya. See, you mean to let me through him with you fellas? Sure, why not? And buddy, if you do, it won't be just wages you'll have to spend. It'll be important cash. Oh, that's sure as well here. Gosh, I don't know what to say. Well, you're friends, ain't we? But I never fidgeted. Well, don't start thinking yet a while, fella. You ain't told the folks you leave in the ranch yet? All we've said is that if you do strike out for yourself, then you can join us. Well, sure, I'd have you all right. Sure. But you'll see, I'll tell him. I ain't a scoundrel. You can't tell him before you see him, can you? But no, but I didn't tell him. Then maybe you'd better be running on home after all. Huh? Oh, oh, sure, yeah. Yeah, I reckon I better. But I said I'd be seeing you fellas again. And maybe, sooner than you expect. All right. Good night. Just a second, huh? There's a storekeeper at the bar. He's been looking this way like he wanted to talk to you, Neil. Ezra? Where? Standing next to that tall stranger. Yeah, I see him now. Madeline, old fool. It aims to give me some more of his advice, I reckon. Well, I'll show him where to head in. Ha, ha, ha. Don't take no sass off him, Neil. Hi there, Neil. What do you want, Ezra? Yes, the word is off. Excuse me, stranger. Of course. The bar is kind of crowded. Well, Ezra, the word about what? Son, don't you think you ought to steer clear of fellas like Rusty and Link? They're my friends. Mighty poor friends to have, I'd say. Ezra, you ain't got no call to tell me what to do, just because I worked for you when I was a kid. When you were younger? Seems to me you've aged, mighty quick, then. Was more than three months ago you left me to work for your pa on the ranch, was it? You're making fun of me. Now don't go flying off the handle, Neil. Paint that at all. I'm just trying to warn you of your own good. Then you can save your breath. Oh, shucks. Does anybody else put you? That's just what I do. But your pa's my best friend, Neil. We came to Texas together. Fact is, I've always sort of looked on you like moaned kids. Well, that don't give you any rights over there. Neil, you look here. You're right at the age when you can either grow up to be the right kind of a man like your pa is, or get off on the wrong trail and end up where Link and Rusty are over there. You talk like they're crooks. Well, ain't they? I've heard enough. And I'll thank you to mind your own affairs. I guess I'm old enough to take care of myself. Now wait, Neil. Good night. You're all gone, young idiot. Hey, Barkeep, fill up my glass, will you? Having a drink, stranger? No, thank you. I'm leaving. Hey, Barkeep, I said fill up my glass. I can't stand around here no longer waiting for you. Rusty, you don't look like the storekeeper got very far with the kids. Oh, I noticed. What do you think? You think the kid will join us? Sure, he will. He don't. That'll mean we gotta blast open as we're safe. I just assume not take that chance. Ah, don't worry. Kid will join us all right. The only thing I'm worried about is maybe Ezra's team's accommodations is Neil will work for him. Why should he? Well, he might have... He's never suspicious. Neil will rob him, would he? Well, I don't... Of course he wouldn't. Shucks, Rusty, this is going to be the easiest thing we ever done. Ezra's always been so doggone sure his cash could be got at in that safe he is. He's never bothered to take it home at nights. We can force the back door without making enough noise to wake up a red skin. And if Neil backs out when he learns what we're planning... Then what he won't do well in, he'll do it the pint of a gun. And if the kid does try to back out, I've got a scheme that'll make him wish he never got the notion. Yeah? In that case, Rusty will get the cash. And the law will get Neil. The next evening, Neil, with all his belongings, loaded on a pack horse, rode to the corral where his father was attempting to rob a half-tamed, half-tamed Mustang. Paul. Hey, come here, Neil. Come here and hand me this best-kept critter. Hey, what's the extra horse for? And the war bag. Oh, Paul there, boy. I know, Paul, I... Well, if you are, you can change your mind right now. There's too much to be done around here for me to spare you. I ain't working here no more, Paul. What's that? I'm pulling stakes. You? Say, am I going local or are you? Did I hear you say he was pulling stakes? That's the size of it. No, hold on. Don't do no good to argue with me. I've plummeted up my mind. Did you hear your talk? You've lost it. Now climb down off of that horse and put them things yours away again and get to work. Nope. I'm leaving. You're doing no such thing. I'm almost 18. Uh-huh. And I've seen more Egypts at 18 than any other age. Wait. Wait a second. I was in town this morning and I seen every there. And I suppose he told you a lot of lies. He didn't like him to lie. I don't know. What he said was that you've been hanging around with Lincoln Rusty. Well, what if I have? He wouldn't have nothing to do with this crazy notion that you're leaving home today. No one tells me what to do. That ain't quite what I ask you. I know what you said. What I want to know is what's wrong with Lincoln Rusty. Don't reckon you need to be told that. Sure. Everybody says they're crooks. What if they are? They've got nerve. If they go after something, they're gambling their lives on it. They're men. Real men. They ain't safe to home wishing for things, but a fear to have them. Son, is that the way you see things? You've worked hard all your life and what's it got you? This here ranch with a mortgage on it at the bank. It's got you the right to slave for morning till night while it's sun blisters you in the summer and blizzards freeze you in the winter. It's got... Ain't you got things of my twisted, son? Working hard is what made the banker trust me when things went bad for his spell and I needed the cash. And working hard is what gave you a mall home. I'll take care of myself from now on. And that's another thing. How do you figure your mall is going to feel about this? All right. I'll see you see where I'm right someday. Yeah? When I'm able to buy things and help to make it easier for you. Neal, you do this and you'll break your mall's heart. I don't reckon that's so. Doesn't anything mean nothing to you no more? Haven't the things we've tried to teach you going any deeper than this? Goodbye, Pa. I order... Get up, what? Get up. Neal, come along. Can you come back here? Why? Let him go, Andy. What? A mask man? Where'd you come from? I was just over there near your barn. You heard what was said? I did. I was waiting to speak to you. That mask? Say, you're a crook. You put Neal up to this, I'll bet. I'm not a crook, Andy. And I'd like to help you save your boy. I was in the cafe last night and I heard the storekeeper talking to Neal. What's all this to you? I think Ezra was right. What'd he say? He said that Neal was at the turning point of his life and his whole future depends on the decisions he makes now. That's funny talk from an outlaw. If I were an outlaw, I'd probably know the truth of that even better than you. But I've told you, I'm not. Well, I ain't neither here nor there. I've got to go after Neal and bring the young-aged back here. Wait. Nope, I'm going... Listen to me, Andy. Bringing Neal back by force isn't going to solve your problem. What am I supposed to do? Just stand by while my boy goes to the band? Neal needs several things. A good licking among them. First, he needs something to shock him into realizing what he's doing. The shock I got was when my pa laid on to me with a hazel switch. And he needs enough excitement to do him for a long time to come. He'll get it. He will, Andy, if you'll listen to me. Oh, Silver. Oh, boy. Silver. Hello. See you, Andy. Yes, and he'll do as I suggested. Oh, me plenty glad to hear that. We've got to remember one thing, Kimosabi. As long as we suggested this plan, we must see that no harm comes to Neal or Andy. I learned where Rusty and Link live in a small shack just outside of town. I mean no place. And that's where Neal will likely go. If Link and Rusty really want Neal for a partner, they'll plan something soon. Once Neal is stepped outside of the law, he'll have to stay with them. They know that, and we'll take advantage of it. What we do? We're writing to town, Tyler. It'll be late in the evening by the time we get there. We may be able to learn their plans. Here's Cout. And, Tyler, I've got an idea of Rusty and Link do plan anything. They must stay clear of the law much longer. That's right. Let's go. Come on, Tyler. At the same time that the Lone Ranger and Tonto raced toward Booneville, Rusty and Link heard a knock on the door of their cabin. Hey, Link, that would be the sheriff, would it? Yeah, whatever it is. He ain't got nothing on us. Come in. Howdy, Tyler. Well, I'll be dog. It's Neal. Well, we figured. I bet you never thought I'd get up the Nervy Leaf home. Ain't that so? You really pulled up, Steve? I sure did. I told Father where I fell about things, and by golly, he saw I meant it. Did he say nothing? Oh, he tried to argue me out of it, of course. But I soon put a stop to that. I just rode away and left him standing there. Oh, well, kid, you had me fooled complete. But we're sure glad to see you with us. Ain't we glad, Rusty? We are that. Matter of fact, Neal, I don't know. Guess what we'd have done without you. Ah, I'd blame good of you, fellas, to say that. But, Erick, and I don't count for much, compared to homers that can handle guns like you two. Shucks, everybody's got their uses, kid. Ain't likely you'll be long-finered out, ain't they? I mean, you've got something planned already? Said we'd show you how to make big cash. Oh, sure. But I didn't figure on anything real, too. Even cold feet? Of course I ain't. You just try me out. We'll do that. Ain't forgot the combination to Ezra's safe, have you? You mean... We mean that's the first thing we've got for you to do. We'll rob an Ezra's store, and you're open to safe for us. Oh, but see here, Colony, it ain't going to be hard. Now, who's that? Come in. What? Hey, what are you doing here? So you came after me, huh? Well, it won't do you no good, and you might as well know it now. I said I was throwing in with these fellas, and I meant what I said. Now, son, did I say anything about coming after you? Huh? Hey, what is this? If you came here to make trouble, Andy, you'll find we can hand out a plenty. Shucks, didn't nothing like that. Then what are you doing here? I was just came here to admit that I made a mistake. A mistake? That's right, son. You see, after you left home, I got to think and move over what you said. You did? About the mortgage on the place, and working all hours, and getting blisters from the sun, and getting froze when it's winter. I... I'm sorry. Well, that ain't hard to understand. The more I thought about it, the more I got to see and where you was right. No. Yes. So from now on, fellas, the blaze is worth ranching and hard work. It's cash the easy way for me. Shake hands with a fresh made alcohol. 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. Shortly after, Andy Clark surprised his son, Neil, in the two outlaws, Link and Rusty, by announcing that he, too, wished to become an outlaw. The Lone Ranger and Tonto reigned in their horses near the cabin. Oh, silver. Oh, fellas. Stay here, silver. Come, Tonto. I'll be coming. I don't know if we're going to be able to hear them inside or not, Kim, or something. This is all the windows on this side are closed. Maybe wind on the other side is open. Well, let's see. Well, let's find out first if Neil and Andy are inside. Andy. You see him? Yes. He's sitting by the table. Neil's sitting alone over in that far corner. Yeah. Oh, look, plenty mad. They're watching Andy as though they suspect he's up to something. I told Andy they likely wouldn't believe his story. That's why I thought we'd better be on hand. That's a good idea. Kim, we'll circle the house and see if there's any place at all where we can wait and hear what's being said. While the Lone Ranger and Tonto waited patiently, the hours slipped by. One by one, the village lights went out. Then inside the outlaws' shack, Rusty spoke. Well, Link reckons about time where he's moving. There ain't nobody awake in town now. Yeah. And look here, Andy. Huh? You ain't fooling us at all. You're up to some trick. What it is, I don't know. But I'm warning you, you'll make a false move and it'll be your last. Said I was going to be a crook, didn't I? Don't you think I'm old enough to know my own mind? Hey there, Neil. Quit sulking. Come over here. I've been thinking things over. Yeah? The way you've been sitting in a corner all evening without talking to anybody, I thought maybe you was mad at me. You can't do this. No? You can't just walk out in a ranch as if it didn't mean anything to you. Did it, didn't I? And just wait till the banker comes around to collect the cash we owe him. He's going to find himself in the cattle business. But how about Ma? Well, what about her? You can't leave her like this. Can I? You don't see us how I owe her any more than you do. Don't you figure after 30 years of paying bills, I've done my shares? Look at all she's done for you. Now, son, what she's done for me, she ain't done for you. Well, I... What's right for one is right for all. He's done all kinds of things for you. That's right. And it seems to me, I recollect you're going without sleep for near a week just nursing you when you had the fever. And there was a time you broke a wheel on old Zeke's buggy. And Ma took the blame so she wouldn't whop you. And I'll never forget as long as I live how she cried when you was born. She was that glad about it. Whatever place is going on here? Last time he shut up. Now, partners, don't mind my calling your pards, do you? I'm just trying to show Neil I got just as much right to turn quick as he has. Well, I ain't going through with it. Yeah, now what's this? I ain't, I tell you. It's wrong. Pa, you're going back to the ranch, and I'm going with you. And we're going right now. Yes, hold on. And let me handle this, pards. Neil's a mighty excited. Maybe I can do more with him than you can. Pa, how can you sit there and talk like that? You ought to be ashamed. Son, you said yourself you wasn't the boy no more. But Pa, don't... And when you're a man grown, you learn that when you make the choice, you have to stick to it. And that's just what you're going to do. Pa, I never thought to hear you talk like this. Well, for the matter of that, I never thought a boy of mine would want to turn crooked. So that's it. Huh? You came here pretending to want to join us just so he can make the kid change his mind. How weak, Pa. Pards, eh? Now then, take a look at these shooting eyes. I see them. And listen to what I got to say. You came melon here where you wasn't wanted planning on spying on our scheme. Ain't you sure to jump into conclusions? I savvy your game. But it ain't working. Neil ain't backing out cause it's too late. If you pull, can't figure I'm going to open as it's safe for you. You're local. Neil open it. What makes you think so? Or your pa'll get shot. You... You wouldn't do that. Suppose you try it and see. Pa, what am I going to do? Neil, they're just bluffing. And you keep your mouth closed, Andy. Or Neil gets shot. All right, you two. Come along. We're heading for Esri's store. And just keep this in mind. If you're the one or you try anything, it won't be yourself. You'll be hurtin'. It'll be the other. Under the watchful eyes of Link and Rusty, Neil and Andy mounted and rode with the outlaws through the silent streets of Booneville. Finally, they reached Esri Miller's general store. Keep watch, Andy, Rusty. I'll try the door. I'm watchin'. You... You're still kiddin' it. Your pa'll gets drilled. It's locked. Figured it would be. Just give it a shove. That little lock won't hold nothin'. Door ain't barred. Yeah. Try again. There, hold it. See if anybody heard us. I reckon not. All right. Inside, you two. You fellas will pay for this. I reckon we won't, Andy. If you and Neil is gonna pay. Huh? Watch out for them boxes. Thanks, Rusty. I've never seen him in the shadows. What do you mean? It's me and Neil, little pa. Here's the safe. Curious, are you, Andy? You fellas don't think you can frame us for this, do you? Maybe. Open up the safe, Neil. I am Pronto. You'll get yours one of these days. Can you read the numbers on the dial? He'd better. We ain't lightin' any matches so that we can be seen. Gettin' it, kid? Yeah, just a sec. There. Now, hand over that cash box in there. There you are. See, see what's in it, Link? Rusty, there's a plenty. More than I figured on. And most of it in folding money. Good. Hey, why'd you put that cash in my pocket first? It's just your pay, Neil. I don't want no stolen money. You don't get the idea, Neil. What we give you there ain't nothin' though while we're keepin' for ourselves. But when the sheriff finds it on you, he's gonna be blamed sure you and your pa are thieves. Sheriff? Sheriff, you take the cash box and get goin'. I'll stay in guard over these fellas. What'll happen when I tell the sheriff that he's too scum? He's the best part of the whole thing, Andy. Rusty'll have the cash right in his saddle pockets when he's talkin' to the sheriff. But by the time you tell your story, he'll have the cash hid where nobody'll ever find it. All right, Rusty, on your way. I'll hold these cooks we found robin' a safe and you'll get the sheriff out of bed. There goes Rusty, Tuttle. That scheme was clever. But they overlooked just one thing. What's that? There isn't time to explain that, Tuttle. We've got to act fast. You'll make outlawful cash back? I've done that, Tuttle. But then there wouldn't have been a robbery. And there would have been nothing for which Link and Rusty could be jailed. My plan would clear Neil and Andy and convict those outlaws. What me do now? If Rusty's going to hide a stolen money, he won't be able to come back with a sheriff. Isn't that right? I'm going to call on the Storkieber, Tuttle. And you're going to follow Rusty. Let him tell his story to the sheriff. But when the sheriff leaves, hold Rusty till I get there. There's Rust. Open this door. It's been time a night to... Mass! You're getting dressed. I'll carry you with me. You've got to get to your store before the sheriff. Now get into your clothes and I'll tell you what you're to do. The old Storkieber was at first indignant, but as the Lone Ranger explained, his indignation changed to excitement. He tumbled into his clothes, saddled his horse and raced to the store. Whoa, there. Whoa, whoa, whoa! What's all the lights doing on in here? I made a blight to land there after I caught him, sheriff. It ain't the sheriff. It ain't the sheriff. No, look, Mr. Miller, we didn't... What's going on here? I think what are you holding our gun on them for? But I thought that they... And Neil, I thought I told you when you were far to get the cash out of the safe and bring it right back to me. What's that? You told us what? I caught it while he was telling the truth. I got the crook, sheriff. One of them got away, but I caught these two all right. Andy, I never figured you'd turn crooked. You neither, Neil. But, sheriff... Hold on a second. Does everybody know going here? Sheriff, what are you doing here? I come here just as soon as Rusty told me about your store being robbed. Who's supposed to have robbed it? Well, Neil... Oh, here. No, he didn't mean to. Shut up, Neil. Sheriff, can't I send Andy and Neil after my cash without rousing the whole town? You. You sent him here as ring? Of course I did. Man, it ain't true. If you sent him here, why wasn't the lights on when I caught him? And why did they bust the door to get in? I told him not to light the lamps, just so there wouldn't be a lot of fuss. And I broke that door myself this afternoon. That's what I wanted the cash for. I got to worry him. I'll hand it over, Neil. Well, I... Well, this is all I got, Mr. Miller. There. I told you they were seenin'. It was the fellas that got away who took the rest of the cash. Is this the man? What's the matter? Here's your seat, Sheriff. They have the cash in his saddle pocket. They were in on it. Neil opened the safe. He and his pa helped it. It was just because... Andy, don't you know enough to keep still at your age? But there's really... Wasn't it enough that took you and Neil so blame-long to get back here with the cash that I had to come down here myself? Now, I don't want to hear another word out of you. There, don't explain why Rusty roused me out of bed. But it does. These crooks figured you'd come to me. And I'd tell you I never sent Neil here. Then if Neil said Rusty had the cash, you'd just believe he was lying. Listen here. You can't... I'll take him out of jail, Sheriff. I'll do that. But who in carnation is this Massfeller? He's a friend of mine. And that's all you need to know. Maybe he's wearing a mask, but he ain't no outlaw. Every your word suits me. And as for Lincoln and Rusty here, I've been wanting to see them behind bars for so long, I just about to give up hope or turn to the trick. But that's where they're heading now. Get along, Nick. You too, Rusty. Go on. Well then, Neil, you still want to be an outlaw? I've had enough of crooks to last me the rest of my life. But, Pa, you never meant all those things you said back in the cabin, did you? About leaving the ranch and more and all the rest? Of course I didn't, son. That was just part of the Mask Man scheme to bring you to your senses. But stranger. Yes? How do you get us out of this mess? I still don't see things quite straight. You're free, Andy, because, as I told Tuttle, Lincoln and Rusty made just one mistake. Yeah, what was that? Can't you guess, Andy? The Mask fella knew you and me was friends. We all us have been. Uh-huh. And, Andy, the Mask fella knew that real friends don't never let each other down. I don't feel my heart. Come on, tail roll, son. It's adventure on the trail ahead. I don't... You have just heard as a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.