 horse of the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty high old silver, the Lone Ranger. The mysterious phantom figure of the planes was the most famous character of the frontier days of the western united states. His heavy guns were loaded with bullets of silver, his great white horse was shod with shoes of the same metal. And in all his fights against crime and injustice, he was accompanied by his faithful Indian companion, Tonto. And now as silver thunders down the trail, adventure comes to life once more. The Lone Ranger rides again. Martin Gates, the banker of three corners, held mortgages on almost every home in town. A poor cattle year made it impossible for the people to meet their payments, and Gates foreclosed without mercy. The Lone Ranger and his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, hoping that they could aid the poverty stricken people, made their way toward the community. We join them as they near the town. If Martin Gates is all that he said to be, we'll try to teach him a lesson, Tonto. He can't possibly need all the land he's grabbing. Got right to land. There are rides here that aren't argued in law courts. In spite of what is outlined in written contracts, Tonto, men must help each other. All those people who lost their homes to Martin Gates deserve some sort of help. Not right. They didn't know that with the war ending, the price of cattle would fall too low to pay for shipping them. They give them a little time, and they can get better prices for their stock and pay off their mortgages, instead of losing their homes to Martin Gates for a tenth of their value. Maybe they'll not know about North Country. Cattle prices north of here are good. If Gates takes possession of the stock and payment of the mortgages, those people can't ship their cattle north. What we do? I don't know yet. Let's, uh, what matter? Tonto, look ahead. That horse in front of the sheriff's office. Swayed, backed, and gray. Tonto, that looks like the horse that belongs to our friends, Bolivar Bates, and Hacksaw Hastings. That's right. Who, who, they shall be back. Damn it, all right. Well, old boy, where are your partners? He knows this, Tonto. Huh? I wonder what trouble Bolivar and Hacksaw have gotten into now. Me not know. They're more all-time in trouble, but they'd only learn that they can't beat the law. And they try one thing after the other, and they've never yet come out on top. Tonto, there's an open window at the side of the office. Take care of Silver. I'm going to see if I can learn what they're up to before we let them know we're here in three corners. Me, wait. Teddy Silver. Teddy, wait for that. All right, so you introduce yourselves. Bolivar Bates and Hacksaw Hastings. Oh, what about it? In the Confederate Army, what's left of it, huh? No, sirie, sheriff. We ain't in it no more. We're wearing the uniforms because we ain't nothing else to wear, that's all. Well, what do you want here? Mean to say you ain't hearing about us, sheriff? Hush up, Hacksaw. Don't call it to his tension how backward three corners is when it comes to hearing things. What do you want? Sheriff, old Jeb Stuart used to brag something awful about the two of us. Why, his frequent said that if he had a dozen more like us, the Yanks wouldn't have had a chance in the wall. Doesn't like you would scare him. Yes, sirie. It's the steely glint in the eyes. I'll get you to the point. What are you doing here? We've got enough trouble around town without a couple of tramps like you here. Well, I like that. Tramps, eh? Well, maybe you can match this roll of paper money. Where'd you get all that cash? From grateful towns that's appreciated at a couple of worthwhile gents like us. Yeah, and beat us for helping them in problems such as you got here. What do you know about three corners? You got a critter here named Gates, ain't you? Well, he took over almost everything in town, ain't he? Yeah. So none of the folks has any cash, and the town ain't got enough to even pay your salary. Get to the point. Sheriff, we aim to help three corners in the present deploy of the situation. Oh. Now you got gambling here, ain't you? I did have. When the men had anything to gamble with. Just so. But the town never got nothing from it, did it? Nothing but free liquor for the law. That's me. Hey, just so. Now we ain't just— Excellent. Let me do the talking. Sheriff, we bought us a tent from the army, and we got that same pack to board our horse. Now if you leave us set it up and run a nice refined poker game, for them that wants to play, we'll pay a percentage to the town. A percentage? Sure. For every dollar we win, the town will get ten cents. That ain't much. If we win a thousand dollars, you get a hundred. Me? Well, the town. But it's paid to you. It's the same thing, ain't it? I reckon it is. Now you're talking something like cents. And you two don't look like gamblers. Well, we ain't exactly. Can you play your cash against anyone that wants to play you? I'm the one that plays. Hexo, he just stands by to see there ain't no crooked playing. Well, if that don't beat all. I've seen a lot of strange things in my day, but no one could ever make me think that a couple with your looks was good at gambling. But what about it, Sheriff? Well, it's all right with me. If you can find anyone with cash to play with. There's Martin Gates, ain't there? And he's always glad to win cash. Ain't no one yet has ever got the best of Martin Gates. Sheriff, you're looking right now at the man that can do it. Can't believe it, but I'm willing to be convinced. Good enough. Barbara, we'll set up our tent and get started this evening. Yes, sir. And the ten percent of all the winners goes to you, Sheriff. I'm warning you, though. If you lose, you better be able to pay up, or I'll jail you so fast your head'll swim. Oh, well, we'll be able to pay up. Our food ain't so good in jail. So remember what I told you. Come on, Barbara. He's making threats that don't mean nothing. And keep that game honest. I'll be around to cry it for myself. Sheriff, we couldn't be anything else but honest. There, Hexo. That big row of confederate people, money and a couple of genuine bills to top it, dumb the trick. I never leap in termites. Barbara, them two white horses alongside General Sherman. Tonto. Oh, it's Tonto the engine. And the masked man must be close by. That's his horse. Oh, you two are going into the gambling business now. A part, a stranger. Mr. Wee, look here. We ain't busted. No laws? No. I saw that you were careful to keep your word to me and get permission from the sheriff before you set up a gambling tent. Sure, that's it, Mr. Wee was keeping our word. We were thinking of that when we called on the sheriff. What do you know about Martin Gates? He's a money-grabbing pole cat. He's swindled everybody around here. All right, there. What's the man's man doing? You! I got you covered, stranger. Get back in your office, sheriff. I came here to talk to you. Well, you keep your distance. Keep back, I tell you. Let's go inside and talk. You two, wait for me. How do you keep them there? Me keep them. I got you covered, now, stranger. Put away that gun and sit down. What's Martin Gates trying to do? Control the whole country? No. Well, I just, I don't know. He's got legal papers and they are the law. And so he's taken over most of the ranchers around here. Oh, and he ain't took yet. He will, though, go on soon. And if he let those people keep what they own for a time, they could join the Chisholm Drive and get a good price for their stock. Yeah, I know that. So does Gates. So the ranchers know it? Sure, but what can they do about it? They sign their land away to Gates. Sheriff, just who are you for? Huh? Martin Gates or the people? For me, I, now, see here. I don't know who you are and you ain't no right to come and hear him ask like this. Ain't no right to talk to me like you are. But I'll answer your question, then I'll ask a few. Well? Martin Gates has done their head to shoot me to make me serve notice on the folks when he's foreclosed his mortgages. I am against him. That helps. I am against his methods and his styles, stranger. I do, dear, near anything to see him took down. Look at what I did do. What? That two old glutes with a lot of confederate cash that they tried to make me think was genuine federal folding money set up a gambling tent to take Gates's cash. Then you knew they didn't have much real cash to lose? Of course I knew it. I ain't blind. And you knew Gates couldn't win much from them? I'm only hoping they'll be able to take a plenty cash from that skin plant. Sheriff, I think we'll get along. Huh? We'll meet again. Now, here, you hold on. Stay in your office and put away that gun. You're not going to use it on me. Bad reddit, how did you know? Mister, we ain't aiming to break no laws. We ain't figure it out. You don't even hold them any longer, Tutto. You say Keaton here. You kept us here right enough, and now he must be. Let go of my collar. Bolliver, are you and Hacksaw planning to play a straight game? Uh, Hacksaw, he won't be playing. He'll just stand by and I'll handle the car. Honestly? Huh? Oh, no. You know I wouldn't do otherwise. You mean to play an honest game? Go ahead. You ain't going to stop us? Go on and play and do what you can to win from Martin Gates. Yowee! Hacksaw, that's a good omen. Come on, let's get our tents set up pronto. We're going after Martin Gates. But listen to me first. You're going to do it my way. The two ex-soldiers listened to the Lone Ranger, then put up their second-hand tent and installed some borrowed furniture. That evening, several men drifted in and played for small stakes with varying luck. Later, Martin Gates and Sheriff Lamson arrived and played for a full hour. Finally, Gates shouted in anger. Bless such a game. Oh, what's the matter, Banker Gates? You, you were too measly pairing you beat me. I want another deck of cards. There's something mighty crooked about this game. Now, Banker, that ain't right or just. It seems something. I don't demand new cards. Leave! Must add another deck of cards. Then you better get the caffeine by up a few more decks. Looks like Banker Gates seems to call for new cards with every deal he loses. When I win, what do I win? Your deal, Banker Gates. With the foolhouse last time I won, I won a pot and wanted a mountain. Nothing at all. This time I try to bluff and raise and raise. No one blame while that coyote hasn't much. But he don't bluff out. He sticks and wins. You want a deal, Lehane, Banker Gates? Something mighty odd about this whole thing. Banker Gates, I should resent that kind of talk. Ain't right to cast reflections on a man like me. Now, leave it to the sheriff. He's playing a straight game, Banker. That's what I thought at first. I want to look at his face and I figure the game will be honest. He don't look smart enough to be anything else. You done shuffling that new deck, Banker Gates? Got him. Not you. Get your hand off them cards. You cut here. Anything to be obliged, Jim. There you are. Maybe you better not play again, my unconscious luck, Banker Gates. I'm said to be the luckiest man alive. Lucky to be alive, you mean? Maybe you can't afford to lose no more cash. What's that? Are you skinny old gadfly? I'll show you. Let's see. Stand up, looking over my shoulder. Me? I didn't mean nothing. Go on, Hacksaw. Get outside where you belong. Oh, there ain't no use me staying outside no longer. There won't be no one else getting a chance to play tonight. Even if I do get him in a rested ball of the... Sure, there will. The banker won't stick much longer. I'll stick like it back, my loosens. I'll get square if it takes me all night. Maybe I should quit while I'm ahead. Oh, no, you don't. Pick up them cards and play them. All right, then. Now, the stakes are going up. I feel my luck's changing. I'm afraid you're right, Gates. I'll play these. Huh? I'm standing, Pat. How many cards do you want? Me, oh, give me three cards. Draw into a pair, eh? And me sitting here with a full house. All right. Here's your cards. I got an ocean you're trying to bluff me again, banker Gates. For how much? Oh, let's get this done with. I got open. What's your bet? There'll be no piker. I won't be. I'll bet 20 bucks. 20? Are you cheap skin-flint? After all you want from me, you bet $20. You can raise as far as you want, banker Gates. As far as I want? Yep. I'll raise $500. Careful, banker Gates. He won't dare to see me. Mr. Gates, I still got an ocean that you're bluffing. So I'll call you. Where's your skinny hide? You ain't no right to call me. You ain't no right to think I'm bluffing. Maybe you've got the cards to beat a pair of queens. If you have, the pot's yours. I ain't a dog-gone thing. How'd you know I didn't have? Sheriff, this game's crooked. Stay on the side. Now I'm going to get back my money or drill that cheatin' coke plumb through the heart. You're cheatin'! You're crooked! Gates, hook down that gun! Bank of Gates! The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue our story. Bolliver Bates and Hacksaw Hastings scheme to win at poker from the greedy banker Mark and Gates. Gates had foreclosed without mercy upon the ranchers in the district, making it impossible for them to sell their cattle in the profitable northern markets. Knowing this, the Lone Ranger watched the progress of the game from outside the tent. But when the banker finally lost his temper and shot point-blanket Bolliver, the masked man quickly entered. You old re-killer! You shot my partner! You killed Bolliver Bates! That's enough of that shooting. Who's this maist, man? Stop that gun! You're covered! Drop it! Need help, old man. Get him out of here, Tonto. Sheriff, you're putting this man under arrest, aren't you? You're all going right, I am. Ice your hands, Gates. I had reason to shoot. I had reason. It was a card game. That's for a jury to decide. And I'll be your own hand to tell that jury how square the game was. Why, Bolliver wouldn't cheat. We'll stay here with Bolliver, Sheriff, and see if there's any chance to save him. Hey, you're coming to the caliber's, banker Gates. No, no, no. You can't do that to me. Who says I can't? I better teach you how my partner's winning. But, Flint, let me look at him. Let me see how bad he is. Get going. You've already done enough to him. I'd brilliant myself if I wasn't sure the Lord hanged you for this. Earn your way now. Put the mask around. Who's he? Ain't no concern of yours who anyone around here is now. You won't be around town. The sheriff promptly threw Gates into jail to await trial for the shooting of Bolliver Bates. There, the banker could learn nothing of what happened in town since his arrest. From the window of his cell, he saw the Lone Ranger passing by. He called to him. Hey, there. You calling me? Yes. What did you want? How bad hurt is Bolliver? Is he, is he killed? You'll hear it at the trial. Lasted? Won't nobody tell me nothing? What has the sheriff said? Him? He won't say nothing. Neither will the deputy. They're all against me if he blame one of them. You can't blame them. What have you ever done to make people like you, Martin? Well, I... You've taken their homes, their ranches, their cattle. You've taken everything they worked hard to earn. That's just business. Other bankers have made profits without taking advantage of their customers. Who are you to tell me what I should do? I'm just explaining why you won't stand much chance at your trial. Hey, have you heard much about what folks think? I've talked to a lot of people. What did they say? They feel that you shouldn't be given any more chance than you gave them. Gosh. You see, Gates, 12 men will be chosen for the jury. The majority of those will be people whose land you grabbed. I've got to do something. I'll hang for sure. I've got to do something. Come on, Silver. I don't want to hang. I'll get out of this some way. Sheriff! Hey, Sheriff! Come here, Sheriff! I got to call for you, Sheriff. The banker shook the door of his cell and shouted until the sheriff came to the barred door. Come here, Sheriff! Sheriff! Quit making all that noise! But this is important. Well, what do you want? I ain't got much time. I'm going to get out and be here. There's a lot of things I have to do. You know darn well I can't let you out on bail. Good, Sheriff! We're in on a charge of murder. You can set the bail any figure you want. I don't care what it is. I ain't trying to run away. And what are you so head up about? I got to get out. I got to see people. For what? I reckon folks have seen all they want of you. I want to talk to them. I don't know about that. Sheriff, I'll do anything you say if you'll just give me the chance. I don't want to be hungry. If I take you out of here, the mob might lynch you. I'll take that chance. Look here, Sheriff. You can handcuff me and take a dozen guards along. Just let me get out. I've got to see some people. What for? Everyone in town's against me. You won't get no jury. They'll give me a fair trial. I wonder whose fault that might be. It's mine. It's mine. I save it. That's why I've got to get out. I've got to talk to people. You won't regret giving a man a chance to live. If I go on trial now with every man in town set dead against me, I'll swing for sure. I reckon a man's entitled to a fair trial. Sure he is, and an impart jury. Well, I'll think it over, Gates. You've got to let me out. I reckon that could be a range, if you go out well guarded. The sheriff smiled to himself as he released the banker under guard. Gates wasted no time calling on the people he had driven from their homes. He went first to Jeremy Burke. What do you want here? We're getting out in this place as soon as we can. We got till the first of the month, Gates. You told us that yourself. Hold on, Burke. You ain't got to leave. Uh, where do you hear what he says, Burke? I changed my mind. I ain't foreclosing. You ain't foreclosing? I'm going to renew your mortgage like you asked me to. Your what? Yes, here. Here's the new mortgage. You just sign here and go on living here. This place is still yours. You can pay me the cash. You owe me when you get it. Well, I'll make you see, Burke. That leaves you free to dispose of your cattle. And with the cattle my own again, I can sell it? Sure you can. Wherever there's a market? Certainly wherever there's a market. I can join the Chisholm cattle drive to the north. By a thunderation, what's come over the banker? Martha, did you hear what Gates done with Jeremy Burke? What's that? He renewed his mortgage. Burke is going to keep his cattle. Who's that coming here? Well, I'll go see. Hey, Sid, I got to talk to you. Banker Gates. How'd you get out of jail? He's under guard, ma'am. Here, here's the mortgage. What do you mean? I mean, I'm going to renew your mortgage. I ain't foreclosing on you. But you already have. I didn't mean to. I don't want to take your home or your cattle. Here, just sign this. It's a new mortgage and you can pay me when you get the cash. Well, I... Come on, man, sign it. The bankers had to change your heart. Modern Gates renewing the mortgages on liberal terms hurried from one place to another. His debtors were astonished and the news of the bankers' actions spread like wildfire. Those had already lost their homes rushed to interview Gates before he could change his mind again. Are you renewing my mortgage, too? What about me, Gates? Can we keep our land? Are you going to let us have our cattle? I'll pay you as soon as the cows' souls line right up here. I got new mortgages for every one of you. I ain't going to foreclose on nobody. I ain't going to foreclose on nobody. I ain't going to foreclose on nobody. I'm pretty of the bar case, all right? You foreclosed. You drove us out. We've been wondering where we was going to sleep next week. You're going to sleep right on the bar case. You're going to keep the bar case. Here's your paper. Sign right here. What about me, Gates? What's your name? Sam Tindall. All right, Sam. I got your paper here somewhere. You can pay me when you're ready. Who's going north with cattle? I am. So am I. Me, too. We can join the Chisholm cattle ride. We can get good prices to the north. Next man, step up here. Hurry it up now. Hurry it up. I've got to get through all these papers before sundown, and then the sheriff's taking me back to jail. Never in the history of three corners was there so much activity and excitement. Toward sundown, when Gates, tired and exhausted, was again in his cell, he saw countless herds of cattle being driven northward past the jail. The banker stepped to the door and called the sheriff. Sheriff? Sheriff, I want to speak to you. Well, what's on your mind now, Gates? All them cattle going by. They're all going to join Chisholm. With the drive to the north, eh? Yep. They can sell the cattle here, can't they? Sure they can. Get good prices for it. You know, Sheriff, it's a funny thing. Well, all my life in making money, I've never been half as contented as I am right now. In spite of the fact that you're waiting trial for murder? Yep, in spite of it. I just wish... You wish what? I wished the goodness I hadn't shot that poor critter. It ain't likely a jury will hang you now, Gates. You bribed every man in town. Curious thing, though, Sheriff. It ain't the hanging that bothers me. No, it's the killer and the man. I don't know. Something happened to me today, seeing all them folks with their faces lighted up with smiles. Looks like you had a good lesson, maybe, huh? Right. How's the prisoner, Sheriff? Come in, stranger. Come in. He's a changed man. I heard he'd been doing a lot around town today. Sheriff, who is this masked man? What's he doing around town anyhow? Well, he did. She come here to investigate you. Me? Good fortune, son, old Bolivar, and hacksaw here. Look here. Can't you tell me how Bolivar Beach is? I ain't even sure he's dead. Come in, Bolivar. Well, Sheriff. How are you feeling? I'm feeling all right. Fact is, I'm feeling, uh, frustrated. You? Howdy, banker. You feel like playing some more poker? That man, he's alive. He's walking here and he wounded. It was generally believed, Gates, that if you lost money, you'd lose your head. You did that very thing and drew your gun. Yep, you sure enough did that. But I shot. That's what you spared this time in jail, Fargate. Roaring and shooting a man over a game of poker. But he ain't even wounded. Ain't your fault, Gates. You sure shot straight enough. That wasn't in the blank cartridge you fired. Most knocked the wind right out of it. Blank cartridge? Yep. You see, banker Gates, you was thinking to do just what you done. That's why your gun was slipped from your pocket and moved with blanks while you was concentrating on the car. Who done it? Who done it? Who figured me out like that? The mask man there. That's why he let us play poker around here. After promising him we wouldn't do nothing crooked. I'll let you out now, Gates. I reckon you've learned your lesson. Let me out. And I ain't kill nobody. I don't look dead, do I? Now maybe you're going to regret what you've done today, Gates. But it's all done and you can't recall it. You'll sign new mortgages. Funny part of it is, Sheriff, I don't regret it. Doug, go on it. I'm glad I done it. Have you anything else to say to the banker, Bulliver? Mm-mm. No, I reckon not. I think hard. Oh, uh, oh, yes, Gates. I'll come to give back what I won from you. Huh? You mean you're going to give back the money? Yep. Minus your 10%, Sheriff. You see, we didn't win that cash fair. It was a darn good scheme, just the same, Sheriff. You see, I'd hang around and get to see the hand that Banker Gates was dealt. And if he had anything to beat what Bulliver was holding, I'd give Bulliver the high sign. So you cheated me. You cheated me after all. Yep. And my conscience hurts me, Banker. That's why I'm returning your cash. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cheated me. Well, by darn, I wouldn't believe that a glute that looked like you would do it. But it looks like I got tricked all around. By darn, I'm doggone glad of it. I never felt better in my life. You keep that cash, Bulliver. Keep it. You earned it. Well, I'd shown up like to. But I can't do it, Banker Gates. You see, I didn't win it honestly. And my conscience bothers me. Your conscience, my eye. You're giving it back because the loom ranger made you. Just like he made Banker Gates give back the land he took. You see, Banker Gates, in this new country, new laws must be made. Men can't live and grow with the country unless they replace the written laws with the laws of humanity and help each other. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Loom Ranger Incorporated.