 a cloud of dust and a hearty high of silver, the lone ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tato, the masked writer of the planes led the fight for law and order in the early Western United States. The stories of his strength and courage, his daring and resourcefulness have come down to us through the generations. And 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 in the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver. The lone ranger rides again! A single oil lamp burned dimly in the one room shack that served as home for Dave Roberts and his grizzly old friend, Pug Wilson, while they worked on their tunnel. I suppose we ought to put the lamp out and save oil, huh, Pug? Ah, thunderation. We can talk just as well in the dark. Save oil, save food, save on digging tools. Doggonit all day. I know. This business of trying to hit the pay dirt on a shoestring gets under my skin. We ain't got the right tools. We ain't got powder. Doggonit, we ain't even got enough to eat. Look at the slack in my pants. I ain't eaten enough. It won't be much longer. Ah, never in all my bond days have I tried to scratch ground with less grub steak. Not even when I was partners with Lucky Thornton. Gosh, Lucky Thornton sure struck it rich, didn't he? He sure did. They tell me that his mind on the other side of the hill is one of the best in the state. Well, he deserves it. He's a good ombre. Pug, did you and Lucky have trouble? You mean because we split up? Yeah. No, no. We didn't have no trouble. We weren't getting anywhere as partners. So we decided to split and try our hand single. We left as friends. I see. Lucky struck it rich and I batted around for a while, then come close to drowning when I fell in the river. You fished me out and saved my life. You know the rest, we decided to travel double harness. It's a darn shame you didn't stick to Lucky. I'm afraid you made a mistake teaming with me. Oh, now Dave, hold on, hold on. Don't mind the complainin' I was doin'. I don't mean nothin' by that. It isn't that, Pug, it's just that we're awful close to the deadline. If we don't hit the pay dirt before the first of the month, we're through. Well, we'll hit it, doggone, you just see if we don't. I know the signs. I know when this pay dirt close by, we'll see the... What's that? Exposure. I seen the flash, it's the tunnel. But there was no powder. Oh, get out of my way! Our tunnel's caving. Ouch! Dad wrapped those rocks. Wait for me, I gotta put my boots on. I'll see you at the tunnel. Oh, doggone, where's my boots? Where are they? Where are them dead-blasted things? Oh, under the bunk. Get them on the ground. Pablo, what's that? You are here. Read honors. What are you doin' here? Did you set that blaze? Oh, you know so much. Shout and I will use these guns. Well, you want me greasy-faced double distilled pole cat? Hey, what you doin' with our oil cans? Keep it over. So? Oh, boy, you budget-faced conker. I warn you, senor, it's your own fault. Oh, you pole cat. Now I threw the lamp on the floor where the oil is spilling. Now I must go. Hey, punk, what's up? Adios, hombres. Act burned fiercely, spreading a red glow over the hillside. Dave rushed in, found Pug Wilson on the floor, and carried the old man out of the inferno. Get out. Pug? Seconds later, the shack collapsed. Ann and Tauno had been in the valley. They heard the explosion. A moment later, they saw the flames and started toward them. From a distance, they saw the shack collapse and made a shower of sparks. When they came near, they saw Dave crouch beside a still form on the ground. Dave leaped to his feet as the horseman rained out. Come back to see how well you did your job. We came to fight a fire. I guess we're too late. How badly is that man hurt? He was shot. You ought to know. I'll let this mask mislead you. Let me look at your friend. I'll see you here. I'll bring your canteen. He got it. He's still alive. What can I do? Bring a couple of torches from that fire so Tauno can see what he's doing. Right. See here. What's the idea? Your friend's been shot, hasn't he? Yes, but... You're pretty sure it away, but he needs more than that. Does that Indian know how to treat us? I don't know what he's doing. Here's a couple of burning sticks. I'll get more. All right, Dan, put them right there. Are you in the valley when we heard the blast? I'll keep myself in. Look who Feller is. Pug Wilson. Do you know him? Thornton's old partner. Who are you? Where did you know Pug? Our trails once cost. Who are you? The name's Roberts. Dave Roberts. Pug's been my partner. You don't know who shot him? The same one that wrecked our tunnel and fired our shack. When I saw the mask... You suspected us? Yes. Are you any other suspicions? I thought maybe you'd been hired for the job by a woman that lives in Omaha. She's the one that owns this land. Don't you want it? Well, when Pug thought it was gold-bearing land, we didn't have cash enough to buy it. The best we could do was a deal to buy it if it shows Pater. We got an option on it. I see. Dirty, triple, twisted... Pug. Double distilled, half-breed, polecage. Half-breed. Take it easy, Pug. It's going to be all right. There's plenty of time to talk. Hiya. Hey, Dave! Dave, where are you? I'm here, Pug. What's this mean? Who's your redskin? Who's your mask man? We met once before, Pug. You may not remember. Pug, I... I guess these people want to help us. The Indian fixed your wound. That voice. I can remember the voice. Was it half-breed who shot you? I seen him. I seen the sidewinder. It was breed on it. Honest. You know him? He hangs out around town. A town of Gillespie. So he's the one who did this. If we can just prove that... Do you think the woman in Omaha hired him? She must have. Who else would want to keep us from striking pay dirt? What about our tunnel? Was that blast a bad one? That was mighty bad, Pug. All our work gone for nothing. Dave? Have we got any chance at all? We can tell better when we clear away the mouth of the tunnel. I'll go into Gillespie and ask Mr. Feeney to lend us a little more cash for tools. Tools all gone too? They were inside the tunnel. What a few we had. Oh, Feeney. Tight-fisted skin flint. Licked. That's what we are. Licked. Pug. Wait, Pug. What's the matter with him? Him all right. Only weak. Let him sleep, Dave. He'll be better for it. I had to tell him the true facts. He won't stand for anything. That's all right. Are you dealing with Feeney? Yeah. The moneylender in Gillespie. Why? Do you know him? I haven't heard of him. We needed cash to get an option on this land. Feeney was satisfied that it looked like a good risk. So we let us borrow cash enough for the option and a few tools. Didn't he demand a lot of security? Well, instead of security, we gave him a half interest and a claim. Half interest? Yeah. Pug and I have the other half. And you do all the work. Well, if the claim turns out as well as we hoped, we'd be well enough off. Dave, who was to pay for the land if you took up the option? Why, that's easy. If we struck the gold, we'd pay for the land with the gold we dug. That's why we've got to get it before the first of the month. You think you can do it? I don't know, but we're going to try. Pug Wilson won't be of much help for the next week. I know it. I'll see Feeney in the morning. You'll have to let me have some more cash. Maybe I can hire a few men to give me a hand. Then you and Tonto might as well unpack your horses. You can make a shelter. All right. And wait here until I get back. Well, where are you going? I'm going to see if Breed Arnaz is in Gillespie. Eddie, boy. You're going there now? Yes, Eddie. Come on, Sylvie. Some time later, the Lone Ranger reigned up in the darkness behind the buildings on Gillespie's only street. With death's speed, he removed the mask and rubbed his face with a stain that gave him the complexion of a Mexican. All clothes and the saddlebags completed the disguise. Wait here, Sylvie. With a word to his horse, the mysterious figure made his way between two buildings, then stepped casually into the street. A moment later, the disguised Lone Ranger was in the nearest cafe. Well, what's your stranger? Buenos Tones, senor. I'm looking for the senor Arnaz. You've perhaps have seen him, no? He doesn't come in here much. You might try the silver crescent. It's down that way a bit. Right across the street from Simon Finney's office. Grazie, senor. Grazie. You'll see the sign. It's the silver crescent. It isn't important. You can't know him very well. We'll be talking to him right now. No, muy bien, senor. He's here, no? Well, he's right over there. The fact is, he's just to leave it. Bueno. That was Arnaz. He's going out the front door. I will see him outside. Much as got you. As the Lone Ranger stepped into the street, he saw Arnaz crossing toward the building where Simon Finney, the moneylender, had his home and office. The crack of a pistol split the night. That printer was gunning for him. It was looking for Brie. Well, fire! Realizing the capture would mean discovery of the fact that he was disguised, the Lone Ranger raced fraught chelot for his horse. Hold on. Hold it with fire. I don't even have it. Truth! He's gone between the buildings. There he goes. He's heading for that horse. The critter will get away. When someone told me what was happening, it's about time that's all I've got to say. Now, Mr. Finney, take it easy. Take it easy, you say. Take it easy. Indeed, Sheriff Turner. I'm waking from sound sleep by a hundred gunshots by men running right beneath my window and I'm told to take it easy. Finney, listen to me a minute. Oh, a shot. Breed Arnaz. Small loss. Was he killed? Yep. Drilled through the head. You know who did it? I thought you might know someone that had reason to gun Breed Arnaz. Has he ever spoken about enemies? No. The only thing we ever discussed was money. How much he wanted to borrow when he'd pay it back. I see. Sorry, I can't help you, Sheriff. Now, if you leave, I'll get back to bed. All right, Finney. Sorry I had to trouble you. Good night. Good night. Ranger hadn't stopped to remove his disguise, riding at top speed, he raced north toward the scene of the fire. Dan and Tonto recognizing Silver's thundering hopebeats. With Dave, they were on their feet to meet their friend. Oh, Silver, ho. Easy, cut it off. Now, it seems this guy's just a Mexican. What's the matter, Kamisabi? Is someone chasing you? Listen to me. Time is short. Dave, you said that a woman in Omaha owned this land. That's right. Her name quickly. Sarah Parva. She lives on Main Street. Why? The Sheriff's men come here. Don't mention Breed Arnez. Why not? Because he was murdered. The law is looking for someone with a motive. What's the matter? But I can prove that I was here. That you didn't send me to get him for you? Oh. I don't mention Arnez. I'll be back by daybreak. Where are you going? To the town of Stockton, Dan. There's a telegraph office there. I've got to send a message to Omaha. To Sarah Parva. Come on, Silver! The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger story. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Here's our story. True to his word, the Lone Ranger was back in camp at daybreak. He once more wore his familiar clothing and his mask. He inquired about Pug Wilson. He'll be all right soon. He'm plenty tough. What about the Sheriff's Pussy? We haven't seen anything of them. The ground's hard. Maybe they can't follow my tracks. Did you find the telegraph office? Oh, yes, Dan. The operator didn't like being wakened, but he sent my message to Sarah Parva's. You better settle up and ride to Stockton. I? Yes, the reply to my message will come in your name. Oh. When you get the reply, ride to Gillespie. I'll be watching for you near the edge of town. All right. Are you going to Gillespie this morning? Yes. I'll stay here with Pug. You're going to call on Feeney, aren't you? Yes. All right, go ahead, Roberts. But don't mention Breed Honors. I won't. The woman in Omaha replies as I expect. I'll call on Feeney after you've seen him. I didn't expect to see you so soon, Roberts. I assume you've come to tell me that you found Gold, huh? No, Mr. Feeney. No. We had some bad breaks. Bad breaks, huh? Someone set a blast and closed our tunnel. Shot Pug Wilson and set fire to our shack. That's quite a story. Do you think I made that up? The long and short of it is you don't expect to get the Gold, am I right? Look, Mr. Feeney, we need more cash. Our tools were inside the tunnel. We need some men to dig while Pug Wilson's laid up. Roberts, you needn't go on. Roberts, when you came to me with the proposition, you had an estimate of the cash you'd need. Yes, but... We made a deal. I gave you the amount you required on your assurance that it would be sufficient. You didn't give me what I asked for. You cut it down. You said you would get along with what I gave you. Mr. Feeney, I... I'm not interested in the reason why you have not made Gold. But the Gold is there. Pug Wilson said we were almost to the pay dirt, and he knows if we have some... Maybe you'll have better luck next time. But you have half interest in what we find. Aren't you interested in that? It's a matter of business and principle, Roberts. I set aside a certain amount for the project. I'll spend no more. I tell you, there is Gold. Good day, Mr. Roberts. All right, then. If you won't help me, I'll find someone who will. What's that? Lucky Thornton is Pug Wilson's friend. He'll loan us what we need. Read your contract. I have the exclusive right to finance the undertaking. No one else may invest either time, effort, or money without my permission. Do you mean to say I can't ask Thornton for help? That's it. If you become involved in debt, I'll be held responsible. I don't propose to have this man, Thornton, come to me to collect for work done. You act as if you didn't want us to find Gold. I'll be delighted if you find Gold. But you'll have to do it without further expense. You don't have to do it within the month. Fat chance. Good day, sir. Good day. Good. Couldn't be better. Couldn't have planned it any better. Beanie. Who? The lady at the window for your young friend to leave. Mask. Keep your voice down. What does this mean? Who are you? I saw a breed harness killed. You did? Yeah, what of it? Why come to me? You killed him. That's not true. Ask the sheriff. Ask anyone. Honors were shot by... I know what everyone thinks. I also know the truth. I was standing across the street when you fired from that front window. No, no. Don't lie to me, Feeny. You can't prove with it. You want to make sure of your aim. You rested your gun on the window. Look here, Feeny. The potter burned on the window sill. Fresh burn. That's not sufficient proof. Right to the sheriff learned that Arnais shot Pug Wilson. Destroyed that tunnel. What? Pug Wilson saw him. Young Roberts didn't say anything about Arnais. He didn't realize that you were the one that hired Arnais to do that job. Suppose the sheriff does know that Arnais shot Wilson. How does that prove I shot Arnais? You shot him for two reasons. You didn't want him to talk. And you didn't want to pay him for his attack on Robertson Wilson. Just a minute, Feeny. You're thinking that it will be impossible to show any reason why you'd want to hurt Robertson Wilson. With half interest in whatever they discover, I'd hardly pay a gunman to interfere with their work. Oh, yes, you would. You would. You would, Feeny. Because you'd prefer being the sole owner of that gold-bearing land. What do you mean? Roberts finds a gold and takes up his option. You'll have half interest. If he fails, you will take up the option you hold. Option I hold? Here. Read this message from Omaha. From Sarah Parvis. Where did you get that? He says impossible to consider proposition. Second option on land already sold to Simon Feeny. What about that, Feeny? Why? Why are you telling me all this? Why did you come here? If the sheriff had the evidence I've shown you, he'd make a case it would hang you. What do you think Roberts would do if he knew these facts? He'd probably try to blackmail me from our money. Oh, I doubt that. He'd go to the sheriff. He'd land and let you get away with murder. What do you want? I know the truth about the Arnaz murder. It should be worth something to you to suppress the truth. And your silence is a matter of money? Quite a bit of money, Feeny. How much? A lot more than you save by shooting Arnaz. But not as much as you'd make by cheating Dave Roberts. See how much is in your safe. When Dave reached camp after his unsatisfactory trip to town, he found Pug Wilson seated on the ground with his back propped against a tree. When the tough old prospector heard about Feeny's decision, he bristled with resentment. I'll show that tight-fisted skin, Flint. No, no, you'll not get up. Let me at that caved-in tunnel. No, you keep quiet. He'll wound all here. Tullo knows what he's talking about, Mr. Wilson. I'll show Feeny that I know gold signs when I see him. Give me a hand, Dave. Help me up. You're crazy. Golout, stay where you are. Our tools are gone. I'll move them rocks with my bare hands. Pug, listen to me. If you'll stay here, I'll try to move those rocks. Good. I'll work with you. We'll cut some branches and make them ever- You sit here. Dan and Tonto help. Well, if you'll help, the four of us can do it. No, no. You work and we not work. You stay quiet. We help, Dave. That's it, Pug. Dan and Tonto can be as much help to me as you'd be. Well, considering my condition, maybe you're right. But I'm going to sit close and watch. Tossing these stones aside doesn't mean a thing. Keeps Pug Wilson quiet. Let's rest a minute. We need powder. Maybe machinery to move Big Stone. I know, Tonto. We haven't a chance. I'm licked. Soon as Pug can travel, we'll move on. Golly. Say, Dan, what was in that telegram that came from Omaha? I can't tell you. What? I'm sorry, Dave. The masked man asked me not to tell you. Who is he? Why did he plan to call on Theny? I can't tell you anything. You'd better ask him when he gets back. Where's your man, then? Why are you standing still? Dave, look. Here he comes. Sure enough. And he passed. Maybe him fetched news. Oh, Silver Ho. Easy, silly boy. Easy. What's up? What's your big hurry? I'm going over the hill for the help you need. Not lucky, Thornton. Yes. No, no. We can't ask him. We won't ask no famous. He'll be paid for what he does. With what? You don't understand. I've got a contract. I know about your agreement with Phiney. Dan. Yes? You ought to take a message to Simon Phiney and Gillespie. Deliver it tomorrow at noon. All right. What's the message? I mean, better get here by sundown. Dave Roberts has something to show him. Right. When you're in town, hand this note to the sheriff. Is that all? That'll be enough. Come on, Silver! Now, Dave and Pug were bewildered at the masked man's aggressive action. They spent the rest of the day in part of the night in a discussion with Dan and Tonto. All four tried without success to decide what lay behind the Lone Ranger's move. Dan delivered the message in town. The sheriff and two deputies rode to the camp. A few minutes later, Simon Phiney arrived in a light wagon. Ho, ho, ho there! What are you doing here, Sheriff? Yeah, I was just asking Pug Wilton a few questions about the trouble here the other night. What's it to you, Phiney? What are you doing here? That young man brought me an impertinent message. I assume you, Senator Roberts. What do you mean by saying that I'd better be here by sundown? Was that a threat? No, it wasn't a threat. At least I don't think it was. You wait. There come two plunder over hill. There he comes. Ask that masked man why you're here. Masked man? Dave! Dave, look at who's riding alongside him. It's my old partner, Lucky Thornton. Why is he coming here? Roberts, if you've called on him for help... Pee, you know as much about it as I do. Ho, ho, ho, ho! Hey! Port Wilson! You sparing old blister! Come here and shake hands! I'm tied up to this here tree so I can't get up. You old horn-toad! Why, you triple twisted sidewinder! Hey, gotcha down at last, huh? I thought your hide was too tough for a bullet to dead. What's the matter? You getting the saw off? Oh, it ain't the bullet that's got me down. It's that engine. He's making a sissy out of me with the care he gives me. So you finally had to call on me for help, huh? Well, where's that tunnel we gotta bust open? There's a tunnel, Thornton. See here, you can't work on this land. Who's the weasel face? I'm half-owner. You're in charge, ain't you, Roberts? But he ain't... Shut up! There's a man that can tell him. Roberts, Masked Man gave me an idea of what we'd need for this job. My wagons are on the way. Your wagons? I'm bringing machinery, tools, powder, and supplies. I'm also bringing men enough to work around the clock. We'll see that you'll get your gold. You can't do it! Sheriff, I'm glad you're here. Take this agreement, read it. Thornton can't work here. No one can finance his job except me. Just a minute. Feeny, when I was in your office yesterday, you gave me this bundle of cash and this check on your bank account. Didn't you? Well, I... Isn't this your signature? Yes. Why did you give me this money? Well, you know... What's the matter, Feeny? Well, I... Is this money to pay Thornton for his work here? Well, I... What else could it be for? Yes. Yes, I guess it is for this job. Then Thornton can go ahead without violating your agreement with Roberts and Wilson? Yes. Well, of all the clever... Go to it, Lucky! Oh, wait, one thing more. Sheriff, here's a telegram from Omaha. This shows why Feeny doesn't want Roberts to succeed. Why you... Reed Arnais shot Pug Wilson. You can prove that Feeny killed Arnais. You double-crossing coyote! Well, the boy here brought your note, so I savvy the whole thing. Feeny, you're under arrest. He's guilty, too. He's an accessory after the fact. He took money from it. Feeny, you just told everyone what that money was for. It's to pay the men who go after the gold. That's right. You said so yourself. It's too bad you'll hang before you can collect your share of the claim. I won't be taking a lie if you won't hang me. Stop him! Get him! Let me stop him! Good work! Good for you, John. Golly, Tullo, you locked him out. Is the critter still breathing? Uh-huh. Him live to hang. Oh, too bad it couldn't have been me that hit him. I'd have made it permanent. Dad, Tullo, I wait for you in the valley. Come on, Silver! Come on, Silver! Golly! The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.