 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust in the heart of Ohio Silver, the Lone Ranger. Road agents in the early western United States could match the courage and resourcefulness of the masked rider of the planes. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, he led the fight for law and order in the new territory, and in time brought peace and security to the frontier. No greater champion of justice can be found in the pages of history. Return with us now to those thrilling days when the West was young. From out of the past come the thundering hoops beats of the great horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. For several months a series of well-planned state robberies had taken place outside the town of Chatfield. All right, mister, now throw down that express box there besides you. Blasted crooks, say the talk. Don't reach for that shotgun, neither. We ain't carrying no cash this trip. No, but we are different. Now let's have it. You're the same two crooks held up my stage before. And you're the fellow that said you wasn't carrying cash. Don't give us no argument this time, mister, or a lie will let daylight through you. Hey, do you fellas always know when I'm carrying cash? You ain't missed once, sir, and we don't aim to. Now on your way, fella, on your way. Get up. Get up there. Get on. You can look for us the next time you got something worth the taking. The East bought a well-dressed passenger about 50 years old. Ascending from the stage of Chatfield, he studied the crowd until he saw Dan Crocker, the stage line's division manager. It's strange you walked toward him at once, and... Crocker! Huh? Yes, huh? Well, great land, the ocean, if it ain't Mr. Elliott. My gosh, what you doing here? Well, can we talk? Private, you mean? Yes. Well, I don't know any better place in my office, but say, what about your baggage, can't I? Your driver will take it to the hotel. He knows who I am. He'll engage a room for me. Oh, then that's all right. Come along. Why didn't you write you was coming, Mr. Elliott? My stars, I never had no least notion of this. I set no word on purpose. Oh. Well, step in. Limby. That'll be enough for today, Reagan. Just leave the sweepens go and run along. I'll have Clem finish it. But I'm almost done. You heard me, Vamuz. Sure. Sure, if you want me to. It'd only take a minute, though. Out. Well, I guess Gus will be looking for me down to the cafe anyway. And close the door. Sure, Mr. Crocker, sure. Who's that? Limpy? Oh, he's just what you'd call a handyman, I guess. Swarms out the cafe for Gus Haston's nights and picks up all jobs, day times. Why? He doesn't look very bright. Well, if he was, would he be doing this kind of work? Well, now, Mr. Elliott, sit down. Tell me what's on your mind. These who lips? Hmm, thought that might be it. According to the reports I've received, there have been more than a dozen within the last three months. Do you know what's going to happen if they don't stop? I could guess. I'll have to sell the line or go into bankruptcy. Every time money we've accepted for shipment is stolen, I have to make it good. Within the last 90 days, I've paid Clem's amounting to more than $60,000. I know. Well, Mr. Elliott, what do you want? My resignation? Out, Dan, don't be a fool. Well, I'm the man in charge here, I suppose you could say. It was my fault. I could. But I don't discharge men who've worked for me faithfully the moment something goes wrong. I've always tried to do my best and... I would have known it long ago if you hadn't. No, Dan, I'm not here to blame you. I've taken it for granted that if you couldn't get to the bottom of this, then there's a very definite reason for it. I came to Chatfield to learn that reason in person. Do you want to know something funny about these hold-ups, Mr. Elliott? What is it? It's never a stage held up lesson that's carrying dust or cash. I think I see what you mean. These robberies aren't hit or missifers. The bandits know when valuables are being carried. Yes, sir. Then who's tipping them off? There's the problem. I see. You've checked the employees? Half the hold-ups happened when nobody here but me knew cash was being shipped. Not even the drivers or guards. You were sure of that? I'd take oath on it. What other measures have you tried? Well, I've done all the usual things, but none of them worked. But I'm glad you come here. I hired a fellow the other day. I think we'll get results. Someone to make an investigation, you mean? Right. His name's Ace Devlin. Don't know whether you ever heard of him or not, but I can tell you he knows his business. Used to work for Wells Fargo. His name's familiar. If it ain't, it ought to be. In his time, he's caught more stage robbers than any dozen other fellows Wells Fargo ever had on its payroll. I'd like to meet him. Looks like you're going to. That's him just rolled up now. Wait a second. He'll be in here. Coveted-looking fellow. And plain pison to crook. You take my word for it. Plain pison. Ace, come here. I made some progress, Dan. Have you? Good. But first, let me make you acquainted with Mr. Elliott here. He's the owner of the whole shebang. Mr. Elliott, this is Ace. How do you do? Pleased to meet you. He's holed up to bring you west, Mr. Elliott? They did. Well, then if they did, I don't think you're going to have to stay here long. I think I've got a line on the fella behind all this. You have? Yep. Well, that's good news. Ace, who is it? Well, maybe I spoke a little hasty. It could be either one or two fellas. Right now, I'd rather not mention any names. I wonder if either one of you gents thought of something. Thought of what? Dan's been suspicion everybody working here. He's tried every which way to trap the fella, tipping off them highwaymen. But he's forgot the fellas who'd be sure to know when the cash was being carried. Who did I forget? The fella's shipping cash to the bank. Well, I'll be, of course. If I were going to send out money, for instance, I could tip off the stage robbers to go as to the time I meant to send it. They'd hold up the stage, take the money, then divide it with them. The stage company would have to make good the entire loss. I'd lose nothing and be ahead my share of the money that had been stolen. Ace, I think you've hit it. So do I. Wait. Yes? That makes me think. Nearly every merchant in town has lost cash at one time or another. But there's one particular fella who ain't never sent cash east without the stage was robbed. Gus Hastings. Right. Hastings? The fella I mentioned before, Miss Elliott, the fella that runs the cafe in town. You think he's responsible, Devlin? Well, he could be. Like Dan says, the stage has been held up every time he's shipped cash. And if it is him, why, that would explain the rest of robberies. Well, folks get to talking when they drink, Miss Elliott. It's Hastings business to sell him drinks. If he kept his ears wide open, maybe once in a while, he'd overhear somebody tell it when he had cash to bank. Will you be able to get proof against him? He mustn't forget, I said there was another gent could be to blame. Well, I'll know which one tonight. Hastings out of town for the day. But when he gets back, I aim to ask him a few questions. And when you have? I'll have my answer. What the? That came from outside this window. There he goes. Riding away, horse. Ace, well, keep that horse in mind. If that masked ombre ride in it ain't one of them holed up men, then my name ain't Dan Crocker. That was not an outlaw who had raced away from the express office, but the lone ranger on his great stallion, Silver. He thundered westward, never slackening speed until he came to the secret camp where Tahoe waited. Oh, Silver, oh boy, oh there, oh. Tahoe, I want to disguise quickly. Oh, what you do? Ace Devlin's got on the right track at last, Kimosabe. Tonight he's calling on Gus Hastings at the cafe. Him, Gilky? That remains to be seen. But if he is, things are likely to happen. Ah, now I plan to be there. All right, time to hurry. We've got no time to waste. The lone ranger swiftly removed his mask. Assumed a disguise and borrowing Tahoe's horse scout, headed back for Chatfield. He could not know, however, that Hastings had returned to town earlier than expected. When the lone ranger entered the cafe, Hastings was already in the office with Ace Devlin. The man on duty behind the bar looked up at the lone ranger's approach then. Evening, stranger. Good evening. Where's Hastings? Busy right now, mister. Like a drink? No. Is Hastings here? Sure, back there in his office. See, hey, hold on. Yes? You can't go back there now. Why not? Because the boss ain't alone. He's with that fellow Ace Devlin. From what they said, they wouldn't take kindly to being disturbed. You better wait here. Is that the door to his office there, at the end of the bar? That's it. But don't you go back there. No, I'm not. I think I'll go outside and take a look around. What in? Those shots came from inside Hastings' office. You bet they did. I'm going inside there. Come on. Didn't those shots come from the office? Who's in there? I know Gus is there. I've seen him go in. So's Ace Devlin. To one side. Let us stay out, Ranger. Maybe they got some more. I said stand aside. The locked. The door's locked? Right. Give me a hand. We'll have to break in. Everyone get back. They may be shooting. Come on. Hastings. I didn't do it. There were three shots. They must have come from the window. Mark, take a look at Ace. He may still be alive. Right. Stand back. Don't crowd him here. Tell him to go for the sheriff. I'm right here. Let me through. Stand aside. What's happened here? You probably know as much about this as we do. We heard shots in here and broke in. Hastings was standing here as you see him. Ace was on the floor. Barkie, how was he? Dead. Then Gus, I'm arresting you for these murders. Sheriff, I never killed him. I swear it. Everything's happened so fast. I just don't know what to say. You say you had to bust in here, stranger? Yes. That means that the door was locked. There ain't no other door, so it's the only way out except for that window. Anybody in here besides you and Ace? No one. Then it has to be you. Curly killer. You ought to be lynched. Turn him over to us, Sheriff. We'll save the law hanging. One moment. Watch out for you, fellas. Hastings isn't armed. Where's the gun that killed Ace? I never know this. Here it is, Sheriff. Huh? You got it, Olympian? I guess it's the one. Where'd you find it? Well, Gus claimed them shots come from outside, so I looked and there was a gun right there below the window on the ground. Sheriff, whoever shot Ace must have dropped his gun. He's hurried to get away. You claim them shots come from outside, huh? They did, Sheriff. They did. Well, they could have. Only there's two things say they didn't. Huh? One is, I know why he's called on you. He had you pegged as the ombre behind the holdup. But I never... And the other, something won't be easy to get around. Gus, this happens to be your gun. 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. The Lone Ranger returned to camp and told Tonto what had happened at the cafe. While he spoke, he was quickly ridding himself of his disguise. Then hand me my mask, Cudder. Ah, yeah, your mask. You Ryan Gannon? Yes. What do? Mr. Fair isn't finished yet, Kimosabe. Then catch killer. You mean they've jailed Gus Hastings? There's a difference. Him not killer? Well, I won't say that he isn't. I will say, however, that I doubt that he is. Why you think that? The sheriff claims Hastings killed Ace and dropped his gun outside the window. It's quite possible he did. But if he had enough presence of mind for that, why didn't he follow his gun through the window and make his escape? The moment's thought would have told him he'd be arrested. That's right. As a matter of fact, when we broke into the office, he seemed dazed. He acted exactly as a man who found himself faced suddenly by a situation he couldn't understand. The law could say he'd killed Ace on impulse. But I still claim that a man who realized he must rid himself of his weapon would realize that he'd have to get away himself. Maybe you're right. I'm almost certain I am, Toto. And for better reasons than I've told you. What then? One was the position of Ace Devlin's body. It agreed with Hastings' story that the shots came from outside. And there were powder burns on the windowsill. I saw them plainly. They were exactly where they should have been. As someone had stood outside and said it is gun against the window and then fired. What lawman say? He didn't see it. You will not tell? If I had, the sheriff might have let Hastings go free. Me no savvy. Toto, the killer must be the man responsible for the holdups. Earlier today, Ace told Elliott and Crocker he'd know who was guilty after he'd spoken to Hastings. The guilty man feared the result of that conversation and murdered Ace to protect himself. While Hastings is held for the murder, the real killer will think himself safe. If Hastings is freed, then the search for the killer will start all over again. That's right. And Hastings may die because the killer believes he needs to be silenced. No, Toto. As long as the sheriff guards against the lynching, Hastings is safer where he is. You no killer? I will. You've got plans? Yes. Call Scout. Yes, Count. Yes, over. A word of advice before we ride, Kimosabe. And what that? If the killer's the man I suspect, he's one of the shrewdest outlaws we've ever met and one of the most dangerous. Be careful. Huh? Hip. Me take care. Good. Kimosabe, get him up, Scout. Come on, old fellow, come on. Let hear that same night. The stage eastbound from Chatfield labored to ascend a steep grade on the trail. Dig in, you critters. Pull, bastard. Pull. Come on. Stay much further. Put your weight into it. Get up. Get up. Get up. The dust as a stage finally reached the top of the grade. Several shots rang out. Two horsemen appearing suddenly from out of the shadows blocked the trail. Rain up. Out goes again. Pull that. Pull, pull, pull that. This is a hold up. Don't reach for your gun. Just drop that express box to the trail and be quick about it. You. Quickly. Shoot. You can have it. I'll get it for you. Follow orders or my neck shall be for you. I'm getting it. Wrap it over the side. Good. Now on your way. I'm going. But, mister. Yes? This is one time you got fooled. There ain't no more cash in that box than there is in my hip pocket. Get up. Get up there. Get up out of this. Get up. Get up out of this. Did you hear what he said, Tender? There are no cash. Which is exactly why I hoped. You've got the box. Huh? Then back to camp, Tender. Come on, Silver. Get him up. Come on, Silver. Away. From the stage returned to Chatfield late the following day. News of the holdup sent Sheriff Markham to the express office. Entering, he found Elliott and then crockered inside. Evening, fellas. Hello, sir. We've been expecting you. I got here as fast as I could, but I just got word. So another one of your stages was held up, huh, Mr. Elliott? Exactly in the same manner as the others. But without the same result. Well, that's one of the things I wanted to find out. Was there cash stole? Not a penny. You were positive of that, huh? I am. You can look at our records. There's a list of everything went out on the stage last night. You'll find we weren't carrying one dollar in cash. Well, that's good news. To both of us, Sheriff. I can't afford many more losses. Nope, I don't reckon you can. But that ain't one I meant. No. Uh, what you have in mind, Sheriff? Well, I thought you fellas could see it for yourselves. If there'd been cash on the stage and then crooks got it, why, that would have proved that Warren Hastings tipped them off after all. He's where he can get word to nobody. It would have had to have been someone else. Have I seen him yet? Scared you'd have to start another hunt, huh? Can you blame me? I... No. Who said that? It came from... There he is, there at the window. Right. Why, sir? Don't slap, Mother Sheriff. You either, Dan. Why, you can't bluff me. You'll cover it. Why, gosh, that draw. It's... It's the same mess, man, we saw yesterday. And one of them crooks had held up the stage. I'll bet a million. I am. And I'm coming in there by the front door. Don't draw while you're waiting for me, though. I have a friend here who'll keep you covered every second. You can't. Son of me watch him. Here's somebody with him. A red skin. What do you figure they want? I don't know, but I don't imagine we'll be long in finding out. You won't. All right, what do you after? First, we'll return what we took last night. Tell him, push that express box through the window. Ah. Eric, turn in it, because I want nothing in it. Try to think straight. We were the outlaws you believe us to be. We wouldn't bother returning the box because there's no money in it. We just throw it away. You've admitted holding up the stage. Last night. And it doesn't matter. No, only the once. You can't expect that. But I won't bother convincing you now. That'll come later. If you think there's cash in the safe, I know there isn't. And what did bring you here? That when I came here to prove that Hastings is neither the murderer of Ace Devlin or the man responsible for the stage robberies. Last night I wasn't positive of his innocent sheriff, but tonight I am, and I'll prove it. Oh. The holdup last night was part of a trap to catch the real killer. Huh? He took the bait. And tonight the trap closes. Sheriff, you and Dan and Elliot are riding with Todd and me. This is ridiculous. Sheriff, can this fella tell us? He'll us orders? Well, with the drop on us, I reckon he can. Now you're acting sensibly. Your mound has already been led to the back of the office, Sheriff. Yeah? We've saddled horses for the other two. We ride it once. There's no use putting up a fuss, Mr. Elliot. We'll do as the mask man said. Oh, Lord, it was almost midnight. A small fire burned just inside the mouth of a cave, many miles from Chattel. Two men sat within the circle of light. Both were heavily bearded and powerfully built. Both had the appearance of men who make their living outside the law. The elder of the two broke the silence with. Sparr? Huh? You know, I've been thinking. Yeah, I've been doing the heap of things. And I don't like where it gets me. Where does it get you? Well, what I've been thinking about most is that killing in town, you know, East Devlin. It's got me worried. Think that the boss did it, huh? Well, I don't you. Maybe. Whatever. Well, it's like to spoil a mighty good thing. The boss ain't suspicious, is he? Well, not that I've heard of. Then how do you think anything spoil? We can keep on operating as long as he's all right, can't we? But how long's he gonna keep on working? Well, I don't know. How long's he gonna be all right? What do you mean? Well, with the killing the law has to get busy. Oh, I know they jailed Gus Hastings for it. But what I'm getting at is this. If the boss was full enough to kill Woods, what's to keep him from doing it again? The second time, all this comes easier in the first, you know, maybe next time you'll get caught, not so long with him. Well, if it was, he wouldn't talk. What would he gain by? But this man, how's anybody gonna connect us up? Shucks. That's the slightest part of the setup. We never meet. When the stage's gonna carry cash, he leaves a sign where we can see it. When we've got the cash, we take his share and leave it where he said. Nobody could follow us to him or him to us. Idaho, you're worried about nothing. No, maybe as long as he stays away from us, we're in the clear. We don't have full cash. What, though? Who's? Oh, yes, of course it is. The boss! Stay right here in the light, where I can see you. If you don't, I shoot you. Boss, what's the matter? I'll stay out here, where you won't have a target in case you get foolish. So you thought you'd branch out on your own, huh? Thought you could work by yourselves and I'd be scared to call you on it. Well, you're seen in no age. What are you talking about? That hold-up you pulled last night. What else? Huh, hold-up? What hold-up? That ain't it, huh? Well, that must mean there was cash on the stage, even if I didn't know about it. Or you can hand it over. Boss, you must be a local. We didn't hold up no stage. We didn't get no cash. You can throw it out. I'll get it. But listen, I tried, though. Let me talk to the boss. He'd got something all wrong. Boss, we didn't even know it was a hold-up. We did not. What? Huh? I ain't got one gun paint right on your shirt and another on that hold. I reckon you know how to shoot if I have to. And if you think I won't, remember Ace Devlin. I give him what I'll give you if you keep on lying. I'll toss out that cash. Give me five minutes, then clear out. We worked together for the last time. You're right, let me drop those guns. What? Oh! Throw your guns and run for it. Now's our chance. Right, come on. Oh, my hands, miss. Yes, miss, my hands. That'll get these two. Me, get them. Flash them, fire them. Oh! The engines got me. Lens, too. Stand back. Get to it. You can take over. Here's all three. Stranger, you handle them fellas slick. For the discerned? You bet they are. Didn't you see it? The masked fellas shot the gun right from Limpy's hands. Sir, I owe the skunk who was behind all the hold-ups, Limpy. You can't prove nothing. We don't have to prove anything. You've talked enough to convict yourself a dozen times over. Limpy, you brought these fellas here. I never, I never knew there was any of us around. You can quickly argue, the masked man done it. Huh? By holding up the stage to make Limpy think you was pulling hold-ups without his orders. The masked fella knew that was the only way to get Limpy to lead us to you. And he fell for it. I reckon if it hadn't been for the stranger in the engine, Limpy, we'd never have caught you. Pretending to be just a handyman around town without no spending money was mighty clever. But I still don't understand why you suspected Limpy's strategy. I doubt that I would have if he hadn't killed Ace. You mean killing Ace to save himself was what trapped him? Right. I was convinced that Hastings wasn't guilty because of the circumstances of the killing. That left only Limpy as a suspect. He worked regularly for Hastings, which explained why the stage was held up every time Hastings sent money on it. He got odd jobs with the other merchants, which explained why their money was stolen only occasionally. Boy, thunder! Huh? That puts me in mind to something else. Remember the day you come here, Mr. Elliot? I do. Well, Limpy was sweeping out and I told him to leave. But he must have hung around and heard Ace say he'd know who was guilty after he talked to Hastings. He was outside. I saw him as I rode away. So he figured he had to kill Ace. Well, Limpy, I reckon you've reached the end of your rope. Say, that's a good one, ain't it? The end of his rope. My gosh, when you hang, Limpy, that's just where you'll be. I don't see no way away! I've just heard of the copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.