 A force with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hyo silver! The lone ranger! Indian companion Toto, the daring and resourceful mask rider of the plains, led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the Great Horse Silver! The lone ranger rides... For several days, the lone ranger and Toto had been trailing Jess Lurgen and his outlaw gang. When they neared the town of Laredo, a thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rain washed away all signs the outlaws had left. Toto finally spoke. It rained plenty hard, King Usabi. Now we have no sign to follow. Before the rain started, the marks show that the gang we're trailing is not too far ahead of us. That's right. They may go into hiding near Laredo. If so, we may have a chance to get a line on them again. Right now I think we'll find a sheltered spot and camp until the storm passes. Outlaws not know we trail them. Maybe they'll stay near Laredo for a while. I hope so. There shall a cave inside a hill to right. It's almost sundown. That's good place to camp. All right. Let's go there, Toto. Come on, Toto! Come on, Toto! The mask man and Indian camped in the cave. They started a fire to dry their clothing. Later the storm passed and the moon shone brightly. Toto, it's still early evening. I'll disguise myself as a Mexican and we're going to town and look around. Well, that's a good idea. The lone ranger carefully disguised his features. Then the two men mounted on silver and scout, rode to Laredo. Hello, sir. They left their horses in the shadows between two buildings, then strolled toward the cafe. They stopped a moment near the large horse trough in front of the cafe, while the lone ranger tightened a loose spur strap. At that moment two tough looking men came from the cafe and started down the veranda steps. They were both large men. And when one of them saw the two figures near the horse trough, he nudged his companion, saying, Look there, Randy. Mexican and a Redskin pound around together looking for trouble. Yeah, we ought to make them dance to the music of gunfire. They're tired. Then throw them into the trough to cool them off. Hey, that's a very good idea. Very good. Hey, Mexican, you there. You wish to talk with me, senor? No, I'd rather see some action. Why don't you a Mexican hat dance while the Redskin does a war dance? Draw your gun, give them music, Randy. Wait, senor, don't go. Hey, holy cow, they are Jewish, Carl. Oh, perhaps you should like to dance for us, senors. Very well. Start dancing. Hey, those two hombres were steppin' high. By Jiminy, if they didn't have those guns, we'd pitch them both into the horse trough. Oh, perhaps the men who are watching will favor all of us by holding our gun belts, senors. Sure, all right. Here's mine. We too shall give up our belts for the moment. All right, we're holding the gun belts. Let's see your work on them. Grab them, Randy! You ready? Hey! Stop going to water trough! For several minutes, the fight continued, much to the delight of a watching crowd. The two men, Carl and Randy, who had at first considered the Lone Ranger and Toto as easy marks, soon discovered their mistake. Each of them recoiled from blow after blow, delivered by the Indian and his friend. Finally, as if upon a signal, both the Lone Ranger and Toto made quick moves. They suddenly lifted their surprised adversaries and heaved them into the big horse trough. These will take the fire out of you, amigo! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! He is all over. We shall take our gun belts now. Sure, sure. There they are. You sure showed them up, Mexican. Hey, I'm all wet. Oh, my... Hey! Hey, what's going on here? Oh, these nothing, senor Sheriff. A friend there wanted to have a little fun, no? Forget it, sir. I reckon we asked for what we got. Carl, you mean to say you're willing to forget our brandy? You two ombres look like wet cats. Hey, better stop all this commotion, though, or I might decide this isn't so funny and run you all in for disturbing a piece. All right, everybody, get along. Fun's over. See that you local ombres behave after this. Yeah, move along. Here's our gun belts on the horse. You better put them on. Listen, Mexican. What's your name? You may call me Juan. My Indian friend and I did not look for troubles, senor. But when it looks for us, well, I know, we already know. Yeah, you're ready, all right. I'll look, Carl, after what they did to his way against your friendly. We ought to get it, Randy. Maybe they did make fools out of us. But we asked for it. They're dancing and throwing me into the trough. I don't see anything to laugh at. Listen, Randy. A man as fast on his feet and as quick with his fists as this Mexican could really come in handy to Jess. Well, yeah. You're right. Who is he, man, Jess, senor? Oh, he's an ombre who could help you make plenty of easy money, if you're willing. Money is not so easy to get for poor ones, senor. Of course, if you're afraid of the law, no lab. Well, I'm not afraid of the law, senor. And that is the truth. I figured you might be that type of ombre. The man I mentioned, he'd like to meet you. He likes ombreses who get tough when they have to. Who is that fellow, Jess? Do you ever hear of Jess Lurgen? Jess Lurgen? The Mexican has never heard about Jess unless he's been around here for a while. Well, no matter. You see, one, Jess Lurgen has a big reputation in this territory. And he's clean, he's smart. Oh, you'd get along with Jess right well. Oh, I'm not so sure. What about my Indian friend now? Look, I better not go to the hideout with two ombreses right off. Let the Indian wait for you round town till you and Jess get acquainted. Then in a few days, maybe you could talk them in to letting the Indian join us. He's kind of leery of Indians. I should like to meet your friend, Jess Lurgen. I'm sure my Indian friend will admire if I leave for a few days. Huh? Me wait? Well, I know. I'll get in touch with you. Now that you've decided, let's get our horses and ride out and have you meet Jess Lurgen. The old ranger and Tonto left the two crooks to get their horses. This is our chance to capture Jess Lurgen and his gang, Tonto. But it risky for you to go to hide out a gang. There's not much risk. Tonto, if you do what I tell you, leave town first so they're not be suspicious. Then wait in hiding until we go past and follow us. You think we catch gangs? It'd be too much for the two of us. My idea is this. Then as you find out where the hideout is, come back to town and tell the sheriff ask him to bring his men near the hiding place but to keep out of sight and wait. You want me to come with Posse? Lead them to the neighborhood of the hideout and leave and go back to our camp. Wait there until you hear from me. Why we not move in? Capture gang when we bring Posse. I want to find out how many there are and to be sure to catch all of them. Let's go to the camp and wait. All right. Do you leave first, Tonto? Adios. Easy scouts. Adios. Get them out of the scouts. Easy, silly big fella. The lone ranger still in his Mexican disguise joined Carl and Randy. The three men started for Jess Lurgen's hideout and before long pulled to a stop in front of a large shack. All right, go on inside. Jess, I brought someone from town. We want you to meet. Who's that hombre? What'd you bring him here for? Now take it easy, Jess. He's all right. Sure, Andy. He's plenty tough and quick on the draw, Jess. What's more, he's not afraid of the law. Well, I don't know. What's your name? I go by the name of Juan, right now, senor. Of course, I might change it if needed. You see, Jess, I reckon he's had a dozen names to keep from tangling with the law. You can't figure why you brought him here. What makes you think he'd fit in with our gang? Briefly, Carl told Jess Lurgen what had happened in town. When he finished, Jess looked the lone ranger over more closely. Then remarked, In his Indian friend must be tough hombres to be able to do what they did to you two. Well, I don't want to tangle with him again. Where's Indian? He's waiting near town so that I may get in touch with him when necessary. Yes, as well. You didn't bring him out. I don't trust redskins. What's more, if you think I might be persuaded to let him join us, then your buddy's walking out of here now. Forget the Indian right now, Jess. We could use an hombre like Juan. Ever been in jail, Juan? Senor, I've been inside many jails. But I did not stay. Man, a live-at-showsie knows his way around, Jess. If I decide to let you stay with us, what about that Indian friend of yours? Will you be willing to ditch him? Perhaps I'm one who thinks of himself first, Senor Jess. I don't worry about the Indian. I reckon he'll do, Jess. Juan, how come you let Carl talk you into coming out to see me? You were taking a chance, weren't you? I am used to taking chances, Senor. Why should I be afraid of you? Maybe this is reason enough. Shoo-da-doo! Jump and catch the out-roof, Jess. Put away your gun, Juan. I was just putting you to a test, that's all. Well, of course, Senor Jess. Anytime. I'll chance taking you into the gang. Randy, take him into the back room to meet the others. All right? Come on, Juan. I should be pleased to meet them. Oh, that Mexican is a smart one, Jess. He talks about money being hard to get, but he's sure riding a fine stagion. A big white one. I'm telling you, the way that he... Wait a minute. I want to look at his horse. He's plainly bright, so he ought to have been able to get a good look at him. I saw him. This isn't the first time. I don't sell it. Sit down a minute. Hey, you look sort of funny, Jess. What's wrong? Wrong? Nothing, me. Maybe I'm just getting things right. Oh, talk sense. Did you notice the fancy guns Juan carries, Carl? Yeah. Carl, I got away from a gang once. It was captured by a masked man in an Indian. The masked hombre had a big white stagion named Silver, and he carried fancy guns. He had the fastest draw I ever saw, and could win over most anyone in a fight. You see, Carl, in spite of the fact that he looks like a Mexican and talks like one, I have a sneaking suspicion that our new friend Juan is really the Lone Ranger. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger adventure. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. After the Lone Ranger and Randy left the room, Jess Lurkin putting together certain facts. Finally startled Carl by telling him he thought the Mexican Juan was the Lone Ranger. Jumping, Jiminy Jess. You mean to say you really believe that Mexican is a Lone Ranger? Yeah. You see, the Lone Ranger is clever, Carl, very clever. He usually wears a black mask, but I understand he can pose as others by disguising himself carefully. Then he goes without the mask. Garnet, Jess, if he's the masked man, what are we going to do about it? Let him think he's getting away with his little act, that's what. But from what you've told us in the past, he's dangerous. Sure. But if he's thrown off guard, we have the upper hand. He thinks I've fallen for his disguise and accent. So I let him go on thinking that until the time comes for me to turn the tables. What are you going to do? Maybe he had better get the engine here, too. Don't be local with the tool from here. We sure had an idea to bring him here in the first place. Well, I didn't know who he was then. Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. It's better to have him here under our noses and to have him helping the boss he catches. If he wants to play act, I'll get some fun out of it, too. Tell your new friend Juan, I want to talk to him. All right. I sure hope you know what you're doing. Why? Jess wants to talk to you. Sit down, will you? You and the Indians seem to make a good pair. So he might as well have me here. Well, I know. I should go get my engine friend. No, no. You stay here with me. I want to talk with you some more. Maybe you can tell Carl where to find the red skin. And he'll go after him, huh? Oh, but of course. He will be waiting in a cottonwood grove. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Of course. He will be waiting in a cottonwood grove on the hillside of the east of town. The place will not be hard to find, Carl. I'll find him. It better go now, Carl. Tell him to come on out and join his Mexican friend. All right. We ought to be back in a couple of hours or so. Yeah. Well, we'll go in the other room and talk over some plans with the others. Juan, come on. I know that you have four others besides Carl. And they send you out. That's right. Six of us. You and your partner, Omega, that was in the gang. Yeah, where's Carl? Go on to bring Juan's partner out here. I decided it would be better to keep him together. But I thought Juan was hanging out with the red skin before he came out here to join us. That's right. His partner is a red skin. You think he's going to fit in with the gang, Jess? Juan says he will. How about it, Juan? I'm most sure of it. That settles it as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, we can use two more good fighters, and especially those two, to go through with the plan I have. What plan? What are you thinking of doing? The stage from San Antonio will come along the trail at dawn. We're going to hold it up there. Honey, you know the stage will be carrying anything worth grabbing, Jess? Did you get word that it's carrying a shipment or something? No. But listen, we'll all wear black masks on this job, all but the Indian. He doesn't need one. And it sounds local to me. But I waste time if you don't know what we'll be carrying. Shut up and listen to me, will you? Remember the mask man I told you about? The one we wanted to keep off our trail? Sure. But I figure Juan is about his bill, and he rides a white stallion and carries fancy guns. Juan will wear a black mask along with the rest of us. He and the Indian will sort of lead us. The stage driver and the passengers will think it's a lone ranger leading the Mask Gang of Outlaws. After that, the mask man who helps the law won't dare show his face in this territory. Maybe it is a good idea. I've heard about that mask, I'm very lots of times. I hear he's plenty smart. Yeah, he's smart, but yeah, that we'll see. Well, how about it, Juan? What do you think of my plan to discredit that ordinary lone ranger? If it works, amigo, then I shall know you are a more clever than he is, no? It'll work all right, just wait and see. Anything else to tell us about the holding? Yeah, just Juan and the red skin will ride between Carl and me. Randy, you won't kill right behind me to make sure things go right. Now we'll wait until Carl comes back to the Indian. After discussing his plan with the others, Jess Lurgen returned to the front room with the lone ranger and Randy. The lone ranger realized that somehow Lurgen knew his identity, but that for reasons of his own, he was keeping it from the others for the time being. There was nothing in Jess's manner to indicate that he did know, and he acted as though he fully accepted the Mexican into the gang. The masked man still carried his guns and could escape, but he didn't want to throw away a chance of capturing the gang if possible. It was a waiting game of wits between him and Lurgen, and the lone ranger decided to play along. Sometime later, horses were heard stopping outside. That must be Carl and the red skin, Jess. Yeah, it's about time I got here. Well, I brought the Indian. You were waiting to stop and would grove on, like you said. I knew he'd be there to me go. Me wait, like me say. Well, Indian me, Rick and Carl told you why we sent for him. Him say, me join gang. Ride with friends. Yeah, and it's almost daylight now. We better start moving. Ready. Hello, boys, to get the horses ready to ride. All right, we'll soon be ready. Yes, for you. I'm going to give you a mask. We'll all wear masks. Then they expect you and your Indian partner to show us what you can do when we hold up that stagecoach. Of course, senior Jess. You may call on us to show you what. That's right. Good, let's go. He and Toto managed to exchange signals which were unseen by the others. As they rode along, Jess remarked. You and your Indian friends sure have fun horses, Juan. We like them, senor. That's right. Strange that you two are such good friends. How long have you been partners? Well, for some time. I do not remember just how long. We have become friends because it is worthwhile for each of us. Amigo. Sure do work together from what I hear. For instance, the way you both led into Randy and Carl. Ducked him in the horse-talking time. It wasn't funny. We were the ones who thought up that idea. We were going to do it to them. Well, I reckon you didn't know who you were picking on, Carl. The next time you and Randy will be more careful. But there are no odd feelings, eh, senor Carl? Oh, you sure taught me a lesson. Hey, Jess, we're getting close to where the stage will come through. Better find a place to stop and stay out of sight till it comes along. That's the place. We're almost there. Don't forget, Juan. I'm counting on you and the Indian to do a good job. If you don't, or if you try any tricks, you'll be sorry. Don't worry, senor Jess. We are ready to do our part no matter what happens. That's right. Good. We'll soon be stopping to wait for the stage. Let's get a move on. Get it back. Come on. Behind big boulders for the stagecoach. Now that the sun has come up, Jess, the distance. I think I see a cloud of dust coming. You think that's the stage? Yeah, I think it is. That's the stage. Hello, everybody. Come on, me. We'll ride just the way we did coming here with you and the Indian between Carl and me. Remember, the others are behind you watching. So no funny business. See? Let's go. Now, me ready. Come on, boys. This is it. Get up there. Get under there. A few moments later, the outlaws of Long Ranger and Toto closed in on the stagecoach with blazing guns. They see us. Keep shooting. The Indian dismount robbed the passengers. Go on. I joined you to dismount and get the folks out of the stage. The Long Ranger realized that as soon as he and Toto were on the ground, the gang could gun them at a signal from Lurgen. While he hesitated to dismount, he saw what he had hoped to see. Horsemen riding in from each side. Hey, look. Two posies closing in. We've got a fight on our hands. Closed in, the Long Ranger and Toto quickly went into action. They both dismounted Lurgen. Toto followed the masked man's cue and dragged Carl from the saddle while the others were engaged in fighting the posies. The other outlaws intent on fighting the oncoming horsemen left Jess and Carl to fight it out with a masked man and Indian. He didn't plan too well, Lurgen. Enrolled on the ground, locked in battle. Lurgen was tough when Randy meant when they said the men they had fought in town were tough. Toto too cobbled Carl and soon both outlaws were glad to yell quit. Those two look plumb war out. Tough only behind a drawn gun, Sheriff. We'll tie the crooks and attend to their wounds. Crooks were soon tied and their wounds bandaged. Later, as the Sheriff's men prepared to take them to the Laredo Jail, Carl spoke wonderingly. I don't savvy how all this happened. Jess, what was the matter with your plan? Hey, he must have guessed that I knew him. It was ready for what might happen. What I can't figure is how the posie came to be known on the scene. There's no way for him to send a word to town. Well, I didn't make plans before we came here. Lurgen, you were outsmarted all the way. You see, when your man took the man they thought was a Mexican to your hideout, the Indian followed. Then he came to me and told me where the hideout was located. Well, you could have moved in on us there. Sure, but we just went out there near the place and waited like we were asked to do. When you rode to hold up the stage, we followed. You were caught with the goods. That's it. Too bad you didn't gun that Mexican when you realized who he really is, Jess. Well, as long as he had those guns of his, you didn't have the chance to gun him. Mr. will take these crooks back to jail now. You sure did a fine job of turning the tables on him. Thanks, Sheriff. Without you and your man, we couldn't have captured them. Thought I'll head south from here, but we'll see you again sometime. Let's go, Tunno. Adios, everybody. Adios. Let's go. Holy mackerel. If I knew what I know now about those two, I wouldn't have listened to Jesse. Trouble is, Jess Lurkin didn't know enough about him. Or he wouldn't have tried to pull any tricks against the Lone Ranger. This is a feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated, created by George W. Trendle, produced by Trendle Campbell Mure Incorporated, directed by Charles D. Livingston, and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer.