 fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hardy high old silver, the Lone Ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the masked rider 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 come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. As the Lone Ranger and Tonto rode steadily up the gentle slope of the hill, their horses showed increasing signs of nervousness. Come on, Silver. What's the matter with you, big fella? Scout on easy, too. Something wrong on the other side of the hill. We'll soon know what it is. There aren't many trees here. The valley beyond is as bare as this side of the hill we'll be able to see for miles. You ain't came as happy. You hear? Yes, I don't like it. We go to Toppy Hill pretty quick. Take a look. Get him up! Come on, Silver. One minute before we see him. Sounds like a stampede. That's right. Come on, Silver. Come on, boy. You won't keep us happy. Hold it, Silver. Hold it. Hello. There must be thousands of buffaloes there. That's right. And they big stampede. Hello. They're a horsemen ahead of them. Three people. They cannot run that hurt. Their horses are tired. You see big rock on south? They'll be safe behind those rocks, but they don't see them. Hello. We've got to show them the way. Get them up, Scout. Come on, Silver. Scout and Silver raced downhill at breakneck speed. A stranger on Tonto Road straight toward the thundering herd of frenzy buffalo. They saw the bobbing of huge shoulders. A mass of dirty ragged fur that surged forward like a brown wave that would swallow all that stood before it. They saw the tiny evil eyes of the nearest beasts. The sharp, pounding hoops that could trample man and horse. Come on, Silver. Come on, big fella. The light of those people depend on you. Split seconds counted in the race with death. The three trapped riders and their exhausted horses were scarcely 50 yards ahead of the oncoming herd when the masked man and Tonto joined them. Scout and Silver wheeled quickly as the lone ranger shot it. Follow us. It's no use. We're done. To the south. Save yourselves. You've got fresh horses. To your left, I tell you. Get over. We'll try. It's no use, so we're all in. We'll make it. There's rocks, sir. Rocks. Set a little further. Come on. Huge boulders twice as high as a man loomed just ahead of the lone ranger and those he wanted to rescue. In another moment, those rocks were between the horse and the stampeding buffalo. The horses were halted and the pounding hoops sped harmlessly by. I'm telling you what, I'm telling you what. Don't seem possible. Jabba's your sister, all right? Yeah. How are you, Sue? I'm all right, but I don't want to go through that again. Thought sure we were done for. How are the horses, Tonto? Plenty of time, but I'm all right. Stranger. I don't know what to say. Take it easy, you'll get dressed today. I'm all right now, but I hate to think I hate to think of what the three of us would be like if you hadn't shown up and shown those rocks to us to get behind. We never would have seen them from where we were. Poor you might at least thank the masked man and the Indian. Hang it, Sue. You can't thank a man this risk is neck to save your life. All I can say is that the three of us are alive because of what you've done, mister. Now, please don't go on. All anyhow, Hank Corkins never forgets. The time comes that the law catches up with you. Well, I only hope I'm on the jury. The law? Oh, shucks, I shouldn't have said that. Oh, you mean because of my mask? Well... It's all right, Corkins. I never saw riding like you in the engine just dead. The horse is like those. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you coming toward us. It looked like sure death for you. Anyhow, stranger, if there's ever a time... I'll start at this damn bead. Well, I know, but I'm not saying. You know? You'd tell it going right. It's something personal, and I'll square things for it. You mean it was started on purpose? Mister, if we'd been killed, it wouldn't have been no accident. It would have been murder, downright murder. There wouldn't be a man in the world who could prove it. Even now you can't prove anything, Paul. Remember that. I can prove it to my own satisfaction, and I'll get square. Can you prove it to the sheriff? The sheriff? I reckon he knows it was done on purpose. Oh, what do you mean, Corkins? It's the sheriff that wants us out of the way. Are you sure? I'd better not say any more. As soon as our horses are rested, we'll start for home. You live in Crow Corner? Yep. Don't think we're like the others there. We're not superstitious like most of them. Well, superstitious? Well, Paul means like the old timers that lived there. They believe in a lot of signs and things of that sort. I reckon they even believe in ghosts. I know that some of them do. Yeah, and the sheriff as well as the rest. He's scared of the hermit. The hermit? Well, I call him dark. He's a sort of queer act and glute that sells herbs and things to cure all manner of ailments. It's too bad he don't sell the sheriff something to cure him of being alive. Well, Paul, I reckon the horses can carry us now. They've most got over their scare. Poor critters have had a bad time, but... Corkins. Don't take the law under your own hands. What's it? You know what you intend to do? Don't do it. But drag it away. If they do, they'll hang you. He's right, Paul. Well, I got Jeb and Sue to think of. As long as they know the sheriff was trusted with the gold, they'll be in danger. So you left gold with the sheriff? Oh, I didn't mean to tell you. Yeah, you think because I wear a mask, I'll try to steal the gold? Thunderation, no. If you wanted, I'd admire to give it to you. But I'm hanged if I'll let that ornery scheme and sheriff steal it. I mistrusted him all along. Yet you left gold in his care? He knew I had it. We'd rode away and left it at home. He'd have stolen it. I figured by putting him in charge of the safe keep, nobody wouldn't dare steal it. But I was wrong. He figured if we were stampeded to death, no one would ever know he had it. Yeah, mount up, you young ones. We're heading for Crow Corner. There'll be a gent wearing a badge. It'll be downright surprised to see us. Good afternoon, Sheriff Larson. Go in here, Corkins. I'm just looking you over and wondering... wondering that you don't show more surprise to see me. I reckon the rabbit's foot the hermit gave me is luckier than I figured. Sure, I'm surprised to see you. I thought you and Jeb and Sue left for the South Country. We did leave. Well, we come back. Jeb and Sue with you? I sent him home. Because I figured the talk is going to take place here. Mightn't be fitting for a girl like Sue to hear. Corkins, I'm sure you came back so soon. I thought I'd have things straightin' around before you got back. I hoped I would. Meaning what? You said you were afraid someone was out to steal your gold. Mm-hmm. I was. You were right, Hank. They got it. What? Well, keep talkin' Larson. You've got some accountant to do. Now, what's your tell? Well, after you and Jeb and Sue left town, a couple of men with their faces covered come in and held up my office. The sack of gold was on the desk where you put it. I suppose you didn't have time to put it in your safe, eh? No, I didn't have time. So the gold was stolen? That's the story, Hank. You sure tell it smooth. I've got some leads on the crooks. I'm hopin' to have them behind bars in a day or so. How? By sittin' here with your feet in your desk? My deputies are workin'. I thought I'd find the crooks and get the gold back before you return. Don't you worry about it, Hank. I'll have it back. Larson, what do you know about a stampede? A stampede. Buffalo. Mighty near trap, the three of us in a valley. If it had, I wouldn't have been back here to claim my gold. Then who would know you had it? Great day, Corkins. I'm glad you got away. You're a lion. I see here. I don't like the style you use. I suppose we'd all three of us been killed in that stampede. Then what would you have done with that gold? I don't know. Would you have turned it over to the town or would you have tried to find relatives of mine? Or would you have just kept your mouth shut and kept it for yourself? Naturally. I'd have looked for relatives. You're lying again. You stole that gold yourself, Larson. And you tried to have us killed. You're upset that you wouldn't talk that. I know what I'm sayin'. I'm a patient man. I'd resent your attitude. I'm patient, too. I'm not sayin' much about the stampede. But if that gold's not back here by the mouth... I'll get you a glass of water tonight. Well, butch button. Corkins. Fine company you're keepin' these days, Sheriff Larson. What's the matter with the company he keeps? Nothing, exceptin' that you'd be danglin' from a rope right now if the evidence against you hadn't disappeared from the Sheriff's office. What are you doin' with that spade? Spade. Right in your hand with fresh dirt on it. What are you even doin' with it? Stop. Let me... Answer me, you pool catcher. Been diggin' in the ground. Look forward. Corkins, let him go. What are you been diggin' in the ground for? Speak up, you dirty cunt. There. I should've known you'd help him, Larson. You fool you. Did you wanna strangle me? Be no loss to Crow Corner if I did. Now get outta here before I throw you into jail for disturbing the peace. Get outta here. Hey. I'm just onein' with this coyote mightn't be the one to start the stampede. Then after comin' back here he took my gold and buried it someplace. I don't know anything about your gold. You crazy old fool. Well, I'll find out. There's ways of finding out things around here. I know a man will help me get to the truth of things. What I said still goes, Larson. I want that gold tomorrow. Or else. Hey, Larson. What'd he mean? You fool. Why'd you walk in here with that spade with the first dirt on it? I didn't know he was here. He really was. I thought the stampede got all three Corkins. I don't know why, but it didn't. You get the gold buried all right? Yeah. But now he suspects. Let him! He can't prove anything. Maybe we better put it somewhere else. No, you crazy fool. Don't go near where it's buried. He might be watchin' for us to do just that. As long as you can't get the gold, he can't prove a doggone thing. I remember that. But Sheriff Larson, I... I wonder... He said he knew a man that'd help him. What'd he mean? He might've been bluffin'. You know Corkins better than the Mat. He don't bluff. It may be a rise. What'd he mean? Butch, there's only one man he could've met. And we'll get rid of him tonight. That night, Hank Corkins told Jeb and Sue his plans as the three sat around the table in the light of an oil lamp. The Lone Ranger. That's the one to help us, Jeb. But, Paul, are you sure it was the Lone Ranger that helped us in the Stampede? I'm more sure of it all the time. I don't know why I didn't think of him the minute I saw that white horse. Everything shakes. The mask and the horse-cold silver, the Indian-cold town owner, two heavy guns. And it was the Lone Ranger all right. And to think I was as close to him as I am to you two. The Lone Ranger. Yeah, but, Paul, how can he help us? He'll find a way. Are you sure Barton was burying the gold? As sure as you're alive, Sue. The gilly look on his ugly face was enough for me to say nothing about the spade. But how will you find the Lone Ranger again? Listen, Sue, he knows the Stampede was man-made with murder intended. That means he knows his crooks in Crow Corner, murdering crooks. Then the Lone Ranger won't be far away till those crooks are in jail. First thing in the morning, I'll... I'll see who it is. Great, Scott, we were just talking about you. The Lone Ranger. With sakes alive, Mr. Come in, won't you? Thanks. Ah, well. I didn't want to get too far from here till I was sure you weren't going to take the law into your own hands. What law? There's no law in Crow Corner. The sheriff is the biggest crook of them all. He's got no more right to wear a sheriff's badge than the worst of those Stampede and Buffalo. He says my gold was stolen from his office. Well, he's a crook of storage. Paul, that's gun shooting. And lightning a-bye. Yeah, look out the window here. Look near the Hermits place. Someone's riding from there and fast. Hey, Sue, get out of the way. Let me see. And there's someone else near the house. Look. You know what's happened. No, wait. Wait, I'll go with you. If someone has shot the poor old Hermit, we'll get over it. That's way to shooting wise. Come on, Sue. Jeb, you stay here with Sue. I'm going over there. Well, let me go. Stay here. There's already been one play to kill us. There may be another. Stay here and keep your eyes open. 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. Now to continue our story. Hank Cawkins ran to the shack where the old Hermit lived alone. Candles burning in the hermit on the floor between the masked man and Tonto. While he bathed the wound in the hermit's shoulder, the Indian told what had happened. May see thaller creep through shattered toward house. May go close and watch him. Did you tell her who the man was? No, I'm too dark for that. What happened next? A hind-raw gun aimed through winder, hind-fire and tontifier, same time. You hit his gunhand? Ah, but hind hit hermit and then run. Poor critters. He hit bad? Oh, hind, hind not hurt bad. It's a shoulder wound, Cawkins. I'll be all right. Thanks to the Indian. Of course you'll be all right. Just stay there for a few minutes more. Shock was pretty bad. We can find the critter that did it if he took a bullet in the hand. He stays around town. Why should anyone want to shoot you, duck? Oh, many people. It's a superstitious place. They think I'm in league with the evil one. Have you looked around this house, Tonto? Ah, him got herbs and roots and all things known to Indian. My cures are standard ones, known to all medical men. Are you a doctor? No. But you used to be? Once, in the east. Let me sit up. Help him, Tonto. Let me help you up. I failed when my wife needed me. I lost her and then came here. I couldn't go on. So you met a living by preparing medicines and selling them? A living? An existence. Because my cures were good, the doctor who was here started stories about me. It didn't take much to make people around here afraid of me. No one ever listened to me or gave me a chance to talk to them. Some, a few, bought medicines. Dreaded everything the poor critter did was made out to look like black magic. You know how it is. Once a story gets started, it'll gather weight like a snowball rolling down hill. Yes, I know. Especially in a place like Crow Corner, where everyone is superstitious about everything. But why in Tunkett would anyone shoot you, duck? Afraid of what they call magic. Oh, shucks it. Great jumpin' grasshoppers. What is it, Hank? I was in the sheriff's office. Larsen said that Crooks had taken my gold. I didn't believe him. I knew he'd just helped himself to it. Then Butch Barton came in with a spade. A spade? Yes, with dirt on it. I knew right away what it meant. They'd been burying the gold someplace. Go on, Hank. I told him I wanted the gold back tomorrow. I'd make him sweat. I remember just what I said to him. I said there's ways of finding out things around here. I know a man that'll help me get to the truth of things. Yes? Well, it was you I was thinking about when I said that. But Larsen and Butch Barton thought I meant the duck here, the hermit. Those two Crooks are superstitious. It's all get out. They thought I meant to get the hermit to help me. They think he can do things that are sort of supernatural. The ignorant fools. So the dirty snakes came here to shoot him. Shoot him without giving him a chance to defend himself. That proves that, Crooks. Now I've got things to do. Here, hold on. No, I'm going. You let me go. You're not going anyplace else yet. But I tell you... Listen to me, Hank. No, I've got to see if one of those pole cases got a wounded hand. If he hasn't by thunder, I'm going to start shooting. Now let me go. You go on, you'll spoil every chance you have to get back that goal. Next thing I know, they'll shoot Sue and Jeb, like... Hey, we're going to get those Crooks. Take my word for it. We'll get them. And we'll do it legally. Now, sit down there and cool off. If we get them for keeps. But how? I'll show you how. They're going to see some of the hermit's black magic. After making sure he wasn't followed, the sheriff went to a cabin in the woods where he found Butch Barton waiting. He dressed Barton's wounded hand in clumsy fashion and then... Bugling one thing after another. It's a wonder to me you haven't hugged me for this. I never ran against such tough luck as I had today. You know who shot you? No. The more I know how Cawkins escaped the stampede. When I got shot, I didn't hang around to find out who it was. I cleared out fast. You can't be seen with that bandage on your hand. What about my share of the gold? Take this cash and go to Pine Bluff. Wait there, lay alone to your hands all right again. Then come back. I won't touch the gold you'll get the... You had them better. I've got to get back to the office. There might be some working connection with the shooting of the hermit. When the sheriff reached his office, he found a note from the deputy, Jack Simmons. They've gone over to the hermit's place to look around. Well, I'll go over and join him. I sure hope that hermit is finished. In a few moments, the sheriff was with the group of people in the hermit's house. The hermit was speaking. We'll conduct a search in the morning, but I'll have to go out tonight to get a divine and rod. Divine and rod? Have you heard of the magic of a divine and rod? Properly handled. It points right to where gold is buried in the ground. I've heard of it. Well, I'll go now. And if you'll help me, Hank, I'll go and select the divine and rod by the light of the full moon. Sure, you can count on my help. Hank and the hermit walked side-by-side from the house and into the night with half a dozen curious people following. The sheriff walked to the side of the deputy. Uh, Jack, is there anything to what he says? Well, I've heard of these divine and rods. They use them to find water. Well, the magic of what? Oh, no, but I've heard about them. They're nothing but a forked stick. The man that handled them takes one of the ends of the stick in each hand and walks along the ground in a certain way. When the fork of the stick points down, that's the place he's looking for. Yeah, but it doesn't really work. I never saw one work it. Hey, looks like the hermit's found the right kind of tree. Hank, can you reach that lowest branch? I reckon so. I can climb up, Doc. I can reach her. That's the one you want. Yeah, I'll be sure. It's a living branch. I'll make sure. Yeah, but it's green all right. Now, hand it to me. Here you are. Yeah, thanks. I'll just trim off the leaves and twigs and then take it home with me to work on. I'll finish preparing it there. Black magic. Black magic. Larson was up at dawn. He dressed in nervous haste then hurried to his office. The door was half open. He went in and found the deputy already on hand. Thought you were here early. You got here first. I haven't been here. You haven't? Then who left the door open? Open. Who is it open? Just as you saw it. I thought you'd been here. No. Shea, who was using this spade? Spade? I don't know. It was there when I came. It's been used recent? It was that way yesterday. Dirt on its damp. It's been used since then. Who used it? I don't know, Larson. I just got here to wait for the hermit and the others. They're starting to hunt from here, you know? Yeah, I know. Well, there come some of the folks now. Yeah, I see them. There's old Doc the hermit and the lead holding the divining rod performed. I'd better take this spade along in case he finds a place to dig. Hey there, deputy. You coming along with us? Why don't you come along with us? Wild horses couldn't keep me from seeing this. Come along if you want, but Doc's got to have it quiet. He can't have anyone too close to him. I will walk slowly where the rod directs me. Yeah, look here. There's none of your business, Larson. You want to tag along, you can do so, but keep your trap shut. Is there divining rod working? Seems to. Look how it appears to pull the hermit right along. See there? Didn't seem possible. Glad you brought a spade, Jack. Maybe we'll find use for two of them. How's your sister after that experience yesterday, Jack? Oh, she's all right. Sort of resting at home. Jack, can you make an arrest if you have to? All I want is the chance, Jack. Good. What if you do find your gold cockens? That's what I'm after. Maybe those cooks I told you about really did bury it somewhere. Finding the gold won't stop you from keeping on the hunt for him, will it, Larson? There it is. I'll keep on the hunt. I've already got a couple of men out hunting them. Wait. There's a pool. A pool of fire stronger than that of gravity. It bends the raw earthwood. My sakes alive. Just look at that. That sticks pointing right down. Fresh turned earth too. Dig there. Great work. Here, let me get this spade going. I'll help you. We'll make the dope fly. It don't seem possible. It's dark. I never saw the light of it. Well, we're not sure that this is what you're after. It is, though. Look here, Pa. Here's your leather bag. Wait. Now we'll have her out in no time. Very deep. Here, let me get my hands on it. I can haul it out. I'll give you a hand. Here she is. That's it. That's my sack all right, and just as I left it. I've got my gold back. That's the main thing. Come on, all of you. Come to my place. We're celebrating. You too, Pierre. Come on. That's it. Larson stood alone, dumbfounded at what he had seen. He made no pretence of joining the party that headed for the cockens' house. Instead, he waited until everyone was out of sight, then hurried away muttering to himself. I don't want to write double-crossing crook. That's what I get for twisting a full cat like Barton. Sneaked here in the night and changed the hiding place of the gold. I figured to double-cross me. He would bust into the office and use my spade. Well, he'll be sorry. Just wait like a tomb. Larson lost no time. He hurried to his office, then through the office, and out the back door. He carried another shovel in his hand and headed for a clump of trees, and out more than 50 yards away. Here he looked at the ground. Crook. He even put the sod back in place so I'd never know it disturbed the gold. I'll make sure it's gone, and I'll go where he is and deal with him. Double-crossing crook. Poor Cathy. He'll pay for this double-cross. Maybe he'll cross me all the way along. Maybe that's why caulkings wasn't hurt. Why, the hermit wasn't shot dead. Say, there's something here. Sure enough. There's something here. It's a leather sack. Same leather sack. Put your hands up, Larson. Hey, what the? That's the sack we're after. Mast, who are you? I'm the man who found the second leather sack that you saw caulkings take home a few minutes ago. I need to fix rope on crookings. No, wait. Hold on. What caulkings has now is filled with stones. We didn't know whether you'd dig first to go and accuse your pal of double-crossing you. Hell, it didn't matter. You tricked me. The hermit helped, and so did your superstition. No, wait. Let me talk. We'll make a deal. Your man's here. There's only one deal to make with you, Larson. Now listen, Mr. Halley, it's not too tight to know. There's time enough to hold him. He's fixed all right now. Caulkings won't sport behind bars. You have evidence that'll put him there. Perhaps if you do that, caulkings will recommend that you get jail instead of hanging. You know they can't hang me in. You tried to kill Caulkings. There's no proof. Tried to kill the hermit. I didn't. That was Barton's job. You planned it. No, no, it was all Barton. Barton's keeping the whole thing. That'll do. You've told enough to make certain Barton gets what's coming to him. That's all we wanted. Now you can go on trial together. I didn't say a word. You can't prove it dead. My word against yours. That's where you're wrong, Larson. Look over there. Your office is filled with people. We heard it all. We got enough on you, Larson, and Barton as well. Tricked again. The horse is not open. Let me get him. That short order shows you can be jailed together. Right, Juniper worked out slick. The hermit sure made it look like he was making black magic. And there's the man that planned the whole thing. Hey, Lone Ranger, this here gold is yours. Take it. I want you to have it. Your gold, Hank. Good luck to you. Come on, fellow. Hey, but wait. Got a big fella. We've got a new sheriff now. Take over, Jack. I sure will. Get him up strong. Come soon! What you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.