 The fiery horse with the speed of light, the cloud of dust and a hardy hyal silver, the lone ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked 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. The champion will listen out of those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver. The lone ranger rides again. Come on Silver, let's go big foe, I am Silver! The courthouse in Crystal City was crowded with people who wanted to hear the decision of the jury when Slim Carter went on trial for murder. The jury had been out for some time. Among those who waited, Jeb Stevens, the old sheriff, and a young United States Marshal, newly arrived in town, were particularly interested in the verdict. Look, Marshal, jury's coming in, about time too. I don't know why it took those pretty so long to make up their minds. Well, Sheriff, they had to base their decision on the evidence that's presented in court. Order! Order in the court! Nothing nonsense, everyone knows that Slim is guilty. Well, that doesn't mean a thing, Jeb. Order! You too, Sheriff. All right, let's hear the verdict. All this rigmarole, nothing but stuff nonsense. Sir, please rise and face the jury. Jeb, please do we do like Slim Carter. Why don't you get down the brass tatch? I'm guilty! Not guilty! Did you hear that? This is awful. Where's your law and order? Thanks, boss. Sheriff, let's get out of here before you explode. Explode! I'm fit to explode. I'd like to explode right smack on that sneak and weasel-faced killer. Come on, Marshal, let me get whether it's different there, and fit to gag from breathing air in the same room with Carter. Aye, aye, aye. Now, hold on, Jeb. Just hold on, you can't shoot him. Thanks, Marshal. And thanks again for seeing that I got a fair trial. I'll be seeing you, Jeb. Fair trial. Fair trial. Would we spare, buddy? That's fair, Jeb. We can skin out the side door and get away from the crowd. All right. But on the way, just take a good look at that skunk. Look at him. You'll see a killer walking out of here as free as any man. Get out, Jeb. You come to me. I'm right with him. Ah, Jeb, take it easy. Your old style methods were all right for a time, but the gold hills have brought a lot of people here. It's time that Crystal City got regular law and order. Yes, law and order, my eye. What sort of law is it that says a killer can go free? Law says that a man is innocent until proven guilty. That makes me sick. You young squirts may know the law, but dad read it all. You don't know how to deal with crooks out in this new country. Hey, tell you, Marshal, I know Carter killed by Jones. He wasn't proved beyond shadow of doubt. But he spent what? Money all over town? There was a shadow of doubt about his guilt. But I has much of seen the murder. You didn't see it. Oh, Jerusalem. What's it take to hang a killer? Your past trials have been too rough and ready, Jeb. I was sent here to reform your methods of dealing out justice. I haven't heard any complaints. No, because those who might complain are dead. And everyone deserved it. We got the old-fashioned notion that a killer should hang. Listen, Marshal. I don't know what to say to show you you're wrong, but Zeke Merle, no. He's a smart man. He's got education in the east. Who's he? Well, he lives out from town with his daughter. Got a mighty fine home. And he shag up in the gold hills. Just do me a favor and talk to Zeke, will you? Well, I don't. If you can convince him that your system is the right thing, I'll swing to your side. All right. I'll talk to him, Jeb. That's what you want. All right, good, good. We'll go to his place first thing in the morning. He, he, he, like his daughter, she's as pretty as a painted wagon and just the right age for him. The following morning, found the sheriff and the youthful Marshal riding out from town towards Zeke Merle's house. Neither suspected that another horseman had gone over the same trail ahead of them. Slim Carter was already at the rambling house, lounging in the chair while Nancy packed a trunk. So I saw your father at the gold mine, Nancy. He understood how important it was for me to grab that job in St. Louis. But he is coming down from his gold hill, isn't he? He said he'd do his best to get here. Oh, dear. He's following a new vein. He forgets time and family and everything else. He said if he didn't get here before we left the house, he'd try to meet us at the stagecoach station. And ride with us to the next town for our wedding? Yep. I hope you understand why I don't want to hold the wedding in Crystal City. Oh, of course I do, Slim. Everyone there is set against me. I understand. These small things will go right on top of the trunk. Will you set the tray in for me? Sure thing. I do hope Father gets here. What's matter, Nancy? Don't you believe he gave his consent? Oh, I believe you, Slim. It's only that. He was against the marriage for a time. But I showed him I was named to marry you for the Merrill Goldmine. Well, maybe that's Father. Can't see him from this window. They're on the other side. You wait right here, Slim. Wrapping on the door can't be Father. Miss Nancy? Oh, sure. This here is the new United States Marshal. Her name is Brent. How do you do, Mr. Brent? Well, I'm very glad to meet you, Miss Merrill. You might if we step in for a minute. Well, do come in. Father's up at the Goldmine. He'll be sorry to miss you. Oh, God. I'm sorry to miss him. What comeodion, Margie? Another half hour, and you'd have missed me, too. I'm just about packed to meet the stage for St. Louis. What? You were leaving here? Uh-huh. Slim and I are going to be married. What? Slim Carter? Uh-huh. I knew all the time that though he was innocent of those frightful charges of murder. There, hold on, Miss Nancy. That dirty weasel fix. Sure. How dare you say such a thing. Your father will stand for it. But he's given his consent. Slim rode up to the mine last night and asked him. He told me so. Yet there is a downright lie. Watch what you say, Sheriff. No. You want me to kill you? For that, I can drag you to court and sue you for slaying. Well, you'll have a job, no gunplay. God is right. You bet I am. I know the law. The law. Around here, the law is going to see. That will do, Sheriff. I know how you tried to free him, Slim. Free him? Up in Hornport. Now, Sheriff, get out. Where are you? Oh, now, listen, Nancy. Did you hear your father say he approved the Slim Carter? I take Slim's word for it. Then you can't leave here like she's, Eek. You think you can stop us? You'd better ask the Marshal about the law. Eek. Nancy, I've known you and your father since you was a baby. I know Doug going well that Eek wouldn't give his consent to this marriage. Why can't you wait until I can ride up to the gold mine? Well, I'll... And the viewer of the situation, Miss Nancy, that seems like a good idea. Why don't you, Nancy? Oh, Slim, would that be all right? It would remove any doubts you might have. By thunder. There. You see, Sheriff? I'll take a chance on losing the position in St. Louis. We'll postpone our departure for a day or so. But, Slim, I don't want you to lose that position. It's all right, Nancy. I want the Sheriff to realize that he, like everyone else, misjudges me. Where'd you go? Sheriff, if the mayor doesn't show up before tomorrow, I'll go to him with you. Then you'll hear the truth. Oh, shit for that. That night, the Lone Ranger and Tonto made a small camp in the hills, not far from the steep trail that led to Merrow's gold mine. We build fire, and then we have good camps. I suppose we might have gone on to Crystal City. Oh, the trail, plenty bad. Too dangerous after dark. It's probably wise you to wait here until the day break. I'm anxious to see how the new marshal is doing. We see him tomorrow. Tonto, hear that? Ah, horseman. Coming up the trail. The trail below here must be a lot better than it is up above. Plenty bad up above. Too dangerous. I wonder if that horseman knows it. Maybe good we warn, Ryder, huh? I'm old enough to show my mask. You might think I'm a highwayman. Let me go stop him. Tell him about trail ahead. He knows what it's like to be no harm done. If he doesn't know, he should be warned. Go ahead. You stop. Rainer, inside your entrance. Trail bad, Rainer. Many clothes. You see, the one bullet brushed your sleeve. He fired to hit you. I don't like it. Come on. And what we do? We're going after him. Steal those clothes. Trail bad. We've been over it once. We'll cover it again. I want to know why that man fired on a total stranger. Come on up. One, two, three. Come on. On the following morning, Sheriff Jeb Stevens called at Slim Carter's house to start out for the mountains. Hey there. Open the door. Open up, Carter. Yes. I checked the barrel's place. See Kevin come back so we're riding up to his gold claim. Sheriff, open the door. I'm coming. Yeah. Here, come on. Sooner we start the bit, then. I... Sheriff, I'm a sick man. What is it? Been awake all night. First a bad toothache, then I got taken all over. You were scheming to get out of heaven and seek Mary and tell the truth about you. No, no, it's not that. I'm sick. I really am. Yes. I wish I could... Look here, Sheriff. Why don't you ride up there alone? You leave you here? Sure. You can ask Maryl if he didn't say it'd be all right for me to marry Nancy. I can guess his answer without riding the way up there. If you can't, you won't believe anything I say. Go ask him. Then you run away with Nancy? Well, I'm going. I'll wait here till you get back, I promise. Yeah, words not worth a hoot to me. Uh, me come in. Huh? Where'd you come from? An Indian. Me travel a long way. Me want water. Well, you're self-fed skin. There's a spring east of the house. Oh, what matter that color? Me? Uh, you plant is sick. Well, that's what he tells me, but I got my doubts. I know him sick, Father. Uh, me fix him. Now, hold on. What is it? Uh, me look find out. Get away from me. Oh, him got fever. Plenty bad. No, no, I'm all right. I... Hold on, Fuddy. Some of these redskins know more about doctrine than rigorous abounds. Oh, this color plenty sick. Me stay here. Take care of me. Now, look here. See what you can do for him, isn't it? I'll do what you say, Fuddy, and head for Maryl's shack. That I'll make blame sure you stay here with Nancy when they ain't around. I'll be back proudly with some guards. Come, Fondard Indian. I'm no more sick than you are. Now clear out of here. You not know, Tondar. No, and I don't want to know you. You see, Tondar, last night. What do you mean? Hear a bullet hole in sleeve, and you make it. Oh, look, I didn't mean no harm. I thought it was a hold up. That's what you say now. Don't use a knife. Don't, Tonto, fix you. Please, Indian, go away. Don't look at me like that. Don't knife me. Now, Tonto, fix you. Good. Help. Indian's going to kill me. Help me. Help. 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 all to continue our story. While Tonto acted as if he were about a knife slim cutter for shooting at him on the mountain trail, Jim Stevens entered his office where a deputy was on duty. What are you doing back at the office? Thought you were going to meet Slim Cut. Hey, dude. Sam, you come with me. Zeke Merrill's claim? I'm going there alone. I want you to watch Slim Cut while I'm gone. Yeah, I'm ready. I'll walk around in the shed while he gets your horse. See, sure. I'm about to stay nearby and keep guard on Slim till you get back. Yep. Uh-huh. Might be all day. Yep. And all night, too. Might be a long time. You stay there like a baggie. No, Chef. Look, uh, I suppose he tries to leave the house. Don't let him. I'm just stopping no matter how. Yep. Well... I mean, uh, I might have to comb his hair with a barrel of my six-gun. That'd be all right, wouldn't it? Yeah. Yeah, and not with the new marshal around town. Oh, yes, Sam. Things can come to a pretty pass, but we can't do much about it. He talks to the marshal and shows him where his style is all wrong. What a way the marshal is. The less I see him, the better I like it. Hey, Sheriff, look. What does Sam hear? Oh, that Slim Carter. He don't run like a man who's down sick. The Indians chasing him. Sheriff, call up that Indian. Don't let him get me. What's the matter with you? Save me. Don't let that Indian get me. He's gonna kill me. He's got me mixed up with someone else. He thinks I tried to kill him or something. He's got the wrong man. Seems like you've got a way of always being mistook for somebody else. He'll kill me if he has a chance. Well, wouldn't that be too bad? I'll make him go away. Look at the way he stands there staring. That's if he wants to kill me. Well, he ain't the only one with that idea. Don't go away, Sheriff. You've got to stay in town. It's your duty to protect your citizens. I'm going to see Slim. I aim to talk to him. None of your tricks can stop me. They make that red skin leave. Make him clear out. He's got as much right to be here as anyone. What's he done? He threatened me. He wants to kill me. I got no proof of that. But it's true. There he is waiting for a chance, waiting to get me. You'd better write along with me. I reckon there's no use you staying around town. Don't leave. I'll go with you. Yeah. Now you're showing sense. All right. Sooner or go, then stay here with that red skin. All right. Then get your horse and come along. Maybe that engine don't use the ways of real doctors, but it sure cured you, Muddy Sudden. Go get your horse. We'll wait for you. I'll get cinched up. I'll be with you in a few minutes. You know some horse. Am I like that red skin? Yeah, me too. Say, he's coming this way. Hey, engine. Ow. What did you do to that, hombre? He talked to you. Well, sure, sure. That fellow ride up trail last night. Huh? A fellow named Slim. Him go to Merrill Place last night. He did. What did he go there for? Him go there to plan murder. Murder? Ah. People in the cacti. You mean to say he's killed Zick Merrill? You come. Find out. We're heading there. Now wait. Huh? You hear what Tonto say. He said your name. That's right. Me want to tell you plan. While Slim Carter prepared for the ride to Merrill's gold mine, Tonto talked to Jeb and the deputy. Then the trip got underway. During the long ride on the uphill trail, Slim Carter had little to say. He seemed thoughtful until the three men near their destination, and he grew nervous and more uneasy with each passing moment. Jeb might have noticed this change in Slim's manner, but he made no comment. Read ahead and there's your section. Yeah. Won't be long before we get there now. I reckon we won't have long to wait for Grubb, neither. Zeke could be fixing up some vitals about time we get there. I'm so hungry I could eat my boots. Yep, me too. Hey, what's the matter with you, Carter? You don't seem comfortable in that saddle. I'm all right. Well, you, Zeke Carter, I hope you told the truth about what Zeke said. Sure. Sure I did. You'll know mighty soon if he said you could marry Nancy, huh? He did. That don't sound like Zeke. You ain't got to make it right all the way up here if I didn't know what I was talking about. Yeah, there's no telling what a critic like you'll do. You'll sure be sorry if we came on a wild goose chase. Sheriff, I reckon it'd be better if you and Sam went out alone. Why? You go on and talk to Zeke Merrill and see just what he has to say. You can talk easier if I'm not around. You're coming along with us. But Sheriff, Merrill can talk better without me around and so can you. Keep traveling? Well, I'm there. You might have a notion that I'm making Zeke Merrill agree to the marriage. If I'm not there, there won't be any interference. You can ask him anything you want to ask him. Where'd you be while I was talking to him? No, wait here. Yeah, maybe he's right, Sam. What do you think? Well, there ain't no harm in us going out alone. He can't get far. Even if he does try to get back to town, he won't make it in time to do no good. I'll wait right here, Sheriff. Get up there. When you finish talking to Zeke and find him on the level, you just come to the door and wave to me. All right. You stay right here. See that you wait. Oh, hold it. I'll be right here waiting. No, it better be. I'll be here when I'm sure you can't go back with me. I reckon the next half hour, I'll see the end of all my troubles. Don't move. Put that mask. Get off that horse. No, no. Listen, Mr. If it's cash, you want it? I don't want cash. I want you. Not this amount. Now, wait. If you need help. There go of me. Come on down. Now to your feet. Stop pulling me around. And do as you're told. I walk ahead of me. I go into Merrill's cabin with the sheriff and his deputy. What for? Who are you? Oh, you learn things when you get to the cabin. We'll all learn things there. All right, Mr. That's what you want. Want to go to that cabin? I'll go along with you. No need to throw me around like that. Now I'll show you. Good. Thanks for starting it. That's it. One for tonneau. Now, if that's not enough, I'll close my fist and continue the game. Stop slapping me around. Make another plate of draw a weapon and I'll use a bullet on your arm to the side of my hand. My face. It's a little red. Give me any more trouble and we'll see about adding black and blue. Well, are you ready to walk to Merrill's house? Let me tell you. Let me explain. You explain, all right, Carter. You'll do a lot of explaining when we join the sheriff, his deputy, and Zeke Merrill. I get going. I'm going. Just keep a couple of paces ahead of me. You don't need to tell me what you want to. I don't see why you want to go with the sheriff and his deputy. Deal with a mask man quick enough. Keep going. Look here, mister. Whoever you are, you're a sensible man. Just wait a minute. Let me talk to you. Keep going. But if you don't... Keep going. There's the sheriff standing at the door. Sheriff, this mask man is mine. You'll wait a minute. You'll be with the sheriff. You won't have to shout. Hey, what's going on over there? Here's your friend, sheriff. He's no friend of mine. He's going to be with you when you talk to Merrill. What's this? Hey, Jeff, that man's mask. I see. Stand up those steps, Carter. Sheriff, this mask. How are we going to start? I have all of you covered. Don't reach for your guns. Back inside, Merrill. You too, sheriff. Oh, see here. What sort of things are going on around this shack? Inside. Go on, Zeke. Let it do as the mask man says. Sheriff, if you jump... You get in there too, Carter. Step along. That's it. Now, Carter, you get over there next to the fireplace and sit down on the floor. But I don't... Do as you're told. Come on. Now, sit down. Hey, Jeff. One tiny... Get him, James. Listen to the mask man. You must have some explanation for bringing Carter in here like this. It's hot here, iron. You can hardly breathe. Let me get away from the fire. You stay where you are. It's not too hot. In fact, I don't think it's hot enough. Sheriff, put some more wood on that fire. All right. How long since you've taken orders from a mask man? Man too. This is... Merrill, as the sheriff explained why he came here. He just started to. Go on, sheriff. Continue. Yes, he... See, Slim Carter told your daughter that you're giving consent for the two to get married. Oh, he did, eh? Well, I... Is it true, Zeke? True. Not on your life. Carter, you lying sneak, I told you once that if you ever called in my girl again, I'd take the horse whip to you. Let me get out of here. No hurry, Slim. No hurry. Merrill promised you a horse whipping about keeping your promise, Merrill. You'll buy something. There's an idea. Yeah, let's see you do it, Merrill. All right, you can horse whip me, but let me get where there's more air. I can't stand his heat. That fire's hotter all the time. More wood, sheriff. Great. Maybe you can sweat some of Carter sneaking his head up. There's a good big hunt. That'll make it burn. Oh, uh, by the way, Merrill, before you look for a whip, let me ask you something. Yeah. Let me ask you a few things. That mask, for instance. You were killed. Would your daughter be wealthy? She'd get all I have. That would be quite a bit. This is a good gold mine. Mm-hmm. And if the sheriff were to die with you, Slim would have little trouble in going through with the marriage to your daughter. Yeah. What about it? Slim Carter planned to murder both of you. What? That's not true. You can't take the word of a masked man saying things he can't prove. The chances are he wants to marry her himself and kill you so he'll get over it. Just a minute, just a minute, Slim. Oh, uh, sheriff, there are only two chunks of wood left in that box. How about throwing them into the fire? You say so. No. No, no more words. Hey, Slim, what's the matter with you? You act like you're from Skid Fire. Don't put that other piece on. No, no, wait. Not that one. Why not? No, no, please. Merrill, I think we'll rope Carter, and we'll all go back to town and get the new marshal to come here. Don't leave me here. Here's a rope. No, no, no, please. Don't leave me here. I'll die with that much heat. But it might turn cold before we get back. Let me out of here. Let me out and I'll do anything you say. Put your hands out so I can rope them. Take that log out. Take it out. The last one you put in, it'll blow up. It'll kill us all. What do you mean? I filled the log with blasting powder. It's in the fire now. It'll blow almost any minute. Save me. Take me out of here. Hurry while there's a chance. You admit filling a log with powder? Take it out. You plan to kill Zeke Merrill? Yes, yes, I admit it. Just take me out of here. You plan to send the sheriff here to die? Yes, yes. All right, all right. That's all we need. Your confession will be enough. You didn't worry, Carter. See, I followed you last night. I saw you come here and fill that log with powder and put it where Zeke Merrill would take it into the house for tonight's fire. You did? Well, I did. And you didn't tell me? No. Instead, I took the powder out of the log. It's harmless. Talo went to town to learn more about Slim Carter. Well, he got you slim with your own confession. Framed me, huh? Framed me? Well, I'll deny it all. You have no proof that it'll stand in court. I'm glad there's law and order in this section. That calls for proof. You overlooked one thing, Carter. Well? You're counting on the new marshal to see that you're tried as you were the last time. He's for law and order. Yes, he certainly is. That's why Talo brought him here to overhear all that you said. And we hear him. I did. Marshal! Did you hear this rat-faced crook squealing when he thought it was worthless hide? What is in danger? I sure did, Merrill. And it looks like Sheriff Tucker and I had better get together on some sort of compromise in the dealing of justice. Well, I tell you, Marshal, what we need is a few lessons from that mashman. Well, then call him back. Hey, come back here a minute. Yeah, but the marshal will do all right, Merrill. He don't need me. He'll need him. Maybe we can do all right, Marshal. But imagine anyone thinking they don't need the Lone Ranger. I'll still wait, I'll still wait! I'll still wait! The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.