 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hi-oh 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. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoof-eat of the great horse Silver, the lone ranger rides again. It was just before sundown of a day in early spring when the lone ranger and Tonto rained up their horses near the bustling river town of Westport. Who's Silver Horse? Oh, father. Well, stop here, Tonto. Right there, big fella. You ride on into town and buy some supplies. I'll make camp. Ah, happy people in Westport now. Better than not see you with mask. That's right. There are several wagon trains making up here. Home setters heading west. Ah, there one thing mean of savvy. What's that, Tonto? Near edge of town you see big white teepee. Fenty people go in there. Listen to fella make talk. Oh, you must mean the evangelist tent. It's fairly large, made of white canvas. Oh, you may not understand the evangelist. That means a preacher, Tonto. Sort of a traveling person. That tents are about the only churches the pioneers have while they're on the trail. Oh. I don't know who this particular preacher is. I wish him luck. Westport's a boon town, so it's probably overrun with crooked gamblers and thieves. Ah. The honest people in those wagon trains need the help of whatever good work he can do. Well, get back as soon as you can, Tonto. I'll have a fire going. Be ready for supper. Ah. Get him up scum. A few minutes later on the other side of Westport, two men stepped from the gang plank of a St. Louis riverboat and walked toward the center of town. Both of the men were professional gamblers, tall dock complexion, cold webster, and as usual companion, a tow-headed young man known only as Cotton. Say, cool. It's town of Westport's really booming. Look at the people. Homesteaders. They got their wagon trains here, then head west. Oh, Clodhoppers, huh? Well, just the same. I bet they got plenty of money in their genes. Maybe. Might not be a bad idea to set up a poker or a furrow game. Oh, we could take a few dollars away from these, you OK? No, Cotton. We're a riverboat gambler, so we'll stick to it. I'd rather not get in on it. Well, anything you say, cool. Seems a shame, though, with all this sucker money around here, just waiting to be taken. Evidently, someone else has the same idea. Look over there. Well, uh, a shell game. Let's go over and see who's running it. It's strictly a game of skills, gents. A game to test that age-old question which is quicker the hand or the eye. Now, you'll notice I have the halves of three ordinary walnut shells on the table before me. And beside the shells, one little black-eyed pea. That's all just one little black-eyed pea. Hey, look at the yokel, so full. Now, watch me close my eyes. I put one of the shells over the pea like this. Then I move all three shells like this, and this. Now, all you have to do is tell me which shell is hiding the little black-eyed pea. That's all there is to it, folks. You bet your money, you take your choice. It's a game of skills, folks, to determine which is quicker. My hand or your eye. Yes, I'll try it again, mister. Good. Here's a man who wants to prove that I'm wrong and he's right. How much, stranger? Well, I, uh, I've lost a couple of times. Have to double up to get even. Can I bet $100? Certainly, put your money on the table. Well, there we are. Now, watch the little black-eyed pea. First, I cover it, then move the shells like this, and this. All right, my friend, you tell me where I find the pea. Harry kept crying for the first time. It's under that shell on the end. On the end? Very well. Now the man says he's sure. So we'll turn over this shell and find... Nothing there. Yes, sir, that's a shame. You see, all the time the little black-eyed pea was under this shell. Sorry, my friend. Better luck next time. Say, Cotton, I just recognize this hide-binder. It's Kit Murphy, one of Ace Craven's games. Kit Murphy? Sure. Sure it is. That means that Ace Craven must have meant all over. I don't know, but I'm sure Kit doesn't remember me. I'm going to show him a few tricks with those shells. Come on, shoot. Mind if I take a chance at your little guessing game? Why not? Put up your money, mister, and take your choice. All right. Here's a thousand dollars. That's a second one. Did you say a thousand? It is. Would you want to play? Well, sure. I'll just put the little pea under one of these shells and move them like this. And this. Now can you guess which one? It's under this one right here. No, that's impossible. You mean you have two little black-eyed peas? I threw the game's crooked. I'm sure you wouldn't want any more things. You must have slipped another one under there when I wasn't looking. I won the game. Pay me. All right. Here's your money. Thanks, Kit. Cold lips. Tell Ace Craven he'll go broke if all of his shell game operators are like you. A blind man can move faster than you do in this game. Double cross and tin horn. Give me back that money or... You won't do anything, Murphy, except fold up that table and move on. It's crooked scum like you that give decent gamblers a bad name. You can't make me pick up my... I said move. All right. We're laced here's about this. He'll fix you up. Cotton. Yeah. Follow Murphy. Don't want to find out where Ace is hiding. Sure. Cool. I'll stay right behind you. You are wonderful. I've been watching you all the time. Excuse me, ma'am. You certainly made that gambler pack up and leave in a hurry. Well, I... You see, my father preaches against gambling. He's holding meetings every afternoon and night in that big white tent at the edge of town. And now you... I'm afraid you've got me wrong, ma'am. I have a wonderful idea. You could help father in his work. Will you talk to him? Will you please? What I've been trying to tell you is that I'm really no different than... Please come and have a talk with father, won't you? I... All right. Where's your father's church? The big tent I told you about. Come on. Ho! Ho! You screwed her over. Ace! Good. Ace, what are you doing back here in the cabin? I thought I told you to keep working that shell game. Something happened. Cold Webster's here in Westport. Webster? One hour. Well, he came up and started to play. I didn't recognize him. He cleaned me, Ace. Took $1,000 every cent I had. You lame brain chug head. What's wrong with you? Letting a slick tin-hole like Webster... What can I do with all the yoke will stand around? I had to leave. I think he put that tow-head of down-brain cotton on my trail. What? You mean that? Oh, I'm sure I lost him about a quarter of a mile back. But the trail goes over the bluff. Tend to when he gave up and he lost him a side. And it's an even bet he didn't. What? Ace! Head for town. Find Cold Webster and get rid of him. Sure. If I didn't have enough trouble here in Westport with that solemn singing skypilot yelling his head off about gambling without you... Well, Webster's a pretty tough arm, Ace. I'd toughen up the movie and on me. Did you deliver that card to the skypilot this afternoon? Yeah. I went to his big pep meeting and dropped a little love letter into the collection place. Just so he got it. I'll get going. Run down Webster. Yeah, I'll have them. You, kid. Get out of here and scour that back trail of yours. Find that tow-headed skunk named Trotten and... leave him where you find him. Savvy? Oh, sure, Ace. I'd have drilled him before, but I put the... Shut up! Get out of here and do what I say. Oh, Father. Oh, but in trouble getting the supplies, Tunno? No. No trouble. May he get him from Saddleback. Good. 20 people on the street in town. Oh. That big town would walk slow and me see it. See it, huh? I'm sure you threw that hard-out camera in his face. Yeah, well, maybe you did, tow-head. But you're not afraid of anybody from here. Somebody on the trail above is Tunno. Oh! Look out, Tunno. Done shot. Get some water quick, huh? Can you do it? No, you'd better lie still. We'll find out how badly you're hurt. Yeah, bring water. Good. Bring out a cloth and put it on him. Yes, you do it. Craven sent to you to trail me. You have a pretty serious count wound here. If you're lucky to be alive, it's a blanket tunnel we can lie on that. Well, you won't get gunned, man. Right here. You fell off the trail into our camp. Yeah, just my luck. You'll buy one of Ace's gunners and I'll fall in all hoot camp. We're not outlaws. There. Doesn't that feel any better? A bad name. A bandage now? I can't figure this out. I don't try. Just lean back and rest. I can't stay here. They're after Cole. He sent a gun sling in the town to kill him. I was outside the camp and heard him talk about it. Who's Cole? Cole Webster. The best fellow dealer between here and St. Louis. We're partners. Rest for a few minutes until I can get this bandage fixed. And you can tell us all about it. Don't worry. I don't know. I'll find some way to reach Cole Webster. This is our big chair to dance. It's empty now because the evening service won't start until... Oh, Dad. Dad, oh, Dad. Come here. Where'd you, Karen? I brought someone to meet you. Good. I'm so stupid. I've forgotten that's her name. This is my father, Mr. Gideon Bell. And you're... Webster. Cole Webster. And I'm Carolyn Bell. Carolyn Bell. Beautiful name. I'm glad to know you're your man. Thanks. You should have seen him, Dad. Just a little while ago. Mr. Webster did what we've been trying to do for weeks. He made one of those cheating gamblers pack up and leave. Good. I'm afraid, Miss Carolyn, it's sort of mixed up. All I did was beat one of Ace Craven's men in his own game and I won $1,000 doing it. You won it? I don't understand. Well, you see, I'm no reformer. I'm a gambler myself rather notorious gambler. I hope you're joking, young man. Gamblers are the worst evil and fester civilized community. My daughter and I are doing our best to get rid of them. I see. I'll leave and you can be sure one is gone. Why didn't you tell me you... I tried to. And I'm sorry. Truly, I am. Surely, Mr. Webster, you must realize the error of your ways. This little time... I just arrived a few hours ago, Mr. Bell. As you know, honest gambling is perfectly legal, but there is crooked gambling going on here in Westport. I have no part in it. Nobody hates a crooked gambler worse than I do. If you were sincere in that statement, won't you lend your strength and prayers to help us wipe out the evil? Oh, yeah. Please, Bill, won't you call? It'll take a lot more than prayer to beat this center. Only way to whip a crooked gambler is with lead. Prayer is stronger than bullets. And I'm sure that the hidden hand of truth is always on the side of righteousness. Maybe so. But gamblers are pretty smart at playing hidden hands themselves. I don't care what devices gamblers use. I know truth would eventually win out. I... to use one of your professional terms, Mr. Webster, I'll bet I'm right. I'll take that bet, Mr. Bell. What's more, I've got what... Behind you! A man with a gun! This is the payoff, Cole! In lead! I'm going cards in this game. Drop that gun! Look, on the other side, a massed outlaw. And we're in the middle. Down! Both of you, down! 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. In the uncertain darkness, just inside Gideon Bell's large tent, the Lone Ranger traded lead with a killer. Oh, Cole! Stay down, Carol. The middle on that side was going to kill you. Yeah. I don't know why the massed outlaw dealt himself in, but he can sure sling lead. Oh! My hand! I... Oh! Is he dead? I know such luck. He's getting away. Look, are you people all right? Here, you spread the grease of heaven. Good. That gunslinger was after me. Thanks to you, he high-tailed it. Why did you come in on this? You are wearing a mask. You must be an outlaw. Forget the mask. You're a Cole Webster, aren't you? Yeah, but... I'll try to trail the man who was trying to kill you. In the meantime, you ought to know that a friend of yours has had an accident. A friend of mine? Yes, he's smaller than you. Toe has had an accident. I sent him to trail Kit Murphy. You'll find him in a small camp under a bluff about a mile downriver. Thanks. I'll see you later. Adios. You two jaspers call yourselves gunslingers. Fumbled both jobs. What do you mean fumbled? I plugged the towhead, didn't I? How do I know? Listen, Ace, it wasn't my fault if somehow a hood wearing a mask moves into side cold Webster in that sky pile. Yeah, a masked outlaw. Come back here with a local story you dreamed up about something. Just look in my shoulder. There's no dream. I tell you, he was a big army. Shut up! Now, when I want a job done right, I'll do it myself. First, that preacher yelling about forming a citizens' committee to run us all out of town. Now, cold Webster moves in and try... He is. I just thought of something. Well, it's news to me that you can think. If the preacher, Gent, won't scare, there's one way to get to him and cold Webster at the same time. All right, I'm listening. The old hoot's got a daughter, ain't he? I think that's where cold Webster ties in. Yeah, he's sweet and quiet. Quiet, man. I'll work it out myself. And we'll try again. See if you jugheads can follow orders this time. Oh, so the hood's got a hood, huh? Why don't you cotton directions, Tutto? We should pick up the trail Ace Craven's hideout and go on top of the bluff. Ah, no trail sign here. He's not savvy. Must be somewhere nearby. Pretty big fella, easy. Let's ground hitch the horses here and see what luck we have on foot. Uh-uh. Can't be too far from here. I'll keep on searching until we find it though. Are you sure you feel all right, Cotton? Well, enough to walk back to town? Look here, Lena, my arm all right, Cole. It's just Christmas scalp. That's all. After that mask, you ain't a red-skinned bandage to form out. I wonder who he is at Outlaw with a mask. Blame the fine old. I sort of fell into the camp like I told you. It doesn't make sense. But right now, you and I've got something else to worry about. Yeah? What is it? We're going to help Gideon Bell run Ace Craven and his gang out of Westport. Gideon Bell? Listen, Cole, you're not getting religion, are you? Of course not. Religion's got nothing to do with it. I just want to help Mr. Bell give honest folks a square deal. That's all. Yeah. Cole, you and I have been working together, dealing games on the river boats for a long time. That's right. You're not going to break up and go solo on me, are you? You know, Cole. Of course I'm not. You and I are more than business partners, Cotton. We're friends. We'll always be friends. And as soon as we help this preacher, Jen, get rid of Ace Craven, we'll go back to the boats and everything will be just like it was before. Sure, sure. And another thing. I want to win a bet I made with the preacher. My friends, I've come to the most important part of my message for this evening. I have warned you of this evil before, and I bring that same warning again. Crooked dishonors from thieving gamblers are robbing every gullible man in town. Most of us are only temporary citizens of Westport. We're waiting here to the wagon trains leave for the West. In the meantime, are we going to allow crooked gamblers to shuff our strength and not to mind our courage? I say no. Get in right, folks. Let's clean up Westport and keep it clean. I'm sure you know where the Skype pilot is camped. Sure, him and the girl live in one of these covered wagons. I think it's this one. You think? Why not sing out, Ace? That'll route somebody. Yeah, I'll try. Hello! The wagon! Are you looking for someone? That's her, Ace. Yes, I'd like to see Gideon Bell if he's around. I don't know why I'm just standing here right now. He told me services down at the Big Ten. Oh, why don't you... Are you sure this is her love? Yeah. Who are you, men? I can't see your faces very well on this slide. You are coming without a sister. The blanket kit coat over her head. Yeah. Now, Lough, you deliver the message. Chicken Eye can handle her. I suggest the formation of a citizen's committee. Let's implement our prayers with a strong arm of truth. Show the gamblers we mean business. That's what the bell got in. How do you like them? First grade. Sounds like it really means it. It does. Welcome home, my friends. I'm happy to tell you I have a Mr. Dade. Excuse me, please. What's the matter? Why did you stop talking? I don't know. The boy just walked up and handed him a sip of paper. Something's wrong, Captain. Come on, two of us. Mr. Bell, my friend and I have been listening to your talk. Oh, Mr. I'm glad to see you, sir. This is the kind of attack I didn't expect. What are you talking about? This card was just handed to me. It's a note. I'll read it to you. It says your daughter is with us. If you want to save her life, get out of town. Carolyn, are you mean? This message is authentic. I don't know what to do. He's cravin' that dirty sneakin'. Cotton, can you find your way back to that hideout of theirs? I think I can, cool. We've got to find it. Do it mighty quick. Come on. That must be the cabin up ahead, Tutto. There's a light in it. I wonder if we've had a hard time finding it. The place is almost completely hidden behind a brush. Wait, Tutto. Someone's coming. I'm past, I can't see us. There must be hold up. That's all I want to know. Keep your gun handy. Don't worry. That little boat, kiss Murphy, won't drill near a second. Keep it fluffy. That young fella, we leave and camp. Yes. The other man's cool. Something must have happened in town to make them pick up this trail. What do we do, Kimusabi? We'll circle the cabin, Tutto. Come up from the rear. I'd rather let Webster and his friend handle this job. But they may need some help. That's Carolyn. He brought her out here. Buddy Cotton, you stand there cool. I want to take a run at that door. Hey, what the hell? Hey, what the hell? Hey, it's a cold. Have you ever had a club? Rage, both of you. Guess he's got us, kid. Might as well... Open up. Behind the door, watch out. Cotton, you're hurt. His Webster tin horn might be worth more to us alive. Drop your gun, Cole. Lops got you covered. You heard what he said? Drop it. I should have figured on another rat behind the door. I won't make the same mistake again. You won't get the chance. Now listen to me, tin horn. The first thing I want is the money you took away from Kit. And Lopple heard you and the towhead back to town. You'll get a hold of the Medlin Sky Pilot. The three of you will make tracks and fast. You understand? You dirty, murdering coyote. Wait, the second thought is not worth it. What do you mean, Ace? Webster and the towhead are more trouble than they're worth. Drill them, Lopple. You're even afraid to do your own killings, aren't you, Ace? You cheap little bloke. All right, I'll get it to you, Lopple. Hey, Ace, look, the window. There's a masked man who's going to show up. Are you all right, Webster? Yes, I guess I am. If none of those bullets touch me, I'm afraid Cotton's hurt. No, not Cole. They'll wing me again, but I'll live to it. Good. How are you, Webster? I'd turn all three of these crooked gamblers over to the law and Westport for attempted murder. That's what I'm going to do. And about the future, Webster, although legitimate gambling is legal here on the frontier, I don't approve of it. What do you think the future is? I understand, Mask Man. Good. Adios. Wait a minute. You can't just walk away without... Carolyn, you all right? These three skunks didn't hurt you, did they? No, of course not. I was just a little bit shaky and scared, that's all. I don't blame you. I haven't been with that Mask Man breaking in just when he did, I don't think... He broke the window with his hand, Cole. Maybe that was the hidden hand of truth that Dad's always talking about. Maybe so. Whatever it was, it saved our lives. All right, you skunks. We're walking back to town. Get a move on. I sure hate to see you go, Cotton. I wish you'd change your mind and come out west with us. So do I. There's plenty of room in our wagon. Oh, no. I'd be like a fish out of water if I ever left these river boats for very long. You two go ahead. The trip will make a fine honeymoon. Cotton, you're sure there's no hard feelings about me changing my mind? No, Cole. If I ever find a girl as pretty as Caroline, I'll change my mind, too. Oh, Cotton. Well, that's it. We're shoving off. So long, Cole. Bye, Cotton. Goodbye, Caroline. Give our regards to your father. Goodbye. Now, who'd ever figure the whole thing had turned out this way? Cole wins the girl, Gideon Bear wins the bet, and I'm the only one that knows the hidden hand of truth belonged to the Lone Ranger. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.