 with his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the planes 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. Come out of the past from the thundering hoop feet to the great horse Silver, the Lone Ranger rides again. Come on Silver! Let's go become! I am Silver! Oh! He had become an almost legendary character. Many of the stories about the masked mystery rider dealt with his unusual speed and accuracy in the use of his pistols. Most people had heard about the Lone Ranger's guns but few realized that there were no others like them. Sam Colt had designed and made those two and then no more. Two passengers, a man and a woman, rode on the westbound train. They had come all the way from Washington as agents of a foreign government. Their mission was to steal the masked man's six guns and they were bound for Cripple Creek where spies were held in jail after failing in a previous attempt to secure the special weapons. Cripple Creek of all places for me to go. Choice is not ours, Marine. Our duty is to serve the leader. The choice was mine when I married you. I should have known there. You thought the work of a spy was fascinating. In Washington, yes. But in this wilderness, I... Perhaps we won't be long in carrying out our assignment. Menken, if you expect to secure those guns quickly, you flatter yourself. No, no. After all, Marine, this masked man, this Lone Ranger's human, a bullet in the heart will drop him as well as the next one. I recall that Steinrich and Fleming made similar statements and they're in jail. They were careless fools. Don't underestimate the Lone Ranger. I don't. Did you make a careful study of the information that had been gathered about him? Of course I did, Marine. I memorized each word of it. He's done great things. Perhaps he stands out among the people of the west, but they're mostly savages. Have you a plan? I'm still working on it. Before you can get the masked man's guns, Menken, you must find him. I'm working on plans that'll bring him to us. But they're subject to change. Marine, I think we can base our actions on what we learn when we reach Crippled Creek. When we reach there. This trip seems endless. And even when we leave the train, we aren't at our destination. Patience, Marine. Patience. Ha! This endless train trip is bad enough, but riding in the stagecoach. How I dread it. While enemies moved toward the Lone Ranger, the wires of Western Union carried a message to the masked man. A coded message sent in care of the pod ray of a little mission. Ponto had secured that message from the pod ray and hurried to deliver it to the Lone Ranger. Oh, Scott. Open up. Open up. Important news, Tutto. That's right. A message come by Telegraph. Let me see it. Here. Thanks. Sam Colt. Perhaps he has some further information about these foreign agents who are trying to steal the designs of my guns. A message in code? Yes. I'm just working it out. I don't know. This is strange. Yeah? What him saying? He sent a small package to me. Coming by mail. He sent it before he knew about the foreign spies. What in package? Colt doesn't say that he wants us to be on the lookout for it. He's sure it doesn't fall into other hands. It'll be addressed to the pod ray at the mission. Saddle Silver. Steady this. No, Colt. We go to Padre at mission. No, Tutto. Mail for the pod ray goes to the post office in Cripple Creek. Oh. That's where enemy in jail. The sheriff in Cripple Creek will help us. He'll ask him and the agent in the stagecoach office to be on the lookout for a package from Colt. He'll eat you this inch, boy. Well, we're ready. Steady there. Come on, Tutto. Get him on the post. Jasper Menken and his wife Marie were not the only passengers on the stage for Cripple Creek. The third individual was a man of average size whom they had noticed on the train. You will say your name is Smith. That name will do as well as any. How far are you going, Mr. Smith? That depends on many things. We're going to Cripple Creek. Do you plan to stop there? Depend. This is our first trip into the West. Have you been here before? Three things. We read many stories about a rather mysterious individual who's supposed to be in this part of the country. Perhaps you know all about him. He's called the Lone Ranger. I may have heard of him. My gracious, Mr. Smith, you are noncommittal. Am I? Get up there. Get off. Marie, look over there. Menken. Those are Indians. Come on. Yes, they're coming this way. I don't like the looks of it. It looks bad. Hey there, you pest. The driver's calling. If you've got guns, you better get ready to use them. Looks like we're in for trouble with Redskins. Menken. Menken, you hear that? Why do we ever come into this terrible country? Got a gun, Menken? Well, yes, I have. You better prepare to use it. And you, Mrs. Menken. I'm frightened. Well, let's scenarios will start flying any minute. You better get down on the floor of the stage. It's less likely to be hit. Yes. Yes, Marie. Do like Mr. Smith said. Here they come. Guard has opened fire. Here they go. Open fire, Menken. We haven't much of a chance, but we may be able to get some of them. Here you are, folks. You've got a fight to change. This is your treat. The war on the fight to change. Get in there. The Indians swept down on the stage with savage fury, firing with stolen rifles, as well as bows and arrows. The guard and driver fell in the first few moments of attack, and the Indians grabbed the dangling reins and brought the sticks in hand to a halt. They'll capture us. They'll burn us with a safe. Please tell Marie you're not helping any. Keep firing, Menken. We're going to have help. Look over there. Soldiers. They'll rob those devils. Keep firing. Don't give up. We'll come through again. No. Smith. Smith. Troopers was too late to say of the lie of the guard and driver, or of the man who called himself Smith. However, the men in uniform routed the attacking savages before Menken or his wife re-injured. Have they gone? Yes, Marie. But you can still see them. Soldiers are chasing them. Oh, thank goodness. Maybe the soldiers are going to have help. Look over there. Soldiers. They'll rob those devils. Keep firing. Don't give up. We'll come through again. No. Smith. Smith. Troopers was too late to say of the lie of the guard and driver, or of the man who called himself Smith. However, the men in uniform routed the attacking savages before Menken or his wife re-injured. Have they gone? Yes, Marie. But you can still see them. Soldiers are chasing them. Oh, thank goodness. Maybe the soldiers will come back and see if we need help. They'll take us on the crippled creek. What are you doing, Menken? We're going to find out about our fellow passenger. He's dead. No doubt of that. Well, then leave him be. We're going to find out who he is. What's the difference? My dear Marie, perhaps he has credentials that identify him. And frequently it's convenient in our line of work to take the identity of... Yeah. Look, Marie. What is it? He called himself Smith, huh? Why, listen. Who is he? My dear Marie, we were traveling with a special government agent from Washington. Look. His real name is Cartwright. He carries a letter signed with a name of high authority. Who was it addressed to? Sheriff Dale at Crippled Creek. To the United States Marshal and to others who may be concerned. It requests that Cartwright be given all possible cooperation. Well, it's as far as I need to read. Why? Marie, I planned on posing as a traveling salesman. Yes. With this letter, I can reject all former plans to get the guns of the Lone Ranger. You'll identify this dead man as Jasper Mankin, your husband. I shall pose as Inspector Cartwright from Washington. The Lone Ranger was in the office of Sheriff Dale in Crippled Creek. He showed the lawman Sam Colt's message about the package that was to come by mail. You don't know what's in the package, huh? No, Sheriff. But it may have some connection with the foreign spies who were trying to get my guns. I'm wondering if there's more of those spy critters around here. Why, Sheriff? Well, right after we jailed those three that you captured, some critter went into the telegraph office and sent a message to Washington. It was in code. Did the operator know who sent the message? No, he was a stranger in town. I see. But speaking of the prisoners, I had word from Washington about him. A special federal agent is on his way here to take charge of him. I wonder if it's anyone I know. The name is Cartwright. Inspector Cartwright. Oh, I don't know him. He's due to get in here today on the stagecoach. Oh, the stage is stopping across the street right now. Maybe the package from Sam Colt is on board. Well, I'll go see. Oh, wait here, Sheriff. My mask causes too many people to ask questions. Well, suit yourself. What? Great day! Something has happened to the stage. Soldiers brought it in. The garden drivers seem to be hurt. Hurt or worse? Here comes Tutto. He'll tell me what happened. Get over there. It looks like I'm needed. If it hadn't been for the arrival of these soldiers, we would have all been killed. Here's the sheriff, Mrs. Mankin. He'll see that justice is done. Is this the work of Redskins? Yes, it is, Sheriff. They attacked and killed the garden driver. All saw a courageous passenger. My husband. My husband is dead. Easy now, Mrs. Mankin. Was anything stolen? No, the time the arrival of an army patrol saved the mail. Oh, I take it you're Sheriff Dale. That's right. My credential, Sheriff. I think you'll find them in order. That's right, eh? Yes, sir. Well, I've been expecting you, sir. I'm downright honored. I trust that I may count on you to cooperate in everything. You sure can. There's an urgent matter about which I must talk. I'll be with you just as soon as I can get the coroner going on the victim. I... Hank, you go get my wife. Tell her to come over here on the double. She can take care of Mrs. Mankin. Right, Sheriff. You wait right here, Inspector Cartwright. All right. I'll take care of the mail and my duties in connection with this attack. Then we'll get into your club. The Lone Ranger and Tonto, watching from the Sheriff's office, saw the coroner take charge of the dead men and then the crowd dispersed as the stagecoach was taken to the stable. Tonto, that must be Inspector Cartwright with the Sheriff. Ah, now we learn what happened to fellows in jail. The Sheriff's carrying a small package. Perhaps that's the one Sam Colt sent. Oh, it's not very big. No. I wonder what it is. I just told you what happened to the stagecoach. Yes, he did, Sheriff. The Indians got a terrible salesman named Mankin, but Inspector Cartwright here came through alive. You're Inspector Cartwright? I am. Here's his credentials. It's unusual to find a masked man in the Sheriff's office. Perhaps. But the Sheriff told me about you. The government is deeply indebted to you, sir, and I'm honored to meet you. Thank you, Inspector Cartwright. The same goes for you, Tonto. The Inspector is counting on you for a lot of cooperation. Very well. I'm instructed to take your guns. Please hand them over. 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. And for the Lone Ranger to suspect that the man who identified himself as Inspector Cartwright was in reality a foreign spy. The masked man was surprised at the request to hand over his guns, yet it seemed like a reasonable request. You see, Sam Cole never built better guns than yours, and there are no others like them. Yes, I know that. When he learned that foreign agents were after the design of those guns, he destroyed the blueprints. So these foreign spies must secure your weapons. This man's already captured three spy critters that made a play for his guns. Yes, yes, I know. And there'll be other attempts to get them. That's why my department in Washington asked me to collect them. We want to lock them up. Inspector Cartwright, I... I'm sorry, but I have my orders. Are you here alone? Yes. Do you think you can guard these guns better than I? Well, our enemy will be more cautious about attacking a federal agent than they would a private individual, especially a masked man. Oh, Garner, Inspector Cartwright. I hate like places to see the lone ranger hand over his guns. I'm sorry, Sheriff, but I have my orders. I'll return the weapons after we've broken this group of enemy agents. Are you going to take them to Washington? Yes, I'll start east on the next coach. There's one leaving here tomorrow. Fine. But what about the prisoners? You were to give me instructions about them. Oh, yes, yeah, well... I'll talk to them privately. Perhaps I can persuade them to name others. Am I to keep them jailed here in Cripple Creek? For the present, yes. What are you doing? Simply removing the cartridges from my pistols, that's all. Oh. It would seem very strange to be without them. Well, I can let you borrow a couple of peacemakers. I have other guns in my saddlebags, thanks. There you are, Cartwright. Glad you're taking it like this. How do we lift our horses in the rear? Left right. Oh, by the way, before you leave, I've got something for you. This package, come in on the stage. Oh, yes, Sheriff. Maybe it's what you were looking for. Hopefully, I'll put it in my pocket and open it when I get to camp. Come on, Tutto. Uh-huh. That is a little bit easy. Him or Savi? Yes. Me not like Cartwright, fella. Easy authority, Tutto. Well, him not look like fighter. Enemy may be steel gun from him. Tutto, we're going to start toward camp. I want you to circle back and keep an eye on Cartwright. You'll watch him every minute until he boards the stage for Washington just to make sure he doesn't lose my guns. Ah, me, Savi. I'll join you sometime after dark. Easy, big fella. Come on. Get him off the couch. The lone ranger had obeyed the man who identified himself as a federal agent, but he intended to take no risks. After leaving Tutto, he hurried to the Western Union office and sent a message to a certain high official in Washington. Time dragged as the masked man waited for a reply. The afternoon waned, sunset gathered the last light of day on the western horizon. Then it was dark. A lamp burned in the telegraph office. It was noticed by Marie, the wife of the foreign spy. Working overtime? I wonder. Wondering if a coded message was coming over the wires from her associates in Washington, Marie walked softly toward the office. Presently she saw the masked man with the operator. Then through the open window, she heard the dots and dashes of the Morse code. She paused listening. Then hurried to the hotel where her husband stayed. Tutto was near a first floor window in the rear of the hotel. Get your hands off me. What's this? You're covered and I shan't hesitate to shoot if you make a sudden move. Oh. You woman from stagecoach. That's right. Mankin. Mankin opened that window. What's going on? Marie, you here? Get your gun on this Indian. So? I caught him watching at your window. Come inside. Oh, me only. Fine. Come quickly. All right. I have him covered, Marie, with a lone ranger's guns. Good. Get over there, Tunno. Why are you spying on me? Oh, me not spying. You stand guard. That's a likely story. Close the window, Marie. I'll pull the curtain so others can't see into this room. Now, Tunno, I'll take that gun from your holster. Just what were you doing out there? A lone ranger not want anyone's steel six-guns. Him say, stand guard. Want to see no one rob you. Marie, I thought you were to stay with a wife of the sheriff. I could see the Western Union office from her house. The man on duty worked later than usual. I went there and I learned something you should know. Speak quickly. That masked man was there. So? He'd sent a message to Washington asking questions about Inspector Cartwright. The reply came while I listened at the window. It wasn't in code. And I wrote it down. Read it. Man about whom you ask is five foot nine. Ways 140 pounds. Has red hair. Found it. You know what that means? Of course I do. The lone ranger will know that it was Cartwright who was killed. He'll be here. You'll have a showdown. Look out, you! Take you! Marie! Get him! There! Yeah, that got him. Good work, Marie. You hadn't struck him with your gun, he would have had me. He moves like lightning. I'll see how badly he's hurt. What's the difference? He has to die. So does the masked man. I know. Take a knife, make him finish that Indian. Not yet, Marie. We may need him. For what? Might be well if we have a prisoner as hostage. We can't leave town before tomorrow when the stage comes. Ah, this country. Why don't they have more stagecoaches? Must one spend half his time just waiting? He's a liar, all right. Hand me that rope while I tie him. I still think it'd be better to finish him now. Then we wouldn't have to run the risk of his escaping. Thanks. Oh, he won't escape. That masked man will be here, Menken. I'll be ready for him. I'll meet him with his own guns. Too bad I can't use silver bullets, huh? Why can't you? He unloaded the guns when he turned them over to me. You've reloaded them? Of course. There. Haven't called the Indian. I'll tear that sheet into a strip so I can gag him. Very well. I dare say the lone ranger will be surprised when he learns what's happened to his friend here. Please, you're gaining consciousness. Tear that sheet. There. That's it. Oh. Hurry and gag him before he cries out. Yes, ma'am. Is that door locked? Yes. I'll have the gag died in a second. Hurry. There. Yes? Who is it? That's right. I want to speak to you. Yes, ma'am. Who are you? You have my gun. One moment. I do have his guns. The door is unlocked. Step in. I want to ask you... Get your hands up and step right in. Oh. Close the door behind you. You captured Tano because he was outside your window. We did. He was guarding you. Save it. Slay the cards in the table. You know who I am? Yes, men. Can I do? How did you know it? My wife heard the message to you as it came over the telegraph. I see. You and your wife will increase the total of foreign spies who have been taken prisoner. You talk of making us prisoners? While I have two guns aimed at your heart? Those are my guns. They were? They're too big for you, Menken. I can handle them. Now lower one hand slowly and unbuckle your gun belt. Let it drop to the floor. I'll unbuckle it. As for dropping it, that's dangerous. Do as I say. It would be better if I tossed the belt to you. Like this. No. And follow it. I'll shoot you. Missed. I'll take that gun. No. Get over there. I'll get you. Here's more for you, Menken. And this one. Stop. Stop your killing. Then where you are. All right, just a second, Tano. I'll cut you free. Hey, what's all the ruckus? A fight. A fight in my hotel. Stop it, then. The fight's all over. Great day. What you do to Cartwright? His name is Menken. And he's one of the spies. Take charge of him, Sheriff. His wife as well. You mean he's not the federal man? Here, this telegraph message will explain. Are you all right, Tano? Me all right now. Get bumpin' head. That'll all. Well, I reckon Menken's gonna have a bigger headache than you got, Tano. To think that this would happen. Gunfire in my hotel. Oh, stop your wailing and go get Deputy Salter. Yes, sir, Sheriff. You're a gun. I'm sure glad you've got your six guns back. So am I, Sheriff. I'm accustomed to those guns. Sheriff, and you must be. Why, doggone it, those guns are practically a part of you. Yes. A strange thing. Huh? Menken had the guns. He turned them against me. He intended to kill me with them. Ah, him try to fire point blank. The only time the guns have ever failed. But when Menken used them against me. And you took the cartridges out before he gave them the shooting eyes. Yes, but he reloaded. See here? He used standard cartridges. Chances are they were faulty. Yes, that's probably the case. Yep. I wonder. By golly, you mean? Hey, it's something to think about. Yes, Sheriff. But look here, mister. I've been downright curious about that package that come for you. Well, I haven't had time to open it. I still have it here in my pocket. Huh? Come, Tato. We'll return to camp and open it there. In camp, by the light of a small, well-concealed fire. The Lone Ranger carefully unwrapped the package that had come from Samuel Colt. The package that called for such careful watching. Small, right box, Tato. Whatever this is, it can't be much larger than a small watch. You open box? Right. There. Tato, look at this. Oh. It plenty curious. Great skirt, Tato. I see what this is. No wonder Sam Colt doesn't want this to fall into the hands of strangers. Saddle up. We've got to move fast. What is that mysterious gift from Sam Colt? Why was the Lone Ranger so surprised when he saw it? And why did he and Tato saddle their horses in record time? The answers will be heard in the next Lone Ranger story. Ready, Tato? Steady, big fella? You ready? Let's go. Where is the Lone Ranger riding? This is a copyrighted feature originated by George W. Trendle and directed by Charles D. Livingston. The Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer.