 a fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty high, oh silver, the lone ranger. The pioneers who first settled the western United States were courageous men who fought hostile Indians and outlaws in order to make a new home for themselves. But when the railroad brought civilization to the frontier, they fought progress just as fiercely. It was a massed ride of the planes who made them realize they were wrong. It was he who pointed out that only through progress could the winning of the West be accomplished. But the old timers were hard to convince and it was in the fight for civilization that one of the mystery riders' most exciting adventures took place. Return with us now those thrilling days of yesteryear. Now the past come the thundering hoof beats of the great horse Silver. The lone ranger rides again. Clam and Slim, two old timers were reminiscing in front of Eagle Grove's bank. And among their listeners was the lone ranger, unmasked but wearing a disguise. By golly, Slim, the West are sure getting civilized. You know, five years ago you and me sat right here in this same spot. Behind me was nothing but a corral. And now look what's there. A bank? I'm telling you, we're getting those even New York and Chicago and Frisco. Ain't got nothing on us. Ain't it the truth, old Clam? Well, I don't know, it's already better off. Why not? Well, take the bank now. Can't say it's I got too much use for him. Why, you darn fool, Slim. Ain't no place safer for cash than a bank as I know of. It's basically when you got a fellow square of Stan Claiborne running it. Claiborne runs the bank, you say? Sure does. Getting rich from it, too. Why would you believe what stranger last month he up and got his woman a piani? I don't hold a bankers' spending cash loose like that. Don't look right. What's wrong with that? Yes, don't look right, that's all. Much more, I'll say again when I've already said. Any cash comes my way, I'll go right in my sock. Or I can put my hands on it when I'm a minder. Your sock? Dandy Whitcomb's sock, you mean? Ain't much cash you get that don't slide over Whitcomb's bar sooner or later. Well, he gets from me, won't make you rich. Like me now. Banks are good things if they're managed properly. I suppose Claiborne loans money around the district, doesn't he? Well, I should smile. It wasn't but last week that the winner of Moffat was hard put to raise cash for her taxes. But Claiborne, he gave her the loan of it. She has to pay him interest. He'll want a fellow to do business for us and Slim. And the widow still got her farm, ain't she? She'd never held on if it weren't for the bank. She'd have found some way. Man's sake, Slim. I've never seen a fellow like you. You don't act like you want to keep up with the times. Yes, I'll bet it pains you something awful that folks use in gunpowder and boots instead of bows and arrows like was done once. Have your fun, Clem. The fact remains, I ain't no more about a bank. Now, do listen before it puts my cash in it. You don't know nothing about banking. That's what it said, ain't it? Well, then I'll tell it to you just like Claiborne told her to me. You put your cash in the banks, have it? Yeah. And any time you want it, you can get it back again. But while it's there, you get paid four cents extra every year for each dollar. Four cents. That's trifling. Gratia, a dollar ain't much neither. But if you had a hundred dollars in the bank for a year, then you'd get four dollars extra. Four dollars. Mm-hmm. What you just now said, a dollar ain't much. Four dollars ain't but four times as much. Yes, a dog, blasted, idiot, too. Oh, you get me, sir. I can't talk straight. It takes time to educate everyone on the banking. Well, well, Clem, seeing as you know so much about banking, tell me this. Huh? If Stan Claven is able to pay extra for having my cash for a year... Gratia got cash. Oh, let me see what it started to. If he can pay me four cents a year extra over and above what I pay him, well, where does he get off at? Why, he goes and lends the cash you put in the bank to folks like the widow Moffat. They pay him six cents on the dollar. He pays you four and he's got two first-hand. Yeah, there you are. I know there was a skin game. If he gets six cents, why don't he pay me six cents? Answer me that if you can. Why don't he, huh? Why don't he? Yeah, he'll hold now two cents. Ain't it worth the two cents to know your cash is guarded safe and sound? Oh, not to me, Dave, not to me. What I want to know is why don't I lend the widow the cash she needs? Why don't she pay me six cents? Ain't it clear that I give up? Ain't no use arguing with a fellow like you that ain't got no understanding. Take my word for it, Slim. The bank's all right. And from what I've heard, Cleveland's all right. If you get any cash, deposit it. Yeah, maybe so. Maybe so. Before I do that, I reckon I'll wait and see if Angus Tab puts any of his money in the bank. Who's he? Well, golly, stranger, don't you know him? No. He's a Scotchman. He's got that big ranch over to Sleepy Crick. Him and his five sons run it. And if everybody was as careful of their cash as he is, I reckon bar keeps and cafes have to clear out this part of the country for going broke. Yes. You ought to meet up with him, stranger. He's a fellow to know. Honesty's a day is long, and every one of his boys grow up to be men and good ones. But it's a fact they sure don't put the trust in banks or nothing of the sort. When they get the dollar, they put it away in the stage, pork. I see. Well, when Tabby puts his cash in the bank, then by golly, I'll do the same. As long as he ain't sold this new fangled bankin' idea, then I ain't neither. You're a fool puttin' head, Slim, and don't you deny. All right. How much you got in the bank? Well, I got that. I'll have to cipher it out. Hey, ain't much, Albert. Well, let me see. I put $5 there when it opened up six months ago. Well, it'll be six months come next Friday. I'll get four cents for each of them $5 for each year. Well, that's a total of 20 cents. And half of that, that's 10 cents. Now, there it is. I'll have $5 and 10 cents comin' to me next Friday. 10 cents free and clear. 10 cents just for doin' nothin'. Well, your money's been kept safe. Sure. No worry at all. Hey, Merck, what they all knew. You sit there like a bump on a log without openin' your mouth. Just thinkin' that, soul. Mighty deep thinkin' all that, ya. Clem, you say that the bank lends cash? Yeah, that's where the bank makes its profit. Lendin' it out. I get it. Seems to me, then, it's a heap better to borrow cash and to put it in there, ain't it? Ah, sucks. Ain't no use tryin' to teach you fellas nothin'. Hey, come stand now. Sure enough. Hello, boys. How's everything? How's it? How's it? Right fine, Mr. Clevin. Glad to hear it. You workin' these days, Slim? Sure am, Mr. Clevin. Workin' all the time. Right now, I'm waitin' for some hogs to fathom so as I can sell them. I see. Mr. Clevin, I wanna talk to you. All right, mate. You don't mind if I walk partway home with you, do ya? Of course not. Come ahead. Good day, man. Goodbye, Mr. Clevin. Waitin' because he has that payin' me my ten cents. Mr. Clevin, I hope you don't think I associate with him worthless no good just because I was sittin' outside the bank with him. I wouldn't call him worthless, Murt. Perhaps a little easy. The fact is, I was waitin' for you to come out so as I could see ya. Well, why didn't you come into the bank? I didn't want it. I wanted to see you personal. Well, what's on your mind, my boy? I guess you lend cash, don't you? Well, that's the business of a bank, lending money on good security and collateral. Well, I wanna borrow some. You, Murt, what do you need money for? That's my business. I wanna borrow it, that's all. Don't you have anything for security, have you? What do you mean? Well, property, livestock, something to stand behind the loan. What's the matter? Ain't my word good? Well, your word might be good enough for me, Murt, but loan is a business matter, that's all. You see, we don't loan money unless we're sure the person we give it to can pay it back. Oh, don't trust me, huh? I'll tell you what you do, Murt. Call with the bank in the morning. We'll talk it over. My wife's waiting for me now, and I'd better be getting inside. Good day. Uh-huh, good day. Don't trust me, huh? All right. All right, we'll see about that. Later that evening, Stan Claven was listening to his wife as she played him a tune on their newly purchased piano. Blended, honey. You know, you play better than anyone else I know. Oh, you silly Stan, but I do love my piano. I'm glad, Alice. How are things going these days, dear? First-rate, first-rate. It's hard, though, to make the man here understand just what a bank is and how it works. I suppose it is, but they'll understand in time. That Tavish family, that's my hardest problem to solve. I could only make old Angus see that the bank can be of service to him, and carry a lot of weight with the other men here. Won't he listen to you? Not for long at a time. Oh, you'll get around to banking his money someday, but I may not live that long. The old fellow likes to have it in his house, where he can watch it. Sometimes I wish that his money would be stolen from him. Alice. Oh, why? I know it's not a nice thing to say, but it might teach him a lesson he'd remember. It won't be, though. None of those big sons of his now. I didn't know that. Now, who's that? Were you expecting somebody? No, I wasn't. Sit still, dear. I'll see who it is. Evening, Mr. Cleven. Oh, it's you again. I'm hurt. Come in. I wanted to see you. Come right in. Met my wife? Nope, but I'll see you right here. All right. Sit down, then. I reckon not. I'll stand what I've got to say won't take long. Very well. I've asked you to give me the loan of some cash. Well? Now I'm asking you again, and this is the last time. If you really want a loan, you're choosing a poor way to get it. I told you to come see me at the bank in the morning. I've been thinking it over since the senior life. Even so. And I decided I might just as well see you tonight. Mr. Cleven, I'm born cash from your bank, or I'm coming right out and tell what I know about you. What's that? You heard me. This is ridiculous. I'll show you how funny it is. I said I'd tell what I know about you. Mr. Cleven, I know why you come here to Eagle Grove. I know you come here from the coast. I know you had a bank there, and it went bust. Went bust, and all the folks that had the cash in it lost out. See here, Mert, are you threatening me? Take it any way you like. But just the same, I know a few things you wouldn't want told. If you don't give me the cash, I ask for other folks who are going to know them, too. Careful, I come with a gun. Get out of this house. I'll talk. Get out of here. Get out before I throw you out. If you think your filthy tongue can cause me any trouble, go on and talk. Talk your head off if you want it. I ought to tell you. You haven't been nervous. Calling me yellow. I'll show you. You stink of blackmail. Take your hands off me. Not by a dog. I ought to beat you up. You'll be sorry. I'll fix you. I'll fix you for this. But first, I'll fix you. Back. Run your way. Don't kick me. If I ever see you around here again, you'll get worse next time. This will help you remember what I mean when I say. Now go uptown. Tell everything you think you know. But don't show up here. Wait, Mr. Clayman. I'll make a little idle switch. I'll show you. Stanley, what's wrong? What's happened? It's nothing. I don't bother. Just kick the young upstairs out of the house. Dear, what do you mean? Oh, never mind. But I thought you... Please just forget it. You can play something for me, if you will. Of course. Something to make me forget. I lost my temper. I need some calming down. But who was here? Myrta. A mention of a dinner. Oh. He knows of the bank failure we had in California. He threatened to tell everyone in town about it if I didn't give him a loan. He had no intention of ever paying it back, of course. It was blackmail. Plain blackmail. But the failure, that wasn't any fault of yours, dear. He can't hurt you. I won't let him. You're sure it was just Myrta you argued with? Just him. But I thought I heard a horse and a shout. That's so. Some fellow on a white horse. I was so angry. I paid no attention. You don't think? Think what, dear? That it was some friend of Myrta's? Someone who will try to harm you? Of course not, Alice. And if it were, well, I think I'm still fit enough to deal with both of them. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue our story. Late at night on the same day, Myrta and Stan Claven had had their stormy interview. A stealthy figure emerged from the rear of the bank, a bulky package under its arm. The figure made its way through the shadows, the edge of town, and a grove of trees. There it paused, and before long, the sound of digging could be heard. The two men well hidden with the darkness looked on. One was masked, the other had the grim, sharp features of an Indian. They spoke softly. Tano, he's burying it there. This proves one thing anyhow. What that? A wooden building isn't secure enough for the money Clayton keeps on hand. We'll have to find better protection. This fellow here, I don't think he's after the money half as much as he is the opportunity to make trouble. He'll do that when morning comes. He wouldn't do it all. I'm glad we kept the fellow inside out with his quarrel with Clayton. Him? Him stump. He'll bury the money now. Where'd you leave the horses? Not far. They're here when you call. Good. You ride? The sleepy Creek Tano. What there? Angus Tavish and his sons. They're going to play their part in this affair too. You act now? One moment. I want them to be sure of success before we step in. Now. All right, Mert. We'll take over. Hand where you are. And don't slap leather. Man! You're a crook of robbers. Now wait a minute. I said clear out quick. No, wait. This will start you. I'll go. Don't shoot. And keep on going. Just don't shoot me. I'm going. I'm going, Mr. Him go. He pass. I don't think he'll report this to the law. It wouldn't pay him. Get me that package. Let me get it. Here's over. Here. Here package. Thanks. That's how to write to. I'll go to Tavish's place alone. You stay here in town. I don't keep an eye on things. Here's count. Yep. If anything should happen, then we don't expect him. I'll be right after him. Come to do that. Come on. Get it. Let's go. I'll see over. Away. It was almost two hours later that old Angus Tavish was awakened by an urgent pounding at his door. Could not be. Robert! Who put us at the door? Douglas! William! Stand right in case it's trouble. It's a light. But only one, mind you. Fine, you can all save your breath and leave me to do the talking. No then, mister. A monster! We're having a talk, Angus. Roddy! Stand behind me. Shoot if I key the word. And be careful of your aim so you won't be wasting bullets. Angus, this is the opposite of a hold-up. I'm not here to take money. I brought you money. What's that? Close the door. I'll tell you. The bundle, what are you there? Look. Green bags! Green bags for the score. Kelton. I'll do that. And tell your sons to lower their guns. There's no need for them to fear me. Oh, didn't he be heisty, mon? Keepin' covered, laddies. In Aberdeen, I was learnin' the mon that takes your money. There may be ducal. But the mon who gives it to you, he's either a doft or a crook for sure. Why? Although disappointed in his attempt to steal the bank's funds, Merd had no intention of forgetting his resolution to make the bank a trouble. In the morning, he circulated among the townspeople, and shortly afterwards, an angry group that formed in front of Whitcomb's café across the street from Clavin's bank. Told you that bank scheme was crooked? It's a skin game. That cash was took by Clavin himself. Well, I ain't got nothin' there. Nobody has, now. There's Merck. He had the news first. Hey, Merck, come over here. See all you fellas have heard about the robbery, all right? You think Clavin done it himself, Merck? Don't know about that, but there's things I do know, though. Yeah, Merck, you don't know nothin'. Clavin's all right. That bank's found. That's Merck talk. That's Merck talk. That's sound, is it? Let me tell you somethin'. This fella Clavin once run a bank in California. And what if he did? I'll tell you what. Clavin's bank went bust out in California. There was folks lost every time they had it. Now, the same things happenin' here. I tell you, fellas, do something. No, Merck, not you. You just turn up trouble. Don't... This is Merck. Keep chill, friend. How do we know how much was took from the bank last night? Maybe every dollar's gone, and that ain't Clavin's cash. It's your cash. It belongs to you folks that put it there. That's right. Maybe all of it was his talk. All right. Say only half of it's gone. You know what that means? It means half you'll get paid, and the other half won't. It'll be first come, first served. The ones that aim to get back anything at all better see that they get it right now. I got $50 there. Hey, Mr. Chair's got over $500 in the bank. I said let's go cross the street and make the bank and pay over what's left. I don't tell us that. No, wait, ma'am. You'd better get that $0.10 profit you was bragging about while there's still a chance. But I'm a friend to Clavin. Clavin, you're a fool. No, I ain't neither. Come on, boys, to the bank. All right, come on, boys. We'll find out right now. Just watch what. Let's go. Stanley, Lucas, what can you do? They'll hold on to their money now, Alice. I've had to lock the door. Oh, no. I had to, Alice. But they'll tear it down. Listen to them yelling. Honey, you were adding the cash. What we have left on hand. Yes. Quick, give me the total. What does it amount to? Less than $2,000. And how much in deposits? Almost $100,000. $100,000. I've got to do something. Maybe some of the people who borrowed can pay back their loans if you ask them. There's about $70,000 out in loans and mortgages. It's all good. You told me it was. It is, dear, but it can't be collected in a day. It would take months. Oh, Stan, I'm frightened. Please, dear. You'll have to do something. Talk to them. Explain things. They'll break in if you don't. I'll try. The $2,000 we have. Perhaps if you pay it out now, it might take care of those who are there. No, it won't. Look. Look, Alice, out the windows. Down the road. They're coming from all directions. Everyone's heard about the robbery. They'll all want to withdraw their money. Talk to them, Stan. I'm just praying they'll give me the chance to stay in here, Alice. Stan. I'm just praying. Let me speak. There ain't nothing you can tell us to speak. Listen, boys. Listen to me. Listen, boys. You're going to get your money back. Every penny of it. It's all safe and sound. Let me tell you just what happened. You've got this all wrong. There was some money stolen from here last night, but not much. Now you know that you're all getting interest on the money you have here. Come on, give us that money if you want it now. Wait. You'll get it. Let me explain. To get the interest for you, I have to lend the money to people who want it. People who can put up something like a farm or cattle or something that's worth a lot more than the money they borrowed. If they don't pay back what they borrowed when they agreed to, then they have to sell their property so the bank won't lose. And that means you won't lose either. Get back inside and start selling out the money we're here for. Wait. We haven't enough cash on hand to give back all that was put in. Here's what we thought. We're skinned now. We have to take the cheaters. You're not being cheated. Your money is all invested for you. I'll take the names of all of you who want to get your money. Now see it as your pay just as soon as we get it in. Claven, when we put that cash in your bank, you said we could have it back any time we wanted. Either you was lying then or you're lying now. Hey, give us the cash. We want it now. Man, man, man. Shut up. On the way. Will you have it? All right, please, man. I hope and won't cheat you. You're done ready, Walter. You're all a pack of local idiots. You're making trouble for nothing. You're making trouble because you ain't got the sense to sign all better. Grim's the hour. Inside, fellas. No, no, stay back. One moment, ma'am. You're likely to get hurt. Watch him. Come on. Look. Come on. Who's that coming? Who is it? A man's claim. A man's claim. That's right, ma'am. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Watch out. Look, there's Tavish. Angus Tavish. This son. Where the fuck me? Quick, the book. Tavish. Of all times for Tavish to come here. Damn. Fall back. Back, all of you. Tavish. Hey, say open up this bank. Tavish, you, you haven't any money here. Not a fact. I will, I will, eh, in just a few seconds. I've decided that we robbers run and loosed around these parts. My cash ain't safe, but I'm no more. So here I be. Come on, Tavish. This bank was robbed last night. Well, you're done, fool. What of it? The cash it's in the bank is the smallest part of it. Robbers can't steal farms and cattle and that's why most of it's invested. Come on lads, kneel, don't move, bow, or you'll get in here. Claven, me and my boys, nor McCauhan, got cash to put in here. Yes, yes, of course, Mr. Tavish. If any of you men want to draw out your money, stand in line at the door. With what anguished deposits, Claven can pay you. You'll get paid in turn. I'll handle the first man to try to rust the door myself. That man, I bet he's the one that stole the money. He's a crook. Oh, I'm betting that there's a long range of it. I got a dollar. I'm going to open up an account. Hold it set afoot when Tavish does. All right, Slim. And I got some cash I want at the cafe. I'm putting it in the bank, too. Now stand in line and wait for a turn. From far and near, people are coming to town to withdraw their money, but return home to get more to deposit. Stan, Claven, and his wife put in the hardest but the happiest day of their lives. When the day was finished, Tavish returned to the bank. I wonder what you're talking about, Claven. Mr. Tavish, no one could be more welcome. You've saved me the day. It wasn't me. It's a long story, Claven. That money that made me boys' bank today, that was cash it was stolen from you. What? And here's the past books you gave us. It's your money. Tavish, you didn't steal it. No, the cash was brought to me by the mask man. And the mask man took it from the fellow that did the stealing in the first place. Who was that? He told me not to say. He said he'd handled the apartment in his own way. Only, uh... Yes? Yeah. If you don't see Merthar on this porch no longer, don't be surprised. Merth, Merth stole the money? I never said so, did I? What's the mask man? Who's he? Claven, he was the one man in all the West that could have persuaded me to do what I did. The mask man was the Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger? Then, Tavish, I have you and him to thank for everything that's happened today. And I'll not forget it. I'll steal the whole day! Just heard as a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.