 The horse with the speed of light, the cloud of dust, and a hardy high old silver, the Lone Ranger. In the early days of the western United States, the stage trails were rough and poorly marked. Every trip, the driver and passengers faced the danger of attack by road agents and hostile Indians. And it was not until the masked rider of the plane started his great fight for law and order that travel became safe in the new territory. The Lone Ranger's strength and courage, his daring and resourcefulness made him the greatest champion of justice the West ever knew. 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. While the Lone Ranger and Tonto rode across the plains, the sound of distant gunfire reached their ears. There's a stage to it about now. That's right. That country through here too. All that shooting means trouble. Come on, Silver. Further ahead on the trail, the westbound stage had been halted by a gang of outlaws. They'd expect to take the stage by surprise and steal the payroll cash on its way to the nearby Circle D ranch. With the driver in the guarded spot of the thieves and put up a valiant battle until both lay slumped across the top of the stage. Victims of the outlaws' bullets. Inside the stage, one passenger and old man had hastily erected a barricade. And it was his fire that caused the outlaws to call a halt to their plan. Norton just been hit. He's down. It's the old guy. You can't get him. He's barricaded inside the stage. Come on, you yellow stage robin snakes. Come on and get me. See we can't stay here. No, you swing me. Light out. We'll come back later. Get going. Get up there. Come on. Get up. Paul will catch. There's one to remember me by. Get out. See how bad hurt my boy is. You dirty crooks. Started shooting out, giving the boys on top of chairs to fight back. Help me. You shot me. Help me. Call on your yellow pals that ran off from one man. Maybe they'll help you. I got a garden driver to see too. I'm coming, son. Be with you in a second. There now. Hey, it's your bad. Speak to me, boy. Speak to your pa. Oh, don't leave me, Jimmy. Jimmy. What have they done to you? How can we help those? You, another thieving crook. I'll show you. Hold on. Don't fire. Don't tell me not to fire. My boy was driving his stage, his first trip, and your own repel shot him before they give him a chance. Well, for that, I'm drilling you. Dad, grab it. My gun's empty. Then put it down and listen to me. We aren't thieves. We heard the shooting. Masks, though. Are the garden drivers still alive? No, they ain't. Help me. That polecat is, though. He's one of the outlaws. His two parts done a run-out on him. Take a look at him, Tutto. Ha! Trot a look. Who were the thieves? Don't know who they were. All three wore masks. All I know is that I dropped that one and winged another. You were inside the stage? I was. Now it's behind them boxes where they couldn't get me. They stuck around and had dropped the rest of them. If only I could ride, I'd get after them right now. My legs ain't so good no more. Can't set a saddle. Here's a coyote, say, drill my boy. Outlaw's color there, not die. Him get well. Tutto got wound-pixed. We're going after the thieves. Mr. You stay here. But I... Stay here and keep a gun on that wounded man until we get back. Don't shoot him, though. Why not? If he's dead, he'll never be able to tell who was with him. We'll be back. Let's go, Tunnel. Get off. Come on, Silver. But with their start and riding at breakneck speed, the outlaws had managed to reach town. On the outskirts of the village, they slowed their horses to a walk and casually rode down the main street. They dismounted in front of a small store and went inside. There was no trace of them. When a few minutes later, the Lone Ranger and Tunnel came to the end of their trail, a trail that was in the middle of the road. They got into town and lost themselves among the rest of the people here. That's right. We don't even know what their horses look like. Couldn't even find tracks of them on the trail. We shouldn't have been so quick to follow them, Tunnel. That old man on the stage might have been able to tell us more about the thieves. Maybe we could go back, huh? Yes. We'll go back and ask him. And we'll know something about the men we're hunting. One thing I am sure of. What that? Those thieves are here. They're here. They're here. They're here. They're here. And who's that for? Those thieves are here in town. Come on,יות. There's a hostage. That's where it was left. Police station has fara Where wounded fellow gone? He isn't here. Where old man? Hello there. Him not here either. Hello? Hello? Him gone. Whatever happened to his gun? The place of phải who went out on a knife in his hand. Where could he have gone? Arro oh how badly was that outlaw hurt? In the testing of the old man? He's kidnapped then, where could he have been. Virtual paths to lead? Had done that, we'd have seen them. That's right. I wonder if that old man has made off of the outlaw. I wonder if he's going after that gang alone. So that's it, eh? The old glued aims to get rich by the shooting. That's what he's doing, Norton. I had a tough time getting here to the shack. You must have had. It was tough for me with a slug in my arm. Jeffery, is you listening to me? You wouldn't be scheming a double cross, would you? Me? No, of course not, Norton. How could I? See the old man leave the stage, then you take the cash? No. You searched me, Norton. I didn't have no cash. You might have hid it somewhere. But I didn't. You tell just what happened after we hightailed from the trail. I told you about the masked man and the red skin that come along. Yeah? They went after you. Go on. They couldn't have got us. Me and Steve got to town and sawn it in real casual, like. And we stopped at my place, and I plugged Steve's wound. Then we come back here to the hideout. Well, after the masked man and the red skin left, the old man come and looked at me. He studied the bullet wound for some time. Then that shows what he knows about it. You're done for, you crooked. I'd felt some better up to then. But when he says that, well, I didn't know. Get on, Jeffery, then what happened? Well, he went to the box and the stage, the one that had the cash in it, you see. Yeah? He took the folded money and stuck it under his shirt. Then he turned at me and laughed. Stealing this cash at me for the rest of my life. And that's that. Well, it's scheming old crook. So he made off of the cash. Just like I told you, Norton, that won't sure hurts a plenty. The old man was right, Jefferies. It will take you away. No, Norton, it won't. I'm plenty stronger than I was. You're no good to us crippled like that. We can't be bothered taking care of you. Or splitting with you when we get the old man's key. Boys, you wouldn't. Who wouldn't? No, no. Wait, listen. It's going to be a two-way split. No! A two-way split. What do you think you're going? Jeff, I'm trying to find out where a man named Higgins lives. Where are you? In fact, who are you? A friend of his. Well, what are you doing around here with that mask on? We've come a long way to find Higgins. Sheriff, aren't you hunting for the people who robbed the stage last week? I am. Didn't Higgins know anything about the robbery? He was killed outright. I found him in the driver's seat. You're talking about the driver of the stage? I mean the old man, the driver's father. Higgins knew anything about the robbery. He wasn't on the stage then? If he was, he snoozed to me. I see. Does he still live over there? Hey, you're pointing the wrong way. He lives where he always did. We out in Lonesome Ranch near the fork in the river. Oh? You sure you're thinking of the same manly? I'm sure now. Then now it's your turn to talk. I'm waiting to hear an explanation about that mask. Oh, the mask? Well, Sheriff, I'll tell you all about that when I get back. Come on, Silver. Hey, hold on there. Dad, Fred, it all. Just read off and ignored my shooting man. Who is that hombre? Ignoring the Sheriff's shouted command and his gun, the Lone Ranger circled the town to conceal his trail. And a short time later, rained up at Lonesome Ranch near the fork in the river. Dismounting, he entered the door of the ranch house without stopping to knock. Higgins was surprised to see the masked man again. You with the mask? Now look here. Yeah, hard time finding you, Higgins. We didn't even know who you were. Well, what do you want here? You didn't wait for us. I wanted to get the crooks. It killed my son. That's why I done it. The Sheriff didn't even know there was a passenger on the stage. I didn't tell him I was on it. I even picked up all the cartridges I fired so he wouldn't find a trace of me. But why? I let the survivor outlaw know I was taking the cash. I figured he might tell his pals and they'd come and get me. And I'd have the chance to shoot it out with him again. Higgins, we found where the outlaws met. Where they shot and killed the men, you let escape. The snakes? We might have been able to make the wounded man name his friends. He wouldn't have done it. I know the breed. He'd have died first. Have you got the money here? How'd you know? Money, not found. I don't make you two out. You sure talk like a man could trust you. You can, Justice Higgins. But you'll think differently for a while, OK? You shot it out with the outlaws once. But that doesn't mean you'd be as lucky another time. Why not? The first place, you might not have the barricade that saved you before. Where, like he? The second place, you don't know who they are. They might come here unmasked and turn out to be men you know well and get you off guard. They are, man, who live in town. Well, I'll take my chances. I'm holding the cash for baits, Abby. I'll be here when them crooks come, and I'll be ready for them. I've got a right to meet them. They kill my boy. I'm sorry, Higgins. But if you stay here, you might be killed. That's the chance I'll take. I don't think Tonto and I are going to let you take that chance. What's that? If you lose, the crooks will go unpunished. It's not only your life, you see. Oh, you see here, stranger. They're covered, Higgins. Take it easy. Credit your outlaws after all. You're going with us, Higgins. Get a rope on him, Tonto. You all fired no good to fight. You better rope me tight. Better gag me or I'll eat the dog or I'll rope away. I'll get you for this. The whole state won't be big enough for you to hide in. I'll get you. You just wait and see. Take it easy, Higgins. You'll find out later that we're on your side. Open the door, Tonto. You wait. That's all I can say. You just wait. I'll let you go, Higgins. Leave a lamp here lighted. Tonto, leave the door open. Tonto, you're lucky. The outlaws decided to wait a while before they came hunting for you. I ain't so sure they ain't come hunting me. I ain't sure you ain't them. All right. What are you taking there? Leave my things be. We'll need these things. Where are you taking me? We're heading for the deep part of the river. Ground me, eh? You'll never. No, Higgins. We're doing the only thing I can think of that will catch the outlaws and keep you alive. Get on horse now. I am hand, if you will. You get on horse. Lift him up, Tonto. He can ride with me. Blast your determination. Let me be. I'll get my own self. I ain't a baby that's to be picked up off the ground. Very well, Higgins. You will find out. You wait and see. Just tell me what you're going to do with me. That's all. We're going to make everyone think that you're dead. 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. How to continue our story. When the Lone Ranger learned of Higgins' plan to capture the outlaws, he took the old rancher prisoner and carried him away. On the following day, the sheriff's posse rode out to Higgins' ranch. Hey, poor old Higgins. It's a dog going to shame. We couldn't have got here sooner. If only it would have come yesterday instead of the day. I might have been able to save him. These hoof marks tell the story, sheriff. Ain't no question about what's happened here. Look at the horse's hoofs and the man's footprints. Higgins was killed all right enough last night, too. Last night's right. These footprints ain't more than 12 hours old. Well, Sheriff, I noticed some odd things about him. Oh, Deputy, what do you notice? This was a good man of reading signs. Well, back at the house, it looked like Higgins put up something of a struggle. Sure he did. Then he seemed to stop struggling. There ain't no struggling signs here. Poor old fellow likely ran out of strength. He might have. There's a doubt in your voice, Deputy. Well, generally, a man falls to the ground when he gets too weak to keep fighting. And if he don't fall down, he staggers standing up. Sure he does. But Higgins' footprints here show that he was walking and walking in a straight line at that. Yes. He don't show signs of staggering. You think he went along with the killer of his own accord? Yeah, it looks that way. Of course, there's lots of things that might account for it. Well, it's a sure thing that he was killed. Well, we've seen where he fought, didn't we? Yeah. Of course, we ain't found the body. I told you, Deputy, it'd been weighed down with rocks and threw it into the river here. That's easy to see. You can see where the rocks was taken away. Waking away. Well, you're likely right, Sheriff. What I was from you, Deputy, is all you can tell about the murder. What do you judge from his footprints? Well, there was more than one man. There was two. But one was a red skin. You sure of that? Well, you can see where we wore marquises. Maybe a white man wore marquises. A man like us don't walk this way. This was a red skin. Now, I'll show you why I know. See how the weight is balanced even on the foot? We put more weight on the outside of our foot and point our toes out or straight ahead. An Indian walks with the toes pointing in. What about the other man? A big man, a tall one. A tall man and a red skin. Hey, gully, I got a notion who they are. There was a tall man asked me questions, wore a mask. I was suspicious about him at the time. Deputy, can you follow this trail? Well, I'll try. It ain't very old. That'll help. Let's get going, then. Always follow me and the deputy. Now, what's that way to start? Get up. Get up there. It's working out slick as can be, Steve. How is that? The law is on the hunt for a red skin for the murder of the old man. Higgins? Yep, there's two the law wants. The Indian and the man that was with him. They must have been the two that Jeffery told us about. Yeah, they didn't get the cash on the stage when they was there. They have to dig in. What about that cash? All we've got to do now is help ourselves. But we don't know where the cash is. Maybe them two got it. It's one of two things. Either got it from the old man or they didn't. If they got it, we'll have to try to find where they sold it away. I don't think they got it, though. I think it's still Higgins' house. What makes you think that? Well, the tracks on the ground. They took Higgins away and probably forced him to tell where it was hid. But there wasn't any tracks showing where the two went back to the house. We'll have a look around the house anyway. Higgins must have had the cash there in the first place. Sure he did. And just hope it's still there. But he will never find it. Oh, no. Norton. Yeah? How'd you find out so much about the tracks on the ground? I got ways of hearing things. Sure, Tilly. All a man has to do is hang around with the boys they're talking and keep his ears open. Now we get the chance to search that house. We'll sit tight and wait the chance. I'll all be busy hunting down those two. Well, we're sure that everyone is somewhere else. We'll ride out to where Higgins live and have a look-see. Tilly, will you stay right here in town? Sure, it's safe enough here. No one suspects us. Yeah, I hear something. Come on, let's look outside. It's a plase coming back. They got a prisoner. An engine. But they're really tracking down, boys. Catch up to Bob Lucky. Hey! Hey, Bob Lucky! Steve, let's not let him try the red skin. The sooner they hang him, the sooner the case is closed. What do you mean? Don't take much to start a lynch, Bob. It ain't soon. Come on, make plenty of noise. Spring the red skin up! Hang the chin in! That's an adventure! Come on, boys! String them up! Stop that joke! Stop that lynch joke! He's got to have a trial! The trial be hanged! Gordon keeps still! He's killed all Higgins! String them up! Why wait for a trial? Boys, wait! You've got to listen to me! Listen a minute! You've got to listen! Be quiet a minute! Quiet down! I'll beat you halfway! Now, let me speak! Why wait for a trial if he's the killer? Listen, boys! I'll make a deal! Let the sheriff speak! Go on, sheriff, speak up! I know how you feel. We've got to do things legal. We won't put off trying the red skin. We'll have the trial this afternoon. I promise you that. If he's found guilty, you'll swing at sunrise in the morning. Swing him now! Hold on, boys! Maybe the sheriff is right. We can wait till morning to punish the red skin, can't we? A few hours won't matter. All right then, boys. You leave him alone, and I'll give him a word he won't escape. Now go on, all of you. Get back to where you come from. Break up this crowd. Go down with your homes. I'll get the trial arranged as soon as I can. All right, sheriff. The sheriff's right. He's got a good head on it. Obviously, don't put it off too long. The red skinner saved your day. You'd like to hang anyhow, but at least you'll get a fair trial. Me not kill, heller? I wouldn't expect you to say anything else. Now there's one chance the court might put you in jail for keeps instead of hanging you. Tell me where your partner is. Maybe if we can capture him. He might go easier for you. Me not talk. Suit yourself. You'll likely swing anyhow. The jury's coming in now. Hey, look at the faces. It's a hanging jury, as sure as you're born. Yes, the red skin's done for. Couldn't be no other way. Yeah, but it was here, all right. The red skin even admitted he was at Higgins Place last night. You're in the court. Face the jury. Gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict? We have. What is your verdict? We find the prisoner guilty of charge. He has worked out slick. I'm glad they didn't lynch that red skin today. Now he'll hang legal. Not only that. What else, Norton? Why, everyone in town is at the hanging this morning. When could we find a better chance to ride out to Higgins Place and hunt that cash? Yeah, I hadn't thought of that. That's a trouble, Steve. You don't think of things. Here we are. Now to have a look around the shack. You sure the sheriff ain't here? Him? What would he be here for? He's busy with the hanging of the red skin. He still wants to locate the partner of the engine. Never mind the sheriff. Let's get that cash. Maybe I have better wait outside and keep watch. No need of that. Come on, let's make this fast. All right, then. Close that door behind you. Let me see. Where would he be likely to hide that cash, huh? There might be a loose stone somewhere in that fireplace. Sometimes money's hid beneath the floor. Yeah, step on the floorboards and see if there's one that's kind of loose. I'll have a look at the fireplace here. Stones all seem solid. You're going to have to hunt through all those boxes and cupboards, maybe in the mattress and the bedroom. Hey, hold on. You find something? Look here a minute. This floorboard seems to be loose. Good. There seems to be no nails in it, neither. It's just set in place. Hey, grab hold. Let's see if the suction comes up. It does. Yeah, toss to one side and look beneath. Wait, I'll strike a match. Dark down here. You see anything there, Norton? Yeah, wait now. Give me a chance to look. There is something here. You can pitch it out. Pitch it out quick. Let's see if it's a case. It is. Hey, look. We're found it. We got the case. We got it. And there ain't no man alive can prove a thing against us. The mask man's being hunted and he can just dead. That's your hands up. What's that? Who's that? There I am, Rich. I'll show you. Oh, my hand. I'll do as you're told. Who are you? What do you want here? You've talked about me long enough. I'm the friend of the Indian who is being hanged. Who's like about the job of the sheriff? No, you're spitting it off, Sheriff. You get the rubles fixed? Yeah, but it's all fixed. All you got to do is slap the horse from under the red skin. Yeah, sure. He had to do that. It's your duty, Sheriff. The trial was fair and square. But there wasn't a dead man found. The jury didn't seem to care about that. Hey, he got his hands tied good. They're tied good, Sheriff. Tutto, you've got anything to say? Oh, I'm not right. You not get right, man. Tonto not kill, kid. There's no use here, Mayor Tutto. You not know Higgins dead. Maybe him not dead. Look, Rich, give me. Why didn't you have more to say at your trial? You just didn't say a word, then. Well, me not think you hang me so soon. You wait two or three days. You find out Tonto not killer. We can't wait. The law is the law. Law say you hang Tonto when sunrise. I know. Sun not rise yet. It will in a couple of minutes. If you don't need to tell who your white friend is and where he'd be found. What you do then? Well, maybe we could get another trial. If you had new evidence to offer. I'll not need to do that. Now everything all right. Tonto not hang. Friend, come. What's it? What are you talking about? You look, Yonder. Look, here comes someone. That's him. That's the masked man I see. Always get yourself to rest up, best man. He's the other one that's waiting for murder. Someone's riding along with him. Come on, gentlemen. Friend, come in time. Who's that behind the mask, man? Riding on the same horse with him. Hold on, Higgins. Here's the man you want. Big day, it's old man Higgins with him. Higgins? He's the same dad. You can't charge Tonto with murder. Here's Higgins alive and well. You're under arrest. Put down that gun, Sheriff. But Higgins... You ain't arresting this man for nothing? What's he done? Right, he... That is... Well, we... Look here, Higgins. Thought I was dead, eh? Well, I ain't. But I would have been if it hadn't been for the Lone Ranger. Hey, get this here. Let me in there. I'll cut that engine loose with those ropes. Eh, eh. Now go on, Tonto. You're a free man. The law ain't no call to hold you no more. Sheriff, the men who robbed the stage and shot the garden driver are tired and waiting for you to arrest them. And the cash they was after is there with them. You go there and get them two polecats. You'll have a real hangin' of a real killer just as soon as you want it. Higgins, you sure of that? Of course I am. I took the cash from the stage. I was baitin' a trap with it. Hopin' them crooks would come and get it. I was ready to shoot it out with them. Oh, fool that I am. Didn't stop to think I might get shot, too. The Lone Ranger saved my life. Bad juniper. He had to make the real crooks think I'd been killed so she wouldn't be huntin' me down. Now go on. Take your men to my place and do your duty. Go on, tunnel. You ready? I'll sue the police! You have just heard as a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.