 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hardy high old silver, the Lone Ranger. Throughout the early western United States, the masked rider of the planes led the fight for law and order. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. At a time and place when only brave men could survive, no one could match his courage and daring. But justice meant more to him than the letter of the law. If a man deserved a second chance, the Lone Ranger was always ready to help him. Return with us now to those thrilling days when the West was young. From out of the past come the thundering hoopbeats of the Great Horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. Lone Silver, we're heading for Wichita County. Tell them we're waiting on the trail ahead. Dan Riley, the sheriff of Wichita County, was seated on a bench facing the main street of Fairfield. He was talking with several of his friends and a tall stranger. The topic under discussion was an outlaw about whom nothing had been heard during the past year. A smiling kid. He sure was running wild for a spell there. And now nobody's got any notion what become of him. You figured the law never did catch up to me, Sheriff. I'd have heard of it if it ever been jailed. It's possible that the fellow reformed. Think so, stranger? Well, maybe. I don't know. Crooks ain't much on turning over a new leaf and going straight. My guess would be that things got so hot for him he made track for territory where it wasn't known. Very slightly. But that ain't what I started out to say. I ain't never said much about it before, but it always struck me funny that none of you fellas ever had a notion who the smiling kid was. Huh? No, why should we? He never operated around here. You sound as though you know his identity, Sheriff. I got ideas. You mean you met up with him? If my ideas are right, I did. And for the matter, that showed the rest of you. You're a local. Maybe if I told you a little of the yarn about what happened almost two years ago, you'd see what I mean. We'd like to hear it, Sheriff. Yeah, go ahead. Hi there, Sheriff. Hello there, Steve. See you later. All right. Get up there. Get up. Where was I? Oh, yes, a story. Why, do you fellas know the school teacher, Mae Williams? The stranger don't, of course, but you hombres do. There's a dog on fine girl. No folks, no kid or nothing, and she can make her live in just as well as a man can. And ask her no favors, neither. Uh-huh. Then maybe you'll recollect she used to keep company with young Bob Jessup, Martin and Matilda's boy. Sure. Say, whatever's become of Bob, I ain't seen him... Just hold on, will you? You'll see you soon enough. Well, like I was saying, this was nine on the two years ago. It was evening, and I was sitting here in my office when I heard a rat on the door. Come in. Good evening, sir. Come on in, mate. Hey, Bob. Hello there, Mae. Good evening, sir. See, what's ailing you, Bob? Ailing me? First time I ever seen you without a grin on your face. Didn't hardly recognize you right off. Guys, you're only not grinning. You look as though you just lost your best friend. What's the matter? There's something I want to ask you, sir. Ask ahead. It's about a point of law. I ain't no lawyer, but I might be able to help you. Oh. Ain't wondering when it's legal to get hitched, are you? This is serious, Sheriff. Look here, Sheriff, you heard about that eastern mining company that was after Pa's claim? Heard some talk. What about him? Pa signed a paper giving all his property over to him. Does he have to go through with it? Chuck, son, if he sold, it sold, ain't it? But they swindled him. Pa can't read, write, nor cipher. He didn't know what he was signing. Imagine people taking advantage of Bob's father like that. Now, what did he figure he was signing? When he took their cash and put his mark on that paper, he thought he was just selling a couple feet of the vein, not all of it. It's just plain stealing. That's what it is. When you get as old as I am, son, you'll learn there's just as much stealing goes on inside the law as out. Well, I ain't gonna stand for it. Ain't much you can do. Pa's worked hard all his life. That measly bit of cash that easterners paid him and Ma won't last a no time. They won't have nothing to keep him. Well, I'm gonna do something about it. Good paying jobs are so scarce just now. That ain't what I'm talking of. No? If those fellas can steal, so Pa and Ma'll be left to starve, then I got just as much right to steal to keep them from starving. Bob, oh, no. And if I turn crooked, I won't hide behind the law neither, like them skunks. I'll do my stealing out in the open. No, Bob, don't talk like that, Bob. It's them. And what happened next after that, chef? There must have been just before Bob left town. It was. And he hadn't been gone a week before stories started drifting back about the smiling kid and his holdups. You think Bob Jessup and the smiling kid are one and the same? You ain't never seen him, stranger. But if you had, and if you'd looked over the water notice, I got inside the office there. You'd notice Bob and the fellas described are one and the same. I never thought of Bob in a ready chair. Nope, but you never heard him threaten to turn crooked like I heard him either. From what I've heard, the smiling kid acts differently than most outlaws. Well, he never shot nobody or tortured them or anything like that. Nor he never stole from anybody except them as could spare it. Which makes me more sure in my mind than ever that the smiling kid's Bob. You're certain of his identity? Why don't you go after him? Wouldn't know where to look for one thing. And the letters his parents received from him? They mailed. It's all of somebody just riding through that brings him. And they never seem to know anything about the fella that sent him. I see. But there's another reason why I don't look him up. Yes? Instead of riding to him, I'm going to sit here and let him come riding to me. What do you mean by that? Well, Matilda's alien, ain't she? Sawbone said she was mighty bad off. Uh-huh. And I'm willing to bet anything you want to name that Bob gets worried of that same and comes to see her. And when he does, I'll nab him. I see. Well, good day, Sheriff. What did that fella say his handle was, Sheriff? He didn't say. It's funny. What's funny about it? Ain't no law saying the fella's got to give his name less than he wants to. But he was asking all them questions. Asking questions? You old galook, he'd have to go some to beat you. Asking questions. Come on. Why, you're just mad because he beat you to them. The Sheriff didn't know that the stranger was the lone ranger in disguise. Leaving town, he sent Silver toward the camp. He and his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, had made in the shaft of an abandoned mine. There he drew the great horse to a stop and... Whoa, whoa, Silver. Whoa, boy. Come out here, Tonto. Long time. He learned some interesting things, Kimosabe. Remember the smiling kid? Huh? I've got good reason to believe his real name is Bob Jessup, and that he came from Fairfield. His parents still live in the town. Oh. I got that from the Sheriff. I made other inquiries and learned that this very mine here once belonged to Bob's father. Then him makes secret tunnels. That tunnel leading from inside the shaft we found hidden by boulders? Not yet. It isn't likely. No, I've got an idea that was dug out by some outlaw who used this place for a hideout once. It couldn't have been the smiling kid either, because he didn't work in this district. Bob Jessup's mother is seriously ill. Bob may return to see her. If he does, the Sheriff will pick him up. Sheriff, say that. Yes. But I want to see Bob before the Sheriff does. There's a slight chance that Bob isn't the smiling kid after all. Oh. But that isn't my main reason. There have been some rather strange stories told about the smiling kid, and if they're true, there are some things to be said in his favor. What we do? Tonto, you and I are going to get an accurate description of Bob Jessup. Perhaps there's a picture of him somewhere around. His mother might have one of the girl he once kept company with, the school teacher in town. Oh. And then we're going to patrol every trail leading to Fairfield. If Bob returns to the district, we're going to see him first. It was three days later, just as dusk was falling, that the masked man sighted Bob Jessup. He sent Tonto galloping swiftly to town while he himself circled and drew Silver to a stop where a woods bordered the trail. There he waited undercover for Bob to ride by. There he is, Silver, old fellow. At least we know it's Bob Jessup. And I think we'll soon know whether it's a smiling kid. Quiet, boy. Come on, boy. All right, Silver. What's that? A smiling kid, huh? Hold up. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Masked. How'd you save him? I didn't know, but you just admitted it. What do you want with me? There's some things I'm going to ask you, smiling kid, but not here. Into the woods with you. We're getting out of sight. Now, wait. I ought to... Reach, and I'll outdraw you. Come with me. You've got nothing to fear. Then why did you... You'll soon see. Follow Silver. Come on, old fellow. Get up. Get up there. This way, Bob, with that clearing. I'm coming. Here. This will do. Oh, Silver. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Over there. Yep. Dismount. Yep. Now, what did you stop me for? Why'd you bring me here? You're the smiling kid. There's no use. You're denying it now. I don't see how you guessed it. I know why you turned out, Law. I know that for almost a year, you were a hold-up man. But in this last year, nothing's been heard of the smiling kid. Why? Because I went straight. Yes? And where has the money come from that you've been sending to your parents? You didn't steal enough to carry them through these last months. I came by it honest. My paws are mine, and, man, they taught me all he knew about it. I located paid dirt up north, and I've been working it. You can believe me or not, but it's so. You made just enough for your parents and yourself? Well... Answer. Well, there was other things. For instance. All right, you might as well know. You know I'm the smiling kid, so there ain't no use hiding what I've done. I stole from the bank and the express company, and it doesn't others. But I've paid every cent of it back. That's where the rest of the dust from my claim went to. To pay back what I took. You just handed over the money, told them who you were, and explained why you were doing it? Of course I didn't. Paying back the case wouldn't have scrabbed me with a law. I've done that to get... I only get square with myself. I sent the money back secret. I didn't tell anything. I see. And even if you don't believe me... But I do. Huh? I knew that money had been returned. It was never made public, however. I knew the money had been sent back without an explanation. The fact that you knew it also proves you're telling the truth. I am. Hey, who's that? I sent out a letter after someone I think you'll want to see. Someone I... What? Oh, that's got to be... Oh, it's me! Oh, it's you, me. Hello, Bob. Oh, me, honey. Oh, let me look at you. You've been so long. Well, I thought you'd forgotten. You haven't said any word. Honey, I couldn't. Gosh, it's a long story. There isn't time to explain it all now. We must make some quick decisions. Why was that brought here? Bob was known as a smiling kid. An outlaw? You must have suspected that. And you know why he did it. But he's repaid every dollar he took. Oh, you see, honey, that don't square me with a law. I've still got to keep on the prod, but... I'm more sick of... She...she's dying, Bob. Dying? Oh, no. Then I got to see her. She blazed with the sheriff and going to jail. I'm going to see her no matter what. Of course. It's just possible that you can do it and still not be jailed. I don't know if it could... Have a plan in mind. But afterwards, it would mean that Bob would have to disappear from this district forever. Then I'll go with him. Bob, do you think you could persuade the sheriff not to arrest you openly until you're ready to leave your parents home? He'd always liked you, Bob. I shouldn't think he'd jail me as long as I was needed by my mom. I've talked to him. I think he's a man who will do his duty, but with judgment. In that case, Bob, have him delay the arrest. I will, somehow. I can't tell you more at present because I must make sure of certain facts before we act. I'll get in touch with you in a day or two. Come, tunnel. You ready? You're leaving? There's work to do. You and Bob ride on to town and don't worry. But why are you doing all this for me, stranger? Because I want to see justice done. And justice isn't always served by the letter of the law. Let's go, tunnel. Hail Silver Harbor! 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. After leaving Bob, Jessup and May Williams, the Lone Ranger and Tonto returned to the abandoned mine. There they carefully examined the secret tunnel, leading from within the mine shaft, after which the masked man sent Tonto to town for certain supplies. At just about the time the faithful Indian was entering Fairfield, Bob was kneeling beside the bed of his mother. Mom, I've just got to get well. You've got to. It don't matter now, son. Oh, mom. Yeah, now. Don't you feel bad? I've lived my time. I've been happy. Had my share of the good things. Now that I've seen you once more, I've had all the mother could ask for. Oh, don't, mom. Please don't. Don't you listen to your mom, son. She's going to get well again. You bet she is. We'll take care of her, and one of these days she'll be up and around, singing and laughing, and singing and laughing. You both just appear a cry, baby. Why can't it be me instead of you, mom? Why can't... The door, son. Here. What is it, May? The sheriff killed Bob. He wants to speak to you. The sheriff? Now, what does he want? He can't be nothing for. Most likely, he heard I was home and dropped in to say hello. Tell him I'm coming, May. You'll be right there, sheriff. No. I won't be going but a second, mom. That's all right. Remember, Bob, you can't let him jail you now. Evening, sheriff. Evening, Bob. Gosh, you filled out some. You're a sight heftier than one has seen you last. I reckon they didn't owe you come here to tell me, sheriff. I'd rather we stepped outside on the porch. Oh, sure. You guessed I knew. Bob, I want you to know I'm sorry about this. I'm sheriff, so I've got to do my sworn duty. But it sure ain't what I'd be choosing. No, I ain't blaming you, sheriff. You ain't never hinted about this to the folks, have you? Mary, a word. What kind of a polka you take me for? Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. Sure, of course you didn't. Well, we... Oh, wait, sheriff. Look, mom's about gone. Doc was here when I rode in. He said she couldn't last more than a couple of days at the most. You don't have to arrest me before that, do you? Can't you let mom go happy? Don't you see how tear it'll be for her to live these last hours knowing her boy's nothing but a common crook? Chuck, Bob, I ain't even to hurt your mom, none. Then you won't arrest me? I don't know just what... I'll tell you what. Yeah? I ain't saying I want to go to jail. But I'll tell you plainly do the best I can to stay clear of the lock-up. But I'll give you my word of honor. I won't try to get away before... before mom's gone or gets well again if such is gonna be. You'll give me a word? I will. And you can be watching me all the time just so you don't let on to the folks about it. It sounds fair enough. Of course it is. You ain't likely to break your word, seeing as how if you tried sneaking away, you're more to learn the truth. That's just it. And if you didn't try it, you wouldn't get far anyhow. I'll see to that. Doggone, Sheriff. You're all right. Now, come on in and say a few words to the folks. Don't let on to a thing. It was the night of the following day that in answer to a signal from the masked man, Bob left the veranda where he'd been keeping watch and hurried across the yard. The lone ranger, Montadone Silver, waited in the deep shadow of a barn. When Bob arrived, he swiftly outlined his plan. You have everything clear now, Bob? You better have. And it's the slickest scheme I ever heard of. Are you sure you tell May what to do? I will. She's already resigned her position as school teacher and you can depend on the both of us. Good. And one more thing. Yeah? Your father. You should tell him the truth about these last two years. He'll understand and he'll forgive you. It won't come easy. Oh, I reckon I'll feel a heap better once it's done. Of course you will. You needn't mention our plan. You can, however, tell him how to join you and May when this is over. Once you've left, you won't dare get in touch with him. Josh, I never thought of that. That's just what I'll do. I'll fix on a place and he can meet us one of the times right for it. Then I'll be getting back to camp. And friend, I'll be seeing you when it's time for us to do like you said. Adios. Come on, Silver. It didn't seem to those watching beside the sick bed of Mrs. Jessup that she tried very hard to retain her weakening hold on life. The return of her son had made her happy. She seemed content to go and the end came when Bob had been home for a little more than a week. Bob spoke to his father the following morning. Everything settled in for? You'll know how to reach me and May when it's safe for it to leave town without the law suspicion and anything? Well, don't you fear, son. I'll get to you. Whoa, whoa. There's the sheriff. Yeah. He don't look real happy about what he figures he's got to do. The sheriff's a darn good fella. Come on in, Sheriff. Come on in, Sheriff. I reckon you folk savvy. How bad I feel about the tilt of that old. She was a fine woman. Thank you, Sheriff. Bye-bye. Oh, that's all right, Sheriff. I told Paul about being a smiling kid. I figured he ought to know. He's told me the whole thing, Sheriff. Gosh, I'm free to say I'm glad to hear it. It was gonna be a chore having to break the news to you, Martin. Well, Sheriff, it wasn't what you'd call good news, but the boy figured he had his reasons, I guess. And I kept my promise to you, Sheriff. You sure did, Bob. Well, you ready to get out to jailhouse now? Well, much use putting off. What has to be done. Sure. How'd it go with you? There's Bart. Sheriff! Hey, Sheriff! He's calling you, Sheriff. Seems excited about something. Most likely nothing. The old group's always getting fussed about nothing at all. Likely somebody stole one of his dog bone chicken. What's your racket for? Martin stole mine. There's been a caveman. Caveman? He made it there at the school market. Pin beneath the timber. Made. Creeping catfish. George? Ah, Sheena. I heard a yelling road by and looked inside. We've got to get back there right away before the rest of that shaft busts down. If it does, you'll be killed. Pa, I'll get witnesses. And make it for Otto. Couldn't you get it out of him? If I could, I would have. Hurry up, son. I'm calling. What could we have been doing there? Don't ask me. Give me a moment, Pa. Come on. Take it into your spurs. Get up! Get up! Come on! Get up! There they go, tunnel. Headed for the mine. Now to circle and get there before them and go around the hill to the secret tunnel. Come on. Here we go. Bob and his three companions drove their mounts to their greatest speed, racing for the entrance to the abandoned mine. They did not see the powerful horses of the lone ranger in Tonto, following a parallel arroyo, flash ahead and take the lead. At the mine, the masked man sent silver up the hill into which the mine had been built and beyond to a narrow tunnel screened by rocks and brush. Bob and his party arrived several minutes later. Move, move! Come on. Come on. It's her all right. Watch your head there. Don't bump them timbers and start any more rocks rolling. Over. Over here. Are you all right, honey? Are you all right? Look at that timber laying across the chest. Gosh. I don't see how she missed being killed outright. It hurt. Come there now, honey. We'll have you loosen the jiffy. Just as soon as we find out the best way to go about it. Oh, hurry. We'll get at each end of this timber and lift it right off her. Get a hooting out, fellas. Ready? Come on. Come on. Hold on. Let go of that timber. See what you're doing? Take it away and the whole thing will cave in on top of this hole. Then what do we do? Get me out. Don't you worry, honey. I don't see no other way to take the timber off. You can lift it and itch it, so enough so that Mary can crawl out from under. But then it's got to be braced there. All right. We'll brace it with rocks. There ain't none the right size. A pile of these small ones that just slip right away. I ain't got it. That's right. Wait, I got it. Please, please. Hurry, Bob. Honey, you're going to be safe out of there in just five seconds. Fellow, while me is crawling from under, I'll get there where she was. Then the timber can rest on me. You think there's mighty risky? I'd rather be there under there instead of me. Don't anybody argue with me. But then how will we get you out? You can make tracks with Tom and bring back every fully you can find. Bring him back, Prano. Then with help, you can dig out around me or put some timber to brace the sides and roof or anything you want to do. All right. Get in the end of that timber again. I'm ready. Right. Crawl as fast as you can, Mary. I will. Now then, easy now. Easy. Hold it just like it is. Making it, Mary. I'll be all right. Under with you, Bob. Just a little more. More. That's it. Thank you, fellas. Get on your horses and do like Bob said. I'll wait here. No, all of you go. But then I... I'll go on. You're being here. Can't help me. I mean, we both get caught and the roof slides down. The more of you to get fellas to come here, the more hands we'll have to do what's needed. That's sense. Well... Go on. Go on, then, fellas. Hurry. Hurry. What about your horse? I'll get the fellas under the cafe, Sheriff. I'll get my deputies. I'll ride for the fellas that are all just hanging around the store. Ready there, boys? Ready. The inside of the mine, where Bob had been held beneath the fallen timber, was filled with ton upon ton of earth and stones from overhead. But yet, while the sheriff was convinced that the smiling kid must have been crushed to death, Bob was one of the three dusty figures. Crawling on hands and knees through a tunnel, only large enough to admit their passage. How much farther do we have to go? Not far, Bob. See? There's light ahead in the mouth of the tunnel. It's not on the far side of the hill. Can we get there quick? Let's go. Making it? Go on. I'll get there. I need to give you a hand. Thanks. And just... Here we are. Quiet, old fella. We're all right. Oh, gosh. It's good to be back in the open. There's me. Whoa. Whoa, there, whoa. Oh, Bob, you're safe. It worked. Oh, honey, you bet it worked. You had no trouble. It went all right. It wasn't difficult. The other end of the secret tunnel was concealed just where Bob lay under the timber. Tondo and I waited for the others to leave, climb through and lift up the timber while Bob got inside the tunnel. And Maggie should have seen me hustle. But Tondo and the mask man... There was no real danger. As soon as we dropped the timber and let the support go, we jumped inside the tunnel too. We're just about an inch to spare. Bob, now you're free. Your father acted as part just fine and the sheriff thinks you're dead. The hunt will be off. Yeah, thanks to the mask man. You'd better be on your way before anyone comes along. No, there's no chance. The others headed for town. I slipped away without their noticing. Good. You can ride double? Oh, sure. Yeah. You ready, honey? Let's hurry. Oh, still there, boy. Mask man. I don't know how to thank you. Don't. You've got a new life ahead of you, Bob. And I never want to hear that the smiling kid is riding the out trails again. Friend, he won't be. Get up. Get up there. They're plenty happy. They are, keep us happy. Ready, boy? Yep. Nintendo. Huh? Even though this time we kept the law from getting its man, I don't feel guilty. Oh, still there. Go on. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.