 A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty high old silver, the lone ranger. With his great horse, Silver, and his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the masked rider of the planes fought crime and criminals throughout the western United States. No man did more to bring law and order to the frontier, and high old Silver came to be the battle cry of justice. Now return with us to those thrilling days when the West was young and adventurely at the end of every trail. The lone ranger rides again! Buffalo Point, the county seat of Buffalo County, was the center of a stirring election campaign. Pete Sampson, ex rancher, was determined to win the office of sheriff from its present occupant, Charlie Wilson. As our first act opens, we see Pete in the cafe with a small group of his backers. Among them is the elderly and Frank-spoken Gideon Wells, the local doctor. We hear him say... Pete, if you don't beat out Charlie Wilson and show his boss, hey, Dylan, that we ain't letting him run this town anymore, things are going to be even worse than they were before. Well, I'm trying my best, Gideon. You ought to, because they used to took your spread away from me. But I don't know if you're staying much chance, Pete, here. I tell you, Pete is like this. Me and Gideon here and the rest of us are all for you. But Ace has got a whole bunkhouse full of gunmen. He's got folks in his county, so blame's scared they'll vote just about the way he tells them to. That's why I'm fighting them. If you was only sheriff... That's just it. If Pete was sheriff, there's enough on Ace and Charlie both to send him to jail for a long time. But as long as Charlie's the law in Buffalo County and takes his orders from Ace, there ain't nothing can be done. Ace just took over Willie Goodman's spread, too. Uh-huh, like he took over yours and half a dozen others. First he runs off most of the cattle, then he shows up in his hired gun hands and offers to buy for almost nothing. And when he tells Charlie there are causes to be installed, he gets together a posse, rides around a little, then comes back and says the criticism's took across the border, and there ain't nothing he can do about it. No one all the time that is Ace is doing the wrestling. That's got to be changed, Gideon. I ain't nothing but a saw-bones. But by the eternalists enough to make me start packing a shoot-n-iron for a little target practice on them scunks. It ain't to be put up with. Maybe this time folks will have the nerve to vote the way they want to. They're like Ace tells them to. We're with you anyway, ain't we, fellas? Then let's have a drink on it. Hey, barkeep, I'm setting up the drinks for the house. And we're all gonna drink to Pete here for our next sheriff. We're drinking to Pete, are we? It's Ace. Charlie's with him. And so's half his rotten gun. I'm suggesting a different toast. I'm asking you to drink to Charlie here. The best sheriff this county ever had. He ain't drinking to no crook, Ace. Even if he does wear a badge. You called me a crook? I said it plain, didn't I? Oh, why? Yeah, but Charlie, your badge don't give you no right to put your gun on a fella that don't carry arms. I'll teach that old fool. Go ahead and shoot, Sheriff. That'll be about your style. Hey, Charlie. Now look here, Ace. Maybe these fellas will drink to you like I asked them to. In that case, there wouldn't be no harm done. No. Oh, what do you say, fellas? Ace, you and your crooked bunch can't bluff us all the time. I ain't bluffing nobody, Pete. I'm just asking them real polite. Sure. Figuring they'd be scared to go again, you. Drink up, boys. For Charlie Wilson. Well, I don't know. I'd rather not. Maybe you need a little convincing, huh? Give them a campaign argument, fellas. Yeah. Now listen, don't screw up my place. Maybe this'll earn you some manners. The next time I ball, I'll tell you to do something. Oh, you broke my period. Here's another. Oh, you just missed my boot. You're a dirty sidewinder. Well, I ain't no way to talk it all, Pete. I need my fault if you can't put up as good a campaign talk. You've been running this county with guns ever since you come here, Ace. Sure. Well, I've done right well. All right, fellas. You change your minds any about drinking to Charlie? Sure, I'll drink to him. I'd be right back. Come to your gun, Pete, and I'll jail you for going again along. Come on, Pete. The rain no use trying to stand up to a crooked sheriff that takes his orders from a still-bigger crook. We'll get our horses and ride out to your place. Might as well, I reckon, Doc. Maybe it'll be a savvy what's good for you. Keep riding and riding and never come back. You ain't running me out of town, Ace. Well, stick around then, if you ever mind, eh? But when election day comes next week, the only vote you'll be getting will be your own. Step up the bar, fellas. Another drink to Charlie here. And don't forget, them the names to stay healthy at better vote right. When Pete Sampson and the old doctor left the cafe, they mounted and rode toward Pete's small place just outside town. We hear them as they discuss the situation on the way. Doc, sometimes I figure I'm just a darn fool for trying to go again, Ace. Maybe are, Pete. Sometimes a fella's got to do what he knows to be right, even if he ain't going to profit by it. What happened just now has happened a dozen times before. The honest folks are for me. But when Ace and his gunslingers come around, they backwater. It's hard to blame them. Of course it is. They know their sheriff ain't going to do nothing for them. Well, if you don't win out, Pete, I'm packing up and leaving town. Here? I don't want her, but I won't have much choice. Where you been thinking of going? Over to Harmony, most likely. Harmony? Well, there's plenty of business for saw bones over there. They got a sanitarium and all. Folks coming quite a distance to be doctored there. I sure hate to see you go. And if you do lose out, Pete, you'd better hightail it out of here, too. No telling what Ace will do to you for running against Charlie. He do plenty right now for one for the way to look just before election. But maybe... Hey, look at the paint horse over there. Leaping lizards. Ain't he traveling though? Ain't that fellow waving at us? By God, I seem like he is. We'll rain up and see what he wants. Oh, there. Oh, boy. Well, I'll be... Looks like an engine. No way! What you want, Redskin? He's riding like he's got something on his mind, all right. Oh, oh, paint horse. You... You color name Pete? I'm Pete Samson, if that's who you mean. Matt, right. What you want with Pete Redskin? You him friend. Friend? I ain't got no better. The darker me, then friends for quite a spell. Then me talk. Yeah? You want Pete Sheriff? You mean in the election, Redskin? Matt, right. That's what I aim to do, but right now things don't look so good. You know Ace Fuller got brother? Sure, Ace has got a brother. He ain't around these parts. I never heard Ace had any kin. Well, it ain't generally known. He don't use the name of Dolan, and he's got quite a reputation for being an outlaw. I've heard Ace thinks he's a heap of the kid. He'd like to have him stain his outfit, but he can't get the kid to quit rambling. Well, if Ace has got a brother, don't surprise me none to hear he's a crook, too. But what's that got to do with us, engine? White friend. Got plan. Huh? You come with Tonto, me show you white friend. You want us to go with you and meet this friend of yours? Uh, Matt, right. But what's the ID? Him tell you how you beat Sheriff. Well, if this friend of yours savies how I can win the election, it's more than I can do. Just watch your game. Uh, it's not game. Tonto not trick you. What do you think, Doc? It's up to you, Pete. But I'd say we couldn't be no worse off doing what the Red Skin asks. That's my notion. You come? Lead the way, Red Skin. If your pod's got a scheme to beat them croaks, I aim to hear it. Mm, that good. And if this is just some slick scheme that Ace has put you up to, why, then, we'll show him that we ain't to be scared. You follow Tonto. Get him up. Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up. Tonto, the faithful Indian companion of the Lone Ranger, led Pete and Gideon Wells to the hidden camp he shared with the mask man. There, with growing enthusiasm, they listened to the Lone Ranger's plan. Our next scene opens two days later in the cafe. Ace Dolan, Sheriff Charlie Wilson, and several of their friends are seated at a large table. Ace is speaking. Boys, Charlie Hughes, got the election just about as good as won. We got the folks in this county so blame Buffalo'd. They ain't even breathing less than we tell them they can. There's just one thing, Ace. Yeah? We're all right as long as nothing happens to you. The folks in the county hate us like poison, but it's you they're scared of. Without you, we'd be skinned alive. What do you think is going to happen to me? I ain't sayin' anything will. But if it did... Charlie's right, Ace. With your brains and the wages you're paying for our guns, it's keeping us on top. But if somebody should plug you, they'd hang us so fast we wouldn't know what happened to us. Hey, what's going into you fellas? Nothing, boss. We're just sayin' you ought to play it safe. What do you figure I'm high on so many guns for? Well, I... It's to make sure nothing like you say happens. And if you're on your toes, it won't. We'll watch out for you, Ace. And forget this kind of talk. What we want to think about is how... there's the sawbooms comin' this way. What's that old fool lookin' for? More trouble? Not if he savies what's good for him. Ace, I'd like to have a word with you. Yeah? Well, speak up. Well, you better step over in the corner with me, Ace. I don't figure you'd want these fellas to hear. And why shouldn't we hear it? Why, that's up to Ace. But I reckon he'd just as soon as you didn't. It'll only take a second. Well, make it fast. But look here, Ace. Come on, Doc. You fellas stay here. All right, Ace. If it's something I think you ought to know, I'll tell you myself. How do you say? But we'll keep an eye on the sawbooms. Well, Doc, what in blazes is it? Just a mic more this way, Ace. You can still hear us. Go ahead. Don't forget they ain't so far off. They can't drill you if you try any tricks. This'll do. Well? It's, uh, it's about your brother. What's that? I didn't mean to go again you the other days. I reckon I sort of spoke out of turn. So now I'd like to be the first one to warn you. To warn me? Your brother's over to Harmony. Ain't they at the town where the sanitary him is? That's the one. Well, what if he is? He got shot up bad, so he went there to be doctored. And he don't know there's a U.S. Marshal on his way there to jail him. He's that straight? I wouldn't have no reason to send you there for nothing, would I? I'll soon lay arrest, the kid. If you hurry, you can beat the Marshal. He just set out from Abilene. Don't you hear, my brother? I figured maybe you wouldn't want the others to know about this. You see, if the Marshal should get there before you, the kid might talk enough to send the Marshal over this way. And you wouldn't want your bunch to think there might be trouble. I don't have to tell them nothing. You're going? Right now. I'll take a couple of the boys with me in case you're up to some stunt. I ain't, Ace. I reckon you'd have better sense than that. But you'd sure pay for it when I get back. I know. Steve! Two guns. Come along with me. Where are you taking them, Ace? I've got a little trip to make. Charlie, you and Rick run things until I get back here. What's it all about? I'll tell you later. Come on, you fellas. You won't believe right this, Ace. You'll do like I tell you. You'll have to ride like I'll get out, Ace. That's what I aim to do. And you won't forget it was me that warned you, will you? I don't forget my friends anymore and I forget my enemies. Come on, you fellas. I am wishing you all the luck you've got coming, Ace. Get up there! The curtain falls on the first act of our throwing-loan-ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue our story. After Gideon Wells had told Ace Dolan that his younger brother was in danger of being arrested and the crooked rancher had left town with two members of his gang, the elderly doctor re-entered the cafe. Hey, Doc, what did Ace rush out of here in such a hurry for? I don't recognize better say. He most likely wouldn't want me to... Doc! You calling me? Come over here! All right, Sheriff. Take a chair, Doc. Uh-huh. We need to ask you some questions. Yeah? What did you say to Ace just now? I... I'm right sorry, but a doctor ain't supposed to tell his patient's secrets. What's that you say? Patient. Reginald will be running along to my office. I got some work to do with that. You said right where you are. But I... You're going to explain that remark. But if Ace was to find out you knew he ain't likely to live... Jumping Geosivette. I said too much already. You ain't said half enough. But really, I... You're planning to live long. Yeah, but what do you... Give your talk. If he ain't, just go on dodging the questions. We're asking you be suffering from lead poison at Prado. And we ain't bluffing, Doc. But... But if Ace should live to come back from the sanitary and move to Harmony, he'd kill me for talking. The sanitarium? He went to Harmony? It was just because I told him what the doctors over there wrote me. What are they right? I... I can't tell you. Take a look at that gun and make up your mind to spill it. I... I'll talk. That's better. You see, Ace has been worried about some spells he's been having. Get on with it. He's come to me secret-like because he didn't want you fellas to savay there might be something wrong with him. Yeah? I... I looked him over. But I didn't want to say for sure what the matter was till I wrote to the doctors at the sanitarium, asking about them. And what did they say? They said it was even worse than I figured it was. He might drop over dead almost any time. No. I wouldn't have no reason to lie to you, would I? Well, what's Alyn Ace? It's... it's his heart. Yeah? He's got, uh... Thermal Topolus of the, uh, Lattercardiac offering. Thermal... too? He's got all that? Well, he's got that for sure. But there's a couple other things that might be wrong with him, too. Sure. If that dark ain't lying, you're savvy what that means. You're blamed right, I do. Now, don't forget. I didn't want to tell you about this. If Ace is really going to harmony... If he has, somebody will be riding in that passed him on the way. It's a two-day ride over there. We'll... we'll wait to find out. And if it's so, we'd better start figuring what to do. And I'm telling you, we'd better figure fast. Gideon Well's story was told and retold until it reached the ears of every voter in the county. Each time it was repeated, Ace Dolan's condition grew worse. Hey, Bart! What's the excitement? You heard about Ace Dolan? Huh? Some pellets seen him riding over to the sanitary in harmony. What for? There's something mighty wrong with him. They tell he ain't likely to live. You don't say so. And if he don't, he won't be able to do nothing to us if we vote for P for Cher. Well, I'll be don't gone. I gotta tell the folks at home about it. Get up there. Barkey! I just learned the fact that Ace is dying. I am. The doctors over at harmony don't give them a chance. You're sure of that? I ain't no doubt at all. I'm voting Charlie Wilson out of office at Pete's, Samson Hill. It's my colleague, Charmai! We'd like to tell a sheriff about that. That means his punch will be busted up. And the election is just tomorrow. We can vote them cooks out. And we'll vote him out for good. Ace Dolan's men became panic-stricken as the rumor of his death reached Buffalo Point. In his office, Sheriff Charlie Wilson, openly worried, tried to reason out the course he should follow. I don't know what's gonna happen with Ace gone. Blast it! What if I have to tie myself up with him first? I wish I'd never... Charlie! Now what do you want? Just came from the cafe. They got word Ace is dead. Everybody's talking about it. Don't you figure I got here? You heard the same? I most likely heard it before you did. What are you gonna do? I don't know. You gotta do something, you... Ace is dead. If one more fella tells me that, I'll blow his full head off. But I'm telling you... But nothing! Of course he's dead. But what we gotta think about is the election. We can't want it now. There ain't a chance. But if you fellas stick with me... Then why should we? It was Ace paid us our salaries. With him gone, we're drifting, and we're drifting right smart. You can't do this to me. You might win out again, Charlie. But it ain't worth buttin' our necks on us. You yellow coyotes! We're just usin' our heads. Instead of losin' them. But we... We ain't waitin'. The election's come on. That just gives us a 24-hour slot. And 24 hours ain't done too early. Blast them! Blast them all! The dirty skunks! They're all rightin' out and leavin' me to face the music! Leaving the sheriff to worry over his own affairs, Ace Dolan's henchmen hurried to the ranch house, packed their few belongings, mounted their horses, and started for the open country. They rode all through the night, and stopped in the morning only long enough to face their tired horses. Then they started out again. They had ridden only a short way when... Hey, look up ahead. Huh? Ain't that Ace? It looks like him, sure enough. Well, I'll be... Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. If that ain't Ace, it's his ghost. Gosh, don't say that. Hi, look, boss. We heard you was dead. What's that? Sure we did. It's all over town. Huh? Well, that's where they got me out of town. It was just to pull some trick like this. I went to Harmony to help my brother. He wasn't there at all. It was just a trick, I tell ya. It must have been. Boss, what are you gonna do? Well, do a plenty. Come on. Well, show them fellas that Ace Dolan ain't to be fooled with. Get up there! Get up there! Excitement ran high during the casting of the ballots. The greater part of voting was done in the county seat, and everyone knew that whichever candidate carried Buffalo Point would also carry the county. When the election was over, everyone crowded into the cafe to hear the final returns. I've met a peep owner. Most likely you are ten votes for Charlie in the whole county. Them gunslingers Ace hired lit out last night in a blame-goat thing. They oughta have them votes counted for now. Well, I bet the sheriff hated to have to stay in town till it was over. And it's Charlie that's gotta went out for reasons. Look outside. The chair's coming now. Charlie ain't looking so happy. Here they are. What's the vote? Who's sheriff? Hey, Pete, did you win? Come on. Tell us what the count was. Pete, quiet! We did! All of the votes are in and counted. Are you still sheriff Charlie? I got 150 votes, and peep got 463. Quiet! I'm turning over my badge to Pete. And the first thing I'm doing is new sheriff is to put you in jail, Charlie. You can't do that! You've got it coming. You stuck up for that bunch of killers and thieves. You bullied everyone in town to try to get justice. It ain't true! You're lucky you're just getting jailed instead of hugs. Jailin's too good for you. It ain't fair! What's going on here? Where's that blasted sob on? He stole it. He's dead! He said I was dead. You went to the sanitary. Is everybody local? I ain't so local that I ain't arresting you two, Ace. Arresting me! I'm the law here now. Mark! The election's over. Ace, I got beat out. You got beat out? What in blaze has been happening here? They just told you. Everybody think you get cased in your chips. Well, I mean, who said that? It was the doctor. It was the night you left here. Why, that's pretty... You ain't in no position to do anything to him now. But, Ace, if there weren't something wrong with you, why'd you leave here? Because that blasted old coot told me my brother was going to be jailed in harmony. On my ID, it is the Mask Fellow. The Mask? Yes. He figured if we could trick Ace into leaving town like he did, we could spread that story about him ailing back. Why? Shut up, Charlie. Then, when folks got to believe in you as dead, Ace, they wasn't scared no more to vote again, Charlie. It ain't fair, I tell you. Why should just me and Ace get jailed while all the others get away? They didn't. The Mask Fellow and his engine pardoned me. He picked him up last night when it was running off. You aren't the sheriff, then. No, but we figured if I lost out, we'd let him go. And if I didn't, we'd have him where we could jail him. You're not going to jail me. Look out for the gun. Look out for him. Last you took a... Oh, my... A Mask Fellow shot you. That's the Mask Man we was talking about. There he goes. Take him away. We want to thank him. Hold on, fellas. That hombre done a heap for us, but you ain't got no more chance of thanking him than you have about thinking him. And why not? Because he's the Lone Ranger. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporate.