 Fiery horse for the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty high old silver, the lone ranger. Before this exciting adventure, a word from our sponsor, General Mills, makers of Cheerios, the old cereal that's ready to eat, Betty Crocker mixes, and Wheaties, the breakfast of champions, present by special recording, the Lone Ranger. Mmm, you're going to love the big exciting news today. Now there are two brand new Betty Crocker cake mixes. There's chocolate malt and peanut delight. I'll bet you can hardly wait to try them, and I wouldn't blame you. They're just so good. Today, let me tell you about the chocolate malt. It's a wonderful new way to enjoy an old flavor that's a favorite with so many of us. There's honest to goodness delicious malted milk right in the mix, and of course, there are all the other fine quality ingredients you choose yourself, like famous soft to silk cake flour and pure vegetable shortening. And because it is a Betty Crocker cake mix, mom knows it's the easiest way ever to bake a perfect cake. So next time mom goes shopping, be sure to remind her to get that brand new delicious treat. Betty Crocker's chocolate malt cake mix. You'll love it. With his faithful Indian companion title, the daring and resourceful mask writer of the plains let the fight for law and order in the early western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver, the lone ranger rides again. A curious and expectant crowd have gathered at the small new depot in Silverton. Suddenly, as the distant sound of a whistle was heard, they waved their hands from here and walked in. It's always been one. You sure don't sound like it's making you happy. Why should it? You mean you're afraid the railroad's going to affect your freight to stage coastline. Yes, I should, Luke. But I don't say we did yesterday. You should talk to him. Let me get back to my office. I'll tell you all about it. Let's go. I'll see you in a minute. A short-time leaker, the two men, Luke and Jim, sat in the office of the James Melvin freight and stage company. As Jim Melvin eased into the chair behind his desk, Luke looked at him and said, What's this all about, Jim? If the employees meeting you had yesterday, you told us the new railroad wouldn't affect business much. That's right. It did. We don't make any money on the stage run anyway. But my freight line made plenty. And I figured it still would. Well, the reason I figured that way was because old man Mason of the Mason mine had come in and told me not to worry. He said he'd come in and continue to have us haul the ore and supplies between the mine and Lyft and Mike always. And then why are you worrying? Well, because Mason came in last night and told me he was thinking about closing the deal with the railroad. Oh, so that's it, huh? Then all you'd get would be the hauling from the mine to here. And the railroad would take you all from here to Lyft. Well, we wouldn't even get that, Luke. The railroad's going to run a spur from here to the mine. Oh, now maybe that's just tall. No, it isn't. I'd have a work training gang here tomorrow to lay the tracks for the mine. Yeah, if the mining company gives them their haul and other business will follow. Let me think things over, Jim. Maybe there is some way to show Mason the railroad isn't better. And if there is, I'm going to find it. It was late Friday afternoon when the lone ranger and tautel rode along the old trail from Lyft to the mine. They were about half the distance of the 30 miles between the two towns when they heard the distance whistle of a train. They reigned to a halt. Oh, no, no, no! The train from Lyft is coming to the canyon over there, Tautel. We'll see it pass in a few minutes. Ah, it looked like other iron horse stopped on crack and weigh a train. That's not good. That's the train. Waiting on a striding until the regular train passes. Wait a minute. What do you look at? Over there, see? Oh, it looked like two men on horses beyond work train. The work train is leaving. As soon as it passes, I'll get a look at those horses through my binoculars. Oh, I see them clearly. What can look like? One's heavy set with iron gray head, one's heavy set with iron gray head, one's heavy set with iron gray head, one's heavy set with iron gray head, the other's a large man with a black mustache. He's pulling up the tracks to the canyon. Here, take a look. Let me see them clear now. Let me know if we need them. They may be railroad men. Then leave now, ride to Silverton. We better be going on, too, if we want to reach Silverton before sundown. Come on, Silverton. The long ranger and topo found a campsite near the trail just outside of town. While the masked man prepared the camp, topo rode on into town for supplies. The son was setting when he returned with news of interest. Oh, come on, come on. Easy, come on. It didn't take you long, topo. Now, town, not far. That's him a hobby? Yes. We find out about two men we see watch trains at Sidonville. What did you find out? Heavy set man with gray hair, him Jim Melbourne, him own freight and stage company. I see. Other kind of work for Melbourne, him name Luke Jenkins. Melbourne, not like Ray Road coming to Silverton. I understand that. He's bound to lose a lot of business between Lipton and Silverton. I'd like to know more about Jim Melbourne. After dark, I'll put on a disguise and we'll ride into town. That evening, Jim Melbourne was alone in his office, when the lone ranger disguised as a rancher entered. Good evening. Well, indeed he's a stranger. Do you have something for him? I came to get some information about your freight line, Mr. Melbourne. Sit down, sit down. Thank you. I suppose you've got some hauling to do, eh? I might have. I'd like to get your rates to compare with those offered by the railways. Now the train's coming town from Lipton. That's not Railroad. Let me tell you something, Mr. Nothing's going to take the place of horsepower. When I take a job, you can be sure your stuff is going through. Wouldn't shipping by Railroad be quicker and cheaper? Well, I admit I can't match the rate. Oh, then the Railroad is cheaper. It wouldn't be quicker and cheaper if your shipment didn't get there. Our freight lines proved it can get stuff through safe and on time. But the Railroad hasn't proved itself yet. I'll still take a chance on the Railroad. Sure. But if you decided to come back to me, you'll find the rate you're going up. Don't forget that either. Hey, Jim, I've got Jeff going. Shut up, Luke. We just noticed he had company, Jim. Hi. I was just leaving. Hi, Mr. Melbourne. Hey, who's that on there? Who do you think it was? Another fool who's decided to use the Railroad. Yeah, he'll be back. You told me about the plans you made. When we get through that Railroad, they won't ever get any oil in business again. That's right. They won't. You're going along with Jack and me tomorrow, Jim? No, you two can handle the job and make sure you do it upright. Why don't you come along? My sister Jessica, the only living relative I have, is coming over on the stage from Lyft in Des Moines. I gotta be here to meet her. It's better anyway for me to be a real man. It's better anyway for me to be around town when folks get the news of what's happened. Yeah, I guess that's right, Jim. Well, after tomorrow, we won't have to worry. The Melbourne Freighton Stage Company will have all the business it can handle. Meantime, the Lone Ranger walked to the edge of town where a tunnel waited in the shadows with the horses. You must not be... Yes, I just came from Melbourne's office. What did you find out? He's very bitter about the railroad. Oh... Just before I left, two of his men came in. One of them started to say something about a plan, but Melbourne shut him up. Almost too quickly, it seemed to me. You think they'll have plan against the railroad? They'll check in town for further information. And we'll leave the horses here. Come on. Nothing more was learned that night. But the next morning, one of Jim Melbourne's men went to the freight company's office. Where did he went for it? The man down at the depot asked me to bring this to you, boss. To tell the ground for me? Huh? He went with the wires all the way from Lipton. I was there when it was ticking out. Give it to me. It is, just like you gave it to me. It must be from my sister. I guess she's not taking the stage today. She decided to try the new railroad train this afternoon. Meet me at the depot just in case. Great job. What's the matter, boss? Don't you like this? We've got to keep that work train from leaving town. The work train's already gone. I watched it pull out. Something wrong? Very pretty. Stay here at the office. I believe it. If I don't get to that side before that work train leaves, my sister's going to be in a big train race. We'll continue our lone ranger adventure in just a moment. All you're doing is a costume. And here's one that people have to say, Oh, we need to do, do, do, do, do an okay job. Doing okay? You bet the champs in good ol' New York are. Listen, now in New York we wait for days to see a guy called Willie Mays because Wheaties keeps him leaping high to grab those line drives on the fly. And Yogi Berra's the Wheaties lad whose batting style makes pitchers sad. No matter how they throw the ball, that Yogi belts it through the wall. And look, both Willie Mays and Yogi Berra turn to Wheaties for extra energy because there's a whole kernel of wheat in every Wheaties' flake. Wheaties, breakfast of champions. Now to continue. The lone ranger had saddled Silver in preparation for the trip to town with Toto. Suddenly they heard pounding hoofbeats approaching from the direction of town on the trail above them. Some right-up trail in big hurdy-kim-shuddy. Most people use a new trail along the railroad when riding to Lipton. This old trail shorter. No, wherever that is, he won't see our cam from the trail. He's passing, I wonder who that is. This horse is falling, Toto, come on. Oh, the horse is all right. That's how I run ground. Him hurt. Boy, this is your Melbourne. That's the way I go. We'll have a look at it. My shirt's lost. No, we're not outlaws. Forget the mask. You have a bad sprain here. I gotta ride on that. Easy there, easy. The horse stepped into a hole. I have to get to the railroad side. I have to, do you hear? You're not able to ride. Ankle. Plenty bad. Why do you have to go to the siding, Melbourne? You know me. That voice. Are you a Mr. Jones? That's it. She's the man who came. I came to your office in disguise. I'll answer my question. Why the hurry to reach the siding? My only sister. She's coming on the afternoon train. She'll be killed. Folks, sense, Melbourne. Get to the point. All right, I gotta tell you, I guess. Get to the siding. Stop Luke and Jack from sending the work train down the track in the path of the train. They went to the siding. Gonna wait for the work train. Put bandanas in one of the faces. Hold up the engineer and fire him. Then what? They'll start the work train, send it into the path of the on-couple-afternoon train. There'll be a big break. Oh, that was your plan. Yeah, yeah. Get to them and stuff them. My sister's on that train. I just got word. Others are on that train, too, Melbourne. I don't know. Get him back to town, take him to the sheriff. I'll tell the sheriff everything. Hurry. You gotta stop him. I'll do my best. You'll have to take the consequences later, Melbourne. Move, Henry! Went miles to go. The lone ranger gave silver his head and the great white stallion, sensing the urgency of the moment, responded dynamically to the ringing cry of his master. Move, Henry! Faster, boy! Faster! Later after, hiding their forces behind some big boulders nearby, Jack and Luke crouched behind some tall bushes near the siding and waited until the work train had rolled to a stop. Let's get going. I'll cover your face so they won't know you next time. I'm ready. Go ahead. Get back. We don't see this yet. All right, here we are. I'll get you done ready. All right, you two, come down out of that engine. What the hell? It's a couple of loud hoots. You're coming down or do you want land? Huh? Well, we're coming down. What's the idea? We haven't got anything and the two-flat cars are empty. Shut up. Go on, Luke. I'll watch these two hombres. What are you up to, anyway? You just watch and see. Pull the lever way back and jump for it. Hey, that'll start the train. Send it into the one that's due to be coming from Lipton. That's the idea, monsieur. A nice big wreck. Well, you won't let you. I won't let you. Oh, my leg! Just so your friend won't interfere. Now go ahead, Luke. Hurry up. Here she goes. Jump, Luke. Jump. Yeah, I made it. Here goes the work train. Ha, ha, ha. It sure will be a big wreck when those trains meet. Get on. That's right. I'd like to be watching with... Hey, Jack, look. Somebody on the train. It's up behind the bushes, quick. The man's over there. Yeah, and he's chasing after the work train. Hey, he looks like that man's number he's trying to spoil our plane. I forget it. He hasn't got a chance. All right, let's get away from here and head back to town. Meanwhile, as he raced after the work train, the lone ranger knew the seconds counted if he was to prevent a disaster. He urged the great horse, Silver, to further at her. Come on, Silver. Faster, big fellow, faster. Slowly, seemingly, inch by inch, Silver lessened the distance between them and the train. Just a little further, boy. Careful, Silver. Slowly, they came. Until, Silver, they came. They came. They came. They came. They came. They came. Until, Silver was racing near the iron lungs of the last flight car. Then, the lone ranger braced himself for the leap which he dared not miss. Isn't it, Silver? Hey, big fellow. Stay there. Quickly, the masked man moved along the swaying cars and over the fuel tender into the engine cab. He grasped the throttle and pulled it back. Then, reached for the brake lever. He pushed that lever and put all the brakes. The other train. I must stop the work train and put it into reverse. In one of the passenger cars of the train from Lipton, Jim Meldon's sister, Jessica, was enjoying her first train ride when the conductor stopped at her seat. Silver, meet the work train beside to just be on the train. You can see from this window where the tracks enter the canyon. Yes, that's right. I look another train and it's coming this way. Here's the odyssey. The work train it didn't wait until sir it broke off and smacked into it. Who can't stop or die? The engineer sees him. We're on the train! The work engine. The lone ranger had tried practically to move the brake lever which, again, because of the strong and sudden shove given it by Luke when he released it. The work train had run through the short canyon and out onto the curving track beyond before the lever responded. Let's get it. The train can lift him. He can't stop in time. Try to get this train reversing fast. A few moments had seemed that in spite of the lone ranger's efforts the train would crash before the work train could gather enough reverse speed. The last man held his breath as the engine of the passenger train came close. Then, gradually, the work train gathered speed enough to run ahead until the other train could come to a stop close back to the siding where the lone ranger brought the work train to a standstill. As the lone ranger swung down to the engine cabin, the passenger train slowly approached and stopped. He was soon surrounded by a relieved but angry crowd. A masked hour hoop was running that train. We are going to string him up right now. We are almost close to running. Come back! I don't expect thanks. I do expect a chance to prove what I say. There comes a sheriff who's been from town. Now you'll have your proof. See you, my buddy. Yes, Otto. See you found Silver. All right. Mr. It's America. You got that work train stopped. We picked up the two men who started that work engine down the tracks. Where are they now? Send the deputy back to town. Now that you are here to take charge, Sheriff, we'll leave one day perhaps. We'll meet again. Are you ready, Otto? Be ready. We'll see you in a big bus. We'll kill you! Then that masked man wasn't to blame at all, was he, sir? Nope. He risked his life to save all of you. If it hadn't been for him, there'd have been a big wreck. Hey, Sheriff, who was that masked man? The masked man? Yeah. You can thank your lucky stars. He was around when this began to happen, conductor. He's the Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger? What's that? A copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated is produced by Kendall Campbell Muir Incorporated. A part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. Your announcer is Fred Boyle. Listen to the Lone Ranger brought to you by Special Recording Mondays through Fridays at this same time.