 a fiery horse for the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty high old silver, the lone ranger. When the Western United States were first open to settlers, the promise of easy wealth brought both honest men and criminals to the new territory. Both found that wealth could only be purchased by hard work and the criminals returned to their old habits. The mass crowd of the planes fought them tirelessly. However, as fried his great horse, Silver, he rode through the length and breadth of seven states in the cause of justice. And in time, he brought law and order to the lawless frontier. Return with us now to those thrilling days when the West was young and adventure lay at the end of every trail. The lone ranger rides again. Vic Adler, the sheriff at Carter City, his face grim and his fists clench, nervously paced the floor of his living room. His eyes never left the door leading to his wife's room. Finally, it opened. And John Mackenzie, Carter City's elderly doctor, came out, closing the door softly behind him. Doc. Easy, man, easy. You want your wife to hear you carrying on? But I got to know, Doc. I got to. Is she gonna get better? She can be cured, Vic. Thank heavens for that. But, but what? Well, Vic, you might just as well know the worst of it now and have it over with it. The worst of it? Doc, what do you mean? She needs special treatment if... There, there ain't no way out of it? It's absolutely necessary. Then she'll have it. When can you start, Doc? Not so fast, Vic. But I want you to... I can't do it. I haven't the training or the equipment. It'll take a doctor in one of the big cities. It will. And that Vic will cost money, I'm afraid. Look, Doc, I got close to 300 saved up. Would that be enough? I'm sorry. You mean it wouldn't? Vic, the kind of doctor your wife needs comes high. It would cost you $1,000 at least. $1,000? And that's not counting the cost of sending your wife away and keeping her there while she's being cared for. Would she have to be gone for long? Oh, three, four months, perhaps. And all that, it cost close to another $1,000. I'm sorry, Vic. If there are anything I could do... Sure, Doc, I know. You could borrow the money. On the sheriffs, wages. Hmm. Have you told Mary? She insisted, Vic. Uh-huh. That's the way she is. They don't make him any braver in her. She wanted me to keep it from you. She said there was nothing that could be done and that telling you would only make you unhappy. But I thought you ought to know. Thanks. Well, I'd have to be leaving now. Anyhow, Doc, you've done what you could. And well, I'd sort of like you to know I appreciate it. You don't have to tell me, Vic. If you need me, just call. Oh, uh, and another thing. Yeah? There'll be no charge for the calls I've made, Vic. That's, uh, well, we'll say that's a gift from one friend to another. Goodbye. Doc, you're one of the finest fellas I've ever known. But heaven helping, you will be paid. So long. Oh. I guess as bad as things seem, a fella could be worse off if he didn't have a friend like the doc and a wife like Mary. Knock, knock, knock. Is that you, Vic? Can I come in, honey? Of course. He, he told you. Honey, how did you know? Vic, you never have to speak a word. I'd still know what you was thinking. Well, I, I reckon I never was much of a hand for hiding things from you. Well, then stop your worrying. Everything's going to be all right. Sakes alive. Doc McKenzie's most likely mistaken, anyhow. Honey, listen to me. Yes? I know you're saying them things just to make me feel good. It's your style. And maybe that's why I've always loved you so much, Vic. But there's one thing I'm swearing to. If it's going to take $2,000 to make you well, then I'm going to get it for you. I don't know how. But there'll be a way, and by heaven's I'll find it. It was several days later that the lone ranger called a greeting to his faithful Indian companion. Tonto just returned to their small, well-concealed camp after a trip to town. You're back early, Tonto. Oh, Scott. Oh, you got the supplies we needed? Huh? Me got them. Well, why did you come back so soon? Me see, Pellar. Me think, crook. What's that? Me not sure. So me won't tell you. You mean he's someone we've seen before? That's what Tonto think. What did he look like? Him big, Pellar. Him got beard. Him wear a gun by left hand. Big man with a beard and left handed. How was he dressed? Him wear a black coat. Like a gambler's? Not right. I thought that sounds like Wolf Corby. I'll have to go into town after all. You wear in disguise? Yes, I'll put on the disguise. And if the man you saw is still there, I'll know at once whether he's Wolf Corby or not. But even as the lone ranger spoke, Wolf Corby and one of his lieutenants, a man known as Squint, were reigning in their horses before the sheriff's office. Hold it, man. Sure, this is safe, Wolf. And I've been in town for an hour a week without being recognized. Don't you worry about anybody in these parts knowing who we are. It'd go bad for us if we was caught. Yeah. After I get through talking with the sheriff, that'll be took care of. Come on. You let me do the talking. I say we ought to handle his kind and you don't. Suits me. Come in. Howdy, sheriff. Howdy. Ain't you the stranger I've seen around town for the last few days? That's me. This here is Squint, a part of mine. Pleased to meet you. Howdy. Them two fellows over there sitting with their big feet on my desk are my deputies. The tall one's Mike and the short one's Sam. I'll do. I'll do, stranger. Howdy, fella. Sheriff, would you mind if me and Squint was to speak to you alone? Alone? It's something mighty important. You can tell your deputies about it later if you ever mind it. Get out, you fellas. Yes, you say, Sheriff. We'll take a walk down the cafe. See you later. Well, then, what's on your mind? Sheriff, like you've noticed, I've been around for a few days. And being a good listener and sort of going from here to there doing all the listening I could, I've heard a few things. Yeah? For instance? We're like your wife being sick. What's that to you? Now, hold on, Sheriff. You can't blame me for knowing what everybody in town knows, can you? I can not. And another thing I heard was how the banker turned you down when he asked for a loan. Not only the banker turned you down, but everybody else in town with any cash. Seems to me you've been making my affairs your business. Maybe I have. In that case, take my advice. You're getting mad because we want to do you a favor? Sheriff, I said a favor, and that's what I meant. Just how much would you like to get your hands on a thousand in cash with another thousand later on? A thousand in cash? Right. You mean you're offering me that? You, a stranger? That's what I'm here for. You're local. You know what a sheriff makes? What chance would I have of paying you back? That won't be necessary. But I don't get you. You can pay me back all right. And you won't need cash to do it neither. No. Look here, let's put our cars on the table. Suppose I was to hand you a thousand dollars. Then suppose that later on somebody in your county got robbed and was mistaken enough to claim me or my men done. Oh, that's your game. Then, Sheriff, all you'd have to do is point out how foolish they was to think as crooks. I've been an honest sheriff for 20 years, and you skunks come in here offering me a bribe. That's just it, Sheriff, a bribe. A thousand dollar bribe. You're under arrest. You got witnesses to anything I've said? I don't need them. The folks around here take my word for things. The banker and the rest of them are rewarding you for your 20 years of being an honest sheriff by refusing to let you have the cash you need. The cash you need to save your wife's life. Just think that over. Get out. Changing your mind about arrest, understand? I'll have to get out before I change my mind again. Sure, we'll go. Remember what I said. A thousand now and a thousand after we've pulled a few raids. $2,000. Just what you're needing to send your wife away. You. Just think it over, Sheriff. Just think it over. Come on, Smith. Let's get moving on. That night, striking with the ferocity of a pack of wolves, Corbyn's men descended upon Mort Powell's ranch house. Inside, fellas, you shoot down the first dog, right-raising the hand of stoppers. Come on. Lift your hands, Proto. Let's just hold up. If you know it's good for you, keep your mouth shut. Search the place, fellas. Mort's got cash here, and we're taking it. Now get moving. Come on. The following morning, when the sheriff unlocked the door of his office and walked inside, he first noticed a broken window, and then a bundle wrapped in paper that lay on the floor just below. Now, what in Sunday? The whistle blamed anxious to deliver a package if they had to bust the window to do it. Then let's just have a look at it. Wrapped up good. Can't figure out what a lovely folding money and $1,000 of it. I'll bet I know who threw this in here. My fellow that had come to see me yesterday wore the low-down lock. Sheriff, Sheriff, are you there? Anybody was to see this cash. Why is it, Sheriff? Can't you hear me? Just a second, Mort. Just hold on a minute. The drawer. I'll do for now. I'll find a better place. I can't wait all day. I'm coming. Now, what in blazes do you want? You come along with me. Come on. Maybe here'll be gone before we get back there. Who'll be gone? Where'll be gone? To the cafe. But I don't. Do you recollect my center of one of my men into town last night to tell you about them outlaws raiding my place, don't you? I sure do. Well, I'd just seen one of them robbing pole catch. I did. And he's in the cafe right now, unless he's got away while I was trying to get you. You mean you recognized him? You bet I did. And you're jailing him. Is he a fellow from town? Nope, a stranger. You better be awful sure you're accusing the right fellow. I couldn't be no more sure of my own name. But you're no more. Here we are. Come on. He will stand in the bar having a drink the last time I seen him. What's it look like? He's tall with a beard. Oh, that fellow sitting at the table there, huh? Well, I'll do it. That ain't him. There's the one I mean by the bar. Oh, him? That's him. Now go on and arrest him. I'll give you all the evidence you need. But now, Mort, I've. I just hear somebody say something about arresting me. You're arresting even crook and you can't fly out of it. Go ahead, Sheriff. Do your duty. Well, I. What do you stand there for? Arrest him. Sure, Mort, sure. Stranger, don't try to get away. I'm the law here and you're going to jail. The curtain falls on the first act of our thrilling Lone Ranger drama. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue the story. Although the $1,000 offered to him by Wolf Corby as a bribe was lying in the drawer of his desk, the sheriff was forced to arrest the outlaw when he was identified by Mort Powell. He just stand there grinning at you, Sheriff. Show him you mean business. Didn't you hear me when I said you was under arrest? Now just wait a minute. I ain't no crook. There's some mistake. If I could maybe have a word in private with the sheriff here, I reckon it could be fixed up already. What have you got to say to the sheriff alone? Why, I just thought I'd explain to him why it is I can't be the crook you think I am. Unless, of course, he'd rather have some explaining to do. Huh? What did he mean by that, Sheriff? Just wait a second, Mort. And I'll see what he's got to say for himself. Well, I'll be hogtied. You're going to listen to the skunk? Mort, you let me handle things my own way. Vic, I've known you for 10 years. But you know, all that time, I've never seen you act like this before. I know my job. Step over here, stranger. If you believe his lies, Sheriff, you ought to have your badge stuck from you. Now don't get excited, Mort. Look here, you loader. You ain't arrested me, Sheriff. What's to stop me? You've got the $1,000 that I sent you. Sure. But you'll arrest me, and I'll tell about you having that cash. I could explain it some way. It ain't likely. And there's something else maybe you didn't notice, huh? Every last one of them bills are marked. Jail me, and I won't only tell folks you've got that money, but I'll describe them bills so there can't be no mistake where they came from. I'll get rid of them. Yeah? You'll still have to arrest me first before you get the chance to do it. And then it'll be too late. I'll see to that. You. If you ever arrest me, all I'll have to do is tell why you didn't arrest me this time. And this is going to look suspicious enough so those folks will believe my story. I don't know what to do. Then do like I say. Yeah? Tell Mort you seen me in town last night. About the time his ranch was raided, that'll give me an alibi. And don't worry about me being recognized another time. I just let Mort see me last night so as to force your hand. The lowest rottenest thing I ever seen. You got me where I have to do like you say. Thought you'd see sense. Now, if I was you, I'd pretend Mort must have mistook me for that fella sitting over there. He's tall. He's got a beard, too. Come on. Mort, you was wrong. Sheriff, did I hear you right? This couldn't be the fella you met, Mort. What in places has he been saying to you? Well, he was just reminding me where it was I seen him last night. After he described it to me, I recollected him. And it was the time you said you was robbed. So of course it was. Sheriff, you've gone crazy. I'll swear you were the man that. Mort, that stranger over there looks suspicious to me. Hey, there you. Step over here. You were talking to me, Sheriff? Yes, you. That ain't the man. You was likely so excited last night, Mort. You didn't know what he was. I want you to answer some questions. That's what. Yes? What's your business in town? Where was you at last night? What's the handle you go by? I don't know. There are a lot of questions. What if I don't answer them? Then you go to Gerald, you do. No, I won't. It's a draw. Slap by the shelf and out fire. Don't follow me. After him, you'll go after him, if you mind, Sheriff. But I'm staying right here. You're just trying to arrest him on a trumped up charge while the cook here goes to free. I don't know what's got into you. But it's something funny. And maybe I'll find out what. I didn't see the man you described, Otto, until this morning. And it was Wolf Corby, all right? You tell, Sheriff. No, there's something strange there. What that? I know the sheriff's reputation. Everywhere in the state, he said to be one of the most honest sheriffs Texas ever had. That's right. But today, he not only refused to arrest Wolf on the word of a truthful witness, but he tried to arrest me instead. Why him do that? I'm not sure, Kimosabe, but I've got an idea. Huh? When I was in town, I learned a number of things. One of them is that the sheriff has been trying to raise money to care for his wife, who was seriously ill. That looked bad. But this morning, after the sheriff had tried to arrest me, I pretended to leave town. I circled back and waited for the sheriff to return to his office. And I saw him take paper money from his desk. Where him get money? That's what I don't know. But it could have been a bribe from Wolf. Him not take bribe? Otto, you have to remember that his wife will die if he doesn't get money. Any man might weaken under those conditions. But if the sheriff did take a bribe for that reason, I have a plan. What that? First, we'll go back to town, Kimosabe. Then we'll pick up Wolf's trail. I noticed the direction he rode from town this morning. Then what we do? And then we'll pay a call on Wolf and his gang in their camp. Let's go town. Get them up, Scarlet. Come on, Silver. Their work in town finished. The masked man showed Tonto the direction in which Wolf had traveled. And the keen eyes of the fateful Indian followed the outlaw's trail to the gang's hidden camp. We see the masked man and Tonto as they set astride their horses, hidden from the outlaws by a grove of trees. My mask will probably convince them I'm an outlaw. So I don't expect them to make trouble. But you stay here. If anything goes wrong, you'll be able to help. Tonto will do that. I'll have to pretend to know more than I do. My guess was wrong. If they didn't bribe this year, they'll probably suspect me. But if I was right, then our plan should work. Tonto will not think you do wrong. Keep out of sight, Tonto. I've worn my way. Me? Take care. Come on, Silver. They'll have to do our best, old fellow. Too much depends on us to fail now. And they've seen us. Hey, what's up? A mask! Where did you come from? Oh, Silver. Hey, look here, you. We don't like strangers come busting into our camp. Go! So you can just turn around again and start traveling. Very well, Wolf. You know my name? I know your name. And I know that you're going to lose the money you paid the sheriff for. Just a minute. Hold on. Seems to me he knows an awful lot, boss. Hang on to him and make him talk. That's what I came here for. Stranger, just who are you? That doesn't matter. He's some kind of a crook, boss. Take off that mask he's wearing, and maybe we'll know him. Don't try it. We want a gunfight or information. What I want to know is how you found out about the cash I gave the sheriff. Did he tell you? He didn't. Then who did? I found out for myself. Just as I found out, you've been tricked. Tricked? You paid him money for protection. But when you paid him, there was something you didn't know. What's that? You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you. All right, Thunder, you'll talk or we'll make you. I'll do this, Wolf. I won't tell you myself. I said you wouldn't take my word for it alone. But I'll send you to a man whose word you'll believe. Yeah? You know John Mackenzie, the doctor in Carter City? I know him. What about it? I'll talk to Mackenzie and ask him just one question. What question is that? Ask him how long he expects the sheriff to live. Huh? Kay, do you mean it? You'll find out what I mean when he tells you. That's thousand. If something's going to happen to him, if he won't be able to give us protection after taking our cash. And why were you, Wolf? I'd see Mackenzie as soon as I could. I'll do that same. Hey, what are you telling me this for? It might be that I want to join your gang. Yeah? So that's it, huh? You can draw your own conclusions. Strangers, we're going to look into what you said. Good. All of you. Get to your horses. We're riding. And stranger. Yes? If you've told us the truth, you can join us anytime. What's more, we'll make it worth your while. You coming with us? Steady there. No. But I'll give you my word. You'll see me later. That suits me fine. Everybody ready? And come on. Get over there. Get over there. Just a moment. Hurry it up, Doc. Use some on your life. That gun. Doc, take a good look at that shooting eye and then start talking. Talking? There's something I want to know, Targon. Bear, you can tell me. Yes? Well, one thing is there's something wrong with the sheriff. But you're asking me to tell a professional secret. Tell or get grilled. Well, I've seen men in better health. Don't try to fool me. Talk out and talk straight. Is there anything wrong with them that you'll maybe die from? I- Quick. I shouldn't say. I'm giving you one more chance. If you don't take it, well, then maybe you won't never talk again. Now, let's have it. It's possible that he might die within a week. Within a week? It's very possible. That's all I wanted to know. But wait. Get back inside, Doc, and keep your mouth shut. Was the man back around the truth, boss? Yep. He was. He's got the cash. What are we going to do? Take it back and make him wish he'd never met up with Wolf Corby. Right now, we're heading for the sheriff's house. Get up there. Get up there. What is it? Stand where you are, sheriff. You again. Shut up. One squint, Blackie. Keep the sheriff covered. Right. You'll wake my wife. That's just too bad. Not too bad. Shut up and listen to me. You know where we've just been? Huh? To see the duck, that's what. And he told us the truth about you. You, you blasted cheat. Taking the cash I gave you, and all the time knowing you wasn't going to live long enough to do so any good. Are you a local? I figured we wouldn't find it out, huh? I don't know what you're talking about. Right, sir. I suppose you're going to stand there and claim there ain't nothing wrong with you. That you ain't liable to die before long. Will you? I ain't got time to argue with you. Where's the cash? You want it back? I want it, and I'm getting it. I'll get it for you. I won't. Just stay where you are. You tell us and we'll get it. I ain't taking chances on no more of your tricks. That desk. It's there? Which drawer? The bottom one. In the cash box. Look forward, squint. I'll find it. But, but there's more. And what belongs to you there? You ain't going to take the cash as mine, are you? I ain't particular. Here's the cash box, boss. Bring it here. It weighs pretty heavy, woof. There's more than just folding money in it. You got the key, sheriff? And I'll open it. Give it down, squint. It'll find my keys. And I hear they are. This is the one. There. Now I'll take it. Use the thousand, all righty. Gold and silver, too, eh? Well, that's just fine. I reckon I'll just take the whole thing along. My life's savin'. Nice of you, sheriff, to save it for me. Now, for you, woof. My plan. There's the game. The master and the sheriff's deputy. Come on. And you run. Cook's head on her throughout the sheriff's. Wait. Hold on. You can't arrest us. We can't? Well, you're already arrested. Sheriff, look here. This thousand, you've talked about the thousand, woof. The sheriff took it. It was a bribe. He took it. What kind of a yarn is that? You pulled cash out of your pocket and tried to claim it as a sheriff's. Now I suppose you'll say what's in that cash box ain't the sheriff's. The maskeller. It was him that done this. Say, and he wanted to join us. I said I might want to. It was a trick. The sow bones, right? They didn't lie, either. He said it was possible the sheriff wouldn't live. The same thing could be said of any one of us. You hear that, woof? The maskeller knew what the doc said. I better make him and he put doc up to it. That's enough out of you, fellas. You're heading for jail a whole lot of you. And, sheriff, yeah? When the maskeller came and got us, he told about woof being wanted in Montana. There's blame near $3,000 in reward money on the heads of him and his gang. There is. Then where's the maske gone to? Get a hold of him. Tell them the reward's his. That ain't the way he wanted it, sheriff. Huh? It was his rightly so I could do with it what he pleased. And he said it was to go to you so your wife could get the kind of doctrine she needs. He said that. Sam, the NFL, I know of that do a thing like that. Except one. And that's the Lone Ranger. For you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.