 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hyo silver! The Lone Ranger! With his faithful Indian companion, Toto, the daring and resourceful Masked Rider of the Plains led 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! Come on, Silver! Let's go before... There were but four covered wagons in the train about to start westward from the small Ohio town. One of the wagons carried only women, unmarried women all except for Amy Smith, the leader's wife. The spinsters were making the perilous trip, hoping that a new and happier life and perhaps a husband awaited them at the end of the journey. Of all the women, Melvina Powell had been the most enthusiastic. But now, as the last minute preparations were completed, she was in a quandary. She stood beside the wagon and spoke to Amy Smith. Amy? I do declare I don't know what to do. This may be the greatest mistake of my life, going away like this. But Melvina, I thought you couldn't wait to get away from here. What's the matter? Has something happened? Yes, Amy. Caleb Henry smiled at me this morning. He did? Yes. Isn't that thrilling? Mrs. Smith, Melvina! Aren't you going with us? We're ready to start. I'm going, Jasper. I am not sure about Melvina, though. Caleb Henry smiled at her this morning. He's smiling at everyone this morning. The fool glued up and popped the question to Nellie Sprague last night, except in him. As he's hooked, I'm happy about it. Poor lost soul. Hey, Melvina, where are you going? Well, I'm getting into the wagon, where do you suppose? But Amy, don't be standing there wasting time. Amy! Poor Melvina. She was ready to stay on here merely because Caleb Henry smiled at her. She's missed out again. Well, in this case, a miss is as good as a smile. I'm holding you back there. Nothing, Jake. We're all set now. You can start them rolling. All right. Come on now. With Jacob Smith driving the lead wagon, the train set out on the road for whatever fortune beckoned in the west. Four weeks later, the wagon train was in the heart of the west, but somewhere it had strayed from the main trail and now was in a spot unknown to Jacob Smith and Jasper Jennings. While the members of the party slept or stood guard, the two leaders sat around the campfire studying a map. Jasper, I gave you the map and let you lead the way because I thought you could do it. I thought I could myself, Jacob, but it's a homemade map and, well, we're not lost. Perhaps not, but we're off the main trail and getting higher into the mountains. Jasper, we'll find ourselves in Torbalon, bless some... bless me, it's thunder. And lightning too. Look at it. Who would have thought it? What a storm. It's terrible. Coming off here now. It didn't look like it was going to storm. I'm afraid of lightning. I'm afraid, Jasper. Hold me. Oh, it's starting to rain. All right, everyone, we're in for a storm. Hitch those horses tight to the wagons and tie the canvas so the rain won't get inside. Please, Henry, come and supply us. Oh, no. Help me, please. Oh, Jasper, this is awful. What am I going to do? You're going to drown if you don't get into your wagon. Amy, take her away. Take her away. The storm continued throughout the next day and the day after that again. But in spite of it, the wagon train rolled on. Supplies were running low and Jacob Smith wanted to replenish them at the next town they'd come to. But on the third day, with the storm still raging and with a country around them seemingly wilder than it had been, Smith began to worry. The rain fell in a torrent and the days continued dark except for occasional streaks of lightning. Amy Smith had joined her husband's wagon on the third day. Now as the lead wagon creaked through the deep mud, Amy from inside spoke through the slit in the canvas to her husband. Jacob, you said yesterday we would reach a town by evening. Can't we near it yet? Get up there! Come on up! Amy, I don't have any idea where we are. We're still on some sort of a trail, but it's not the main one. It's getting colder, too, Jacob. That's because we're getting higher into the mountains. It's Jasper's fault. Amy, Amy, hush, hush. We're facing against Jasper. It's not his fault. If the storm hadn't come, we'd have located the main trail again and been all right. We didn't think the storm would continue this long. But what are we going to do? Keep moving on until we reach some place where we can get food. Or until the mud balks us down. Come on now! Get up there! Straight up! High in the hills in a secluded cabin miles to the south of the town of Last Chance, a man stood removing his rain-soaked coat and throwing it on the floor. It's so clean through. It feels as if it weighs a ton. Roscoe Sterling, an accepted pillar of respectability in the town of Last Chance, and one of its few businessmen, spoke to two tough-looking men seated at a table smoking and playing cards. The taller man, Dewey Boswell, took the last card trick from squinty-eyed Case Adams. Then pushed back his chair and got to his feet as he spoke to Sterling. Oh, sure glad you got here. How'd it go? I saw Clark. I told him I couldn't get to his bank today because I had to go out to a ranch. So storm or not, he's gonna meet me at the bank tonight at nine o'clock. Then he'll give me the documents he's been binding for me. Documents? It's funny. Boswell, carry out the job as we planned it. Yes. You two be waiting behind the bank. When I get inside with Clark, I'll open the door for you. And you come in and take the money. That evening at nine o'clock, Roscoe Sterling went to the bank with its president, George Clark. Clark opened the safe, laughingly. Well, I'll have you know, Mr. Sterling, you're one of the few men in last chance I'd do this for. Well, I'm sure glad you did it for me. Soar away up with your hands. You'll not, I'll not let you. Here, give me that gun. No, I'm hit. And I'll shoot you too. Sterling, you're not one of them. Where's Clark? I am. We want that money. Let me have it. Sorry. You're not going to call with that gun, but he'll be out for hours. Here's the pouch. Hold it a second. Hold it a second. Help me out of here. I'll be all right. You'll have to come with us, boss. I'll take the money. Lead the way out the rear door. We'll help Dewey up to the cabin. Case Adams helped the wounded Dewey Boswell to their horses which they'd left in the rear of the bank. Roscoe Sterling, who had left his horse in a stable and been on foot when he met George Clark, walked to the front of the building and, acting casual, took the latter's horse. Dewey, case. Here we are, boss. Are you all right, Dewey? I'm bleeding some. Torn my shirt and tied the wound a bit. I'll be all right. Yeah, let's get out of here. But listen, when we get to the stream walk your horses down through the water until we're opposite Saddle Rock. When we come out on the other side the rain will wash away hoof prints anyway. Then get started. Hit him back. The trio of crooks boarded the stream at Saddle Rock. A few miles farther on, they crossed the main trail and made their way up the hills to their cabin hideout. They entered the cabin, placed the money pouch in a corner, and then dressed the wound in Dewey Boswell's shoulder. Does that feel all right now, Dewey? Yeah, it hurts a little but not much. It'll be quite a while yet before they find Clark. Then they'll be after us. But they'll never find this place. Now they'll be riding along the main trail after us. To the east or west. Nobody ever comes up here. But a few hours after dawn when the crooks had awakened they heard horses somewhere outside. Hey, listen, hear that? Get your guns ready. You stay back. I'll look through the window. It must be a posse. They found Clark and picked up our trail. Boss, case. Holy mackerel, look out the window. What is it, Dewey? Is it the sheriff? Boss, look, it's a wagon train. Four wagons. Oh, you're crazy. What for the wagon train be doing? What do we do? It is. You're right. Sure. Look, the wagons are stopping, too. They see this place. This is unbelievable. The wagon's up here so far from the main trail. I never heard of anything like this before. Maybe they're heading for the pass that takes them down on the Furnace Valley. That desert don't be crazy. Boss, there's a couple of hombres getting ready to come up here. We can't let them. You two stay here. I'll handle this. I'll find out what is all about. Roscoe Sterling, affecting geniality, walked toward Jacob Smith and Jasper Jennings' huddle before approaching the cabin. He introduced himself, and they in turn revealed their identity and their dilemma. Somehow, somewhere three days ago, we lost our way. It was my fault. I got the map mixed up. It was not your fault, Jasper, but that doesn't matter now. Mr. Sterling, our supplies are low, very low. And we're not sure how to get to the main road or to any town where we might get supplies. Is there a town near? There must be. Well, they see... gentlemen, I and my companions were about to leave. Companions? They're two friends. They're prospecting. Yes, prospecting, sir. Gentlemen, I think I may be able to give you every assistance you need. That is, if you'll let me in. Mr. Sterling, when we saw this cabin a few minutes ago, we had some hope. But now we feel as if we've been delivered from heaven knows what fate. Jacob's right. We'll not only let you help, we'll kind of beg for it. Then stay here. I'll not be long. We'll join you in a few minutes. Inside the cabin, Roscoe Sterling grinned as he detailed the emigrant's plight and also the plan he had in mind. They haven't the finest idea where they're going. So, we go with them. Down to the main trail, boss, that'll be dangerous. Sure, we can hide in the wagons like you just said. We can even pretend to be part of the bunch that's traveling with them. But the sheriff and his posse should be looking for us by now and if we... Well, it's not safe, boss. After seeing how that wagon train found its way here, I'm not so sure this is the perfect hideout after all. Yeah. That's what I was thinking. Besides, I didn't say we'd take the main trail. We'll go on with them from here along the same way they're heading. You mean we go to Furnace Canyon in the desert? Even necessary, yes. We'll tie our horses behind their wagons and we'll travel inside. And when we get to the desert, then what? We'll leave them stranded in Furnace Canyon? Why not? We'll take our horses and then ride up to Devil's Crater and through the cut to safety miles and miles away from here. Come on. When the crooks heard of a wagon with only women in it, they placed the money pouch there. Even if we stopped, no one would ever look among a lot of females for the loot. A short time later, the wagon train started off once more. Each of the bandits rode in a separate wagon. Roscoe Sterling, seated beside Jacob Smith in the lead wagon, had no thought of the sheriff and his posse, who, having found George Clark's body, were now on the trail searching. Instead, Sterling talked pleasantly... This isn't the best trail in the world. It's better on wagons than you see. That before we're finished, I'll get you places, Mr. Smith. We leave now. Fine, fine. Get off there, come on. The curtain falls on the first act of our lone ranger adventure. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. All to continue. A few miles to the other side of the main trail, but in a spot higher than the path on which the wagon train was traveling, two men studied the surrounding country. The lone ranger wiped his powerful field glasses and scanned the distant horizon, while Toto peered through his at the road below. Suddenly, the lone ranger's glasses centered on one point. Toto, lay your glasses on the spot where I'm pointing. Ah, give us that. What wagon train do up there? I'd like the answer to that myself. Trail, where wagons go. Not big. Not only that, it leads to the desert. Vernon's Valley. Maybe the Moss. Many times wagons get lost. That wouldn't be hard in this part of the country during weather like this. They're lost. They're bad. Very bad, Toto. We'll ride and overtake them. Come on, Toto! The lone ranger and Toto guided their horses through brush and down steep inclines, then straightened out at the bottom of the hill and started across the main trail. But even before they heard the beat of horses' hooves in the distance, they heard shots and the sound of bullets traveling close to them, landing in the foliage beyond. The man and Indian wheeled their horses, seeking shelter behind the roadside underbrush. Oh, you said it. Get your gun ready, Toto. Both men raised their guns, then lowered them again as they saw, even through the heavy rain, the shining badges on the jackets of the first horsemen to approach. Sheriff Hart-Chatham led the way to where the two men emerged from the underbrush. All right, you all, bring a couple of your hands, a couple of those guns. Hello, Sheriff Chatham. Well, I'll be swiggered. I didn't see the mask the way the rain's coming down. The silvers we were riding towards you. Silvers we're in the mask. And an engine's with him. The lone ranger had helped Sheriff Chatham in the past and the lawman introduced the masked man and Toto to his deputies. Then he told the story of the bank robbery and George Clark's murder. He concluded, And we may be in a wild goose chase for all we know, but we're sure one of them was shot. We picked up some hoof prints in the woods and back of the bank. And they petered out down by the stream. So we have a few men working each side of the stream, some heading east and the others west. The lone ranger told of sighting the wagon train and the reasons he and Toto were on their way to intercept it. The sheriff nodded his head. That's a good idea. They must be lost or they wouldn't be traveling up those hills. And he was hoping you set them right. And here's hoping you catch your murderer, Sheriff. Maybe you'll be able to help us after you finish what you're doing. All right, boys, let's get started. The lone ranger and Toto continued onward and up into the hills. It was some time later when they caught sight of the four wagons rolling through hub deep mud. There they are, Toto. The ride to the lead wagon. Come on, Toto! Roscoe Sterling, sitting next to Jacob Smith in the driver's seat, was the first to see the masked man and Indian approaching. He had heard of the lone ranger and Toto. So when he noticed that the masked man was riding a giant fight horse, a sudden cold terror gripped him. But he regained control of himself as he pulled his hat low over his eyes and spoke to the train leader. Hey, Smith, look what's coming. We're going to be held up. Come on, start shooting. No, no, don't shoot. Sterling, we ride in peace and use no guns unless we're forced to. That is our way of life. Please put away your gun. Two men could not hold up all of us. Hi there. Where are you heading? Shut up. Let me handle this. What do you care? Because I'd like to help you. You're strangers in these parts, aren't you? Yeah, we're from Ohio. This is the first time... Hey, leave us alone, eh? Don't be frightened by this mask. I'm not an outlaw. How about our friends? Ah, more friends. That is nice. You realize you're far off the main trail, don't you? They will find it. We're scutting around Furnace Canyon and up to Devil's Crater. We'll hit the main trail again after we've gone through the cat beyond the crater. Oh, you say this is your first trip out this way? Yes, boss. We'll keep quiet. Yes, sir. First time for all of us. We're all from Ohio. But you said we cannot plug you. We were lost for a while, but we're all right again. We don't need help. Thanks. It's the same. All right. Tell them to get you. Why don't you put them back? We don't need you. All right. Thought I might be able to help. Montalto, I'll get out of here. Montalto! Let's go! The lone ranger and Tato turned and galloped away in the direction from which they had come. When they had traveled a short distance, the lone ranger signaled a stop. Oh, well, well, well. Then spoke to Tato. Tato, something was wrong back there. Ah, somebody tell lie. You noticed that too? Ah. One man saying nobody come this way before. And the other one mentioned Furnace Canyon, Devil's Crater and the Cut, which is 30 miles beyond there. Ah. Only Indians know that. Indians or men very familiar with this territory. Another thing, the man who mentioned those places wasn't dressed like the rest of them. No. Them look like farmers. He looked like a prosperous Westerner or... Tato. I'll keep myself in. I have a hunch that man doesn't want the wagons to get onto the main road. Oh. You think maybe him one man's sheriff looked for? I said it's a hunch. I'm going to play it. Tato, you ride back to the main trail and look for sheriff Chatterman and his men. Ask them to please come up this way and follow after that wagon train. Ah. And what you do, Kimasari? I'm riding back to that wagon train, Tato. I want to find out how good my hunch is. A long ranger rode back through the brush and then dismounted. It was a very easy thing to do. He found a spot where he, unseen, could see and hear the conversation that was taking place. Unaware that anyone was watching, the members of the wagon train gathered around Jacob Smith and the stranger Roscoe Sterling. They had come to learn about the masked man who'd stopped the train, but now instead they heard the usually quiet Smith speaking angrily to Sterling. And I see no reason why you said what you did to the masked man. I think he sincerely wanted to help us. But you, and I still cannot understand this, you placed a gun against my back and said you would use it if I did not send him away. Why, Mr. Sterling? He's a hold-up man. That's why he was probably trying to lead us into an ambush. If he was a hold-up man, why didn't you keep your gun ready for him? Instead of using it on me? What does it matter? Just say I was excited in there, afraid of being held up in. I don't blame you, Mr. what with all that money you're carrying. What did you say? Well, you don't have to jump at me like that, Mr. I was talking about all that money you have in the pouch. Chase, what does this mean? How does this woman know about the money? I'm not talking to you, keep quiet. Chase, did you hear me? Yeah, boss, I did. It's nothing. You told me to put the pouch in the wagon where the ladies were and I can't have nobody be like let us search for you. That's enough. If you ask me, I think you stole the money. What? What do you mean, you pinched me? Take your hands off that girl. Oh, what? Keep out of this. Yes, you blibbering fool. I'm sorry, folks. Get away from here, Chase. I'm me. I'm sorry, folks. It's all a mistake here. Let's get back to the wagon, sir. I'm the one who'll give the orders, Mr. Sterling. Jasper, are you all right? Yeah, yeah, uh, Jacob, but where is that? Jasper, we'll have none of that. I'll handle matters. Mr. Sterling, we accepted your offer to help us before. We were grateful, but in view of what I've seen and heard these past few minutes, I think it may be better for all of us if we part with you and your friends here. Yeah, Jacob, you're right. Yeah, Amy. This man's name, you say, is Mr. Sterling. Well, what's his? Yes, it's my name. And these other two gentlemen? Gentlemen. Their names are Adams, and what's the name of the man with the bad arm? My name's Boswell. Why? Say, what is his? What are you getting at? Your horses have been tied onto our supply wagon and have been trailing along. I happen to look at your horse just now, Mr. Sterling. I don't know why. I just did. What about my horse? There are initials on the saddle different than any of yours. Yes. Gee, see they are. Intent on the scene that was taking place. No one saw the masked man make his way from the underbrush to a spot behind the wagon that had screened his movements. Sterling, surprised at the turn in events, was like an animal at bay. He glanced significantly at Dewey Boswell and Case Adams as he spoke. Hey, I don't know what you people are up to, talking and acting like this. Be up to nothing, Mr. Sterling. Take your money and your horses and leave us. It's better that way. You think so? And if we don't leave? We'll tell the sheriff or whoever one tells when we get to the town ahead. What are you laughing at? You hyena? Because there is no town ahead. What? Guns. They're drawing guns. All right, cover them, Case. You two do it. Forget about their army. They have no guns handy. They don't believe in using them. What are you? Two shots. Two shots flared from the Lone Ranger's gun almost together. But each found a different target, the gunhands of Sterling and Ace. As Dewey Boswell turned to fire, Malfina Powell pushed his wounded shoulder. Grab that gun from him. Give me. I have it. It's a masked man again. But you rode away. And came back in time. My hunch was right. I'll tell you about it after we've tied up these men. Pick up their guns from the ground. Judging by all I heard and saw, these men are bank robbers. That money in the wagon was stolen from a bank? Yes. And the horse with the initial saddle undoubtedly belonged to George Clark, the bank president. Oh, look. Here comes men on horses. There's an Indian with them. It's Toto and the riders are members of the posse. They were nearer than I thought. Here's Sheriff. Sheriff Chatham heard the Lone Ranger's story together with that told by Jacob Smith. The evidence and the confession of Case Adams was complete. The Sheriff and the posse prepared to lead the wagon train back over the mountain trail to a spot where it would reach the main trail easily. The Lone Ranger and Toto mounted and waved goodbye to the pioneers. Then they rode off. Jasper? Isn't he the handsomest man ever? That masked one? Maybe. I know he's the best and fastest man I ever did see use a gun. Jasper, you were brave too. But the way you wanted to punch that robber when he grabbed me. And Jasper, you called me girl. Did I? I must have been all excited. All right. Jasper, do you think that masked man is married? Of course not. Didn't you hear what they call him? He's the Lone Ranger. This is a feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated created by George W. Trendle produced by Trendle Campbell Enterprises directed by Charles D. Livingston and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beemer.