 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty high old silver, the Lone Ranger. In the early days of the western United States, the coming of the railroad brought prosperity to many districts. And the competition between the smaller towns for branch lines became intense. There were thousands of confidence men who took advantage of the way of a speculation that marked the era. And there were thousands of men and women who might have been cheated of their savings if it had not been for the masked rider of the planes. As it was, it took the full force of his courage and resourcefulness to protect the ranches from their own enthusiasm. Return with us now to those thrilling days when the west was young. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse, Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. Come on, Silver! We're heading for Pecos County! In common with every other western community, Pecos wanted a railroad. But the newly organized Pecos and Western refused to build unless the county voted bonds to assist it. A grand rally had been called and the inhabitants of both the town and the surrounding country listened to the arguments of J.C. Bladgett, the company's president and general manager. Friends, I can't urge you too strongly, solely in the light of your own welfare, to vote the bonds that my company will need in order to construct the kind of railroad the future prosperity of Pecos demands. It will open up the country, draw manufacturers and act as a magnet for trade. Let me remind you that if we do not build here, we shall build somewhere else. The prosperity that might have been yours will go to a rival community and grass will grow in the streets of Pecos now so crowded with trade. And remember, friends, to ensure all these good things and to guard against such disaster as I have mentioned, you and your fellow citizens need only vote to the Pecos and Western bonds to the value of $200,000. How small a sum that is compared to what it will bring you and how blind must be the man who will vote against it. And therefore, vote against the affluence both of himself and his neighbors. My friends, that is all. Well, I think that did it, Jake. I reckon it did. $200,000. It's a nice lot of money. Ain't it, though? And, Jake, we can be a long ways away when these fools wake up. In Mag, just think, when the railroad's built, all this land of yours is going to be worth five and ten times what it is now. Gully, I reckon you'll be one of the richest women between the Mississippi and the border. Don't it please ya? You want to know what I think? What? I think folks have gone clean daft over these thunderation railroads. But don't you think? I think what railroads are being built know just where they're going to run ahead of time, regardless of what town votes and bonds and what town don't. Oh, Mag, you got that all wrong. Now take the Pecos and Western. It's already got its tracks laid clear to the head of the valley. It can go whichever way it pleases, either through Pecos or through Titusville. And if we don't vote them bonds, then folks over Titusville will. If the railroad ain't gone through Pecos, why'd the tack on the name? Ah, it sucks. That could be changed easy enough. Then it'd be the Titusville and Western. Well, I still ain't satisfied. Mag, sometimes I think you... I'm not what? Oh, nothing. Missouri, you old bag of bones. What was you going to call me? I didn't say it. You were thinking it. Is there a crime? Missouri, when you start thinking it's always a crime. Now get out of here and leave me be. But in spite of the misgivings of many of the county's most level-headed citizens, in the time for the voting game, the bonds were approved by a ratio of 10 to 1. And construction of the railroad was once more resumed. But shortly afterward that the Lone Ranger returned to the district. And with his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, watched the work of the crews from a distance. Now, though, I don't like the looks of this. What matter? I don't know just how to explain it. Doesn't seem as if the town's people can lose. After all, they don't turn over the bonds they voted until the first train has run over those tracks. And Blagit has given them voting stock in the company. Actually, the stock held in the name of the county amounts to control. That's right. That's exactly what I can't understand. What do you think? I think Blagit was too anxious to put this deal across. Maybe you're right. What's more, from what I've seen of him, I don't like Blagit himself. Come, Tonto, let's ride. And where we go? There's someone I want to see. Oh, that? He wouldn't know him, Kimisabe. If anyone can tell me what I wish to know about Blagit and the Pecos and Western, he's the man. Come on, Tonto. Get him up the skull. Come on, Tonto. Come on. One evening a week later, the Lone Ranger and Tonto reigned up before the ranch house of their old friend, Mustang Mag. Oh, oh, listen, oh, oh, oh. You'd better stay with the horse, Kimisabe. You're welcome. I heard ya! I heard you, friend. I told Missouri that once the Lone Ranger had never whacked him again. Hello, Mag. Howdy, friend. Hey, you got Tonto out there? It is, Missouri. Missouri my golly I got to speak to him well my line is keeping you're standing out here on the port you come on in I want to talk with you trouble perhaps I thought as much I know you wouldn't be making no social calls friend what is it my don't misunderstand me what I've discovered so far only gives ground for suspicion I have no kind of proof and everybody knew you as well as I know your friend the wouldn't ask for no more proof than just your suspicions the most generally right in this case I hope they're not yeah they concern blood it's on the pay close and Western oh so that's it yes well don't surprise me none I thought blood you'd a crook from the first right from the first I was again boating them bonds but when the whole world goes local the fuel with sense gets locked up man what would happen if in the end the county lost the two hundred thousand it's investing in this railroad received nothing in return what would happen it just about ruin these parts that's all that man well I should smile how did it like that ever be paid without raising taxes sky high the way it is everybody's figuring the railroads gonna make them so all fired prosperous a few more taxes won't amount to nothing but if the railroad failed to bring prosperity it had set the counter back ten whole years and keep new citizens from moving in just so but what started on all this huh tell the truth my guy first became suspicious when I learned that bladgett was handing over the voting stock to the county that amounted to control then I looked at that part of the line which had already been built and saw that it was cheap narrow gauge construction bladgett claimed that was just for now it all but changed in a couple of years I know well after that I called on a friend of mine a banker with good connections yeah he couldn't uncover anything definitely against bladgett but he did learn this isn't the first short line railroad the man's promoted none of what she stayed by exactly so this could be a fraud a trick to get the county's money and give little in return wouldn't be the first scheme of the sort by any means I should smile it wouldn't add several reasons for mentioning the matter to you the first place I want you to keep your ears open for anything that may serve to prove my suspicions they'll be open that wide the flap if my suspicions are correct I have a plan to bring the facts out in the open that plan may need your help which you ought to know by this time you're welcome to whenever it's needed thank you Mac you've never failed me you've never failed anybody and in the meantime yeah wouldn't hurt to start a little talk the bounds have been voted most of the original enthusiasm has died down perhaps your neighbors are ready to begin thinking more carefully and you mean it wouldn't be a bad idea of rumors were circulated that bladgett would bear watching. I say if it bladgets honest they'll do him no harm but if they ain't they'll fit into something I haven't mind friend yes Mike if you want someone who can talk you come to just the right party fine and if you don't believe it ask Missouri. During the days that followed the railroad crept gradually closer to Pecos. Gladgett made his headquarters in a private car followed the construction crews one afternoon as he was riding at his desk Jake entered the car and it's you Jake where have you been. I've been to Pecos bladgett have you walk a barred horse from the foreman and you needn't set their grin and neither what I heard in town ain't funny just what do you mean there's some funny stories about you going around you've been talking to anybody you shouldn't but what well about what we were planning to do after we collect them bonds I don't think I have you don't think I mean I've discussed it with no one but you I hope you ought to be trusted Jake trusted. Oh yeah well if you're sure you ain't talked to nobody else I said that no offense meant just seem funny exactly what did you hear well nothing really I mean nothing you could pin down just talking the cafe about why you need two hundred thousand bonds when the line your building ain't worth half that you know it's just goes to show how little they understand about the construction of a railroad when they said this line isn't costing half that they were wrong sure it isn't costing one for honest bladgett you get by that cheap it was a matter of fact I'm speaking of what it would cost to duplicate the materials and labor yeah actually it's costing me almost nothing I persuaded the man to work for half until the bonds are delivered and discounted for cash most of the materials I've obtained and credit of course they haven't been charged against me they've been charged against the pay coast and Western I get it that's why I made no difficulty over granting the county so much stuck let me get my hands on that cash and they're welcome to the line that's an old don't you mean when we get our hands on that cash bladgett oh of course you wouldn't want to make any mistake about that you know don't talk like a fool well it never hurts to remind us forget it forget anything you're hurting Pekos also needed likely to cause trouble how well just the contract's clear on the day the first passenger train runs into Pekos the bonds are given to me actually that fulfills my part of the bargain nothing in that contract would states I must run a second train I could take that money do nothing more and retain it quite legally although it was a matter of policy as a matter of policy Jake I think it'll be safer we don't stay our friends might not appreciate our rights they well they might act a trifle to hastily in which case yeah we might find ourselves at the business end pair of sturdy ropes Jake what are you looking so pale about they've frightened you would you say what you're listening I guess it wasn't what's bothering you couldn't be talk sense for just a minute there I thought I seen a lone ranger but I know it couldn't be more than the first act of our lone ranger drama before the next exciting scenes please permit us to pause for just a few moments how to continue our story racing away from the railroad the lone ranger rejoin tanto at their secret camp your Mustang bag branch what you find out if they're not much today Kimisabi not taken by itself but added to the other things we've learned quite a lot not good I might have learned more but I had to keep out of sight of the crew and in rate we know for certain that Bladgett and Jake plan to use the money they obtained from those bonds for themselves and no one else that's right seems as if knowing that much it should be easy to prove it isn't however Bladgett is in a good position as president of the Pekos in Western he has the full authority to convert those bonds into cash once that's done you leave this part of the country if he does even then we can do nothing how would we prove such a trip wasn't only get him at business he's not obligated remain right here what we do then we'll have to use the plan I outlined first and hope that it'll work I hit good plan well if it fails we can always try another we wait several days why wait it's still a week before the line will be completed huh and the day that the first train enters Pekos is going to be a big celebration me here talk yeah if we work it right that celebration will fit into our plan I'm me savvy but if we act too soon we might spoil everything just a little patience came a subbie and I know we'll win at last however the tracks reached the very edge of town on the following day the branch would be completed and that must hang mags ranch house old Missouri was looking forward to the coming celebration with an enthusiasm that aroused mag suspicions Missouri you quit looking at yourself in the mirror and listen to me just a second man what are you doing now can't just make up my mind huh would you say a real bright neck tie would go with my complexion mag or would I look better than something kind of sea day heavenly days are you gonna wear a neck tie well why not you are up to something you're no Missouri I think maybe tomorrow you better stay to home you're gonna get in trouble when a fellow your age gets young notions he ain't fit to be trusted alone so now man I reckon for the good all concerned you better forget the celebration and do some work for a change you see now how long's it been since anybody's all over by that east fence mad you're gonna make me ride fence on a day like tomorrow just for your own good Missouri you can't do it I my golly I quit how much you got coming huh tell me what I owe you now pay an hour mad you you mean you really let me quit sure why not then then I won't I thought you wouldn't dog blasted mag sometimes you get me said dog gone mad as that's the case I need better come in the mask man going to the celebration tomorrow well I'm well I ain't just sure I am too good friend what did you ask for if you went Missouri do you think you could follow instructions huh hey is it something to do with what we talked about when you first showed up yes of course I can follow instructions you got something you want me to do just one thing and it shouldn't be hard what tomorrow a large crowd will be waiting to greet Bledgett mm-hmm they expect him to arrive in town in his private car won't he know me now I'm sorry will you keep stealing at the mask well or explain yourself I wasn't bothering him no he won't enter town in his private car Missouri in fact he won't be coming into town at all huh you'll be waiting just outside the old Hanson place well that's the one that he's lived in anymore right what and how could they be doing there you will learn that when the time comes Mag just now I want Missouri's promise that he'll remember that he'll bring the town's people there and that he won't fail when did I ever just plenty of times you'll do it Missouri don't savvy but I sure will and I'll see you then adios all right let's go we've worked to do Howard later Jake was walking past a dense grove of trees on his way from town when suddenly that way you are what to get him up the mask man into the saddle with you here they go help help keep still one more shot out of you and I'll use these guns thank you no cash on me there's no use holding me up I this isn't a hold up then what do you want you can't guess I don't know what you're glad you didn't tend to collect those bonds tomorrow then share with you you know about that why shouldn't I you said hey bladgett hire you that's a question I'm not answering he did he did I do his dirty work for him and now he wants to get rid of me he wants to keep the whole thing for himself do you expect anything different I'll fix him just let me get my hands on him you'll do nothing dirty little promise you one thing what's that you'll get not one penny of that 200,000 from bladgett I'll see to that come on so many more the masked man led the way to deserted the Henson place left his prisoner with Tonto in the empty bunkhouse and he'll eat to the saddle once more and circle the town this time his destination was the same as Jake's had been before his capture bladgett's private car stay there old fellow what that that's a gun you're reaching for bladgett drop it think right now Jake wouldn't care if I shot you or not what was that you said don't argue just come along and down old step I said look quickly into the saddle can we talk this over if you're after cash I am it's cash you're worried about bladgett I can get what I want without coming to you huh with you out of the way Jake will be a wealthy man you mentioned him before right I demand a know why isn't it true with you out of the way Jake would collect those bonds in your place tomorrow as your representative yes but then couldn't he dispose of them without your help aren't they readily negotiable I don't see what good you don't plan to do more blind than I think you are come on old fellow come on the last man returned to the deserted ranch but avoided the bunk house and took his second prisoner to the ranch house itself there bladgett was securely bound by Tonto just as Jake had been earlier all that night until almost noon the next day both men were well guarded neither was aware of the others captivity and at 12 o'clock Tonto rode away alone an hour past then stranger well bladgett you better listen to me yes Jake hired you to kidnap me didn't he I refuse to answer that he's denying it you've already let enough slip for me to guess the truth and if I have he double crossed me maybe and if you have any sense you realize that if he double crossed me he'd do the same to you I don't think he will I tell you don't know the man let me out of here help me get back at him and I'll pay you anything you ask why should I trust you any more than you say I should trust him you know and if he has hired me which I haven't admitted you gain just as much money by having you out of the way as you would if he were out of the way in other words you'd be in no position to pay me anything more than he could but I could be trusted I doubt that stranger listen why I tried I said I'm just rude up brought him back so early now trouble what's the matter now he's big trouble what is it something's going wrong huh take him in cafe is him drink plenty fire water go on him talk plenty him make keep big talk him tell everything you're sure that huh about the bonds what he and bladgett had planned huh him not know what him say well there's some town and plenty mad what's up to you and said what he said is true bladgett it looks as though the games up for everyone they're come fellers the crown from town they must have picked up your trail they're heading here what if jakes talked with the elixir if they find me right get me away get me out of here you'll have to take care of yourself they're coming too fast don't go don't leave me wait untie me anyhow give me a chance please give me a chance your life time I can't let any man be lynched without a fair chance bladgett giving you yours there you're free which will I go I've been a horse I did take some advice what's that there they are you can't escape so far they've heard just Jake story from what Thomas told us you have just one chance to get out of there and tell them your side of it explain it the best way you know how I wouldn't dare what else can you do well I get on with you quick I'll have to don't let me all right to get to the bunkhouse and release Jake long enough to hear what bladgett's got to say he's yelling something what was that you said bladgett the whole thing was Jake's idea for first alias it was Jake's all over to get that 200,000 I don't care what he told you is his idea to steal it I heard ya putting the whole blame on me well you ain't gonna get away with it you fellas know I just work for this conk don't you it was him thought of this way of stealing your money well I'll be dog gone Jake you say bladgett was gonna steal the county's cash he was gonna cash them bonds and skip out I wasn't any worse than you you were going to do the same thing I didn't even said you've been in town drinking huh me I've been in that bunkhouse tied up all night what's that look where the ropes was on they tricked what run for it all we come here to thank these gents for building the railroad and they just chop and confess their crooked and there goes the hombres that planned the whole feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated