 a fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty high old silver, the Lone Ranger. Cattle raising was the first great industry in the western United States but with the passing of the open range shortly after the civil war thousands of farmers swarmed into the new territory. The ranchers resented their intrusion and tried to drive them out. If it had not been for the courage and resourcefulness of the masked rider of the planes, the era of bloodshed and violence might have lasted for many years. It was the Lone Ranger more than any other man who brought peace and security, law and order to a lawless frontier. 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. A small cabin about 10 miles west of Centerville went up in flames. Kessler, the manager of the neighboring boxy outfit, struggled with old Lyde's Dobson and Cabin's owner. Lyde's wife was ringing her hands in despair but the two cowhands Kessler had brought with him seemed to enjoy the situation as much as their employer. Let me go, God. Let me go. This thing's inside. I gotta save. Let me go. You crazy local. Did you hold still? Everything we own isn't burning up. Well, you can't do nothing about it now. Yeah, quit trying to get away. Shucks, boss. If you're so all fine anxious to win there, let him. It'll serve him right. No, if it wasn't we'd stop him. No, you've got to let me go. You just get hurt, please. I can save a little something. Wait. There, you see, the whole roof caved in. I'd let you go like you'd have been under it. Almost wish I was. Oh, no. Well, why shouldn't I? What do we got left? We ain't got a thing. No case to build with again. What crops we had all crampled down by this pole catch critters. We're a flat bus. Well, lads, if you'd listen to me, maybe this would never have happened. Then you admit you set that fire a purpose. No such thing. But you just. Elijah, you listen here. Don't go saying things. Maybe you'll be sorry for later. What do I care what I say? I ain't got nothing more to lose. Hey, you listen. I never saw that kerosene can sitting there when I threw away that match. They got a total match. If I'd seen where it was going, don't talk crazy. But you don't have that right order to get outside. You was just a little hasty. You know, you remember. I told you when you're filing this piece, there weren't no place for a homesteader. Told you that no good had ever come of it. This ain't a homesteadish country. Well, look at all the other folks like you and your misses have had bad luck. For more of your accident. Now didn't I tell you to shut up? You can't tell me nothing. Guesser, I know you through and through. You're as low down as a snake and as scheming as a coyote. You're a dirty crook. You're a lunatic. There'll be enough of that. You hit me. If you wasn't as old as you are, I'd have drilled you. Lids don't ever talk that way to me again. It ain't healthy. Don't you hurt lids. Don't you dare. It depends on him, ma'am. Kessler? Well, you're a younger man than me, and you got two of your gun hands along. So what I'd like to do, I can't. But there's something you're going to do, and that's pay me for what you made me lose here today. Oh, am I? Now, whatever put a local notion like that in your head. It's only right and fair, shucks. You wouldn't charge me for what happened accidental, would you? You've got to pay. I do. I'll tell you what, Lodge. You think I have to? You take me to court and sue. Then I'll give you whatever the court decides. No, we can't do that. No? We've no money. Can't hire a lawyer, huh? Of course we can't. Well, and I'd say that's just too bad. I don't know that case, what you can do. Just forget it, I reckon. You're a rotten skunk. Yeah, boss. Watch this, fella. Next time he lets his tongue get away with him, bust him one. Why, sure, boss. You bet. Then let's see you try it. Oh, hey, it's a man's man, boss. That red skin. Kessler, I heard you give Hawk an order just now. I said, let's see him try it. Mr. Who are you? That's none of your business. You can't do it. And I'll advise you not to reach for that gun. Well, take it! You ask for it. Now to watch these other fellas. Contrude to it. Lodge. Yes, stranger. You say Kessler brins your cabin? Well, well, he... Speak up. You've nothing to fear. Lodge, I warn you, if you start to shoot him off your mouth... Quiet. Lodge, go on. He did. He did set it afire. And I know, dog gone well, it was a purpose. I see. What was the value of what you lost? Huh? How much would it cost you to replace the cabin and what was in it? Well, I don't know offhand. Wouldn't be a cent under $500. You're sure that would cover it? Well, well, maybe $600. That's better. All right, Kessler, pay up. What's that? You heard me and you heard Lodge. $600. Hand it over. Say, what right have you got? Here's my rights. Now, wait. Don't shoot. Then pay. I, uh... I sure will pay. Sure. Uh, just as soon as I can get back the range... You pay now. Huh? Well, what with? Think I carry that much cash on me? I do. Then you're... Hey, watch out. I thought so. The money belt under that vest. $600, Kessler. But this cash ain't mine. It belongs to the owner. Then you can make it up to him. But I tell you... I won't argue. I have much patience with your kind. Either pay or take... Now, wait. I'll pay. I said I wouldn't do that. Quit aim that gun at me. Sure, I'll pay. Quickly. I'm supposed to buy cattle with this. I'm not interested in that. Here you are, Lodge. One, two, three, four, five, six hundred. There. Gosh. You all right? Hit leather and travel. I think these gun hands with you. We're going. Come on, fellas. Yeah, yeah. And Kessler. Yeah? If you're thinking of returning when Tato and I have left, don't. You may find we're not as far as away as you'd hoped. Mister, you haven't seen the last of me. Come on, boys. Strange, and I don't know how to thank you. You and the engine hadn't come along. Never mind that. Lange, I think you can give me some information. Tato and I heard there was trouble in the district. And that's why we're here. But what's it all about? Just the same old story, stranger. Yes? It's just the case of cattlemen against homesteaders. Mix of two and there's always trouble. But they're just one cattle outfit in this section. The boxy. The one Kessler manages. Is all the range it needs, sure. And why all the... This ain't a fight for rangeland, stranger. It's politics. In a couple months, there's going to be a county election. I see. Managing the boxy that owns most of the land in the county. Kessler figures he ought to run the county. But even of us homesteaders don't own as much land there as more of us. We can outvote him easy. Lesson he can run us out between now and then. So that's it. In a nutshell. You say Kessler, but after all, he's just the manager. What about the owner? What does he got to do with this and who is he? I can answer just part of that, stranger. Yes? Man owns the boxy. He's a fellow named Davis. But he don't even live in the state. He got another place called over to Cheyenne, I've been told. Don't think he ever comes here. And you don't know if Kessler's acting by his orders or not. Couldn't tell you such a thing as that. All I know is some of us wrote him a couple times about Kessler, but he never even answered. But stranger. Well? There's coming to a boil here. You mark my words. Kessler and his gun hands are going to shove us around just so long. Then there's going to be the dickens to pay. Yes. And that's what I feared. Here's over. Call Scout Hunter. Oh. Here's Scout. You have to leave. Yes. But Lines, don't worry about the future. This is your home. Stay here and stick it out. You and your friends are going to win. You got some special reason for saying that? Perhaps not now. Well, then what do you... You find I'm right, Lines. If you stay, you won't regret it. Come, Hunter. Adios. Say good-bye, stranger. Come on, Silver. Get him up, Scout. Come on, old boy. Come on. Come on, Scout. I'm leaving you. Where you going? I'm heading for Cheyenne. I'm finding Neil with a boxy. Oh, that long trip. Two weeks each way. While I'm going. What's Hunter doing? Make camp close to Lines' place. Watch out for trouble. The Kessler attempts to strike back. Protect them. Uh-huh. Me do it. Pick up all the information you can. If trouble's coming, there's going to be a showdown between Kessler and the homesteaders. Try to learn when and where. Uh-huh. I'll return as soon as I can and pick up your trail. And here's where we part. Uh-huh. Get him up, Scout. Adios, Silverhorn! The Lone Ranger's great starion made the journey to Cheyenne in less than two weeks. As night was falling, exactly 12 days after he had left Tonto, the masked man guided his mount toward a large rambling ranch house just outside of town. Inside, riding by lamplight at his desk, was a man in his early middle age. So absurd was in his work that when he heard the door open behind him, he spoke without raising his head. That you, Jim. I'm sorry, Jim, but I'm busy. You'll have to. Good evening. Therefore. No. I foot. But I was your brother, eh? Yes, eh. Look here, what do you want? Not what you seem to think. And this is no holdup. If you're worried, I can promise you your money's safe. And what is it? Heavens, I spent the day inquiring about you. When I first started for your place, I had an idea. You were the kind of man I'd dislike. I don't understand. I imagine you don't. I was judging you by one of your men. But I find that around Cheyenne, you have a decent reputation. This, this is ridiculous, eh? I demand that you get out. You're not in a position to demand anything. And I say... Heavens, tell me something. Why do you employ a man like Kessler? And why do you stand for the things he's doing? Where do I... Wait. I'm beginning to see. You know Kessler, eh? I've met him. You like him? I don't. Yes. Well, I think I do see him. I suppose you're a friend of the homestead, isn't that just right? I am. Mm-hmm. And I've had some letters from your friends. It seems they don't care for Kessler's loyalty to my interests. They're not very logical. They attempt to crowd me out, then expect me to get rid of a manager because he's doing his best to hold my range. How long has it been since you visited the boxy, Evans? Several years. Kessler's managed efficiently. There's been no need for me to go there. You should. Perhaps you'd get a different picture of the situation. Kessler's been ruffling your friends. You could put it that way. What do they expect? That we surrender without a fight? Surrender what? You've nothing they want. My range? Nonsense. You've got graze and despair. No one's tried to file on any part of it. Evidently, Kessler's been careful to tell you only what he thinks is safe for you to know. The fight isn't over, Land Evans. Your manager's attempting to run out the homesteaders simply so he can make himself the political boss of the county. I don't believe it. Why not investigate? Why should I? The boxy is making money. I trust Kessler. I'd see no necessity for spying on him. That isn't quite what you mean. What you do mean, Evans, is that you see no necessity for investigating when it may force you to open your eyes to some uncomfortable facts. What you mean is that you pride yourself on your honesty. And like a lot of other so-called honest men, you feel what you don't know won't hurt you. That's a lie. You have a man managing the boxy who's making you money. You're afraid if you learn the truth about him, you'd have to let him go. Evans, you're a moral coward. Hey, Thunder, I won't stand that kind of talk from you or any man. No? You said I'm afraid to learn the truth. You are, Evans. You are. Hey, you... All right, I'll show you. The curtain falls on the first act of our Lone Ranger story. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments. Now to continue our story. Two more days elapse before the Lone Ranger left Cheyenne. Then, on a morning almost four weeks later, he rode into the camp where Tondo had been waiting for him. Tally Kimosami! Tally! Oh, oh, oh, my silver. Oh, boy. Oh, oh, boy. He's plenty glad to see you. It's been a long journey, Tondo. Heep long. But my time wasn't wasted. Tondo, what do you find out? The one thing I hope for most of all, Evans isn't a bad fellow. He's been satisfied with Kessler and unwilling to ask too many questions. But Kessler's plan to dominate the county is his own idea. Evans not only isn't backing him, but wasn't aware of it until I told him. What do now? I couldn't bring Evans with me. Kessler would simply cover his trail, and Evans is too skeptical to believe anything less than direct evidence. He'd expect the homesteaders to complain and would allow for their natural antagonism towards cattlemen. Not bad. No, Tondo, it isn't. What you mean? The fact that Evans couldn't come gave me a better idea. When we finish with Kessler, he's going to have a surprise. He'll be a long time forgetting. Another week went by before Kessler learned of a newcomer to the county and decided to call on him. The following day, he reigned in before the homesteaders' cabin and... Oh, boy, oh, there, oh! Stay there, boy. Jim Snave? Yeah, sure. That's the name, huh? What do you mean? Well, Snave, it ain't common. Don't know as if I've ever heard it before. Well, it don't matter. Well, a boy said as how he'd been told you'd staked yourself to a homestead over this way, so I thought I'd drop by. Come in? Well, thanks. I don't mind if I do. You say, young fella. Huh? We ever meet some other place? I don't know. Have we? Stand there in the light of a second, just like you are. Think that's funny. Seems like ought to know you. Yeah. And again, seems like it don't. Well, maybe I remind you of someone else. Yeah. Yeah, maybe you do. Well, a man runs into lots of folks, put them in mind of somebody else. Yes, that's it. Wonder why I stopped by, are ya? Well, that's your... Reckon, if you've heard of me at all, you've heard I ain't supposed to be very friendly toward homesteaders. Well, yes, I... I have heard that. In a word of truth, then, you're a young fellow, he know word. Would I be riding out of my way to give you some good advice if I didn't feel friendly? Advice? Yeah, something I thought you ought to know. Before you get too settled here. I mean, you wouldn't want to plan on too much and then find you wasn't staying, would you? Not staying. Of course I'm staying. Sure, you say that now, but you'll soon be changing your mind. Lots of homesteaders come here for change their minds just like you're gonna. You see, this ain't the right place for settlers. Why are they? The soil's fine. I didn't mean that. And just what do... It's sort of hard to explain, it's... Man, it's just the way some things are. You ever gamble any? I have a little. Maybe you'll save it. Now, take me at poker. There's one hand I can't never win at, no matter how much or how little I bet on it, or how many's in the game. Yes? That's three kings. Lucky for some folks, but just ain't lucky for me. There's no explain it. I'm afraid I don't see what you're getting at. Well, it's that wave of this county and the folks that try to homestead in it. Soil's fine, just like you said. Railroad ain't far away, so if a fella's got a crop, he can always get it to market. There's rain about when you need it. But never enough wind to carry off your topsoil. But just what is that... But, uh, things happen. Folks have bad luck. Why, three families, I can think of, had their houses burned down. Couple of fine standing crops. But just before harvest, somehow or other, there was cattle got the notion to stampede right through them. Of course, there weren't nothing saved. I could tell you other things that happened round in the bud for the next hour above the mine, too. But I guess you see what I mean. I mean, just a pack of bad luck and no explainant. You're sure there isn't, eh? I mean, you're sure none of those accidents couldn't have been, well, not so accidental after all? You mean somebody might have caused them on purpose? I think I did. Well, gosh, who exceptin' the cattlemen would have anything against homesteaders? No one, I guess. Well, there you are. I'm the only cattleman in the whole county. Yes. That was what I was getting into. That's what... Hey, young fella, are you hittin' it? Kessler, I came here to find out something. Well? I was told you've been going too far in your fight against the settlers. You've been too free with your threats. Now, listen to me. I'm not exactly a fool. Put it any way you want. What you've been saying to me is a threat. I've been telling you... Well, I found out that much. Now I'm staying on to see if you've actually got the nerve to try to put those threats into effect. Why, you spab and young cub, I'll... Careful. I'll take your hand and teach you some manners. You ain't gettin' me out of here. You ain't gettin' smart with me. Get out. You can't. Make me. Fine. Don't slap another. I'll tell you so full of whore. Kessler, it looks as though last time we met, you didn't believe me. The masked man. About the time you learned, you can't do anything around here. I won't find out about it. Hey, let go of me. Let go of me. I tell you, let go. One of these days, I'll give you what you deserve. Hey, stranger, won't you do? Yes. Bootham won for me. Oh, Clutty, come here. Boss, what do you want? What's wrong, boss? Hey, who gave you that shiner? Many a business. Shut up and listen. Keep still, Effie. Yeah, boss. There's a troublemaker coming to this county. That's Snave, hombre. Why don't you fellas do around with the boys? We're calling on that gent tonight for our lynching bee. Hey, boss, you can't do that. You can hang up, fella. If you catch him butchering your beef, can't you? Sure. Well, that's what we're gonna catch him at. Now, stir your stumps and get a move on. I want every man brought in up the range. Now, do you understand what I want, Lange? For sure, do, stranger. Will you do it? After what you've done for me when that skunk burnt my house, if I didn't, I ought to be horse-whipped. Then on your way. You'll have to make time. Right. And we'll meet you... At my camp. I've told you where it is. Look first when I fall. Get up, the coyotes. Get up. Get up there. All right, old fella. Tonight should see the end of Kessler in this county. Come on, boy. Hurry, old fella. Hurry! It was after dark when a group of horsemen rode slowly toward the shack occupied by Jim Snave. Kessler was in the lead. When he finally spoke, he kept his voice low. He's there. You've seen his shadow when he passed between the lamp and the window. Uh-huh. Where's Lefty? Right here, boss. Got that beef in the hides. Throw him in the shed and then follow us in. You're one of the boys to help you. Tim there can give you a hand. That's our evidence. You betcha. You better pull up close enough. We don't want to give many warnings so we can run for it. Oh, boy. All right, come on. All right. He's moving around again. Quiet. Throw your guns. Stick up your hands, you dirty cattle thief. Heist of Prada. Cock you with the evidence right on your plate. You'll hang for this young fella. Cattle thieves don't last in this county no time at all. Sir. What is this? What are you talking about, Kessler? You calling me a thief? You didn't mistake me. House. Boss, we found a couple more hides out in the shed there besides the ones you've seen. This zombie must have been killing beef for all his neighbors. You seen the brands? All boxy. You other boys can swear to see in boxy hides up there? Yeah, boss. That's all we'll be needed then. This is a law, Biden County. And I make the law. We'll string him up now. Kessler. You got any last words? You really mean this? Or is this just a fool stunt that scare me out? What do you think? I think you're bluffing. Oh, he's grabbing him. Get back. Take your hands off me, you fool. Back, I tell you. The rope, Hawk. Put the rope on him here. We'll drag him out. Right. Stop it, Kessler. You don't know what you're doing. Shut that cow thief up. Now, hold him out. There's a tree just beyond the horses it'll do. All right. Every man's hand went where he is. The best man. Get him, too. I want him or I want this skunk. Try and take him. What the heck? The settlers. Every settler in the valley is along. Hey, don't point them guns to the windows. Don't. We ain't fighting. Come in, man. And keep them covered. This way's a cattle thief. You're in a ferry with justice. And I suppose I am a cattle thief. I suppose that's why he wanted your men to take me. I tell you, I'm all right, friend. Kessler, you've had the guns on your side before. But tonight we got the drop on you. It's our night to howl. Now you listen and you listen good. You're leaving the county and you're leaving in a hurry. You're taking all these hired bullies with you. And if you ever show your face in these parts again, we'll slap it down for you. Try and make us go. We're running the box here. No bunch of homesteaders can make us leave it. Try it and you'll have a fight on your hand. I think you'll soon find out you're running nothing. What are you talking about, Jim? Kessler, you and these skunks with you are fired. What's more, if I find anything wrong with the way the boxy has been run, I'll have my brother prosecute you to the full extent of the law. What? Your brother? This is Jim Evans, your employer's younger brother. And if you'd have been half as smart as you claim to be, Kessler, you'd have caught on to it. Try spelling snave backwards and see what you get. All right. Boss, it spells Evans. That's why I thought I'd seen you before. It's because you resemble your brother. Right. Now, if you know what's good for you, you'll make tracks. Oh, wait, Mr. Evans. What we done was just for your brother. He never authorized anything like this. He wouldn't have believed you capable of it. If the masked man here hadn't suggested my pretending to be a homesteader to get the evidence at first hand, and the masked man even had it figured if Jim got tough with you, you'd try something like this to give yourself away. Don't wait, Jim. I mean, Mr. Evans. You tried to hang me. Oh, no, wait. It was just a joke. A poor one. But I tell you. And now the joke's on you. Go ahead, men. They're yours. Ride them on a rail, tar and feather them, or do anything else you want. But get them out of this county. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.