 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, gun law ruled the range country. It was then that the masked rider of the plane started his great fright for justice, and adventure lay at the end of every trail. But no more exciting story has come down through the generations than the story of the time when the Lone Ranger assumed the personality of Wild Bill Riley. Return with us now 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. In Cooperstown, the small frame hotel was in flames. The Bucket Brigade found it impossible to put out the fire, and only tried to prevent the spread of the blaze. Everyone in town took a hand in the work and excitement ran high. Dave said to give up one and he could. He started to cover a killing. Wild Bill Riley, Bill Lamont. Your local. We've seen it. The Polkett tried to get us too. But we got away, Sheriff, and went hunting for you. While he was gone, Bill must have set their fire. That's a blasted lie. You say that just cause you're a friend to him. Hold it, you fellas. Hold it. Abe, you're sure Lamont was dead? He had to be. He would drill right through the heart. No question about it, Sheriff. Well, then there ain't no use in anybody risking his life when they're after him. But you fellas stay close to fire. Fire's been blown. I'll have some questions to ask you. We'll be around. We want that killer to get what's coming to him. And if you don't go after him, Sheriff, we will. Several hours later, a crowd gathered in front of the sheriff's office. Then... All right, the boss is Sheriff. As soon as we get that killer, the better. He's likely headed for the war. Well, what are we waiting for? Where is he? Here comes more plumber. Hey, look where you're going. This ain't no place for you, ma'am. One side, a four. Sheriff. What do you want, ma'am? What's going on here? What's this foolishness I've been told about Wild Bill Riley being a killer? It's so, ma'am. Bill killed Lamont all right. There can't be no doubt about it. It'll take... Bill ain't no more a killer than... than I am. Everybody knows there was bad blood between them. Well, I never had no use for Lamont. Neither did my son. Because that's evidence. Why don't you jail us too? No, ma'am. You know ma'am. I got more than that to go on. Yeah? What? There's Abe and Slim. He was there when it happened. We've seen the whole thing. And both of you have always hated Bill ever since your work for Black Box. You'd both stretch the truth from here to Frisco if it had hanged him. No, you'll... Shut up, Abe. I'm sorry, Mrs. Plumber. I know you thought of heap a Wild Bill, but I'd have evidence enough to hang him even without Abe and Slim. From where? From Dave here. He was on duty at the desk at the time. You wouldn't accuse him of lying, would you? Dave? What do you know about this? I heard both shots, ma'am. Yeah? Right after shots, Abe and Slim come running out, yelling they was going for the sheriff. Then Bill come out still holding a gun in his hand. I've seen him climb aboard that paint horse his and right off. You see Bill fire them shots? No. Then how'd you know they weren't fired by either Abe or Slim? They couldn't have, ma'am. They wasn't armed. I noticed that particular cause when they first come in, they were cussing something fierce over losing their guns in a card game cafe. You see LeMond after he was shot? Well, you see the fire broke out just then. I got so excited. But you lost your head, like always. Well, Sheriff, according to this, you don't even know that LeMond was killed except for what Abe and Slim say. Well, he was killed all right. Found him after the fire. We identified him by that ring. He almost wore them fancy boots of his. Sounds like proof enough to hang anybody, don't it? It's the clearest case I ever seen. Now, just listen to this. First off, Abe and Slim was eyewitnesses. Second, there's Dave to back up their story. He heard two shots like he told you. And they was the only shots anybody heard. But there's still more. If Wild Bill didn't do the killing, if it was Abe or Slim instead, why didn't Bill Sayer do something about it? Instead, he not only kept shots, but made tracks out of town besides. Go on. And if Bill weren't the killer, why'd he set fire to the hotel? How'd you know he did? What had to be him? He was in the room with Abe and Slim, weren't he? If they'd done it, he could have stopped them or put the fire out afterwards, couldn't he? At the least, he could have given warning, but he didn't do any of them things. And he was the last one out of that room. Now, explain that away. I can't. Like I said, it looks to be proof enough to hang anybody. But I'll say more than that. Yeah? I wouldn't believe Wild Bill killed Lamont, even if I'd seen him do it with my own eyes. That's just how well I know him. Ma'am, you're standing by a frame that I admire you for it. But I represent the law. And I got my duty to do it with a sheriff. That's all it counts. So when I catch Bill, you'll have to hang. Who's this coming with the dog? Oh, we've been waiting for him. Young stranger in town calls himself Arizona Lawson. He hunts wolves with that dog of his who lives on the bounty. You all ready to go, Arizona? Any time you say, Sheriff. Quiet, boys. Quiet there. They get your dog and follow the trail? Never seen the trail yet. He couldn't follow Sheriff. Good enough. All right, man. All are you riding with the posse? Get moving. All right, Sheriff. You seem to be all right, Clash's young fella. Ma'am? Just a dog on shame. You're helping to hunt down the best man this town ever seen. Jim! Hi, Jim! Yeah? Son, you're riding with this posse, too. But what I want... Just recollect all Bill's done for us. If he's caught and they make to hang him without a trial, shoot down the first skunk to raise a hand against him. Why, you're no son of mine. Blast it, Ma. I've been trying to say that's just what I mean to do. Let's get going. Wait for me. Get back! This is as long as you live! The man known to the people of the district as Wild Bill Riley was, in reality, the famous Lone Ranger in disguise. He had ridden from Cooperstown to a small camp hidden deep in the great forest that stretched for miles to the north. It was dusk. At the sound of an approaching horse, he jumped to his feet and... I've been waiting for you, Kimosabe. Oh, Silver, oh, oh, oh. You... you hear, Silver? Silver, old fellow. How are you, man? Good boy. Where have you been, Tyler? Me, right north. Talk, Tyler, get shot. Well, Bill? Ah, how is he? Him well now. Him won't see you. Does he know that I've been using his identity to help Jim Plummer? Ah, me tell him. What did he say? Him plenty glad. And I'm glad to hear his well again. Remember that night when he found him when he'd been dragged out? Ah. He didn't look then as though he'd ever lived to tell about it. Well, a lot of things have happened since that night. But I've got an idea. We've just about finished our work in this district. Ah, that good. I stopped in the hotel to see LeMond just before I rode here. What him say? He asked me to drop in. He made another attempt to bribe me. When I refused, he lost his temper. Drew and fired two shots at me. But his aim wasn't very good. I took his gun away from him and told him if he wasn't out of Cooperstown by nightfall, I'd drive him out. Jim plenty bad power. Yes. But I noticed he'd gotten in touch with two of Black Bart's old gun hands. The two we'd had trouble with when we first came here. Who them? Aben Slim, remember? Oh, yeah. When LeMond fired, they ran out of the room yelling for the sheriff. I suppose they imagined I'd shoot LeMond down. Encouraged. Well, at least LeMond should realize that he has no more reason to go after Jim. Jim's fight is with the transcontinental. And after LeMond nearly cost transcontinental $30,000, they discharged him. Maybe him try and get you. No doubt he'd like to, but I'll see he doesn't get the opportunity. Hmm. There's another thing you should know. And what that? A man by the name of Berdick should reach Cooperstown from the east almost any time now. And who him? One of the three men who owned the transcontinental. If the owners authorized the crooked tactics Black Bart and LeMond used trying to get Jim to sell out, then Berdick's arrival may mean more trouble. But if they didn't, then he may be able to settle this dispute peaceably. At any rate, we'll hope for the best. That's right. And... Father, what made that brush move? Hold your head! What? You're surrounded! Father! Oh, you are so... Quiet, boy, quiet. If you're apart here, my dog fails. Well, he must be... You keep still. But Gully, you're not talk. No need for anybody to talk. Wild Bill, I'm here and now arresting you for the murder of Mr. LeMond in the firing of the hotel. Get on your horse. You're going to jail. At a low command from his white friend, Tonto made no attempt to free him from the posse. Arizona Lawson puzzled and almost certain that the prisoner was the Lone Ranger followed with Tonto. The posse returned to town and the Lone Ranger was jailed. All that night and well into the next day, the men of Cooperstown talked about the capture. And as the discussion continued, Lynch's sentiment grew. The cafe was in the center of the liveliest argument and... Bill's guilty. We're in place that we waste good cash on a trial. That's what I say. No, listen here. I'm for law and order. Bill Wall, we seem to be a good fella. That's what makes what he done all the worse. Argue all you want, you fellas. I've declared myself. Bill's my friend. But it hadn't been for him. I'd have been forced out of business. Busted flat, licked by transcontinental. You don't drag Bill from jail. Listen, you shoot me first. And every man works for me feels the same. That's the way to talk, Jim. I'm for Bill myself. Then you're a fool. He's a killer. He and your friend, Jim, don't make him innocent. Yeah, yeah. What kind of fool talk is this? Jeff, there's too plain much Lynch talk going on around here. He ought to be Lynch. He don't deserve a trial. All right, boys. All right. Hush up and listen to me a second. I never seen the time yet that there was a killing and somebody jailed for it, that there wasn't a lot of loose mouth talk about Lynch's law. Only when there was a reason for it. No, not only then. But it wouldn't matter if it was. Would you arm raisin? Gotta get through your thick teeth. It's the fact that everybody's entitled to a trial. Guilty or not guilty, that goes for everybody. And you gents that's hollerin' loudest right now for a hangin' would be just the first ones to start yellin' for your legal rights if you was where Wild Bill is. That ain't no argument. Ain't it? Well, think it over anyhow. Some of you ain't so far from jail right at this minute that you can afford to act hasty. If by that you mean me. What's that? That sounds like those shots come from the jail. Come on. Who's from the jail all right? Fine deputy, you got. He let that pole cat go free. Couldn't help it, Sheriff. Honestly, couldn't. This will mean your job, deputy. How'd it happen? I don't hardly know. There was three of them, but I never got a chance to look at their faces. They come up from behind and was wearing masks. First thing I knew, they got me covered. So I suppose you just kindly open Bill's cell and let him walk out. But, Sheriff, what else could I do? What are we standin' here for? Why don't we take after him? Who's seen which way they went? Well, they're likely headed back for the woods. Hey, come on. Let's get our horses. Let's get started. Hey! Well, it's Bill. It's Wild Bill. Well, I'll be right here and still in jail. All right. Come on out to the side. It can't be Bill. If I ain't, then who am I? But you just escaped. I just let you out. You rode away. They sure have. This deputy, yours going local, what the thunder's he talkin' about? I agree with me. That's what I'd like to know. Deputy, give me that bottle. What bottle are you talkin' about, Sheriff? The bottle you've been drinkin' from your old eyed guzzler? Anybody seen and double like you just done must have swallowed enough liquor to drown himself. Sheriff, I never had a drop. Don't make it worse by lyin'. Give me that bottle in the home and sober up. 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. The deputy's story of a jailbreak that was not a jailbreak furnished amusement for many days. Poor Clay. Sheriff won't hardly speak to him and he goes around like he's scared he's losing his senses on his thing I haven't seen. He's still got the crust to claim he hadn't been drinkin'. Who does he figure'll believe him? I wouldn't believe nothin', he said no more. How old Clay can a fella get so bad he can imagine all that and take it for a gossip? Ask Clay, he can tell ya. Well, anyhow, I'm dog-gone glad Clay was seen and double, while Bill's still in jail and he'll stay there until he does his dance from the limb of a tree. But Jim Plummer found a number of things in the situation to confuse him. You talked to Bill again, son? Uh-huh. Yeah, he talked to him all right. Well, more you'll think I'm crazy, but sometimes I get the notion that while Bill ain't while Bill. What? Well, I told you, you think I was crazy? But that's what I feel sometimes and it can't help it. But Jim, that's the way I've been feelin'. I just never said anything before you think I was crazy. Huh? Say that again. Oh, well, let it all along. Honest? Honest you have? And it's silly. Of course, it can't be so. No, no, I reckon it can't. He talks like while Bill, yet somehow he don't. Yeah, and he looks like while Bill. You know, all the time there's somethin' different. And he forgets, but... That's just what's bothered me most of all. I mention things that's happened, things he was concerned in and he stands and looks at me like I was talkin' about somebody else. He does. That's just what it does. Well, what are your figures behind it? Wish to heaven anew. It's beyond me. And me. But Jim, you mind what I'm tellin' ya? Don't you breathe a word of this to nobody? Of course I won't. Well, I'm confessin' there's somethin' strange in all this that we can't get to the bottom of. At least the ways I can't. But we've known Bill for quite a spell now. This ain't the first time he's done things that are strange. And all this so far, they've come out right in the end. Mm-hmm. There's no denying that. So for one more time, I reckon we can let Bill run things his way. You wait. Here we'll finish on top again. That same day, events began to happen in rapid succession. First, Arizona Lawson hauled the stage from the east before it reached Cooperstown. Hey there, mister. You all hand a verdict? Yes, you did. Then climb out of there. You're ridin' with me. Look here, young man. Go like him, mister. Just do like I say. Arizona, returning to the forest with Burdick, rained in his horse and shouted to Tonto. Whoa, whoa, boy. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Here's Burdick, Tonto. Now get on your way. Tonto raced to town and brought his powerful stallion to a sliding stop in front of Jim Plummer's house. Whoa, whoa, Tonto, whoa. You hear what Tonto say? Then you act. Finally, the sheriff has started to see Jim burst open the door. Chef. You know, me like that again. Just sounded like it was a hood up. Listen, chef. Yeah? Don't ask me why, because I don't know. But do like I say without arguing. I do what? Get Wild Bill and bring him along. Where? To the old Phillips place on the edge of town where Abe and Slim have been bunking. Wait. Hold on. Maybe I ain't got this street. Don't waste time. Just a second. Are you trying to tell me I should get Bill out of his cell and go with you to where Abe and Slim are staying? That's it. You don't have to tell me I should get Bill out of his cell and get Abe and Slim are staying? That's it. You don't buy any chance to figure me to be as crazy as that new account deputy of mine, do you? Chef, I know it sounds crazy, but you got to do what I say. Why do I? It'll solve Lamont's killing. That's been solved already. No, it ain't. This will prove Bill's innocence. Look here, Jim. Is this some trick? I know you think a heap of Bill. Are you just aimin' to get him outside so friends of yours can break him free? It ain't a trick. Chef, I ain't asking you to go there with Bill alone. Take your deputy. Take anybody you want. Get the whole town to guard him if you like, and you've got to go there. Maybe you'd better explain. All I can tell you is this. I've been talkin' to a Redskins I've met before. That Redskins saved my life once. I've never known him to lie. And he said to get you and Bill to Philip's place and it'd be proved where Bill never killed Lamont. And you ain't got no objections to a guard goin' wrong. The more, the better. Get down to the cafe. Pick out a dozen fellas handy with their shootin' irons and tell them to get here as fast as Kim. Now, get. Now, come along with me and we'll get Wild Bill. Chef, I appreciate this. You want to? I know what I'm asking. Get you into trouble, but if you got my word, it won't. That's what I'm dependin' on. Lappin' about a dozen fellas with guns. Howdy, Chef. Hi there, Jim. What's up? Don't ask me. I'm just a soft-headed idiot that's makin' it possible. Bill, you're gonna be proved innocent. Yeah? Well, now, that's real good news. I'm unlocking this year's sale. You'll come out, but I'll have you covered every second. And if either one of you makes a false move, I'll let you have it. You needn't worry, Chef. All right. If this is a trick, you'd better... all right, step out. Your thing. Walk ahead of me. Mm-hmm. I'm taking you to where Abe and Slim are staying. You got any notion why? Ain't you? I said I ain't. Then let's wait and find out why to get. I got him, Sheriff. All right, tell him to get mounted. We're payin' a call. The man called by the deputy wrote in close ranks around Wild Bill. And following the Sheriff and Jim Plummer headed for the ramshackle building on the edge of town where Abe and Slim were living, they drew rain in front of the place then... Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Now what do we do, Jim? Go inside. Yeah? Well, come on, boys. Watch Bill. Oh! Howdy, Slim. Oh, it's you, isn't it, Sheriff? It's the Sheriff, Abe. What in front of does he want here? Oh, there, Abe. Mind if me and my friends step inside? Huh? What for? What do you want here? I'm quite sure. But you haven't no objections, have you? Well, I reckon it's all right. What's Wild Bill with you for? What's the idea of lettin' a killer out of jail? Ask Jim. Well... I can explain that. Wasn't that a... What? What? Wild Bill again, no, it ain't. This year's Wild Bill. Am I seein' double again? Sheriff, do you see what I see? Well, what do you see? Two Wild Bill. Then we're seein' the same. Then don't try and say that I was drinkin' this time. Wait. I said I'd explain. Somebody better or four, I go local. I'm the man who trailed into the forest and captured. I'm the man you jailed and was broken from jail the time you accused your deputy of imagining the jailbreak. Then he's the real Wild Bill. Arrest him, Sheriff. Not so fast. Now who are you? That doesn't matter. This man here, however, is the real Wild Bill. Is that right? That's me. I'm Bill Riley. But you ain't the Bill Riley that's been helping me out. I wondered why you didn't seem the same. This fellow here's the one I knew. You're right, Jim. You remember when you wrote to Bill and asked him to drive your first stage? Uh-huh. Bill was dry-goached and nearly killed. Tato and I found him. Bill asked me to do what I could to help you. And I did by disguising myself, taking his place and letting you think I was Wild Bill. So that was it. Tato took Bill north to a friend who nursed him back to health and kept his presence a secret. Yeah? But this year, dry-goathing. What was it for and who done it? Jim, the stage had to leave town and Bill was the only man willing to drive it. The man who shot Bill thought it would keep the stage from leaving. And the skirks had shot me or standin' right there. And soon, Jim's in slim. Blast you- Oh, Tim! Oh! I've had to do that to you before, Slim. Dry-goat, you say? Well, I ain't surprised. Grab them, fellas. They're going to jail. You can't do that. But one of you fellas is still guilty of killing Lamont the way I see it. Then watch. All right, Arizona. Let's your dog go. Get him, boy. Go, go, go. Go, go. Go, go, go. The dog headed for the bedroom. He's torn at the door. The game's up, Lamont. Come out of there. What'd you say? Lamont's dead. That's what he wanted you to think. Lamont, you can't get away! Come out before I go in there after you! I give up. Don't shoot. I'll tell you what happened, Cheryl. Lamont tried to frame me, invited me to call on him at the hotel. He fired two shots, making me believe he was trying to kill me. But in reality, he fired just so others outside would hear. Even Slim left calling for you. I took Lamont's gun and left. Then when I was gone, Lamont set fire to his room and slipped out by the window. All the dirty sneak and tricks. But who's the father we found after the fire? I'm not certain, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn it was speed. The gunman Lamont had hired to kill Jim here. He'd likely been killed, dressed in Lamont's clothes, and hidden in Lamont's room before I entered it. I think either Raver or Slim will be able to tell you the truth about that. If they know, I'll get it out of them. But look here, how'd you know Lamont was still alive? He had to be. Everyone who'd heard them agreed just two shots had been fired in his room. I knew those shots had been fired at me, not Lamont. I knew he was alive after the shots. No other shots were fired. So he must have escaped and the body belonged to someone else. You can't prove it. He's just making that up. Why, Lamont, you blame fool? The fact that you're standing here now proves it. He's got to be right. You tore to blame for this. You're accusing us. You must have slipped somewhere. Maybe you talked. Maybe you... Where are you blasted sneak? If you hadn't killed, sell up. You can't. Don't say another word. You can't threaten them now, Lamont. When they finish talking, you'll hang. You dirty loader. Down if you hang, I won't feel sorry for you. Where's you, Burtick? Mr. Burtick? Seems I arrived here none too soon. Who are you? Jim, this man is one of the owners of the Transcontinental and Pacific Company. You're one of the owners? I am. Burtick, this is Jim Plummer. He owns a stage line and the male franchise your company has been trying to get. I see. He's had a lot of trouble with your outfit, Burtick. First, your division manager here and then Lamont attempted to drive him out of business. So I gather from what I've overheard. I was understood, however, that neither myself nor my partner has authorized any such tactics. Free Jim Fairley, and I think you can make a deal. Wait. Things are having two dogs on fast for me to keep up with him. You're here to make an honest deal for my stage line? How much is it worth? Gonshaw, I couldn't say right off. $70,000, anyhow. We'll have plenty of time to look into that. If you're correct, you'll get your price. Transcontinental has to have that franchise. If you're square, we can deal. And afterwards, perhaps we could use you as division manager. But that could be discussed later also. It's got to wait, whether it can or not. Right now, I've got to thank this fella for all he's done it. Now, where's he got to? Gosh, Jim, I never even noticed. Do you hear that? Silver. He called his horse Silver. Fellas, listen. That fella rode away. That fella let on to be Wild Bill Riley. That fella was the lone ranger. Wait, let's tell that tomorrow. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.