 for the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty high old silver, the Lone Ranger. Western United States, a few outlaw leaders became so strong that they not only seized cattle but property as well, and set themselves up as the largest ranchers in their counties. The local sheriffs were powerless against them, and they might never have paid the penalty for their crimes if it had not been for the masked rider of the planes. His strength and courage were always on the side of right against might. It was he more than any other man who brought 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 from the thundering hoof beach to the Great Horse Silver, the Lone Ranger rides again. Late one afternoon, two horsemen rode side by side over the winding trail that led to Martin's Point. Although it was winter, the ground was still free of snow, an unusual thing for that time of the year, for this was a high Montana country. A badge marked one of the horsemen as a sheriff, while his companion, Atlas and Spider the Cold, was distinguished by a shock of coarse red hair. The sheriff's features were fixed in an angry scowl. The other man grinned at him and... Careful there boy! Well, Sheriff, then there weren't any accidents after all. You were meeting up with me on the trail this way, huh? I've warned you, Red. Think it's funny that you'll look out? Yeah. Well, what would you say I ought to do? Sell my place in Fair Moose? That wouldn't be a bad idea. What if it don't? And I'll keep my promise. You ain't so slick, Red. You'll slip up one of these days. And when you do, I'll jail you. I just hope I get enough on you to see your hand. You mind my telling you something, Sheriff? What? You're a fool. Yeah? Who's the biggest rancher in this county? You are. Yeah, huh? And who is it tells folks around here what to do? You. Up until now. Up until now? Sheriff, don't you go making any mistake? I've been telling them I still am. I'm always going to. Don't worry none about that. And if you had any brains, fellow, you'd quit trying to push me around and get over on my side. It will never be. No. No. First place, when I took office, I swore to uphold the law. I gave my word. I ain't selling out the folks that voted me in. Second reason ain't got nothing to do with this badge I'm wearing. It's personal. I don't like skunks. Never did. Especially when they wear pants like you. Yeah, I think that pretty strong talk. The fellow that pys and deeks him's cows? Uh-uh. Go ahead, Sheriff. Shoot off your mouth if it makes you feel any better. I don't mind. If you could prove anything, we wouldn't be riding like this. That'd be behind bars this minute. You either killed Bob Beasley's brother or had someone do it for you. Jake Wallace borrowed money from you. Later only paid you back and you give him a receipt. And you stole that receipt and made him pay over again. Sheriff, you get funnier every second. There's other things, plenty. Just since you come here. I wonder what kind of a dirty game you played before you hit this state. Yeah. Well, I've declared myself red. But if I was you, there's something else I'd be worrying about. What's that? What the folks you've cheated are likely to do. What can they? I don't mean inside the law. I mean what they're likely to do when they get tired waiting for the law to catch up with you. What they'll do when finally they decide the best thing for fighting fire is more fire. I don't get it. I guess you do. Anyhow. If you don't, I'll make it plain. What the... Oh boy, oh boy. Bob Beasley. Hey, you local. We just put down that gun. Nope. And don't you go for yours. Neither one of you. Hey, what in blazes is this? I've been waiting here for you, Red. I didn't know the sheriff would be with you. But that'll make no difference. Figured on giving myself up afterwards anyhow. Huh? After what? After I drilled this sneak in coyote. Well, you can't do that. I heard what you said just now, Sheriff. And you hit it square. I'm one of them fellows who got plum sick and tired of waiting for the law to take care of this hombre. Hey, wait. You killed Ned. Now listen. You dry go to the kid like a sneak inside one that you are. You never gave him a chance. No. Well, you wait getting a chance with me neither. Bob, don't talk crazy. I ain't talking. I'm acting. Bob, no, wait. Listen. You're all wrong. Honest you are. You don't know what you're doing, what you're talking about. Now let me tell you the facts. Now listen. Shut up. No. Put that gun away. You're yelling. Try and pull. No, Bob. Take out his gun. Let me get him. Amuse me. What the... You shot my gun away. Quiet. I'd like to... I saved you a hanging. Vickers. Me? You. On your way. Get going. What? You hurt me. Move along and keep moving. Say, who in thunder you think you are, mister? The man who's giving you your orders. Well, I don't like... You don't want to take them? All right. Now hit the trail. Now my next shot will be close. Yeah, I'm going. Stranger, don't shoot. Don't shoot. I'm going. Get up, boy. Maybe you ain't noticed it, but I'm all around here. And you and I, sheriff, are on the same side. Hmm? Or have you changed? Has Red Vickers scared you into backing him? Mister, I'll whip the man that says that's true. And what are you going to do about this fellow? Punish him for attempting to bring justice to a man you haven't been able to touch? Bob, what did the Dickens got into you anyhow? Don't he deserve killing? Hasn't he had it coming to him since the first day he come to this county? Yeah, I reckon he has. But after you've taken things into your own hands, what do you reckon would have happened to you? Well, I'd have been jailed, I guess. Think it'd been worth it? A thousand times over. Maybe. If there weren't a better way to handle the situation. Huh? You seem to know an awful lot about things around here, stranger. I'll come. It was news of the situation that brought Tato and me to your county. Yeah? Although it was just luck that we chose this trail to reach town and saw this fellow hiding here with a gun in his hand. So that's how you happened to meddle. Right. And lucky for you, Bob, he did. Stranger, just who are you? That doesn't matter. What doesn't matter is the fact that Tato and I can get you the evidence you want. Huh? A witness who not only can send red vickers to jail but to the rope. You're telling me the truth? I am. Where is that gent? Some distance from here. Lead me to him and I'll... I'm staying here where you belong and keep things under control so that no one else makes an attempt on Red's life. What do you... Here's a little bit of discount. You do that, syrup? Will you hold the lid on the trouble in this district until we can bring you the man you want? You seem to trick us some kind, is it, stranger? Have I asked anything I shouldn't? Is there anything I can gain by this? Not that I can see. How long will you fellas be gone? Perhaps ten days, not over two weeks. And the hombre you're after? He knew Red vickers several years ago. He saw Red commit a murder. He was afraid to tell the law what he knew. He disappeared. Tato and I hunted for him for months. Now we've got a clue to his whereabouts and I'm sure we can persuade him to talk. Mr. Well? You made a bargain. Bring me that jit and get me as much as you want. We'll ask just one thing. Yeah? The rope for Vickers. Mr. He'll get it. Good. Ready, Tato? Uh-huh. And come. Tato! Tato! Tato! Tato! Tato! Tato! Silver! Silver! Silver! Silver! Silver! Silver! Silver! Silver! Silver! Silver! All right, Bob. Get your horse. Promise to Mask Man I'd keep watching in trouble. So I'll make a start by riding herd on you. Here, Red. I've been looking all over town for you. Well? I'm not what you want to know, boss. I've got Bob to talk to. You did? Had me better step down to the end of the bar where we won't be heard. Yeah, come on. Yep, yep. This'll do. I'll ride out with it. That Mask Man was a lone ranger. What? Hey, are you sure of that? Bob claimed he was. I'll be switched. The lone ranger. Come on. What else you learned? Boss, I reckon once you made a mistake. What do you mean? The Mask Man's gone to find a fellow that's got something on you. What's that? So Bob said anyhow. He said the Mask Man told him and the sheriff you'd drill the fellow once. And there was another fellow around, seeing you do it. Sam Foster. Huh? You know who the fellow is? William. And I'll locate that on you for the past five years. There's just one fellow alive that can send me to the rope. And Sam Foster's the man. Boss, and that means you're in a dog-going tough spot. What do you figure to do? What else, Bob say? You tell you when the Mask Man'll be back? You see anything about where he was going? But he won't be going along. I got that much out of him. What are you going to do? Wait a second. I got to think this out. Now look, maybe this won't be so bad after all, huh? I've always wanted to know where Foster disappeared to. I never found out. But maybe now the Mask Man'll save me the trouble. What do you mean, Red? He's bringing Foster here. Yeah. And we're going to set fellas to watch in every trail that leads to town. Come on, let's get back to the ranch. What you expected to be? Well, ain't seen you wrong for a week or so, Bob. In fact, ain't seen you since that day we met up with the Mask Man. Where you been? Well, I'll behave it myself by staying at home like you told me. Good. But that's what I dropped in for. I mean about the Mask Man. Like you said, it's been quite a spell since he left here. Told us he wouldn't be gone over 10 days. Figure anything's happened to the layman? Nothing's happened. Who said that? I said it. I'm at the window. Well, I'll be... Sheriff, it's the Mask Man. Hey, go round back, Mr. Nilekian. No. But... Sheriff, I have the man you want. He's waiting in camp with Tutto. Get to the saddle. We'll ride there at once. Get up. Get up. Hey, mister. It's turning all gone cold. I'm just about freezing. We're almost there. Our camp is just over this rise. Oh, I'm right by the lad. Stranger, I'm taking this right look you got back when you did. Yes? Look to the northwest there. If that don't look like snows on its way, I don't know what does. I think you're right. And when snow comes to this part of the country, it don't take long for the trailers to get blocked. You'd have had to find time making it here. But we beat the storm, and that's all that matters. Well, there's our camp, Sheriff. We're... What's wrong? Where's Tutto? Must become a foster. I don't... They should be there waiting for us. But they're gone. Come on. Hurry, Silver. Come on, old fellow. Come on, old fellow. Get there. Get up there. Come on, Silver. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Look at those footprints. Sheriff, there have been a half a dozen horsemen here. Their signs are all over. You think there's been trouble, Mask Man? Think it? I know it. Tutto told me he'd wait until I returned. He's never willingly broken his word to me in his life. Hey, watch this paper nail here in this tree. Give me that. It's a message of some sort. Here you are. What'd you say, huh? Sheriff, neither Tatan or Foster wrote this. Yeah. The man who captured them. Captured them? Yes, but he captured them, Sheriff, and threatened to take their lives unless we buy them off. 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. When the Mask Man told his two companions of the threat that was contained in the ransom note, young Bob Peasley was all for immediate action. Mask Man, how much them coyotes want? $5,000. Turned over to them the day after tomorrow for Tutto and Foster to die. Are you on our sidewinders? What blazes are we waiting for? There's their trail. We can't let them get away with this. Come on, we'll follow them. Sure, that's an idea. It can't be done. Oh, I reckon it could. I'm right handy at reading sign, and Bob here ain't so bad himself. Why can't it? Maybe you haven't noticed, but it's already begun to snow. Huh? It's begun to come down sure enough. In 15 minutes, every trace of that trail will be gone. Covered up. And we're sunk. And that means... Yeah? That in order to save Tutto and Foster, we must meet their terms. Give in to them crooks? The lives of two honest manner at stake. But why can't... Hold it, Bob. The Mask Man ain't done. At least wise I'm willing to bet he ain't. Got something else on your mind, ain't you, stranger? Perhaps I have. Mind telling us about it? All this was planned carefully long ago. It must have been. What's written in the message they left us couldn't have been figured out on the spur of the moment. He ain't told us all of it yet. What else it say? It tells how the money must be delivered and how we can let them know if we agree to their terms. Watch their instructions. Do you know Big Moose Valley? I sure do. Who don't? The day after tomorrow, one of us unarmed is to ride to the center of that valley with the money and wait for it to be called for. They promise to deliver their prisoners at the same time. Well, I'll be hogtied. The slick coyotes. I'll bet I can tell you why they chose that place. Yes. In the first place, anybody up in them hills can get a look at the valley from one end to the other. If one of us went there, but he wasn't alone, they'd know it right off. We'd never have a chance to hide a posse anyways nearby to grab them off. So that's it. Yeah. And I'll tell you what else. Huh? The better that valley's all cut up with gullies and dry arroyos. They don't mean for the man that delivers that cash ever to get away alive. They chose a place where he couldn't make a run for it. Cut up with gullies, huh? It is that stranger. Hundreds of them. Good. Huh? Tell me this, Sheriff. There's no doubt Red Vickers is behind this. If I give you my word to bring him to justice, can you promise me that $5,000 will be raised? Well... Oh, Sheriff, you know Doggone Well if the men see in red jailed, every Marion County chip in. I'll put up a thousand myself. Well, the cash could be raised all right. But you've heard what the masked man just told us, Bob. With a setup like that, how's Red to be caught? Stranger, ain't you figurein' to get foster free than have him testify again red afterwards in that murder charge? No. If Red's behind this, he'll never keep his word. He can't afford to. He'll attempt to take the cash, then murder the man who brought it and his prisoners as well. Then how do you figure it? I have something else in mind. Sheriff, get that money and I'll ride the Big Moose Valley. On our own? Yes. Are you clean, local? No. Sounds to me, Mask Man, like you're asking to get real. Do as I say. And I promise not only that Red will be jailed, but that the money will be returned as well. Oh, and thunderation, you can promise that. I don't know. But I can, Sheriff. And I'll keep that promise... Huh? On one condition. Yeah? That it continues to snow. Hi, Red. Huh? Say, what intonation you do want in town? Did you forget telling me to come in and report? Oh, yeah, that's right. Everything all right? Never tried to trail us. Reckon the snow kept him from it. The engine foster tied up in that little line cabin. The boys just stand guard. Fine. What are you doing here staring out the window when there's liquor to be had over at the bar? Waitin'. Huh? Waitin' for what? To see if they're going to get the cash and pay up. Oh, well, I said... Wait. What's the matter? Sheriff just left his office. Now we'll know. I don't serve him. Watch what he does. Huh? Looks to me like he's just going to nail up some reward notices outside. Uh-huh. Two of them. One above the other. He's fixed them to the porch. See? Does that mean... No, that's the signal. It means they will. Tomorrow we collect. Everything's set. Dog gone. What's the matter? The matter? Another thing. Boss, you're slick. You think so? Anybody will stop to look at a dodger. Uh-huh. So if they're watching to see who's interested, they won't be able to tell a thing. Which is why I've done it this way. Uh-huh. And tomorrow at this time... Yeah. You can lay what you want on it. The cash we ask for will be sent to the valley. Oh, stranger. One thing you wanted sure come true. What's that, Sheriff? The snow. Look at it. He ain't stopped fallin' yet. Look how it's filled up them cups there. Why, why? What's hain' ya? See anything funny? Uh, sorry, Sheriff. No offence, man. Jess was laughing at something you said is all. Yeah? What was that? Ha-ha-ha. About the snow filling up them cups. I don't see nothin' funny in that. Ha-ha-ha. You would if you knew the Masked Man scheme. What? Forget it, Bob. You learn everything soon enough, Sheriff. Where's the money? Right here in this poke. But listen here. How come Bob knows what you're planning when I don't? I needed his help. This is the second time we wrote out this way, Sheriff. In the knee was to the valley last night. I don't get this. We had certain preparations to make. Ha-ha-ha. Yeah, pullin' up weeds and bushes and platin' them again. Yeah, what kind of foolish talk is this? Not as foolish, Sheriff, as it may sound. And better tell your men to halt. You can't ride much farther with me, or you'll be seen. Hold on, fellas! Whoa, whoa, whoa. Oh, hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. Hold on. I'm leaving these guns with you, Sheriff. Yeah, take them. You mean you're really goin' in there with nothin' to fight with? Yes. Mister, you can do what you please, but no matter what your schemin', I wouldn't meet them coyotes without packin' irons for all the golden hills. Take them. All right. Now, give me the money. Here you are. Then we're set. Stay in these hills where you won't be seen. Make no attempt to enter the valley until two hours from now. You'll be seen before you get close enough to identify them. Trust me, Sheriff. Golly, here you are. This money will be returned. Well, that don't matter so much. And Tata and Forster will be released alive. That does. Come on, Silver. Hurry, old boy. Hurry. Look over there. A horseman. A lone. The laws may be hidin' back there in the hills. Uh-huh. But it never catch us in a million years. Abe, you lead the horse the engine's tied to, and you, Slim, you lead that other chance. All right. We're ridin' down there, collectin' that cash. Ha-ha-ha. And then blastin' the three of them. Come on, fellas. Let's go. Come on. Steady, Silver, old fellow. Tata's with him. And Forster. Here. This way, old fellow. This way. A little farther. There. Oh, boy. Oh. Now we know they'll have to approach from the direction we want. President, where they are? As I say, will you level on your hands on this money? Where? Don't argue. Well, if you want this money, you'll take your orders from me. What do you think on Ambrose Planet? I got a good idea. Yeah? He likely suspicious. We're gonna drill him when we've collected. And likely thinks we leave the engine and Forster behind. They'll have a chance to run for it if he's double-crossed. Oh. Ha-ha. The only thing is, oh, he don't know they can't make a break because they're tied. Ha-ha. Sure will leave him behind. Come on, fellas. Get up there while I'm here. Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up there. We're doing like you say, mister. I'm coming in. What's it look like we're doing? Careful where you're right, boss. There's cutbacks and royals all through here. Snow's filled most of them up. Why don't you stay on solid ground? See them bushes and weeds? Uh-huh. Are they sure? Is this where we got solid footing and where we ain't? Just head for there. Yeah. Get up, fellas. Get up there. Get up. Get up. All right, mister. You get that cash. Thanks, Sheriff. Let's get going. All right. Always follow me. Get up. Get up. Get up. Foster. I was trying to feel like I got pins stuck in me all over Mass Man. I'm fit as a fiddle. Fine. There comes the Sheriff. He'll soon have these fellas rounded up. Mass Man! The Sheriff will be here in a moment, Red. You can explain all that to him. Bare bit. Ha-ha. Sheriff, that's where them weeds and bushes I was telling you about came in handy. This is what Bob and I prepared last night, Sheriff. The snow had filled this gully to the brim when we planted bushes on the surface and looked as if it were solid ground and red ladies' men directly into it. And here's your money as I promised. It wasn't needed. Ha-ha. Sheriff, you said Red was slick. Well, slick as he was. He met up with somebody a whole heap slicker. Take their mommies into jail, Sheriff. And when you do, don't forget to thank the Lone Ranger. I just heard as a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated.