 with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty high of silver, the lone ranger. With his faithful Indian companion tunnel, the daring and resourceful mask 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. We turn with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great war silver. The lone ranger rides again. Nephew of the lone ranger was a passenger on the stage to take us. There were two other passengers in the coach, an elderly man and a girl about 12. They had written in silence for some time, and Dan had been somewhat embarrassed by the way the girl continually seemed to stare at him. Finally, the old man spoke. Sure, rough travel on these stages, isn't it, son? Yes, it is. You live in the West? Yes, sir. I reckon I ought to introduce myself. I'm Jed Anson. Most folks call me Gramps. This is my granddaughter Alice. I'm glad to know you. I'm Dan Reed. Dan's a nice name. I like your voice. My voice? You didn't notice, I reckon, but Alice, well, she can't see. Dolly, I'm sorry. I don't mind, Dan. I was born without sight. Oh. Gramps reads to me a lot, and tells me what he sees. Yep, and Alice is just as excited about coming out to this new country as you'd be, Dan. Oh, then this is your first trip, West, Mr. Anson. That's right. We've come from Kansas City. Gonna live with a nephew of mine who has a ranch out near Pecos. I see. I mean, I understand. Ever hear of Burt Dennis of the Circle D Ranch? No, sir. Well, he's my nephew and Alice's cousin. Her parents are both gone. So is my wife. So he invited Alice and me to come live with him and his wife, Amy. I understand Burt has a fine place. Oh, I know. I'm gonna like living on a ranch. You like your cousin, Burt, too. Of course, I've never met his wife. West is a fine place to live. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Too bad, Alice. You can't see how handsome Dan is. Gramps, you shouldn't say that in front of Dan. That's all right, Alice. I think you're very pretty. By Jiminy Dan, you sure know just what to say, you girl. Why, when I was your age, I was tongue-tied when it came to making nice speeches. Dan, I hope you'll come to the ranch and see us sometime. Will you? I'll be glad to, Alice. Do you live near Pecos? I'm staying there there awhile with friends. This ranch is only a mile from Pecos. We'll soon be there. And I reckon Burt will be there to meet us. Now, we'll be expecting you to visit us at the ranch within the next few days, Dan. So don't forget. Meantime, Burt Dennis and his wife Amy, a thin-feature, domineering, and sharp-tongued woman, were driving toward Pecos on a buckboard to meet the stage. Burt, I still can't get over the fact that you invited your uncle and his granddaughter to come to live with us. The idea of waiting till yesterday didn't even tell me about it. Now, Amy, take it easy. We have plenty of room for them. Plenty of cash too. I knew if I said anything, you'd better ask them to come you to put your foot down about it. Burt Dennis, you forget I'm your wife and I have a right to my say. Yeah, right or not, you've always said it. How is that so? Well, you just listen to me. I spent half my time listening to you. You just get your way. This is one time I'm having mine, understand? I just don't know how I happened to marry you, Burt Dennis. It didn't just happen. You planned it for months. Then you roped and hog-tied me before I knew what was going on. That's it. Try to change the subject. Well, I'll tell you this much. That uncle of yours and the girl are going to earn their keep at the Circle D. We'll talk about that when they get there. Now, stop yapping. I want to get to town in time to meet the stage. Get up there. Come on. Get up there. Later, the stage arrived in Pekas and pulled to a stop before a group of curious uncles. Dan Reed was the first one off and found Tonneau waiting to meet him. Hello, Tonneau. Hello, Dan. Me bring Victor, him over at Hitchrack. We go now, ride the camp. Wait a minute, Tonneau. I want to make sure someone has come to meet two friends of mine. Dan and Tonneau stood watching as Jed Anson, the lighted from the coach, then turned to help Alice. All right, honey. Careful now. It's all right, I have you. Hello, Uncle Jed. I'm glad to see you. Hello, Alice. Oh, you're a welcome sight after that long ride. Alice and I are both about to tuck her down. Oh, I feel fine, Cousin Birdie. I'm so glad we've come to live with you. You're not very smart for a youngster. Oh, this is my wife, Amy. It's a pleasure, ma'am. How do you do? Frankly, Bert, I expected your uncle would be a younger man than he is. Dan sakes with an old man and a child. Be quiet, Amy. Where's your manners? Manners. I suppose you expect me to wait on that young one like your uncle was doing, helping her off the stage like he did. Amy, I reckon I forgot to tell you. Alice can't see. Great day. An old man and a blind youngster. If you think I'm going to spend my time looking after them at the ranch, you're mistaken. Sorry, Cousin Birdie. I thought... It's all right, Alice. Your cousin Amy doesn't realize what she's saying. Oh, don't ask. Well, let me tell you, Bert Dennis, I don't... You tell me when we get home. Come on, Uncle Jed. I'll take you and Alice to the buttboard, and I'll come back and get your luggage. Let's go. I'm sure it isn't going to be long before both of you realize you'd be much better off back in Kansas City. As I told Bert... Oh, I told you, Mr. Hans. In Alice, I'm going to have a very easy going at the Circle Spread Tunnel. That's right. It's plenty bad for a young girl like her not able to see. Yes, but she's used to it. She's mighty nice, Tunnel. We became friends on the stage. Ah. We go get horses down, blown range away from the camps. Tutto and Dan Reed soon arrived at the Lone Ranger's camp. The boy told his uncle about the old man and little blind girl on the stage and told how they were received by any Dennis when the stage arrived. When Dan had finished, the Lone Ranger remarked, I'm sorry they're running to a situation like that, Dan. It isn't going to be pleasant for them at the Circle D. I promise to go see them but the way things are... I'm sure they'd like to have you visit them. Perhaps in a day or so, Mrs. Dennis's attitude will have changed. Well, it'd take plenty to change woman with sharp tongue. Oh, I suppose so. Dan and Tutto and I'll be busy searching the hills for some trace of Matt Strong and his gunman. You'll have plenty of time to visit your new friends while we're searching. That's right. I'll ride over to the Circle D spread tomorrow. The following day, while the Lone Ranger and Tutto went into the hills in search of the outlaw Matt Strong and his followers, Dan Reed rode to the Circle D ranch. Amy begrudgingly allowed him to visit Gramps and Alice on the ranch house, Veranda. Two days later, he again visited the ranch. Alice was alone on the Veranda when he stopped. Oh, Victor! Oh, steady place. Hello, Alice. Oh, Dan. Oh, I'm so glad you've come back. Sit down and talk to me. Cousin Amy went to town and Gramps is resting. How are you getting along now, Alice? Oh, I like it here and Cousin Bird is awful nice. Cousin Amy... Well, she doesn't want us here. Maybe she'll change. I don't think so. I couldn't sleep last night and I could have talked to Cousin Bird. She was talking real mean about it and she watched us to leave. Well, Bird, now that those two relatives of yours are you sleeping, there's something I want to say. Well said. Get it over with, Amy. It's all right for you to be so big-hearted and all that, but don't forget, I'm your wife and I have to be considerate. Well, that's one thing you never do let me forget, Amy. After considering you, I don't see how they bother any. Plenty of room here and they keep out of your way as much as possible. I'm not going to play nursemaid to an old man and a child who can't help herself. As I see it, he'd be better off in an old folks home and she'd be better off in an institution. Well, Pete said, Amy, what's come over you? Now that we're prospering, you're turning mean as all get out. I've worked my fingers to the bone to make us prosper, Burt Dennis, and I don't aim to see this ranch turned into a home for your helpless relatives. Oh, be reasonable, Amy. After all, I have something to say around here. I'm having to say about this matter, Burt. Now, when I go to town for the payroll tomorrow, I'm going to inquire about places they might go to stay and that's that. As far as I'm concerned, the matter is closed right here and now. I told Gramps about it this morning. He said not to worry that if he'd see to it, we aren't sent to home. But I like it here, Dan. I really don't want to leave. Oh, golly. Maybe Mrs. Dennis will forget about it in a few days, Alice. I don't see how she can help locking you. Thanks, Dan. You're awful nice to me. I'll come back tomorrow and find out how things are. Say hello to Gramps for me. All right. Goodbye, Dan. Goodbye. In town, Amy Dennis left the bank carrying a small black satchel and drove away in the buckboard. A few minutes later, a man entered the cafe and sat down at a table where a friend was waiting. I ordered the supplies at the store. We'll pick them up on the way from town, Sam. I hope you got enough. The matter is planning on leaving this territory as soon as we manage to get some cash. I think I know where we can get that cash. Huh? Where? That woman who owns a Circle D ranch just left the bank carrying a small satchel. Well, she came into the store first. I heard her tell the storekeeper to put some stuff in the back of the buckboard. That she had to go to the bank to get the ranch payroll at the bank. Maybe she's going right back to pay the hands. She said tomorrow's payday and it came around too fast to suit her. She complained that her husband was going to be away overnight to look at some Cadley wants to buy. So she'd have to make up the payroll herself. Maybe if we hurry, we could take a shortcut and then set the buckboard on the trail. Then we could grab the payroll if she's coming. Now, wait a minute. That isn't going to work. There's three of the cowhands riding with it. I reckon we'd better wait till tonight then. Let's go tell Matt and see what he has to say. A short time later in a hideout shack hidden in a hollow, Dave and Sam were telling the outlaw Matt Strong about the Circle D payroll. So we figured it'd be easy to get it tonight, man. Yeah, that's a good idea, Dave. We'll all go in case somebody's there with the woman. I understand they have a lot of cowhands to pay off. That means a payroll. It'll be a big one. We'll plan to get there about midnight as the men in the bunkhouse will be sleeping. We'll grab that cash, then hit the trail for the New Mexico at dawn. 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 to continue. That night the moon was bright and the Lone Ranger and Toto decided to spend a few hours searching for the outlaw's hideout. You'll be safe here in camp, Dan. Toto will not be gone more than two or three hours. I'll be all right. I'm tired, so I'll turn in early and get some sleep. That's a good idea. Tomorrow, Dan, we'll try to think of some way to help your two friends, Gramps and Alice. I wish there were some way to help them. Perhaps they'll work out all right. Let's go, Toto. Easy, Toto. Easy, Toto. I want to. Let's go. At the Circle D ranch house, Gramps and Alice were in the Lone Ranger and Gramps and Alice were in their rooms. Amy Dan has sat at her desk coughing out the payroll. Suddenly, the door opened. Don't walk for him. What are you men doing here? We came to get that cash you have there. Stay at the door, Dave. You, Sam. Man, pick up the cash. All right. Looks like we strug it rich, man. He'll let that money alone. Shut it up. Hold your gun on us, Sam. Well, I turn to the chair. Sure. You aren't going to tie me up. Hey, you wild cat. Still it will cross you. You wouldn't dare. Well, don't tempt me. This court will hold you. You dirty low-down crooks. I take three of you to pick on a poor defenseless woman. You're just no good scum, that's what. Nobody calls mad strong names like that and gets away with it woman and no woman. I'll take you right down and I'll settle with you for the name calling. No. Don't put that filthy bandana in my mouth. Help. Hey, hey, don't keep it quiet. What are you going to do, man? I'm going for the bullet in his yap and female. What's going on here? Say you let her alone. I'll fix you. Are you having that old cute mask? Gramps grabbed mask gun arm and struggled a moment after Sam hit the old man with a gun dot and sent him slumping to the floor. That'll stop you, old man. Good work, Sam. Now I'll carry the lamp to the door and toss it back in the corners we leave. A place of open flames and those two fools with it. All right, here goes. Come on. The flames from the lamp were weakly flickering up the walls in the far corner when Alice opened the door to a room and came out. The youngster moved toward the sounds that Amy made through the gag until her reaching hands touched the helpless woman. Because of Amy, I know it's you. There's something tied over your mouth. I'll get it off. Here. Quickly, child. I'm tied and the fire started over in the corner. Now untie me, hurry. Alice fumbled with the court until finally Amy's hands were free. She quickly untied her own feet then got up from the chair. Gramps, is that you? Yes, Alice is hurt. The flames are spreading. Now hang on to my skirt while I try to drag them to the door. All right. Amy quickly lifted Gramps under the arms and with Alice holding on to her skirt for guidance. The woman dragged the old men to the front door. Now go out quickly, child. All right. Now you stand here near your grandfather. I'll go ring the farm bell to awaken the hands. Amy aroused the hands and while most of them gave their attention to fighting the fire, several of them started out to trail the crooks. Meanwhile, the lone ranger and turtle rode along the trail not far from the ranch. They had heard the alarm bell and knowing it meant trouble. They were heading for the certainty to help but as they rounded the bend, they saw the group of cowhands coming toward them in the bright moonlight. Amy, stop and reach. We have it coming. Hold on, hold on. You refused to turn and come back this way. You'll be hanged for Robin, Mrs. Dennis and leaving her to die in a fire. You've made a mistake. You're the one who made the mistake, Missy. Mrs. Dennis said one arm was match strong. Yeah, and he had two men with him. We're searching for match strong in these men. We heard the fire alarm and we're coming to help. That's right. Stop lying. I figure you're match strong behind that mask. We'll soon find out, too. First, I'll take your guns. While the four others set with drawn guns, their spokesman rode first along to the lone ranger to take the mask man's guns. As he reached over, the lone ranger suddenly dropped his hands in a lightning move with one he knocked aside the cowhands gunarm with the other he drew and placed his gun at the man's side. Oh, tell the others to drop their guns. Or you might take a bullet. Yeah, hold on. Man, he's got the drop over. Better throw down your guns. Now yours. Drop it. Daddy. Good. Head in among the trees off to the side, Tuttle. Come on, fill this. Come up, cowhands. He smacked the other guns. By the time the cowhits had retrieved their guns, the mask man and Indian had disappeared among the trees on opposite sides of the trail. That dog only had mask man trickers. Oh, he was trying to trail them now. They made it tough by leaving two sets of tracks before them. Well, I mean, we must have the ranch house fire under control by now. We'll go back, get more men, then come back and pick up both trails. Let's go. Get up. Cringtor and Tuttle had separated and circled around through the woods. A short time later, they met some distance further along the trail. Oh, he's got a big fella. I thought I'd find you waiting, Tuttle. It's easy to get way through shadows while them dismount, pick up guns. They were following the trail of much straw along here. Me see marks of three horses and go that way. This may be the break we needed. We'll follow those hoof marks. Come on, Tuttle. The three crooks had taken every known method to cover their tracks. Finally, they arrived at the hideout in the hollow and entered the tracks. They got it, boys. Sit down and we'll divvy the cash. Before you start dividing the cash, let's have some coffee and some grub. I'll go get some. Oh, sure. Go ahead, Dave. That cash will seize to New Mexico and last till we pull another robbery. I hope the next one's as easy as that one. With their knowledge and experience at trailing, the lone ranger and Tuttle managed to follow the outlaws. Though their progress had been slowed, they finally reached the edge of the hollow and pulled rain in the shadows. Good, good, good. Easy, Tuttle. That shack over there must be the hideout. We'll carefully approach on foot. There's a gun ready, Tuttle. All right, come on. Inside the shack, Matt and his two gunmen had just finished the coffee and food Dave had prepared. You make a good cook, Dave. Yeah, thanks, man. Now that we've eaten, let's get on with dividing the cash. Oh, sure. Yeah, I'll count it all first, then divide it. Please, Tuttle. Hold on. Stop those guns. Someone shot to the window, too. I didn't come here alone. You all right, Kimusabi? Yes, Tuttle. That must be the stolen cash from the Circle D ranch. I'll take it. Now, we've received. Don't touch that cash. Reach your needs. I'll keep your hands clear. You left a clear trail for us, your father. Please, we got here just in time to see you trying to double-cross your path. I told you before you were making a mistake. Those are the crooks who are, Mrs. Dennis. I'm sure the big fellow is Matt Strong. We've been hunting him for days. Oh, Matt Strong, all right. But don't let that mass hombre lie out of this. He and his agent friend are in it as much as we are. They wanted all the cash for themselves. That's all right. We'll take you all back to jail, Mr. This time when they say we'll get your guns and that mask you. You'll not have a chance to pull any treks. Me and all of you keep these crooks covered. I'll take the mass man's guns and pull off that mask. I warn you, you better not try. Hey, how's this coming? Be ready, men, just in case. What's going on here? Hey, chef, you got here just in time. That mass man and the agent got the drop on those other three. They were just about to make off of Mrs. Dennis' stolen cash. I'm glad you arrived, Sheriff. I think you were notified that Tom and I would come here to search for Matt Strong and his men. I did get word from the United States Marshal that a certain mass man in India would... Hey, you must be the one all right. He mentioned an Indian called Tonto and said to you, silver bullets. I looked that over. That's silver all right. Glad to meet both of you. Men, I'll vouch for these two. One of the ranch hands came to tell me what happened. I picked up your trail hoping to join you in the search. Looks like the mass man in India saved all of us a lot of trouble. Thanks, Sheriff. Yeah, but, chef, Matt Strong said... Never mind what Matt Strong said. We'll take those crooks back with us and let Mrs. Dennis identify. Tonto, I'll ride along with you, Sheriff. Later, the lone ranger and Tonto arrived at the certainty ranch with the sheriff. Quick work on the part of the ranch hands had confined the fire to the living room. Amy Dennis was in the large kitchen with Alice and Gramps when the three crooks were brought in for identification. Those are the three crooks, all right, Sheriff? Yep. I... I recognize them, too. Good. I brought back your cash. You can thank this mass man in India for catching them and getting it back. Here it is. Thanks. But this mass man, who is he? He and the Indian are friends, so don't worry. Did you say there are mass men in India here? That's right. Oh. You must be Alice. Yes, I am. Dan was worried about you. He said you and your grandfather were having trouble. Mr. I reckon I know what you mean. But seeing as how Gramps was willing to fight to save me and that Alice saved us both, well, their troubles are over if they're willing to forgive and forget. Cousin Amy says we'll stay here always. That's right, my dear. I'm glad to hear it. I'll tell them. Cousin Amy said she's going to take me to Austin. To a famous doctor there. And that maybe he'll be able to make me see. I'm taking whack on the head anytime to have that come about, honey. I reckon nobody expected to have me change so much. But I've been a fool and a nag without realizing it. Or it isn't going to know me when he comes home from selling those cattle. I'm sure, Mrs. Dennis, he'll be very happy. I'll tell Dan to come to visit you, Alice. Oh, thank you. I'll tell him I'll get back to our camp now. We'll take those three crooks to jail. Thank you for what you did, Mr. We're glad we could help, Sheriff. Adios, Alice. Adios, everybody. Goodbye! Goodbye! Nope, I still would like to know who that tall, handsome, mass boundary is, Sheriff. I'm sure I know, Cousin Amy. And I hope someday I'll be able to see him and Dan. Little girl, to my way of thinking it'll be a mighty proud moment in your life when you can see the Lone Ranger. This is a feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated created by George W. Trenville, produced by Trenville Campbell Mule Incorporated, directed by Charles D. Livingston, and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer.