fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty, I owe silver, the Lone Ranger. Whenever new territory was open to settlers in the western United States, the army was called on to preserve law and order among the thousands of emigrants that crowded the starting line. But away from the line and days before the starting gun, outlaws laid their plans to cheat the honest men and women who obeyed the laws. Only the daring and resourcefulness of the masked rider of the plain prevented their success. Only his strength and courage preserved the West as a land of equal opportunity. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. 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 the Comanche territory! Tell us we're heading for this! A solitary rider galloped his horse down the straggling main street of two-gun, slapping his mount with a leather quirk and firing his six-gun into the air. Yippee! Hey, up to you, hombres! The horses tied in front of the pit-o-cafe, reared and snorted as the rider yanked his mount to a stop. He hit the ground and slammed across the port and through the swinging door. Hey, you wildcats, close up your mouth and look here, I got news! Yippee! You already had, Carson. What's where you're shooting? That mare sent me back plenty of cash! Hang your mare! I'll tell you, I got news! The government's gonna open the Comanche territory! Yeah, I'll tell you, it's true as I'm standing here. The government bought the land from the Comanche Indians, paid cash for it. Gonna be open to settlers! When's it gonna be, Carson? Say, that's mighty rich country! Prime land! Give me a chance, you fellas! Sure, it's good land! Good for grazing cattle, good for farmland. And some say there's plenty of gold there, too. Don't know just when folks will be able to go in and stake out land for their sails, but it's... You don't know! Shucks, Carson, it sounds like you're shooting off your mouth. I tell you, it's gospel! Yeah? Well, there's been talk afore about opening the Comanche territory to settlers. And it sounds like more of the same. What proof you got? Plenty of proof, father! The government man's right here in town! Carson, you certain? Sure is shooting! A high tail in the two gun, just a jump and a spraddle ahead of him. He's outside the general's store right now, giving out the DJs. Well, jumping Mavericks, why didn't you say so? Well, you didn't give me the change! Lazarus, lefty, close up the cafe. Ain't no time for trade. Come on, chance, let's get going. I want to hear what this government man's got to say. Come on, fellas! Come on! That's him, the government agent. The government is opening the Comanche territory to settlers. You know the system for working a matter of this sort. Me and Molly are gonna get us a claim. Shut up and listen. The line from which all those going into the territory will start is five miles west of two guns. An army company will patrol the territory to see that no one enters ahead of time. Anyone trying to seek in and stake out land before the regular time will be arrested. At dawn, on the designated day, a gun will be fired. That will be the signal to cross the line and stake out claims. Stay on your claim until the government officials come along and register it in your name. That's all. Hey, mister! Yes? Just one thing. You left out the most important point. When's the day? Yeah, when can folks head into the territory? The gun will be fired at dawn on the 23rd. 23rd! 23rd? Well, that's Saturday. I gotta get the news tomorrow. Hey, Carson. Let go of me, Barbara. I'm in an old-fashioned way. Hold your horses a second, will you? Well? You know plenty about that Comanche territory, don't you? You've been all through it. Supposing I have? What about it? You got your spot all picked out, ain't you? Maybe so, Barbara. Not that it's your affair. No, just inquired. Well, no harm in talking. I reckon ain't nobody can beat me to the land I want anyways. Barbara, once that gun goes off, I'll head straight for the head of the valley, where the river starts. It's... Yeah? Never mind, never mind. I'm always doing too much talking. The head of the valley, eh? Well, seeing as you got the fastest horse in these here parts, I don't reckon anybody can beat you there. You're right about that. My horse, Blizzard, is the fastest four-legged critter this side of the Picoast. I ain't... Well, anyways, the less said, the better. Adios, Barbara. Adios, Carson. Adios. Hmm. The head of the valley. Howdy, boss. Can I open the cafe now for business? Yeah, Lefty, open the... No way. Huh? You got something on your mind? Yeah. Water. I don't savvy. Carson done some talking, Lefty. He got it all figured to get some mighty good land in that territory. Ain't nobody going to stop him, boss. He's got the fastest horse there is. I'm going to stop him, Lefty. Huh? Yeah. I'm going to stop him. I want that land savvy. It'll give me control of the water, control of the whole territory. We're going to get that land, Lefty. Fast horse or no fast horse? Keno. Maybe Carson ought to meet with the accident, huh? Yeah. A serious accident, Lefty. Maybe he might step in the way of a bullet. But, yeah, better get moving right now. Yeah, Barber. He won't bother you none. I know a shortcut. Poor Carson. Always shooting off his mouth. Well, when Lefty meets him on the trail and pulls Trigger, Carson won't do no more talking. He'll be food for the buzzers. Hey, you. You, Injun. What you hanging around for? Oh, me. Do nothing. You been listening to me and Lefty? Huh? Never mind. Is that your horse? Ah. That vamoose, Injun. Straddle that paint and make tracks. Get out produce, Evie. Ah, me go. Me go. Dad, don't come back, Injun. Keep right on traveling. Get him up, scout. Him, plenty bad hombre. We go tell the old ranger. Get him up, scout. Yeah, Blizzard, old horse. We're going to get the best slice of land you've ever seen. A molly, Blizzard. Your water and past your land. Carson! Huh? Carson, look out! Well, I'll be dogged. Sounds like that fella's hailing me. Got an engine with him. Say, Blizzard. Sure some horse he's riding? That white horse might even give you a run for your money. Slow up, boy. We'll see what they want. Carson! Carson, don't slow down. Go faster. Faster. Button, Thunder. Mister, you're mad. Carson, get moving. That cliff beside the trail makes the perfect spot for an ambush. On your way. Now, hold on, mister. There's no time for talk. Grab his range, Thunder. You go past. What in Thunder you think you're doing? Come on, Carson. Get away from the cliff. You're talking about an ambush. Mister, that don't make sense. Ah, him shoot. Hey, there's some ombre on the cliff shooting at it. Now, keep him busy. Keep running. No sneaking pole can't shoot at me without a fight. Let go of them range engines. I'm heading back. No, you loco. You can't get back, Carson. There's no way to climb that cliff. Get out of range. Yeah, I reckon you're right, Mashman. We're out of range now, Carson. Mister, I'm sure obliged. I'd have been done for if you hadn't warned me. What's it all about? Keep riding, Carson. We'll explain when we get to your home. Keep riding. Come on, Blizzard. Get him up, Scowl. That's it, Silver. We'll talk later. Carson, you mean to say you was ambushed on account of the government's opening up the Comanche territory? Come, might and I getting shot. If it hadn't been for this masked man and the engine warning you, I wouldn't be here now. I'd be lying in a trail with a mouthful of dust and not knowing the difference. Why didn't you go after the varmint? There's three of you. I can explain that, Mrs. Carson. There was no way to get up that cliff without taking the long way around. The man up there would have been gone long before we got there. Not true. Yeah, but who was it? I didn't get a close look, Molly. I don't know. I don't savvy why anyone should want... Hank Carson. Yes? You always was the one for talking. Did you let anything slip in town about the spot we got picked out to claim in the territory? Why, uh... Did you? I reckon so, Molly. Oh, you know me. Can't keep my mouth shut. I might have guessed. Well, it's plain as the nose on your face, Hank Carson. The man you talked to is the one that tried to ambush you. No, it couldn't be Barbara. Barbara, huh? Now, Molly, Barbara runs a cafe. He's a real nice kid. Real nice. Barbara's a rattlesnake. A rattlesnake that don't even give warning before he strikes. I tell you, Hank, if Barbara knows where you're going to stake a claim, we're going to have plenty more trouble before we stake out that land. Plenty. No, we ain't. First off, I ain't convinced it was Barbara. We didn't see the gent up on the cliff. I can't go to town and accuse Barbara for that, can I? Well, I reckon not, but just... Besides, I got Blizzard, ain't I? He's the fastest horse west of the Pecos, ain't he? There ain't nothing going to stop us getting that land. Nothing. Ain't it so, Mask Man? Mask Man, you tell Hank he's plumb loco, putting all his trust in... Why, Hank, he ain't here. Huh? The Mask Man, an engine. Well, I'll be dogged. He must have slipped out when we were talking. Shucks, and I didn't even have time to thank them proper. Well, anyways, I don't reckon I need the help no more. There ain't nothing else going to happen. I'm certain of it. I wish I could say the same, Hank. Huh? I just got a feeling. A feeling that them skunks that tried to get you ain't giving up whoever they are. I got a feeling that maybe they're planning more mischief right this minute. Hank, I don't like it one bit. Well, you missed, huh? You was all sitting at the cliff beside the trail and cussing combined, you missed. Barbara, I tell you that... You could have at least put a bullet into that horse of his. I tell you, I didn't have the chance. The Mask Man of the Engine warned him too soon. What Mask Man? I don't know. But he sure enough warned Carson. I started pouring lead, but they was out of range in no time. And I was plenty busy ducking bullets, too. That old savvy. How could a Mask Hombre know what their plans were? He sent bullets so close to me, I could hear them buzz. Wait a minute. Did you say you had an engine with him? Yeah. Riding a paint horse? You know him? Very same. I should have figured that engine was grabbing himself an air, fool. Huh? You must have heard every word you and me smoked, Lefty. You mean when you told me to take the shortcut and drag out Carson? Yeah. Parge with a Mask Hombre, huh? Now, who... Masked tent rode a white horse, Barbara. Well, with a Masked outlaw. What a button on a dry goss and furry. Masked man on an engine. It don't savvy. Masked Hombre called his horse Silver. Engine riding a paint. Lefty, say that again. Huh? What you said, the name of that horse. Did you say Silver? Yeah. Heard him call his horse that. The Silver. Say, what's eating you, Barbara? Lefty. That there was a Lone Ranger. The Lone... Where do you think you're going? The Lone Ranger? Let go of me, Barbara. I'm making tracks. I don't care to stack up against that, Aubrey. You ain't going nowhere, Lefty. Except to tell the boys I want them. You're going through with it? Yeah. Lone Ranger or no Lone Ranger. Get the boys. And say to this. Yeah? Instead of meeting me here in the back room of the cafe, tell them to meet me out near Boot Hill outside of town. Huh? In the dark? Yeah. I want to make certain that mask, Hombre, don't hear what I'm planning. Now get. There are bad men, Kim Wasabi. Yes, Tonto. At the top of the hill. Quiet, Silver. You'll stay here with Scout, old boy. We stay close to ground now. Creep forward, Tonto. We'll crawl toward them softly. Plenty dark. Barbara is his whole gang up there. Notice all those figures against the sky. Comanche territory will be open at dawn tomorrow. We've got to learn how Barbara plans to get the jump on Carson. We're getting closer now. I'm tough. Plenty quiet. We'll have to get closer. Right beside me. If Barbara's as smart as he's crooked, he'll have guards posted all around. Me, not Seaguard. Keep watching as we move forward. Can you hear what they're talking about yet? I mean, not him. Too far. Then wait. Careful, Tonto. That looks like... What in the face is him? God, quick, before he spreads the warning. Barbara! It's a masked man! It's out! You knock him down. Too late, Kim Wasabi. He roused the others. Quick, Tonto, back to the horses. After his arrest, man! Get your horses! Here, Silver. Get them off the scout. There they are! I'll take a shot! Don't shoot! He's chasing him, Barbara! We'll never catch him! Yeah, lefty's right. Are you wasting our horses trying to grab them, too? Besides, we need our horses for riding. Plenty of riding. It's sure a good thing the Lone Ranger didn't get close enough to hear us scream. Now he'll never stop us. 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. At the edge of the Comanche territory, a crowd milled through the night, waiting for dawn and the gun that would send them pouring across the line to claim new land. Horses, wagons, every type of conveyance added to the confusion. It was impossible for the Lone Ranger and Tonto to locate any of Barbara's men. Look at the campfires, Tonto. There must be more than a thousand people here, all waiting to get new land. We could look all night and find a trace of Barbara and this crowd. Him got scheme. We only have about six hours before the starting gun is fired, Tonto. That means we've got to learn what Barbara's plan is before then. How will we find out? Just keep your eyes open, Kimosabe. Just keep watching. And 20 miles away, the other end of the long starting line. No sign of the mass gent, Barbara. Keep back from campfires, all you. My jaw still feels like a mule kicked it, Barbara. Shut up and keep close. You've come far enough, Barbara. Yeah, I reckon so. Pull up. Go there. See? He and, uh, you know what you to do, Lefty? Still goes. We ain't changing plans. Why should we? Well, the mass gent, maybe he heard. If he heard, we'd be corralled by this time. Um, now you're going to Carson's place, have you? Yeah. I wear a bandana so that he don't know who I am. You're right. Tie him up, understand? Tie him up good and tight. And the same for his wife. And then, skedaddle. Yeah. And as for that horse of his, let it out of the crowd. Let it run. No need for that. I'll tie him up so tight, they won't get loose for a week. You ain't taking no risk. You're leaving as soon as you tie him up, ain't you? Supposing Carson gets loose. Supposing he gets his horse and arrives to be up before they start and gun. That still gives us four hours head start, Barber. That ought to be ample for us to reach that land. Nobody asked you, Wally. But nothing. Head start or no head start, I'm making sure, Savvy. All right, Lifty. Slip that kerchief up on your face and get moving. On my way. Get up, horse. Hey. Hey, you gents follow me. We're crossing the line. Hey, Sid, we're crossing the line. Sure, Barber. Sure. But we all here, the government man, we step across that line ahead of dawn, and there's a whole regiment of cavalry waiting to slap us in the caliber. Hey, Comanche territory is plenty big, Wally. They got a mighty slim chance of catching us. Well, as long as it's dark, maybe. But come sunup... Come sunup, we'll be four hours traveling from the line, way past the soldiers. It's a gamble. It's a sure thing. Besides, with four hours start, we'll get to that land ahead of anybody. We'll do it easy. Then, when the government man comes around, why, we tell him, sure, we left our dawn. Started right with the crack of the gun. He won't know the difference. Come on, gents, follow me. Easy. Take it easy. We're jumping the gun and slipping right past the soldiers. It's going to be a cinch, as long as Lefty takes care of Carson. A plumb-lined cinch. Marley, let me have another cup of coffee. Oh, Hank, don't you reckon you ought to rest? No, too doggone excited. Besides, it's only about three hours to dawn. Take me half an hour to ride from here to the starting line. Ain't no use trying to sleep for about three hours, is there? Oh, Marley, I tell you, it's the prettiest land you ever did see. Rolling, rich, plenty of water. Hey. What's that? That sounds like Blizzard, my horse. He's in the corral. At least the way he ought to be. Hank, Hank, was that... Blizzard, he's got loose. He's heading for the open range. That horse is half-wild. I've got to catch him. He's the only fast horse I've got. I've got to. You ain't going nowhere, Carson. What in Sunday, you... Hank, look out! Oh, Hank! Hank! Get that rope and tie him up. They'll both be hog-tied and rope-tider in the yearling colt. And there ain't nobody going to get you loose. This way to Carson Ranch, Kimo Sabi. The faster, Tato. The sooner we get there, the better. Look! The horse is coming this way. Oh, Silver Steady Book. Something's wrong, Tato. That doesn't sound like a horse with a rider. Huh? Listen. Sounds almost like a runaway. Him come by us. Tato. Tato, that's Carson's horse. That's right. Running wild. The old saddle, he's loose. Where you go? Head for Carson's ranch, Kimo Sabi. Get there fast. Come on, Silver. Where you go? Silver and I'll capture Carson's horse. Get to the ranch. As soon as we rope the horse, we'll get back. I'll still be home! It took the lone ranger only a few moments to rope the runaway. Then, leading the horse, he headed for the Carson ranch. Tato had already untied Carson and his wife, and when the lone ranger heard what had happened, he... There's your horse, Carson. We're riding for the starting line. Hank, do you feel all right? Sure, honey. Just got a bump on the head. Here, Blizzard. And he got him on halter. Him not running away. That yellow sneaking coyote of a barber. The barber went through the lines ahead of time. Once we tell the commanding officer that, he may have a chance, Carson. Then what are we waiting for? Now, let's go. Come on, Silver. Send him up, Scout. We'll find the commanding officer at the starting line. Let me do the talking. Hank, what's that? You say this man, Barber, sneaked through the line ahead of time? He's got a four-hour head start, Colonel. He'll be captured. The regiment's on patrol duty. To make sure no one goes into the Comanche territory before dawn. But suppose he isn't captured. Suppose he got away. Eh? Well, in that case, I'm sorry. Sorry? But, Colonel, I... Dawn, when the starting gun is fired, I can furnish you with men to ride after, Barber. That's the only way. It's necessary to have proof. Proof. But, Colonel, Barber will have a four-hour lead. Let us go ahead now to head him off. Impossible. Just because one man beats the gun. And mind you, I can't be certain of that just on your say-so. Because one man beats it, I can't permit others to do so, can I? Besides, there's plenty more land. Not like the section I got my mind on. Sorry, I can't help you anymore. You will have to wait for the starting gun at dawn. That's final. I thought you was back at the ring. I come over to see us, George. Hank, are the soldiers going with you? Yeah, much good will do. Barber's already four hours in the Comanche lane. Carson, on your horse. There's a warning bugle. Gun go off quick. Mister, we've got to catch Barber. We've got to. I'm praying Blizzard is the horse I think he is. How far is it of your section? Maybe 50 miles, but it's bad country for traveling. It takes plenty of time. Hank, even Blizzard can't make it. I ain't giving up, Molly. That's the spirit, Carson. We'll ride with you. You soldiers stay with us. Get ready to start. The gun will go off in 10 seconds. Oh, look. Many people, huh? Yes, Kimasabi. All lined up, ready to move. All ready. Come on, here we go. The long line surged forward. Shouting, yelling men urged their horses on. Wagons crashed and jammed in the fight to get land. To take over the Comanche territory. Thundering hoops and rolling wagon wheels. Clouds of dust. And speaking out in front of all the rest. With Tonto and Carson and the two soldiers behind him. The Lone Ranger and the Great Horse Silver. One hour later, deep in Comanche territory. Carson, Carson, can't your horse go any faster? Mister, I figured Blizzard could beat anything on four legs. But there ain't no horse can keep up with Silver. Soldiers drop behind. I don't know what to do. There ain't a chance of beating Barbara unless we make better time. Not a chance. Tonto. Uh-huh. Can Scout keep up with Silver? Maybe for a while, Kimasabi. Good. Carson, listen. Tonto and I are right ahead. What? You've told me where that land is. You bring the soldiers as fast as you can. We'll try to reach that land before Barbara. I don't savvy, mister. You'll never make it. We can try. Adios. When you hit the river, head upstream. Berville narrows out of the flat table land. That's the spot. Stay with me, Tonto. All right, Silver. Get up, Scout. Come on, you, sir. Barbara's on the way. We've got to get there first. Faster, Silver, old boy. Faster. Ain't there no other way to get there? My horse is mud clear up to the withers. And we were seeing such tough country for traveling. You're going your own very high. Get up there. We've been traveling since before dawn and getting no place. We covered plenty of miles. This here marsh is worse than the quicksand was. Get moving, horse. What are you beefing about? We've got a good lead, ain't we? Carson must be miles behind. Yeah, but maybe the mask on. Lone Ranger? He's been helping Carson. Maybe he's... You can't help Carson out anymore, Wally. As soon as we get to the river, we head upstream and... What in places? Barbara, look. Look yonder. That white horse. The mask man. The mask man and the engine. They're riding like a stampede. They're heading for the river. We've got to beat them. Use your whips. Make these cailluses travel. They won't get there first. They'll beat them if we have to shoot them down to do it. Loosen your six guns. Way there heading. You get right close to them near the finish. Drive your horses. Drive until they drop. We've got to beat the Lone Ranger. We get to land soon. There it is, Tonto. Right up ahead. There, Barbara. The ravine's getting narrow. We're pulling ahead of them. Faster. Up the slope. Climb, Silvery. Up. Up. Scowl. Now, behind that rock and pull up. Oh. Oh, scowl. Oh. Go on. We get here first. There they are. That's far enough, Barbara. This land is claimed. We'll get them. All right. Right them down. Ah. They got guns. Hold some of those guns, Barbara. You're too late. Hold on. There's nobody around to stop us. Feed a bullet. All right, Tonto. They're asking for us. We'll hold them off until Carson and the soldiers get here. They're five against two. Reach for your guns, Tonto. We'll hold them off no matter what the odds. If they want shooting, they'll get it. Oh, go on that branch, man. He moves like lightning. He shot the gun right out of my hand. Pick it up. Pick it up and fight. Not me. I had a friend. All right, Barbara. Stop that gun. Stop it right now. No, no. Don't shoot, mister. Don't shoot. You got it. Tonto, what's the others? That was good shooting. I've never seen such shooting in my life. You stand still. Oh, the arts amass, man. It's Carson. He's got soldiers with him. Mister, you've done it. You saved my land from these sneaking skunks. That was heavy. This guy brought us here in time, Carson. The land's yours. You'll take care of these prisoners? Sure will. The soldiers got them under guard right now. Then we'll go. Come on, Tonto. Carson, if it hadn't been for that hombre, we'd have grabbed off your land. You land grabbers will get tail for this, Barbara. And say, when Molly hears how the masked man helped us to... What's it in your mouth? You got us, ain't you? Yeah, but the masked man, he's riding off. I didn't even get the chance to figure who we might be. And that horse he's got, faster than Blizzard ever was. You mean to say you don't know who that is? Carson, I figure I'm plenty loco for trying to tangle with that hombre. I should have known better. Right, Carson, that there's a Lone Ranger. The story you have just heard is a copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated. Lone Ranger Incorporated. Lone Ranger Incorporated.
